Verbal reasoning question types explained (with examples for Common Entrance)
Every common verbal reasoning question type — synonyms, analogies, odd-one-out, hidden words, letter sequences, codes, anagrams and logic — with worked examples and strategies for pupils and parents.
By the Levia editorial team · Updated 27 October 2026 · 6 min read
Verbal reasoning tests how well a pupil thinks with words and letters. It's one of the papers in the National Common Entrance Examination and in many private secondary school entrance tests. Since it isn't taught as a separate subject in most primary schools, many pupils meet these question types for the first time in the exam hall.
The good news is that verbal reasoning improves quickly with practice. Once a pupil recognises a question type and knows the strategy, questions that seemed impossible become straightforward. This guide explains each common type with examples.
Before you start: write out the alphabet
Many verbal reasoning questions involve letter positions. Pupils should write the alphabet with numbers at the top of their rough-work area:
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 |
| N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
It takes under a minute and saves much more time on code and sequence questions.
Type 1: Synonyms (similar meanings)
Example: Which word means the same as happy*?* A. sad B. joyful C. angry D. tired
Answer: B (joyful).
Strategy: say the word in a sentence ("I am happy"), then try each option in its place.
Type 2: Antonyms (opposite meanings)
Example: Which word is the opposite of ancient*?* A. old B. modern C. historic D. broken
Answer: B (modern).
Strategy: be careful. Examiners often include a synonym (here, "old") to catch pupils who forget they're looking for the opposite.
Type 3: Word analogies
Format: A is to B as C is to ?
Example: Bird is to nest as bee is to ___. A. honey B. flower C. hive D. wing
Answer: C (hive). A bird lives in a nest; a bee lives in a hive.
Strategy: turn the first pair into a sentence ("A bird lives in a nest"), then use the same sentence with the second pair ("A bee lives in a… hive").
Common relationships include:
- Home: bird–nest, lion–den, dog–kennel
- Young: cat–kitten, dog–puppy, cow–calf, goat–kid
- Opposites: hot–cold, up–down
- Part to whole: page–book, petal–flower
- Worker and tool: carpenter–saw, farmer–hoe, tailor–needle
- Worker and workplace: teacher–school, doctor–hospital
Type 4: Odd one out
Example: Which word does not belong? A. mango B. orange C. carrot D. pawpaw
Answer: C (carrot). The others are fruits; a carrot is a vegetable.
Strategy: name the group most of the words belong to. Whatever doesn't fit is the answer.
Type 5: Word categories
Example: Which word belongs in the same group as Lagos, Kano, Enugu*?* A. Ghana B. Ibadan C. Niger River D. Africa
Answer: B (Ibadan). Lagos, Kano and Enugu are Nigerian cities.
Type 6: Hidden words
A word is hidden across the end of one word and the start of the next.
Example: Find the four-letter animal hidden in this sentence: "The tribe arrived at dawn."
Reading across the words: "tribe arrived" hides BEAR.
Strategy: read the sentence slowly, joining the last letters of each word with the first letters of the next.
Type 7: Compound words
Example: Which word can be added to sun to make a new word? A. tree B. flower C. sky D. bright
Answer: B. sun + flower = sunflower.
Strategy: try each option and ask whether it makes a real word.
Type 8: Letter sequences
Example: Find the next letter: A, C, E, G, ___
Positions: 1, 3, 5, 7. The pattern adds 2 each time, so next is 9 = I.
Example: Find the next pair: AB, CD, EF, ___
Answer: GH.
Example: Find the next letter: Z, X, V, T, ___
Positions: 26, 24, 22, 20. The pattern subtracts 2 each time, so next is 18 = R.
Strategy: convert letters to numbers, find the pattern, then convert back.
Type 9: Letter codes
Example: If CAT is written as DBU*, how is* DOG written?
Each letter moves forward one place: C→D, A→B, T→U.
So: D→E, O→P, G→H. Answer: EPH.
Example: If BOOK is written as CPPL*, what is* DQQM in plain letters?
Each letter in the code is one place forward, so to decode, move each letter back one: D→C, Q→P, Q→P, M→L. Answer: COOL.
Strategy: work out the rule from the example (forward or back? by how many?), then apply it carefully letter by letter.
Type 10: Number–letter codes
Example: If A = 1, B = 2, C = 3 and so on, what is the total value of BAD*?*
B = 2, A = 1, D = 4. Total = 7.
Type 11: Anagrams
Example: Rearrange the letters of LISTEN to make a word meaning quiet.
Answer: SILENT.
Strategy: look for common letter patterns and try different starting letters.
Type 12: Missing letters and words
Example: Find the missing letters to complete the word: B _ _ K (something you read)
Answer: BOOK.
Example: Choose the word that best completes the sentence: "The farmer used a ___ to dig the ground." A. pen B. hoe C. ladder D. spoon
Answer: B (hoe).
Type 13: Logic and deduction
Example: Tolu is taller than Ada. Ada is taller than Bimbo. Who is the shortest?
Order from tallest: Tolu, Ada, Bimbo. Answer: Bimbo.
Strategy: draw a simple line or list and place each person as you read.
Example: All cats have tails. Felix is a cat. Which statement must be true? A. Felix is black. B. Felix has a tail. C. All animals with tails are cats. D. Felix is a pet.
Answer: B. Only B follows from the facts given. C reverses the statement, which is a common trap.
General tips for pupils
- Read the question twice. Small words like "not" and "opposite" change everything.
- Write the alphabet with numbers before starting.
- Use rough work for codes and sequences; don't do everything in your head.
- Don't spend too long on one question. Mark it, move on, and come back.
- Never leave a question blank. Make your best guess.
Tips for parents
- Teach one question type at a time. Do five or six examples together until your child is confident, then move to the next type.
- Read together every day. A wider vocabulary makes synonyms, antonyms, analogies and categories much easier.
- Play word games: word chains, anagrams, simple codes and "odd one out" during car journeys or meals.
- Ask your child to explain their answer. If they can explain the rule, they've truly understood it.
- Keep sessions short and positive. Twenty minutes of focused, encouraging practice beats an hour of frustration.
Practise with Levia
Levia's Verbal Reasoning subject is organised into five levels: Word Meanings and Relationships, Letter and Word Patterns, Codes and Sequences, Analogies and Classification, and Comprehension-Style Reasoning. Every question has a short, child-friendly explanation. Try Level 1 free; no account needed.
Try the real Level 1 question set free — no account needed — with an explanation after every question.
Levia is an independent learning platform, not affiliated with JAMB, WAEC, NECO or any examination body. Exam formats, dates and fees can change — always confirm current details on the official body's website.