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Myriora Verbal Reasoning › 11+ verbal reasoning › Chapter 5: Exam technique

Write the alphabet first

11+Chapter 5 · Lesson 1

In this lesson

Your turn

Which letter is four places after J?

Show the answer

N! J is ten, and four more is fourteen, which is N.

The common mistake

Here's a common mistake. Lots of people count on their fingers from A, every single time. It's slow, and it's easy to slip by one. With the alphabet and landmarks written down, you just look.

Try it at home

Alphabet sprint: time how fast you can write A to Z with the landmarks E 5, J 10, O 15, T 20 and Y 25 underneath. Then use it to answer quick letter questions.

Read the whole lesson

Hello, and welcome to Myriora English! Here's a habit that saves time in every verbal reasoning test. Before you start, write the alphabet across the top of your rough paper.

Write the letters A to Z in a line. Then add the landmark numbers: E is five, J is ten, O is fifteen, T is twenty, and Y is twenty-five. Now you can count from the nearest landmark, instead of from A.

Here's why it helps. If a code moves each letter two places, just point and count along the line. And for mirror letters, the alphabet folds in half between M and N.

Let's try one together. Using your written alphabet, which letter is the eighteenth? Say it out loud!

R! T is twenty, so count back two: S, then R. Well done if you said R!

Here's a common mistake. Lots of people count on their fingers from A, every single time. It's slow, and it's easy to slip by one. With the alphabet and landmarks written down, you just look.

Your turn! Which letter is four places after J? Pick the right card. You've got eight seconds, or pause the video. Go!

Time's up! N! J is ten, and four more is fourteen, which is N.

Quick review. Write A to Z before you start. Mark the landmarks: E, J, O, T and Y. Count from the nearest landmark. See you next time!