Exam Technique & Timing

You have learned all the key NVR question types — now it is time to learn how to put it all together on exam day. Even if you know every technique, poor time management or careless mistakes can cost you marks. This lesson covers exam strategy, timing, and common pitfalls so you can perform at your very best.

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Understanding the GL 11+ NVR Paper

The GL Assessment Non-Verbal Reasoning paper has some key features:

Feature	Detail
Format	Multiple choice (usually 4 or 5 options per question)
Number of questions	Typically around 80 questions
Time allowed	Usually around 45-50 minutes
Scoring	Usually 1 mark per correct answer, no negative marks
Answer format	Answers marked on a separate answer sheet

Important: The exact format can vary between different areas and years. Your school or tutor should be able to tell you the exact format for your test.

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Timing Strategy

Know Your Time Per Question

If there are 80 questions in 45 minutes:

45 minutes = 2,700 seconds
2,700 ÷ 80 = approximately 34 seconds per question

That is roughly 30-35 seconds per question. Some questions will be quicker (10-15 seconds), and some will take longer (45-60 seconds). The key is to not get stuck on any single question.

The Three-Pass Strategy

This is the most effective approach for any timed multiple-choice test:

Pass 1: Quick Questions (First run-through)

• Go through the entire paper from start to finish.
• Answer every question you can do quickly and confidently.
• If a question takes more than 40 seconds and you are unsure, circle it and move on.
• This pass should take about 25-30 minutes.

Pass 2: Medium Questions (Second run-through)

• Go back to the questions you circled.
• Spend more time on each one — up to 60 seconds.
• Use elimination (cross out answers you know are wrong).
• If you are still stuck after 60 seconds, make your best guess and put a small mark next to it.
• This pass should take about 10-15 minutes.

Pass 3: Review (Final check)

• Use any remaining time to review your answers.
• Check you have not made any silly mistakes (wrong bubble filled in, etc.).
• Revisit any questions you marked for a third look.
• This pass should take about 3-5 minutes.

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Answer Sheet Tips

Most GL 11+ exams use a separate answer sheet where you fill in bubbles or boxes. This is important because:

Rule	Why it matters
Fill in the bubble completely	The scanner might not read a lightly filled bubble
Erase cleanly if you change an answer	Two filled bubbles on the same line = zero marks
Check the question number regularly	It is very easy to get "out of sync" with the answer sheet
Transfer answers in groups	Some students answer 5-10 questions, then transfer them all to the answer sheet at once — this can save time

Top Tip: Every 10 questions, quickly check that the question number you are on matches the answer number on your sheet. A single mis-alignment can cause all subsequent answers to be in the wrong place.

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The Power of Elimination

Even if you cannot solve a question, you can usually eliminate 1-2 wrong answers. This dramatically improves your chances of guessing correctly.

Wrong answers eliminated	Chance of guessing correctly (out of 4 options)
0 eliminated	25% (1 in 4)
1 eliminated	33% (1 in 3)
2 eliminated	50% (1 in 2)
3 eliminated	100% (certain!)

How to Eliminate

1. Check each option against the rule you have identified.
2. If an option clearly breaks the rule (wrong colour, wrong size, extra element), cross it out.
3. Even a quick scan can often rule out 1-2 options.

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Question Type Strategies — Quick Reference

Here is a summary of the best approach for each question type:

Odd One Out

• Check: shape, size, shading, orientation, line style, internal elements.
• Time target: 20-30 seconds.

Analogies

• Identify ALL changes from A to B.
• Apply the same changes to C.
• Time target: 25-35 seconds.

Series & Sequences

• Check each property one at a time.
• Look for cycling patterns.
• Time target: 25-35 seconds.

Matrices

• Read across rows AND down columns.
• The answer must work for BOTH.
• Time target: 30-45 seconds.

Reflection & Rotation

• Track a distinctive feature.
• Check if the shape is reversed (reflection) or just turned (rotation).
• Time target: 20-30 seconds.

Codes

• Compare shapes that differ in ONE property.
• Build a decoding table.
• Time target: 30-45 seconds.

Folding & 3D

• Unfold in REVERSE order.
• Each fold line acts as a mirror.
• Time target: 30-45 seconds.