Example 1 · level 1 — a gentle start
A = 5, B = 1, C = 7, D = 8. Which letter is the answer to D − B?
- D
- A
- C
- B
Answer: C — D − B = 7, and that is C.
11+ letters for numbers questions
Letters for numbers is a staple of the verbal reasoning paper, where speed matters as much as accuracy. Here is how the questions are built, how to spot the pattern quickly, and five worked examples explained step by step, easiest first.
Verbal reasoning · examined by GL · 5 worked examples
What your child needs to know
- Each letter is given a number to stand for.
- Swap the letters for their numbers, then do the sum.
Where marks get lost: Now find the letter with that value: C.
Worked examples
Every question below is generated by the same engine your child practises on, and every answer is derived by our checker rather than written by hand — which is why we can put them on a public page at all.
Example 2 · level 2 — typical of early practice
A = 1, B = 5, C = 11, D = 10. Which letter is the answer to A + D?
- A
- D
- C
- B
Answer: C — A + D = 11, and that is C.
Example 3 · level 3 — standard paper difficulty
A = 15, B = 7, C = 8, D = 23, E = 6. Which letter is the answer to A + C?
- A
- D
- C
- B
Answer: D — A + C = 23, and that is D.
Example 4 · level 4 — a harder paper
A = 12, B = 20, C = 10, D = 2, E = 30. Which letter is the answer to A + B − D?
- C
- A
- B
- E
Answer: E — A + B − D = 30, and that is E.
Example 5 · level 5 — the level that separates candidates
A = 8, B = 18, C = 30, D = 20, E = 26, F = 28. Which letter is the answer to B + D − A?
- C
- A
- B
- D
Answer: C — B + D − A = 30, and that is C.
How to practise this at home
- Verbal reasoning rewards pattern recognition, which comes from volume. A few questions of each type, often, beats one long session.
- Time a set once your child is accurate. Speed without accuracy is the usual trap; accuracy without speed loses just as many marks.
- Read widely alongside the practice. Almost every verbal reasoning question rests on vocabulary the child either has or does not.
Practise letters for numbers with a tutor that explains
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