Example 1 · level 1 — a gentle start
Which three letters complete this word? P___OW
- ill
- she
- oar
- let
Answer: ill — P___OW with ILL gives PILLOW.
11+ missing three letters questions
Missing three letters 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
- Three letters have been taken out of a word.
- Say it aloud and think what the whole word must be.
Where marks get lost: ELEPHANT — so the missing letters are ANT.
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
Which three letters complete this word? PIR___
- arm
- ate
- use
- car
Answer: ate — PIR___ with ATE gives PIRATE.
Example 3 · level 3 — standard paper difficulty
Which three letters complete this word? FEA___R
- boa
- let
- the
- old
Answer: the — FEA___R with THE gives FEATHER.
Example 4 · level 4 — a harder paper
Which three letters complete this word? ___LTER
- she
- old
- ill
- ate
Answer: she — ___LTER with SHE gives SHELTER.
Example 5 · level 5 — the level that separates candidates
Which three letters complete this word? TRO___RS
- tag
- use
- ill
- the
Answer: use — TRO___RS with USE gives TROUSERS.
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 missing three letters with a tutor that explains
One4Learning serves questions at your child’s level, marks them instantly and — when one goes wrong — teaches the step they missed rather than showing the answer. Start with ten free questions, no account needed.
Take the free 10-question diagnostic →