Non-verbal reasoning questions appear in diagrammatic and pictorial form. Their function is to develop core cognitive skills, including logic and reasoning, visual memory, short/long term memory and processing speed of the brain.
With developed cognitive skills, children can process new information as they learn and have a deeper understanding of alternative perspectives by identifying relationships, similarities and differences between subjects being presented due to their enhanced thinking abilities.
Such test are also called diagrammatic or abstract reasoning tests. Non-verbal reasoning involves the ability to understand and analyse visual information and solve problems using visual reasoning.For example: identifying the relationships, similarities and differences between shapes and patterns, recognizing visual sequences and relationships between objects, and remembering these. It helps students to analyse and solve complex problems without relying upon or being limited by language.
These tests don't require reading so they can give insight into the abilities of those who find literacy challenging, those lacking motivation, whose first language isn't English and those with specific learning difficulties.
They involve the ability to reason with novel material, without the need to draw on learned knowledge and measure how easily you may acquire new concepts in subjects such as mathematics, physics, computing, engineering, science, design and technology, architecture. This type of assessment is also being used by employers in the fields of science, engineering, technology and other jobs which involve working with visual information such as air traffic control.
Leaders are Readers teach Non Verbal Reasoning and develop children’s cognitive skills in our programme syllabus. This is in preparation for 7+ and 11+ entrance exam requirements (of grammar and independent schools), but as outlined above – to empower your child to think effectively for the challenges they may face ahead of them, especially in the fast-changing world and job market we live in. Click link to attend our open day, where you discuss any question you might have with our centre managers: Open days
Diagrammatic and spatial reasoning are different but frequently confused.
Diagrammatic reasoning (also called abstract reasoning) tests provide good measures of general intelligence. They involve evaluating processes represented via diagrams, understanding logical rules and process diagrams and identifying causes. Abstract reasoning is used where the ability to cope with complexity and deal with novelty is required rather than relying on previous experience.
Spatial reasoning tests predict the ability to work with complex plans. Spatial reasoning involves mentally rotating two dimensional representations of three dimensional shapes. It is needed in engineering settings, architecture and interior design.
Further useful links: http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/tests/spatialtest.htm