A reflection swaps left and right across the mirror line, and nothing else changes. Once a child can state that, most of these questions become eliminations rather than puzzles.
Non-verbal and spatial reasoning together carry 25% of the marks, according to the partnership entrance test page. It is also the one section nothing in primary school prepares a child for, which is why almost every child starts from zero here.
Find the mirror line first
The mirror line can be vertical, horizontal or diagonal, and the question almost always shows it. Children skip past it and then wonder why their answer is wrong.
| Mirror line | What swaps | What stays |
|---|---|---|
| Vertical | Left and right | Top and bottom |
| Horizontal | Top and bottom | Left and right |
| Diagonal | Both, along the diagonal | Distance from the line |
That second column is the whole question. Decide what swaps, and you have decided the answer.
The rule that settles most questions
Whatever is nearest the mirror line stays nearest the mirror line.
If the original shape has a dot close to the mirror and a square far from it, the reflection has the dot close and the square far. Distance from the line is preserved exactly; only the side changes.
This single check eliminates most wrong options in a few seconds, and it works for every orientation of mirror line.
Telling a reflection from a rotation
The options nearly always include a rotation of the shape dressed up as a reflection. Distinguishing them is the real skill.
- A reflection reverses the order of things. If three shapes run small, medium, large from left to right, the reflection runs large, medium, small.
- A rotation preserves the order but turns the whole arrangement.
Letters are the quickest training tool. F is ideal, because it has no symmetry at all: reflect it and it is unmistakably backwards. Practise with F, R, L and P until a child can call reflection against rotation instantly. See our guide to rotation for the other side of this pair.
Lines of symmetry, the related question
Some questions ask how many lines of symmetry a shape has, which is the same idea asked backwards: a line of symmetry is a mirror line where the reflection lands exactly on the original.
Worth knowing by heart:
- Equilateral triangle: 3
- Square: 4
- Rectangle (not square): 2
- Regular pentagon: 5
- Regular hexagon: 6
- Circle: infinitely many
The pattern for regular polygons is that the number of lines of symmetry equals the number of sides. Children who know that answer these without thinking, and shading often removes some of those lines, so always check the shading before answering.
See our guide to non-verbal reasoning.
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Draw on the question, do not talk about it
Every one of these topics has to be taught properly. There are very few students who can look at an example and figure out for themselves what the question is asking, and reflection is one where a child can go a long way with a confident wrong idea in their head.
What I have found over the years is that teaching non-verbal works better online than in a classroom, purely because of the drawing tools. The visual element is difficult to demonstrate in a class setting unless you are using a projector and drawing directly on the screen.
The lesson for a parent at home is the same. Do not explain a reflection in words. Put the question on the table, draw the mirror line in, mark one feature, and show the child where it lands. Thirty seconds of drawing beats five minutes of explaining, every single time.
Mushtaque Ahmed, Founder of GrammarPath and Bright Mentors
Frequently asked questions
How do you solve 11+ reflection questions?
Find the mirror line first, then decide what it swaps: a vertical line swaps left and right, a horizontal line swaps top and bottom. Whatever is nearest the mirror line stays nearest it, so distance from the line is preserved and only the side changes.
How do you tell a reflection from a rotation?
A reflection reverses the order of things, so three shapes running small, medium, large become large, medium, small. A rotation preserves the order while turning the whole arrangement. Practising with letters such as F, R and L makes the difference obvious.
How many lines of symmetry does a shape have?
For a regular polygon, the same as its number of sides: an equilateral triangle has 3, a square 4, a regular pentagon 5 and a regular hexagon 6. A rectangle that is not a square has 2 and a circle has infinitely many. Shading can remove lines, so always check it.
What is a mirror line in non-verbal reasoning?
The line the shape is reflected across, which may be vertical, horizontal or diagonal. It is usually shown in the question, and identifying it before anything else is what makes these questions quick, because it tells you immediately what will swap.
Which letters are best for practising reflection?
Letters with no symmetry, because the reversal is unmistakable. F is the best single example, with R, L and P close behind. A child who can instantly call whether a letter has been turned or mirrored will carry that skill straight into the shape questions.