CAT4 lessonsQuantitative reasoning
CAT4 number analogies
Pairs of numbers that follow the same rule. Your child finds the rule from the complete pairs, then uses it to finish the last pair.
What your child sees
Level C, Year 6, a question like this one
[ 21 → 9 ] [ 36 → 14 ] [ 6 → ? ]
Find the rule that turns each first number into the second. Which number should replace the question mark?
- A2
- B5
- C4
- D3
- E19
Worked example
The same question, one step at a time.
- 1Look at the first pair: 21 becomes 9. Think of rules that could do that.
- 2Test each rule on the second pair: 36 becomes 14. Only "divide by 3, then add 2" works for both.
- 3Use the same rule on 6.
- 4Final answer: 4.
Common traps
Every wrong choice is built from a mistake children really make.
Adding the gap
The gap between the first pair is added again, but the rule multiplies or divides. Test the rule on every complete pair before you use it.
The rule is right, the sum is not
A small slip in the last step. Work it again, and check it against the pair above.
In the example: choices B (5) and D (3).
Only half of a two-step rule
Some rules have two steps. If the rule fits one pair only partly, look for a second step.
In the example: choice A (2).
Where it is on the test
Number analogies is one of the two tests in the quantitative reasoning battery. Each test has its own time limit.
| Level | Questions | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Level A (Year 4) | 18 | 10 minutes |
| Level B (Year 5) | 18 | 10 minutes |
| Level C (Year 6) | 18 | 10 minutes |
| Level D (Year 7) | 18 | 10 minutes |
| Level E (Year 8) | 18 | 10 minutes |
| Level F (Years 9 and 10) | 18 | 10 minutes |
| Level G (Year 11 and above) | 18 | 10 minutes |
Times are GL Assessment's published figures; question counts are ours where GL publishes none.
Try it
Practise this test online, new every time with the score at the end, or print the free worksheets.
The other test in this battery
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