Counting sides and elements is one of the standard non-verbal reasoning patterns in GL-style 11+ papers. Count sides, dots, intersections or regions. NVR rewards method over talent more than any other 11+ subject — children who learn to interrogate shapes systematically routinely overtake 'naturally spatial' peers who guess.
What the question looks like
Count sides, dots, intersections or regions. Expect several per paper; in reasoning-only regions such as Lincolnshire, NVR carries half the total marks.
The method
Count in a fixed direction with your pencil marking each counted element. For regions, shade as you count. Never trust a first-glance count on anything over six elements.
The traps
Double-counting shared sides; missing tiny regions in dense figures.
How to practise this type
Do this type in short, focused bursts — ten questions, mark, review every error out loud ('what property did I miss?'). Our free NVR worksheet sets isolate each pattern, the full NVR types list maps the territory, and timed mock papers knit the types back together at exam pace.