Number substitution (words as sums) questions appear in almost every GL-style verbal-reasoning paper. Letters stand for values; compute a coded sum. Like every VR type, they stop being hard the moment your child has a fixed method — here it is.
What the question looks like
Letters stand for values; compute a coded sum. Papers typically include 3–5 of these per test, worth the same marks as any other question — which makes fast, reliable technique on the common types the highest-value preparation there is.
The method
Substitute the given values carefully and follow BIDMAS. Write each substitution above the letter before computing — transcription, not maths, is where marks die.
Worked example
If A=3, B=6, C=2: A×B−C = 16.
The traps
Skipping BIDMAS; substituting a neighbouring letter's value.
How to practise this type
Little and often wins: five questions of this type daily for a week beats fifty in one sitting. Our free verbal-reasoning worksheets are organised by exact question type, and the Arena's VR mode gives instant feedback with XP. When the type feels automatic, fold it back into full timed mock papers so pacing develops alongside accuracy. For the full landscape, see the 21 VR types overview.