Parent-Friendly 11 Plus Maths Reasoning Exercises: Mirror Questions
1 November 2026
Understanding mirror questions
Mirror, or reflection, questions are common in 11 plus maths. They ask your child to spot or draw the mirror image of a shape, number or pattern. Helping your child with these questions builds spatial awareness and careful reasoning.
Why mirror reasoning matters
Children need to understand how shapes and patterns change when reflected. This skill is used in non-verbal reasoning, geometry, and even some number puzzles. Practising mirror questions helps your child become more confident with visual reasoning.
Key insight: Calm step-by-step practice
When helping at home, break each mirror question into small steps. Encourage your child to look at one part of the shape or number at a time, and use tracing paper or a mirror if needed. This approach reduces stress and builds understanding.
Worked example
Let's reflect a simple shape across a vertical mirror line.
Imagine a grid with a triangle in the top-left corner. The triangle's corners are at (1,3), (1,1), and (3,1). The mirror line is the vertical line x = 4.
Step 1: For each corner, count how far it is from the mirror line.
Step 2: Place each reflected corner the same distance on the other side of the mirror line.
The corner at (1,3) is 3 units left of the mirror line, so its reflection is at (7,3).
The corner at (1,1) reflects to (7,1).
The corner at (3,1) is 1 unit left, so its reflection is at (5,1).
Step 3: Join the reflected corners to make the new triangle.
The reflected triangle has corners at (7,3), (7,1), and (5,1).
The correct answer is the triangle at these new coordinates.
Tips for parents
If your child is unsure, let them sketch the grid and shape. Use a ruler to help them count spaces. Remind them to check each point's distance from the mirror line. With practice, these steps become automatic.
Building confidence
Start with simple shapes and mirror lines. Praise careful counting and neat drawing. As your child improves, try questions with diagonal mirror lines or more complex patterns.
