Ever heard of the SNAPSS method and wondered what it is? Read on to find out what the essential method involves, and how to apply it for practising and perfecting NVR skills.
The SNAPSS method links to the Non-Verbal Reasoning (NVR) skills used in the 11+ grammar and independent school entrance exams. NVR is one of four key areas tested in the exam, alongside English, Maths and Verbal Reasoning.
NVR tests a learners naturally ability in skills such as spatial reasoning, visual reasoning and rotation. In order to best tackle this part of the entrance exam, the SNAPPS method is used to help solve all the possible questions types presented in NVR.
SNAPSS is an acronym, with each letter representing the starting letter of the seven focus points of the method. These are: shape; number; angle; position; size; shading.
How is the SNAPSS method applied?
The SNAPSS method is all about similarities and differences. NVR is based on visual questions using figures and matrices. Questions involve a given figures, pair of figures, matrices, etc and the answer options.
A student must compare the starting figure to the answer options, working through the steps of SNAPPS carefully to consider if they can spot similarities or differences between and identify the answer that either continues the pattern or that is the 'odd one out'.
Shape
Are there similarities or differences in the shapes presented within the starting figure? There can be a number of shape within one starting image, so all types of shape present need to be identified.
Number
How is number used within the starting figure. This part of SNAPSS can be a little misleading, as digits never actually appear in the NVR images. Number therefore related to counting. A student needs to identify how number links to the different parts of the images. For example, how many individual shapes are in the starting figure? How many sides does the shape have?
Angle
Angle linked to movement of the various elements within a starting figure. The movement could be in two ways: clockwise or anti-clockwise; specific degrees of rotation e.g. 90 degrees.
Position
Movement of parts of the starting figure needs to be identified in order to consider the aspect of position. This is linked to lines and direction. For example, is a square within the wider pattern moving in a diagonal manner through the figures, or is a triangle moving from top left to bottom left, to bottom right corner and so on. Does a part of the pattern appear first, then second, then third and so on?
Size
An easy aspect to spot, this is all about the size of the shapes or patterns within the starting figure. Is a shape being scaled up or down? Is a shape in one part of the pattern the larger outer shape and then used as the smaller inner shape in the next figure?
Shading
This element is a little more complex than it initially sounds. Shading, of course, does link to the idea of part of the figure being shaded in but it is more than just this single consideration.
Firstly, the degree of shading needs to be considered. The shading can be seen as an unshaded part of the pattern (appearing as white) and different degrees of shading (appearing as black or grey).
It also encompasses the idea of pattern and types of line. Pattern can be seen in how a shape is 'filled in'. It could be striped, spotted, or any other similar pattern fill. Types of line include a shape with a solid edge line, dotted, dashed, bold and so on.
How is SNAPPS applied?
Now that a student knows what each part of the method stands for they can then apply it to a given question. Working through the acronym, a student needs to identify changes or similarities linked to each aspect of the method - disregarding the elements that will not help them (if there are no changes noted) and focusing on only the parts of the method that show a change in their pattern. Usually, the correct answer with use a combination of two or three of the SNAPSS method e.g. combining elements of shape, shading and position. Rarely is the answer identified by a single element.
If you are looking to prepare your child for their Warwickshire 11+ exam or Birmingham 11+ exam and want support in all of the 11 plus methods, check out the 11+ Courses I offer and get in touch.
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