GRADE 1 · LEVEL B
Grade 1 NNAT guide: Level B
First graders may notice a bright color or familiar shape and choose too quickly. Practice describing both the change and the features that stay the same. The aim is a consistent comparison routine, not memorizing a particular picture.
Updated October 8, 2026 · Independent parent guide
Confirm the test before choosing practice
Pearson’s usual grade guidance places grade 1 in Level B. Ask the school which edition and level it will administer, whether students will use paper or a device, and when testing is scheduled. The school’s assignment takes priority over a website recommendation.
NNAT3 is a visual reasoning assessment. Its published format has 48 items and 30 minutes of working time; allow approximately 35–45 minutes for the complete session including directions. Actual scheduling comes from the school.
Build a habit of checking the whole relationship.
These are preparation activities, not an official item distribution or a claim that every skill appears in a specific proportion at this level.
- Trace a line through a missing part and compare both edges.
- Describe a demonstrated change using words such as moves, turns, grows or changes color.
- Check a second feature after finding an answer that seems to fit.
A practical session for this stage
Use two short sets of three or four visual puzzles, separated by a break. Ask for one clear explanation after each set rather than a long explanation after every item.
Use a quiet setting and fresh examples. If you explain the rule during learning practice, give the student another problem later to see whether the idea transfers. Repeating the same picture can test memory more than reasoning.
What to notice during review
If your child picks an answer that follows only part of the relationship, compare it with the example pair. Ask which feature the answer changed without permission.
Record the kind of help needed: understanding directions, finding a relationship, checking a second feature or managing a timed session. A short note about the missed clue is more useful than treating a practice percentage as an official ability score.
Explore an original example
Our worked-example gallery shows how to compare five choices and explain a relationship. Those examples teach selected ideas; they are not a complete reviewed Level B form. Use the question-type lessons for general solving strategies.
Questions families ask
Is Level B always assigned in first grade?
Level B is the usual grade guidance. The school makes the actual assignment; confirm it before selecting level-specific practice.
Should my child practice on a tablet?
If the school uses a device, brief practice selecting and checking answers can help make the interface familiar. Confirm the actual delivery method first.