Number series questions: how to help your child see the pattern
A simple, parent-friendly method for teaching the number-series questions found on the CogAT and similar tests.
Number series ('2, 4, 8, 16, ?') appear on the CogAT quantitative battery and many gifted tests. The skill is spotting the rule — and it's very teachable.
The method
- Look at the change between each pair of numbers — is it adding, multiplying, or something alternating?
- Name the rule out loud ('we're doubling').
- Apply the rule to find the next term, then check it against an earlier step.
- If one rule doesn't fit, try a different operation — flexibility is the real skill.
Practice ideas
Make up series during everyday moments: counting by 3s, doubling, or alternating patterns. Mix easy and tricky ones so your child learns to test multiple rules instead of guessing.
Common questions
What if my child freezes on a hard series?
Teach the 'skip and return' habit — move on, then come back. And remind them to try a second rule if the first doesn't work; persistence is half the skill.
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