NSW Selective Test Thinking Skills — 6 Question Types & Strategies

The Thinking Skills section of the NSW Selective High School Placement Test is 40 questions in 40 minutes — exactly 1 minute per question. It tests abstract reasoning, pattern recognition, and logical thinking without relying on learned knowledge. This makes it one of the most improvable sections with targeted practice.

Here are the six main question types you'll encounter, with strategies for each.

1. Pattern Completion

You're given a grid or matrix of shapes with one cell missing. You need to identify the rule governing the rows and columns to select the correct missing piece.

Strategy

• Look at each row and column separately. What changes? What stays the same?
• Check for multiple attributes: shape, size, colour/shading, orientation, and number of elements.
• If the pattern isn't obvious across rows, try columns or diagonals.
• Eliminate answer options that violate any rule you've identified — you often don't need to find the complete rule to pick the right answer.

2. Analogies

A pair of shapes shows a transformation (e.g. rotation, reflection, size change). You apply the same transformation to a new shape and select the result.

Strategy

• Name the transformation explicitly: "The shape rotates 90 degrees clockwise and changes from white to black."
• Check every attribute: position, orientation, size, colour, and internal details.
• Apply the transformation one step at a time to the new shape and match against options.

3. Series

A sequence of shapes follows a progression. You need to determine what comes next (or sometimes what fills a gap in the middle).

Strategy

• Look at consecutive pairs — what changes from one to the next?
• Check if the pattern repeats on a cycle (e.g. every 3rd shape resets).
• Watch for multiple simultaneous changes — one element might rotate while another changes colour.
• If the series is long, check every second or third element for interleaved patterns.

4. Odd One Out

Five shapes are shown. Four share a common property; one doesn't. Identify the outlier.

Strategy

• Look for the most specific shared property: symmetry, number of sides, open vs closed shapes, curved vs straight lines.
• Don't stop at the first difference — some options may look different but still share the underlying property.
• If you can't find the rule, compare each shape against every other and count shared features.

5. Spatial Reasoning

These questions involve mentally folding, rotating, or assembling shapes. Common formats include: "Which 3D shape can be made from this net?" or "If this shape is folded along the dotted line, what does it look like?"

Strategy

• For folding questions, focus on which faces are adjacent — mark edges that will meet.
• For rotation questions, pick a distinctive feature (a corner, a mark) and track where it moves.
• Use elimination: if a face can't possibly be next to another after folding, eliminate that option.
• This skill improves dramatically with daily practice — even 10 minutes a day makes a difference.

6. Logical Deduction

You're given a set of rules or conditions and must determine the outcome. These are often presented as if-then statements or constraint puzzles.

Strategy

• Write down (mentally or physically) what you know for certain from each rule.
• Use process of elimination — cross out options that violate any given condition.
• Only use the information given. Never bring in outside assumptions.

Time management: the critical skill

With 40 questions in 40 minutes, you have exactly 1 minute per question. Here's how to manage your time effectively:

• Don't get stuck. If a question takes more than 60–90 seconds, flag it and move on. Return to flagged questions after completing the easier ones.
• Answer every question. There is no penalty for wrong answers. If you're running out of time, make your best guess on remaining questions.
• Practise under timed conditions. Untimed practice doesn't build the speed you need. Use timed practice papers to build exam-ready pace.

Common mistakes

• Only checking one attribute. Many patterns involve 2–3 attributes changing simultaneously. Always check shape, size, colour, orientation, and position.
• Not eliminating options. Even when you can't find the full pattern, eliminating 2–3 wrong answers dramatically improves your odds.
• Rushing through easy questions. Easy questions are your guaranteed marks. Double-check before moving on.
• Skipping review. After each practice paper, review every wrong answer. Understanding why you got it wrong builds the skill.

How to practise effectively

1. Start with untimed practice to learn the question types and build confidence.
2. Move to timed conditions once you're comfortable with the formats.
3. Review every mistake — the explanations matter more than the score.
4. Practise regularly — 3–4 papers per week for 8–12 weeks produces strong results.

EduSpark offers 30 timed Thinking Skills practice papers with instant results and detailed explanations for every question. Try 2 free papers to get started.