Put Away the Scissors A huge chunk of the "Thinking Skills" and "Mathematical Reasoning" tests involves Spatial Reasoning. You'll see a flat shape (a "net") and be asked, "If you fold this into a cube, which face is opposite the star?" The Challenge: You aren't allowed to cut out paper during the exam. You have to do it in your head.
Strategy 1: The "Alternate Face" Rule When looking at a net of squares (like a cross shape): Faces that are separated by one square are usually opposites. If Face A is one step away from Face C, they will never touch. They will be on opposite sides of the cube.
Strategy 2: Look for the "Impossible" Corners Don't try to build the whole cube in your head. Look for specific corners. "Okay, in the flat shape, the Arrow points towards the Circle. But in Option B, the Arrow points away." Eliminate Option B immediately. This is called Negative Elimination. It is much faster to find the mistake than to prove the right answer.