OC Thinking Skills Practice Test 1 — 2027 NSW Opportunity Class Exam

Logic puzzles like this are like being a detective. The tricky part isn't what the rules say, but what they secretly mean! Let's break it down together.

Step 1: The "Only" Clue (The Secret Rule)

Look at the second rule: "Only Maya liked Tennis more than Cycling." If Maya is the only one who feels this way, what does that mean for the other three friends? It means Leo, Sam, and Ruby must feel the opposite. So, our secret rule is: Leo, Sam, and Ruby all like Cycling more than Tennis.

Step 2: Finding Last Place

The last rule tells us: "No one liked Cycling the least." Now, think about Leo, Sam, and Ruby. We just figured out they like Cycling more than Tennis. If Cycling cannot be in 3rd place, then Tennis must be in 3rd place (last) for Leo, Sam, and Ruby.

Step 3: Building the Rankings

Now let's look at each friend to see who could possibly have Swimming as their number one choice:

• Leo: We know he likes Swimming > Cycling (Rule 1), and we know Tennis is his last place. His exact list must be: 1. Swimming, 2. Cycling, 3. Tennis. (That's 1 person for Swimming!)
• Sam and Ruby: We know Tennis is their last place too. The rules also say they like Swimming more than Tennis, which makes sense. That means their top two spots are Swimming and Cycling. Because the question asks for the maximum number of kids who could have Swimming first, we are allowed to put Swimming in 1st place for both of them! (That's 2 more people for Swimming!)
• Maya: She likes Tennis > Cycling. But remember, no one is allowed to have Cycling in last place. Tennis and Cycling must fill her top two spots (Tennis 1st, Cycling 2nd). Swimming is therefore forced into last place. She cannot have Swimming first.

The Result: Leo, Sam, and Ruby can all have Swimming as their number one choice. Maya cannot. Therefore, the maximum number is 3.

Summary Table

Step 1: Picture the T-shape.

Think of the capital letter T. It has:

• A wide, flat rectangle stretching across the top (the horizontal bar)
• A narrower rectangle hanging straight down from the centre of the wide bar (the vertical stem)

The two rectangles meet at a right angle in the middle — exactly like a T.

Step 2: Match the description to the options.

+---------------------------+
|      Wide horizontal      |   ← top rectangle
+----------+--------+-------+
           |  Narrow |
           | vertical|       ← bottom rectangle (from the centre)
           +---------+

Option A: "A horizontal rectangle with a vertical rectangle joined to the middle of its long bottom edge, forming a T." This is exactly what the T-shape looks like. ✓

Option B: "Two rectangles of equal size joined end-to-end in a straight line." That makes a long straight bar (like the letter I or =), not a T. ✗

Option C: "A square with a smaller square attached to one corner." That makes an L-shape or a zig-zag corner, not a T. ✗

Option D: "Three equal squares in a diagonal staircase." That makes a staircase pattern, not a T. ✗

Answer: Option A describes the T-shaped footprint.