Thinking Skills Mock Test 12: 2026 NSW Selective Format

Master the new Janison-style Thinking Skills exam with our comprehensive 40-question mock test. Designed specifically for students targeting top-tier NSW Selective High Schools.

Duration

40 Minutes

Format

2026 NSW Format

Questions

40 multiple-choice

Level

Official Selective Test Level

Skills Covered in this Test

This mock test mirrors the official weightings of the NSW Department of Education exam.

The breakdown

  • Finding Procedures: Identifying the correct sequence or steps to reach an outcome.
  • Drawing a Conclusion: Logic-based deduction and inference from given premises.
  • Spatial Reasoning: Visualising and manipulating shapes, positions, and arrangements.
  • Seating Arrangements: Deducing who sits where from ordering and constraint clues.
  • Detecting Reasoning Errors: Identifying flaws, assumptions, and gaps in arguments.
  • Relevant Selections: Choosing the option that best supports or completes an argument.

Sample Questions from Test 12

The first two questions of this mock test (same order and wording as the timed exam).

Thinking Skills

Ivor, Jen and Kip each have 18 beads. They take turns: even means give that many to each of the other two; od…

Question 1 · Multiple choice

Question

Ivor, Jen and Kip each have 18 beads. They take turns: even means give that many to each of the other two; odd means receive that many from each. Ivor spins 4. Jen spins 1. If they end with 11, 26 and 17, what did Kip spin?

Options

  • A. 1
  • B. 2
  • C. 3
  • D. 4

Correct answer

B. 2

Explanation

Everyone starts with 18 beads. Ivor spins 4. Since 4 is even, Ivor gives 4 beads to Jen and 4 beads to Kip. So Ivor loses 8 altogether. New totals: Ivor 10, Jen 22, Kip 22 Jen spins 1. Since 1 is odd, Jen receives 1 bead from Ivor and 1 from Kip. So Jen gains 2 altogether. New totals: Ivor 9, Jen 24, Kip 21 Now test Kip's possible spin. To finish on 11, 26 and 17, Kip must lose 4 altogether, while Ivor and Jen each gain 2. That happens when Kip spins 2, because 2 is even and he gives 2 to each of the other two. Check: Ivor 9 + 2 = 11 Jen 24 + 2 = 26 Kip 21 - 4 = 17 So Kip spun 2.

Thinking Skills

A principal argued that later start times would improve attendance because tired pupils skip school. Which on…

Question 2 · Multiple choice

Question

A principal argued that later start times would improve attendance because tired pupils skip school. Which one of these, if true, most strengthens the argument?

Options

  • A. Some pupils prefer early starts.
  • B. Schools that shifted start times saw attendance rise.
  • C. Buses run at fixed times.
  • D. Parents have work schedules.

Correct answer

B. Schools that shifted start times saw attendance rise.

Explanation

The principal's idea is that later start times will improve attendance because tired pupils are more likely to skip school. To strengthen this argument, we want evidence that changing start times has already improved attendance somewhere else. If schools that shifted start times saw attendance rise, that strongly supports the claim. It shows that the same kind of change can really make more pupils come to school. The other options are weaker: some pupils preferring early starts does not support the argument, fixed bus times may matter but do not show the plan works, and parents' work schedules are not direct evidence about attendance. So the strongest answer is the evidence from schools where attendance rose after later start times were introduced.

Core Competencies

Additional EvidenceData SufficiencyDetecting Reasoning ErrorsDrawing a ConclusionEvaluating HypothesesFinding ProceduresIdentifying SimilarityLogical DeductionMatching ArgumentsRelevant SelectionsSeating ArrangementsSpatial ReasoningSyllogismsTruth/Liar Puzzles

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