Thinking Skills Mock Test 17: 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

  • Additional Evidence: Strengthening and weakening arguments with new information.
  • Identifying Similarity: Pattern and structure comparison across cases.
  • Syllogisms: Applying categorical logic and valid inference forms.
  • Evaluating Hypotheses: Assessing whether evidence supports or undermines a hypothesis.
  • Data Sufficiency: Deciding if given information is enough to answer the question.
  • Drawing a Conclusion: Logic-based deduction and inference from given premises.

Sample Questions from Test 17

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

Thinking Skills

Wren, Xan and Yael each have 26 tokens. They take turns: even means give that many to each of the other two; …

Question 1 · Multiple choice

Question

Wren, Xan and Yael each have 26 tokens. They take turns: even means give that many to each of the other two; odd means receive that many from each. Wren spins 4. Xan spins 1. If they end with 19, 34 and 25, what did Yael spin?

Options

  • A. 1
  • B. 2
  • C. 3
  • D. 4

Correct answer

B. 2

Explanation

Everyone starts with 26 tokens. Wren spins 4. Since 4 is even, Wren gives 4 tokens to Xan and 4 tokens to Yael. So Wren loses 8 altogether. New totals: Wren 18, Xan 30, Yael 30 Xan spins 1. Since 1 is odd, Xan receives 1 token from Wren and 1 from Yael. So Xan gains 2 altogether. New totals: Wren 17, Xan 32, Yael 29 Now test Yael's possible spin. To finish on 19, 34 and 25, Yael must lose 4 altogether, while Wren and Xan each gain 2. That happens when Yael spins 2, because 2 is even and she gives 2 to each of the other two. Check: Wren 17 + 2 = 19 Xan 32 + 2 = 34 Yael 29 - 4 = 25 So Yael spun 2.

Thinking Skills

A councillor argued that planting flowers would attract more visitors because they add colour. Which one of t…

Question 2 · Multiple choice

Question

A councillor argued that planting flowers would attract more visitors because they add colour. Which one of these, if true, most strengthens the argument?

Options

  • A. Flowers need watering.
  • B. Places with flowers elsewhere saw visitor numbers rise.
  • C. Some prefer minimal landscaping.
  • D. Flowers attract bees.

Correct answer

B. Places with flowers elsewhere saw visitor numbers rise.

Explanation

The councillor's idea is that planting flowers will attract more visitors because flowers make the place brighter and more attractive. To strengthen this argument, we want evidence that places with flowers have already seen more visitors somewhere else. If places with flowers elsewhere saw visitor numbers rise, that strongly supports the claim. It shows that the same kind of change can really attract more people. The other options are weaker: flowers needing watering does not support the idea, some people preferring minimal landscaping goes against it, and flowers attracting bees is not evidence about visitor numbers. So the strongest answer is the evidence from places where visitor numbers rose after flowers were planted.

Core Competencies

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

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