Thinking Skills Mock Test 8: 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

  • Detecting Reasoning Errors: Identifying flaws, assumptions, and gaps in arguments.
  • Relevant Selections: Choosing the option that best supports or completes an argument.
  • Identifying Similarity: Pattern and structure comparison across cases.
  • Syllogisms: Applying categorical logic and valid inference forms.
  • Logical Deduction: Drawing necessary conclusions from given rules and conditions.
  • Evaluating Hypotheses: Assessing whether evidence supports or undermines a hypothesis.

Sample Questions from Test 8

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

Thinking Skills

Tia, Uma and Vic each have 22 chips. They take turns: showing an even number means give that many to each of …

Question 1 · Multiple choice

Question

Tia, Uma and Vic each have 22 chips. They take turns: showing an even number means give that many to each of the other two; odd means receive that many from each. Tia spins 4. Uma spins 1. If they end with 12, 27 and 27 respectively (Tia, Uma, Vic), what did Vic spin?

Options

  • A. 1
  • B. 2
  • C. 3
  • D. 4

Correct answer

A. 1

Explanation

Everyone starts with 22 chips. Tia spins 4. Since 4 is even, Tia gives 4 chips to Uma and 4 chips to Vic. So Tia loses 8 altogether. New totals: Tia 14, Uma 26, Vic 26 Uma spins 1. Since 1 is odd, Uma receives 1 chip from Tia and 1 from Vic. So Uma gains 2 altogether. New totals: Tia 13, Uma 28, Vic 25 Now test Vic's possible spin. To finish on 12, 27 and 27, Vic must gain 2 chips, while Tia and Uma each lose 1. That happens when Vic spins 1, because 1 is odd and Vic receives 1 from each of the other two. Check: Tia 13 - 1 = 12 Uma 28 - 1 = 27 Vic 25 + 2 = 27 So Vic spun 1.

Thinking Skills

A mayor argued that free weekend buses would cut car use because more people would leave the car at home. Whi…

Question 2 · Multiple choice

Question

A mayor argued that free weekend buses would cut car use because more people would leave the car at home. Which one of these, if true, most strengthens the argument?

Options

  • A. Some people need their car for work.
  • B. Cities that introduced free weekend buses saw car use fall.
  • C. Buses already run on weekends.
  • D. Parking is expensive.

Correct answer

B. Cities that introduced free weekend buses saw car use fall.

Explanation

The mayor's idea is that free weekend buses will reduce car use because more people will choose the bus instead of driving. To strengthen this argument, we want evidence that this kind of change has already reduced car use somewhere else. If cities that introduced free weekend buses saw car use fall, that strongly supports the claim. It shows that the same type of policy can really change how people travel. The other options are weaker: some people needing cars for work does not support the policy, buses already running on weekends does not show free buses will help, and parking being expensive is a separate reason, not direct evidence about the free-bus plan. So the strongest answer is the evidence from cities where car use fell after free weekend buses 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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