Thinking Skills Mock Test 1: 2027 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

2027 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

  • Drawing a Conclusion: Logic-based deduction and inference from given premises.
  • Finding Procedures: Identifying the correct sequence or steps to reach an outcome.
  • Additional Evidence: Strengthening and weakening arguments with new information.
  • Truth/Liar Puzzles: Identifying truth-tellers and liars from statements and constraints.
  • Logical Deduction: Drawing necessary conclusions from given rules and conditions.
  • Evaluating Hypotheses: Assessing whether evidence supports or undermines a hypothesis.

Sample Questions from Test 1

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

Thinking Skills

Each grid below has 4 rows and 4 columns. The two grids contain the same 16 letters arranged differently.

Question 1 · Multiple choice

Question

Each grid below has 4 rows and 4 columns. The two grids contain the same 16 letters arranged differently.

Grid 1

A  B  C  D
E  F  G  H
I  J  K  L
M  N  O  P

Grid 2

A  C  D  B
E  G  F  H
I  K  J  L
M  N  O  P

Comparing position by position (left to right, top to bottom), how many positions show a different letter in Grid 2 from Grid 1?

Options

  • A.5
  • B.6
  • C.8
  • D.7

Correct answer

D.7

Explanation

Step 1: Write out both grids side by side for easy comparison.

Position    Grid 1    Grid 2    Same?
Row 1, Col 1:  A    vs    A      ✓
Row 1, Col 2:  B    vs    C      ✗
Row 1, Col 3:  C    vs    D      ✗
Row 1, Col 4:  D    vs    B      ✗
Row 2, Col 1:  E    vs    E      ✓
Row 2, Col 2:  F    vs    G      ✗
Row 2, Col 3:  G    vs    F      ✗
Row 2, Col 4:  H    vs    H      ✓
Row 3, Col 1:  I    vs    I      ✓
Row 3, Col 2:  J    vs    K      ✗
Row 3, Col 3:  K    vs    J      ✗
Row 3, Col 4:  L    vs    L      ✓
Row 4, Col 1:  M    vs    M      ✓
Row 4, Col 2:  N    vs    N      ✓
Row 4, Col 3:  O    vs    O      ✓
Row 4, Col 4:  P    vs    P      ✓

Step 2: Count the differences row by row.

RowDifferencesWhich positions?
Row 13Columns 2, 3, 4 (B→C, C→D, D→B)
Row 22Columns 2, 3 (F and G swapped)
Row 32Columns 2, 3 (J and K swapped)
Row 40All match

Step 3: Add them up.

3 + 2 + 2 + 0 = 7 positions are different.

Thinking Skills

A net of a cube is shown below.

Question 2 · Multiple choice

Question

A net of a cube is shown below.

Cube net with square-with-cross, black circle, and trapezium faces, with four possible 3D cube views labelled A to D

Options

  • A.A
  • B.B
  • C.C
  • D.D

Correct answer

D.D

Explanation

Step 1 — Identify opposite faces by folding the net.

Generic cross-net labelled A–F with a folding sequence showing which faces become opposite: A↔C, B↔E, D↔F

Using the standard cross-net folding rule: the face directly across the centre column is opposite. In the given net this means:

  • The square with cross (left) is opposite the trapezium (right) — shown by the same colour line.
  • The two blank faces in the top column are opposite each other.
  • The blank bottom face and the blank centre face are opposite each other.

Step 2 — Use the coloured lines to confirm opposite pairs.

The given net with coloured arcs connecting opposite face pairs: square-with-cross ↔ trapezium (purple), blank top ↔ blank centre (blue), blank ↔ blank (green)

Since opposite faces can never be seen together in a single 3D view, any option showing both the square-with-cross AND the trapezium can be immediately eliminated.

  • Option A shows the trapezium and the square-with-cross on adjacent visible faces. But these are opposite faces — they cannot appear side-by-side. ❌ Eliminated.

Step 3 — Check adjacency for Options B and C.

Option B circled next to the net: the black circle in option B is further from the square-with-cross, but on the net the black circle is closer to it

  • Option B shows the black circle on the bottom face of the cube, far from the square-with-cross on the top. However, on the net the black circle face is directly adjacent (immediately next to) the square-with-cross face — they should share an edge on the cube. The position shown in B is inconsistent with this adjacency. ❌ Eliminated.

  • Option C shows the black circle close to the trapezium. But on the net the black circle and the trapezium are separated by the centre face — they are not adjacent. This orientation is not possible. ❌ Eliminated.

By elimination, Option D is the only view consistent with the net.

The answer is D.

Core Competencies

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

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