Thinking Skills Mock Test 17: 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

  • 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

A slow train leaves Millfield at 7:00 am and reaches Braxton at 1:00 pm the same day. An express train uses t…

Question 1 · Multiple choice

Question

A slow train leaves Millfield at 7:00 am and reaches Braxton at 1:00 pm the same day. An express train uses the same route at four times the average speed of the slow train. On another day the express leaves Millfield later but still arrives in Braxton at 1:00 pm.

Both trains run at constant speed without stopping.

Options

At what time did the express train leave Millfield?

  • A.10:00 am
  • B.11:00 am
  • C.11:30 am
  • D.12:00 pm

Correct answer

C.11:30 am

Explanation

Step 1: Find how long the slow train takes

The slow train leaves Millfield at 7:00 am and arrives in Braxton at 1:00 pm.

Slow train:
7:00 am ──────────────────────────────────▶ 1:00 pm
         ←───────────── 6 hours ───────────→

Journey time for slow train = 6 hours

Step 2: Find how long the express train takes

The express travels at 4 times the speed of the slow train.

Key rule: when speed multiplies by 4, journey time divides by 4 (they are inverses — more speed means less time for the same distance).

Express journey time = 6 hours ÷ 4 = 1.5 hours = 1 hour 30 minutes

Step 3: Work out when the express must have left

The express arrives at 1:00 pm and the journey takes 1 hour 30 minutes. Count backwards:

Express:
11:30 am ──────────────────────────────────▶ 1:00 pm
          ←────── 1 hour 30 minutes ────────→

1:00 pm − 1 hour      = 12:00 pm
12:00 pm − 30 minutes = 11:30 am

The express left Millfield at 11:30 am.

Answer: 11:30 am

Thinking Skills

On a standard die, opposite faces always add to 7.

Question 2 · Multiple choice

Question

On a standard die, opposite faces always add to 7.

Options

Which pair of numbers could not appear on adjacent faces (sharing an edge) of a real standard die?

  • A.2 and 4
  • B.1 and 3
  • C.3 and 4
  • D.5 and 6

Correct answer

C.3 and 4

Explanation

On a standard die, opposite faces always add to 7.

Opposite pairs on a standard die:
  1  ←──────→  6   (1 + 6 = 7)
  2  ←──────→  5   (2 + 5 = 7)
  3  ←──────→  4   (3 + 4 = 7)

Opposite faces point directly away from each other — they can never share an edge (be adjacent).

Key fact: Every other pair of faces (that is NOT an opposite pair) CAN be adjacent.

Check each option.

  • 2 and 4 → 2 is opposite 5, and 4 is opposite 3. Neither is the other's opposite partner, so these two CAN be adjacent. ✗
  • 1 and 3 → 1 is opposite 6, and 3 is opposite 4. Same reason — they CAN be adjacent. ✗
  • 3 and 4 ✓ → 3 and 4 ARE an opposite pair (3 + 4 = 7). They face directly away from each other and can never share an edge.
  • 5 and 6 → 5 is opposite 2, and 6 is opposite 1. They CAN be adjacent. ✗

Answer: 3 and 4

Core Competencies

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

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