The nine puzzle types
Three ways of thinking, three puzzle types each. Every example was written for this product — none is copied from a real test.
V-AN · WORDS
Verbal Analogies
Work out how the first pair go together, then finish the second pair the same way.
Ant is to tunnel as robin is to ____
Answer: nest — where something belongs.
V-SC · WORDS
Sentence Completion
Choose the word that makes the whole sentence make sense.
A ______ has four legs and barks.
Answer: dog — the word the description fits.
V-CL · WORDS
Verbal Classification
Three words belong together. Find the fourth that belongs with them.
Blue, orange, pink ______
Answer: brown — they are all colours.
Q-AN · NUMBERS
Number Analogies
Find the rule that turns the first number into the second, then use it again.
1 becomes 0, 7 becomes 6, so 2 becomes ____
Answer: 1 — take away the same number each time.
Q-SE · NUMBERS
Number Series
Find the pattern in the numbers and say what comes next.
0 3 6 9 12 ____
Answer: 15 — add the same amount each time.
Q-PZ · NUMBERS
Number Puzzles
Work out the missing number so both sides balance.
____ + 1 = 15
Answer: 14 — find the missing number.
N-MX · PICTURES
Figure Matrices
The first shape changes into the second. Change the third shape the same way.
2 green hexagons turned 180° becomes 2 striped green hexagons turned 180°. What does small purple square become?
Answer:small striped purple square— the pattern changes.
N-CL · PICTURES
Figure Classification
Three pictures follow a rule. Find the fourth that follows it too.
2 blue diamonds turned 90°, small striped purple diamond turned 45° and 3 small purple diamonds. Which one belongs with them?
Answer:3 large dotted blue diamonds turned 225°— the same shape.
N-PF · PICTURES
Paper Folding
A paper is folded, then holes are punched. Choose how it looks unfolded.
A 4 by 4 sheet of paper: the bottom half folded up onto the top. Then one hole is punched through all the layers at row 1, column 1 of the folded paper. Which picture shows the paper unfolded?
Answer:2 holes— unfold and mirror.