Thinking Skills: Complete Strategy Guide

Thinking Skills for the Selective Test: Complete Strategy Guide

What Is the Thinking Skills Section?

The Thinking Skills section is one of four equally weighted components of the NSW Selective High Schools Placement Test (SHSPT), contributing 25% of your overall placement score. It contains 40 multiple-choice questions (each with 4 options) to be completed in 40 minutes.

Unlike Reading or Mathematical Reasoning, this section requires no subject-specific prior knowledge. It tests how well you reason, spot patterns and evaluate arguments — skills that aren't directly taught in school but can absolutely be improved through practice.

The modern SHSPT bundles three reasoning domains into this single section: argument analysis, logical puzzles and abstract/non-verbal reasoning.

The Three Reasoning Domains

1. Argument Analysis and Critical Reasoning

These questions present short passages or arguments and test your ability to evaluate reasoning.

Question types you'll encounter:

Identifying the main conclusion — You're given a short passage with several statements. You need to pick which statement best expresses the passage's main conclusion, not just a supporting point.

*Strategy:* Look for indicator words like "therefore," "so," "this shows that," "hence." The conclusion is what everything else is trying to prove.

Identifying assumptions — The question asks what the argument depends on but doesn't explicitly state. An assumption is an unstated belief that must be true for the argument to work.

*Strategy:* Try the "negation test" — negate each answer option. If negating it destroys the argument, it's the assumption the argument depends on.

Strengthening and weakening arguments — Choose the statement that most strengthens or most weakens the reasoning in the passage.

*Strategy:* A strengthener provides additional evidence or removes an alternative explanation. A weakener introduces a counterexample, alternative explanation or shows the reasoning is flawed.

Identifying flaws — Recognise reasoning errors such as confusing correlation with causation, over-generalisation, circular reasoning or attacking the person instead of the argument.

*Strategy:* Ask yourself: "Even if all the evidence is true, does the conclusion definitely follow?" If not, there's a flaw in the reasoning.

Matching arguments — Find a parallel argument with the same logical structure as the one given, regardless of topic.

*Strategy:* Strip away the content and look at the structure. For example: "All A are B. C is an A. Therefore C is B" — find the option that follows the same pattern with different content.

2. Logical and Analytical Puzzles

These questions require working through constraints, arrangements and deductive reasoning. They may look intimidating but follow predictable patterns.

Question types you'll encounter:

Ordering and arrangement puzzles — Arrange people, objects or events under given constraints. For example: "Alex sits next to Beth. Chris is not at the end. Dana sits between Alex and Eve."

*Strategy:* Draw a quick diagram or number line on your scratch paper. Place the most constrained items first (those mentioned in the most rules), then fill in the rest.

Set and Venn-type reasoning — Work out who belongs to which group based on overlapping characteristics. For example: "Everyone who plays soccer also plays tennis. Some people who play tennis also play chess."

*Strategy:* Draw simple Venn diagrams on scratch paper. Start with the most definite statements and work outward.

Code and rule-based puzzles — Decode a rule that transforms inputs to outputs, or figure out what a symbol represents based on examples.

*Strategy:* Compare pairs of examples to isolate what each symbol or code element represents. Change one variable at a time.

Grid and path puzzles — Reason about movements on grids, shortest paths or coverage under restrictions.

*Strategy:* Sketch the grid on scratch paper. Trace possible paths and eliminate those that break the rules.

Error detection — Identify mistakes in experimental setups, survey designs or data collection methods.

*Strategy:* Look for missing controls, biased samples, confounding variables or conclusions that don't match the evidence.

3. Abstract / Non-Verbal Reasoning (ACER-Style)

The 2026 SHSPT includes a substantial block of abstract reasoning questions closely resembling ACER-style formats. These are purely visual — no words or numbers, just shapes and patterns.

Question types you'll encounter:

Pattern matrices — A 3x3 or 2x4 grid where each row and column follows a rule. One cell is empty and you must select the figure that completes the pattern.

*Strategy:* Check rows first, then columns. Look for rules involving: rotation, reflection, number of elements increasing/decreasing, shading patterns (alternating, filling, emptying), size changes, or elements appearing/disappearing.

Figure series — A sequence of shapes that change according to one or more rules. Pick the next figure in the series.

*Strategy:* Compare each figure to the next. Ask: What changed? Did something rotate? Did an element get added or removed? Did the shading change? Often there are two rules operating simultaneously.

Figure analogies — "Figure A is to Figure B as Figure C is to ?" — a transformation applied to one pair must be mapped to another.

*Strategy:* Identify exactly what changed between A and B (rotation, reflection, colour swap, element addition). Apply that same transformation to C and find the matching answer.

Odd one out / Classification — Sets of shapes where one doesn't follow the same rule as the others.

*Strategy:* Look for shared properties among four of the five options: same number of sides, same symmetry, same shading pattern, same orientation. The odd one out breaks the pattern.

Spatial reasoning — Mental rotation, reflection, folding/unfolding of nets, and visualising 3D shapes from 2D diagrams.

*Strategy:* For rotation questions, pick one distinctive feature and track where it moves. For net-folding, identify which faces are opposite each other (they can never be adjacent on a cube).

Time Management: 40 Minutes for 40 Questions

You have exactly 1 minute per question on average. That's tight but manageable with the right approach.

The 3-Pass Strategy

Pass 1 (0–25 minutes): Answer what you can

• Work through all 40 questions in order
• Answer immediately if the answer is clear (aim for under 45 seconds)
• If a question takes more than 60 seconds and you're stuck, flag it and move on
• Don't leave any question blank — make your best guess before flagging

Pass 2 (25–35 minutes): Return to flagged questions

• Go back to flagged questions with fresh eyes
• You'll often see the answer more clearly on a second look
• Spend up to 90 seconds on each flagged question
• If still stuck after 90 seconds, go with your best guess

Pass 3 (35–40 minutes): Quick review

• Scan through your answers
• Check any that you were uncertain about
• Don't change answers unless you're confident the new choice is correct — first instincts are usually right

Time Allocation by Domain

Practice Strategies That Actually Work

For Argument Analysis

Daily practice (10 minutes):

• Read a short news article or opinion piece
• Identify: What is the main conclusion? What evidence supports it? What is assumed but not stated? What would weaken this argument?
• This builds the critical thinking habit that makes test questions feel natural

Test-specific practice:

• Work through critical thinking workbooks or online exercises
• Focus on the "negation test" for assumptions — it's the fastest technique
• Practise matching argument structures by stripping content and looking at logic

For Logical Puzzles

Weekly practice (20–30 minutes):

• Logic grid puzzles (available free online)
• Constraint-satisfaction problems
• Sudoku and similar reasoning games build the right mental habits

Test-specific practice:

• Always draw diagrams — don't try to hold arrangements in your head
• Practise with seating arrangement, scheduling and ordering problems
• Time yourself: aim to solve arrangement puzzles in under 90 seconds

For Abstract Reasoning

This is where practice makes the biggest difference. Many students find abstract reasoning difficult at first but improve dramatically with exposure.

Recommended practice resources:

• ACER abstract reasoning practice materials (the NSW Thinking Skills abstract questions closely resemble ACER formats)
• Pattern matrix and figure series workbooks
• Online abstract reasoning tests

Practice technique:

• Start untimed to learn the common rules (rotation, reflection, shading, element count)
• After 2 weeks of untimed practice, add a 1-minute time limit per question
• Keep a "pattern log" — write down each new rule you encounter (e.g., "diagonal shading alternates," "number of sides increases by 1 each step")
• Review your pattern log before each practice session

The Common Rules to Watch For

In abstract reasoning, these transformations appear repeatedly:

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Spending too long on one question

Thinking Skills is the section where students most often run out of time. If you've spent 90 seconds and you're stuck, flag it and move on. One difficult question isn't worth three easy ones you didn't reach.

Not using scratch paper

Logical puzzles are much harder in your head. Draw the diagram, the number line, the Venn diagram. Five seconds of drawing can save 30 seconds of confusion.

Confusing the conclusion with a premise

In argument analysis, the conclusion is what's being proven, not the evidence used to prove it. Students often pick a strong-sounding premise instead of the actual conclusion.

Looking for complicated patterns first

In abstract reasoning, start with the simplest possible rule. Is something rotating? Is the count changing? Don't jump to complex multi-rule explanations before checking the basics.

Second-guessing yourself

Research consistently shows that first instincts on multiple-choice reasoning questions are more often correct than changed answers. Only change your answer if you have a clear reason.

Building a Practice Schedule

8+ Weeks Before the Test

4 Weeks Before the Test

• One full timed Thinking Skills section per week
• 10 minutes of abstract reasoning practice daily
• Review your "pattern log" of rules before each practice session
• Focus on speed for question types you've already mastered
• Targeted work on any remaining weak areas

Final 2 Weeks

• Light practice only — don't introduce new material
• One final timed section to confirm readiness
• Review your most common error types
• Rest and build confidence

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Thinking Skills actually be improved through practice?

Yes. While some students have natural aptitude for abstract reasoning, familiarity with question types, timed practice and learning reasoning strategies all improve scores significantly. Abstract reasoning in particular shows large improvements with practice because students learn to recognise common pattern rules.

Is Thinking Skills the same as the old "General Ability" test?

The modern SHSPT bundles what used to be separate verbal, numerical and non-verbal reasoning into a single Thinking Skills section. The content is similar but the structure and weighting have changed — Thinking Skills is now equally weighted at 25% alongside the other three components.

Should I use ACER materials to prepare?

Yes. Multiple specialist providers confirm that the NSW Thinking Skills abstract reasoning questions closely resemble ACER-style formats. ACER abstract reasoning practice materials (pattern matrices, figure series, analogies) are excellent preparation for this sub-section.

How many abstract reasoning questions are there?

The NSW Department of Education doesn't publish exact subtopic breakdowns, but 2026-focused preparation guides describe abstract/non-verbal reasoning as a substantial block within the 40-question section, alongside argument analysis and logical puzzles.

My child finds argument analysis easy but struggles with abstract reasoning. What should we do?

This is common. Abstract reasoning is the domain where targeted practice makes the biggest difference. Start with untimed ACER-style pattern matrix exercises, keep a "pattern log" of rules encountered, and gradually add time pressure over 4–6 weeks. Most students see significant improvement within 3–4 weeks of regular practice.

Last Updated: March 2026

Related Guides:

• NSW Selective Test Format 2026 - Complete test structure and timing
• How to Prepare for the Selective School Test - Full preparation roadmap
• Past Papers & Practice Tests - Where to find practice materials
• Computer-Based Test Tips - How to prepare for the digital format