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Spatial Ability can be defined as ‘The ability to interpret and make drawings, form mental images, and visualize movement or change in those images.’ Spatial ability tests measure your ability to manipulate shapes in two dimensions or to visualize three-dimensional objects presented as two-dimensional pictures. These tests are usually of 20-40 minutes duration and contain 20-30 questions.

Spatial ability tests often involve the visual assembly and the disassembly of objects that have been rotated or which are viewed from different angles or objects that have different markings on their surfaces.

Spatial Ability - Shape Matching
In these types of question you will be presented with a number of objects only two of which are identical. These are speed questions and you will need to work quickly and attempt to answer as many as possible in the given time. Generally speaking, if the questions involve the manipulation of 2 dimensional objects then they are probably fairly straightforward, but you will be challenged to answer them all in the time you are given.

Spatial Ability - Group Rotation
This is slightly more complex than the rotations in the two-dimensional shape matching question.

Spatial Ability - Combining Shapes
These questions show you a series of 2-dimensional shapes. One of the shapes has been ‘cut up’ into pieces. The questions presents you with the pieces and you are asked to work out which of the shapes has been ‘cut up’.

Spatial Ability - Cube Views in 3-Dimensions
These questions show you several (usually 3) views of a 3-dimensional cube with unique symbols or markings on each face and then asks you a question about it. For example, which symbol is on the opposite face?

Spatial Ability - Other Solids in 2 and 3 Dimensions
These questions are similar to the cube questions above, but rather than cubes they use other solid shapes which may be irregular. In some respects, these questions are easier than the cube questions as there are more relationships to work with. In other words, each face of the solid shape has a shape of its own rather than just being square.

Spatial Ability - Maps and Plans
These questions often appear in tests for emergency services, military and law enforcement jobs where the ability to give or follow directions based on a map or street plan is essential.

All spatial ability tests rely on you being able to imagine what would happen in your mind's eye. Unfortunately, about 5% of the adult population find it impossible to imagine two-dimensional shapes being moved through a third dimension. This is thought to be because there is a genetic factor involved in spatial reasoning ability.

Spatial ability is required in production, technical and design jobs where plans and drawings are used, for example; engineering, architecture, surveying and design. However, it is also important in some branches of science where the ability to envisage the interactions of 3 dimensional components is essential.

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1.1 Spatial ability-Shape matching

Spatial ability questions may test either speed or power. Generally speaking, if the questions involve the manipulation of 2 dimensional objects then they are probably fairly straightforward, but you will be challenged to answer them all in the time you are given.

Example Shape Matching Questions
In this example, you are asked to look at two groups of simple, flat objects and find pairs that are exactly the same size and shape. Each group has about 25 small drawings of these 2-dimensional objects. The objects in the first group are labeled with numbers and are in numerical order. The objects in the second group are labeled with letters and are in random order. Each drawing in the first group is exactly the same as a drawing in the second group. The objects in the second group have been moved and some have been rotated.

1. Which shape in Group 2 corresponds to the shape in Group 1?


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Answers 1. X 2. P 3. M 4. V 5. G
6. A 7. D 8. T 9. C 10. B
11. W 12. E 13. U 14. Y 15. F
16. S 17. H 18. K 19. J 20. L
21. O 22. N 23. Q 24. R 25. I 


This is very much a speed test as you will be given far more of these questions than you can comfortably answer in the given time. These questions use a large number of shapes that are presented close together. Some people find this very distracting and find it easier to work through the shapes in the second group systematically.

In some questions of this type there may not be a one-to-one match and some of the shapes in the first group may not appear in the second. The way that the question is worded will make this clear. If this is the case then you should be especially careful to look out for reflections in the second group. These are often put in by the test designers to trap the unsuspecting. For example:

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The shapes in Group A are rotations of each other. The shapes in Group B are also rotations of each other. However none of the shapes in group A are rotations of those in Group B.

Visual Comparison – Two Dimensional
In these types of question you will be presented with a number of objects only two of which are identical. Once again these are speed questions and you will need to work quickly and attempt to answer as many as possible in the given time

Example Question
26. Which two pictures are identical?


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Answer
26. C and E are the only two pictures which are identical

The best strategy for these types of question is to begin with the shape on the left and work through the shapes to the right of it systematically looking for an exact match. If there isn’t one then move on to the second shape and repeat the process. It can be quite difficult to discipline yourself to adopt this systematic approach to these types of question, as you may think that it is quicker just to look at all of the shapes until the answer’ jumps out’ at you. The problem with this is that if the answer doesn’t ‘jump out’ fairly quickly then panic sets in and you usually resort to the systematic approach anyway.

When you are confronted with a large number of similar types of question on a single page, the questions other than the one you are trying to answer can be distracting. You may find that it helps to cover them and concentrate only on the two shapes that you are comparing.