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Not sure if you practice to prepare for your spatial reasoning test? According to research, 50-80% of candidates are rejected based on their aptitude test results. It is proven that practice increases your chances of getting hired.
A recent study (Bradley et al, 2019) found that candidates who do not practice assessments, tend to fail at the first hurdle of psychometric assessments (54%-84%). The study considered the Top 100 global employers.
In this guide, we will uncover:
Without further ado, let’s dive right in!
Spatial reasoning tests are assessments created to evaluate a candidate’s capacity to understand and manipulate spatial relationships between objects. The tests vary but they generally involve manipulating 2D and 3D objects, spotting patterns between shapes, and visualising movements and changes in those shapes.
Spatial reasoning tests measure your ability to understand and manipulate spatial relationships between objects. This test also assesses how well you can visualise objects from different perspectives, identify patterns, and solve problems involving spatial arrangements.
Did you know? Some employers sometimes use a special spatial IQ test to measure a candidate’s IQ in dealing with spatial judgement and visualization. Typically these spatial intelligence tests vary from those used in hiring.
Check out this short video to gain more insights on what spatial reasoning tests involve:
Employers generally use spatial visualisation ability tests to assess a candidate’s spatial reasoning ability to determine their suitability for job roles that require spatial thinking skills. Spatial reasoning tests are also an efficient way to assess important skills without requiring extensive interviews or work samples.
Some job roles that require spatial reasoning skills include:
These are some popular job roles that require spatial thinking skills. Let’s now take a look at some spatial reasoning test providers used by most employers for screening.
Many employers use a third-party provider for their spatial reasoning tests. It is important to know the different spatial relations test providers to help practice the different spatial thinking test formats to sharpen your skills.
Test publishers may provide spatial recognition tests under logical reasoning tests or as abstract reasoning tests. Key providers of these spatial tests include:
But who uses these spatial reasoning assessments? Let’s find out below.
Top employers that use spatial reasoning tests in their recruitment process include:
Check out our employer guides to discover more helpful tips about employer recruitment process, and how you can prepare and pass first time!
What do these employers use spatial reasoning tests to assess? Let’s find out below!
Spatial reasoning skills are valuable in various workplace settings across a broad range of careers and industries. Some practical examples include:
Possessing strong spatial reasoning skills is very important if you are seeking a career in the above mentioned areas.
Let’s now take a look at some common spatial reasoning questions you are likely to find in these job assessments.
As mentioned earlier, spatial reasoning questions vary, depending on the test provider or the job role. However, spatial reasoning questions generally follow five basic formats, which are:
Let’s look at each of these spatial reasoning question formats to understand what is involved in resolving them.
Organising 2D shapes simply requires assembling or disassembling 2D shapes. In the test, the questions will display a few 2D shapes and ask you to select which of the answer options of shapes can be formed by combining all the different shapes you were presented with.
On the other hand, you may be asked to do otherwise: select from the options which group of shapes combine to create a displayed shape. The shapes may be labelled to help you distinguish between the angles.
Here’s a sample spatial reasoning question from SHL:
Organising 2D Shapes Tip: Look for patterns in the arrangement of the shapes. Make sure to pay attention to the edges of the shapes and try to arrange them mentally.
Transforming 2D images into 3D requires a high level of spatial intelligence. In transforming 2D nets to 3D shapes, the questions will present you with a 2D net and asked to choose from the answer options what object can be created by transforming that 2D net.
Note that a 2D net is simply a representation of a 3D shape. It is usually an unfolded cube, a cuboid, or any solid shape with edges. Check out our similar style question below:
Transforming 2D Nets Into 3D Shapes Example Question
Transforming 2D Nets Tip: Develop a strong understanding of cubes, prisms, pyramids, cylinders, and cones. Try to understand their characteristics, including the number of faces, edges, and vertices.
Rotations and reflections in a spatial reasoning exam evaluate your ability to mentally rotate shapes. This requires a solid understanding of the components of the shape and also a good memory.
Similar to rotation, reflection involves flipping or mirroring the perspective of a shape or image. Both processes require paying attention to details and good spatial reasoning skills.
Rotations and Reflections Tip: Try to identify reference points or landmarks within the shape that remain fixed during rotation or reflection. This can serve as an anchor to guide your understanding of how the shape transforms.
Block counting involves correctly counting the number of blocks in a pile of blocks you are shown. The challenge in this spatial visualisation test is that you won’t be able to see all the blocks in the pile because they are stacked together and displayed in a 3D dimension.
The task requires you to work out how many blocks make the shape, which is another key method to test your spatial reasoning ability.
Spatial Reasoning Block Counting Question Example
Block Counting Tip: Break the figure into smaller sections and count the blocks within each section separately.
Map reading is a timed spatial awareness test question designed to assess your sense of direction and ability to think quickly. This question will provide you with a 2D map or a plan on how to navigate the map.
Map Reading Tip: Replicate the map characters with real-life objects around you. This will help you have a clearer sense of the directions to follow.
Having checked out different spatial orientation test formats, let’s now consider our top tips to overcome this type of psychometric test with ease.
Solving spatial reasoning questions can be tricky and requires skill and attention to detail. Here are practical tips to help you ace them!
It is important to get familiar with different types of questions and formats and improve your problem-solving skills and practicing ahead can help you achieve this. It also helps you get familiar with the exact format of the provider your employer uses.
Be sure you understand the rules of rotation and reflection, such as the centre of rotation, angle of rotation, and axis of reflection. These are key concepts used for spatial reasoning exercises by most providers.
Spatial reasoning exams can be tricky. It is therefore important to ensure you understand the instructions by carefully reading them and paying attention to any specific rules or constraints provided. Also, make sure you understand the format of the question before attempting it.
Checking for the symmetry and patterns in the shape can help you predict how the shape will transform, especially for rotation and reflection questions. Doing this is also a great way to verify the correctness of your solution.
Spatial reasoning questions are often timed, so do not get carried away trying to solve a question. Allocate time for each question and if you are stuck, move on to the next.
Watch this short video that gives more tips on how to pass spatial visualisation ability tests:
Looking to further your spatial reasoning test preparation?
That is the gist of spatial awareness tests. If you have further questions about this kind of assessment, below are other questions aspiring candidates are asking.
Spatial thinking is generally used as an umbrella term to describe various concepts such as spatial ability, visual perception, and spatial intelligence.
Spatial reasoning test formats vary in difficulty level. They are generally tricky but with practice you can improve your spatial reasoning skills.
People with high spatial intelligence possess a good ability to visualise objects in different dimensions.
The word “spatial” is used to describe things related to areas or space.
You can fail a spatial reasoning test if you do not interpret or visualise the spatial information in the question correctly.
Do you want to ace your spatial reasoning test and other assessments first time? Go to GF, the only aptitude practice test expert providing practice test solutions to over 150 UK universities and their students, and also across Asia and continental Europe. Practice with peace of mind without commitment to a full 100% money-back guarantee if you do not pass your job tests.
Do you want to ace your spatial reasoning test and other assessments first time? Go to GF, the only aptitude practice test expert providing practice test solutions to over 150 UK universities and their students, and also across Asia and continental Europe.
Practice with peace of mind without commitment to a full 100% money-back guarantee if you do not pass your job tests.
Start Preparing Today
