NNAT3 Level D key terms

A repeated or predictable arrangement of shapes, colors, sizes, or positions. Recognizing the rule behind a pattern lets you predict what comes next or fill in a missing piece.

The act of supplying the missing part of a figure so the whole follows its established design. The added piece must match the surrounding shapes in form, size, and orientation.

The absent section of a design, usually shown as a blank or question mark. Your job is to choose the option that fits seamlessly with the visible remainder.

A property where one half of a figure mirrors the other across a line, or repeats around a center point. Symmetry often supplies the rule for completing a partially shown design.

An imaginary straight line dividing a figure into two halves that are exact mirror images. Designs may have one, several, or no such lines.

A flip of a figure across a line, producing a mirror image. Reflected shapes keep their size and shape but reverse left and right relative to the line.

Turning a figure around a fixed point by a certain angle. The shape and size stay the same, but its orientation changes, which matters when matching options to a pattern.

An ordered series of figures or numbers in which each item follows from the one before by a consistent rule. Finding that rule lets you predict the next item.

The underlying principle that governs how a pattern or sequence changes from step to step. Rules may involve counting, adding, rotating, alternating, or combining features.

The step-by-step change in a series, such as growing by one side each time or shifting position by one cell. Identifying the direction and size of the change reveals the pattern.

A pattern in which two or more features take turns, such as shapes switching back and forth each step. The next item repeats the feature that appeared two steps earlier.

A relationship stated as A is to B as C is to what. You identify how the first pair relates, then apply the same relationship to the second pair.

The connection between two figures in a pair, such as one being larger, rotated, shaded, or containing the other. Naming the relationship precisely is the key to solving analogies.

Two figures presented together whose connection must be identified. In analogy items, the first pair sets the example and the second pair must follow the same logic.

A change applied to a figure, such as resizing, rotating, reflecting, shading, or moving it. Analogies often require applying the same transformation seen in the first pair.

The ability to picture and mentally manipulate shapes in space, including folding, unfolding, rotating, and combining them. It underlies items about paper folding and 3-D objects.

Imagining how a shape would look after being turned in your mind. This skill helps you decide whether two figures are the same object shown at different angles.

Bending or creasing a flat sheet so parts overlap, often followed by cutting or punching holes. Predicting the unfolded result requires tracking where each hole passes through layers.

Opening a folded sheet back to its flat form to reveal the pattern of cuts or holes. Each hole appears in every layer it passed through, mirrored across fold lines.

A hole cut through folded paper that produces multiple holes when the paper is opened. The number and positions depend on how many layers and where the fold lines lie.

A flat pattern that can be folded into a three-dimensional solid. Matching a net to its solid requires tracking which edges meet and which faces become adjacent.

A solid with six square faces. Cube items ask you to decide which flat net folds into a given cube or how faces will appear after folding.

Having height, width, and depth rather than lying flat. Spatial items may show solids viewed from an angle and ask how they look from another viewpoint.

The direction a figure faces, described by its tilt or turn. Two figures may be identical in shape yet differ in orientation, which can make one wrong for a pattern.

The fill of a shape, such as solid black, gray, striped, or white. Shading often carries a pattern rule, changing in a fixed order from one figure to the next.

How large or small a figure is relative to others. Size changes are common in sequences, where shapes may grow or shrink by a consistent amount each step.

Where a figure sits within a grid or frame, such as top-left or center. Position often shifts in a regular way, like moving one cell clockwise each step.

A framework of rows and columns that organizes figures into cells. Grids make it easier to describe movement and location precisely when solving patterns.

A single square or compartment within a grid. Tracking what occupies each cell helps you detect how shapes move or change across a sequence.

One distinct part of a figure, such as a dot, line, or small shape. Complex patterns often change one element at a time while others stay fixed.

A noticeable characteristic of a figure, including its shape, color, size, number of sides, or fill. Comparing features one by one is a reliable way to find the rule.

An answer choice designed to look plausible but break the rule in some detail. Common distractors differ by one feature, such as a flipped shape or wrong shading.

One of the options offered for selection. Checking each option against every feature of the rule, rather than just one, reduces careless errors.

Ruling out options that clearly violate the pattern so fewer choices remain. This strategy is useful when the rule is uncertain or when several options look similar.

A figure formed by joining or overlaying two or more shapes. Items may ask which result appears when shapes are merged, keeping or removing overlapping parts.

The area where two shapes cover the same space. Overlap rules may require adding shaded regions, cancelling them out, or showing only shared parts.

Tallying features such as sides, dots, or lines to detect a numerical rule. Sequences often increase or decrease a count by a fixed amount each step.