OLSAT Level B key terms

The set of words a young child understands and can use when speaking or listening. OLSAT Verbal items often depend on knowing what common words mean before any reasoning can begin.

A word that means nearly the same thing as another word, such as 'big' and 'large'. Synonym items ask the child to pick the answer closest in meaning to a given word.

A word that means the opposite of another word, such as 'hot' and 'cold'. Antonym items ask the child to choose the answer that reverses the meaning of the given word.

A two-part comparison shown with pictures, read as 'A is to B as C is to what?' The child names the relationship in the first pair and applies the same relationship to the second pair.

A comparison stated in words rather than pictures, such as 'Bird is to nest as bee is to what?' The child must identify the link in the first pair and reuse it.

The connection that links two items in a pair, such as part-to-whole, worker-to-tool, or parent-to-baby. Naming the relationship out loud is the core skill in analogy items.

Sorting items into groups by a shared feature, or spotting the item that does not belong. Classification items test whether a child can find the rule that unites most choices.

The single item in a set that lacks the feature shared by all the others. The child must state what the other items have in common before choosing.

A named group of things that share something important, such as 'fruit', 'vehicles', or 'tools'. Category knowledge lets a child judge whether an item fits a set.

A noticeable quality of an item, such as color, size, shape, or texture. Comparing attributes is often how a child decides which picture is different.

Filling a missing word in a spoken or written sentence so the whole sentence makes sense. The correct choice must fit both the meaning and the grammar of the sentence.

Information in the rest of a sentence that hints at the meaning of an unknown word. Children use context clues to eliminate choices that do not fit the surrounding words.

Carrying out a stated instruction in the right order, such as 'circle the second picture after you cross out the first'. These items check listening and sequencing as much as vocabulary.

A word that tells where something falls in a line, such as first, second, third, or last. Ordinal words appear often in direction and sequencing items.

The order in which events or items come, from first to last. Sequence items ask the child to arrange steps or to say what happens next.

A reasonable conclusion drawn from clues rather than stated outright, such as deciding it rained because the ground is wet. Inference items reward careful listening to detail.

Understanding spoken language well enough to answer a question about it. At this level many items are read aloud, so comprehension depends on attention and hearing the words clearly.

Two words that end with the same sound, such as 'cat' and 'hat'. Rhyme items check sound awareness, which supports early reading and word play.

The first sound in a spoken word, such as the /b/ in 'ball'. Items may ask the child to match pictures that start with the same sound.

Phrases whose meaning is not literal, such as 'it is raining cats and dogs'. Items may ask what a common saying really means in everyday terms.

A repeating arrangement of shapes, colors, or symbols, such as circle, square, circle, square. The child must find the rule and say what comes next or what is missing.

A pattern that changes in a steady way, such as shapes growing larger or a design rotating a little each step. Spotting the direction of change is the key skill.

Any drawn shape or design used in a nonverbal item, such as a triangle, star, arrow, or simple drawing. Figures are compared by their features rather than by words.

The outline form of a figure, such as round, square, or triangular. Shape is one of the first features a child should check when comparing two figures.

How large or small a figure is compared with others in the same item. Size changes are often the rule in progression items, so it should be checked early.

Turning a figure around a point without flipping it, like the hands of a clock. A rotated figure keeps the same shape but points in a new direction.

Flipping a figure over a line so it appears as a mirror image. A reflected figure looks reversed, which is different from a rotated one.

The quality of a figure that can be folded along a line so both halves match exactly. Symmetry items ask the child to find the matching half or the fold line.

A grid of figures arranged in rows and columns where one cell is blank. The child reads across rows and down columns to find the rule and pick the missing figure.

A line of figures that changes step by step, with the child choosing what comes next. The rule may involve shape, size, color, count, or position.

A picture comparison read as 'first figure is to second figure as third figure is to what?' The child finds how the first pair changed and applies the same change.

Choosing the figure that does not belong with the others because it lacks their shared feature. The child must name the common feature before rejecting one figure.

Telling how many items are in a group, such as dots, sides, or corners. Counting items check whether a child notices number as a feature of a figure.

The amount of something in a figure, such as the number of dots, lines, or shapes. Quantity is a common rule in pattern and series items.

Where a figure sits relative to others, such as inside, outside, above, below, left, or right. Position changes are often the hidden rule in matrix items.

Thinking about how shapes look when moved, turned, folded, or combined in space. It underlies rotation, reflection, and paper-folding style items.

The idea that a figure can be split into pieces or built from smaller parts. Items may ask which pieces combine to make a given shape.

An answer choice designed to look tempting but that breaks the rule in some small way. Checking every feature against the rule is how a child rejects distractors.