OLSAT Level C cheat sheet

A synonym is a word with the same or nearly the same meaning; an antonym has the opposite meaning. Test each answer choice by substituting it into the original sentence.

Context clues: definition clues restate the word (often after 'or', 'that is', a dash, or a comma); contrast clues signal opposites with 'but', 'although', 'unlike', 'instead'.

Word-class check: before choosing, confirm the answer choice matches the part of speech of the target word (noun for noun, verb for verb).

Analogies use a fixed relationship expressed as a bridge sentence: 'A is a kind of B', 'A is the part to the whole B', 'A is the worker who uses tool B'.

Common analogy relationships: synonym, antonym, category-to-member, part-to-whole, cause-to-effect, function, degree (warm is to hot as cool is to cold).

Order in analogies follows the stem: if the stem reads A : B, the answer must read C : D in the same direction, never reversed.

Sentence completion: read the whole sentence first, predict a word, then eliminate choices; a choice that fits grammatically but contradicts a contrast word is wrong.

Passage questions: main idea answers must cover the whole passage, while detail answers must be traceable to a specific stated sentence.

Classification (odd-one-out): find the shared attribute of all but one item; the outlier may differ by category, function, material, or living/nonliving status.

Logical deduction with 'all', 'some', 'none': 'All A are B' plus 'All B are C' yields 'All A are C'; 'Some A are B' does not yield 'All A are B'.

Valid reversal rules: 'All A are B' does not imply 'All B are A'; 'No A are B' does imply 'No B are A'.

If-then reasoning: 'If P then Q' allows inferring Q from P (affirming the antecedent) and not-P from not-Q (contrapositive); inferring P from Q is invalid.

Ordering and sequencing problems: place the most constrained item first, then fill remaining positions using the 'before/after' clues.

Series completion with words or letters: check alphabet position shifts (+1, +2, alternating +2/-1) and letter-pair patterns before assuming meaning-based rules.

Either/or and negation: 'not all' means 'at least one is not'; 'not any' means 'none'; these are not interchangeable.

Elimination strategy: cross off choices contradicted by a single stated clue; remaining choices must satisfy every clue simultaneously.

Picture analogies: name the relationship in the first pair (tool-to-user, animal-to-home, part-to-whole, action-to-result), then apply the same relationship to the second pair.

Picture classification: identify the category shared by all but one picture (e.g., all are vehicles except a chair); the outlier is the answer.

Picture series: track one attribute at a time - size, number, color, orientation, or position - and check whether it increases, decreases, or alternates.

Picture sequencing (story order): arrange by natural cause-effect or time order, such as seed, sprout, plant, flower, fruit.

Common pictorial relationships to test: container-to-contents, worker-to-tool, object-to-material, young-to-adult, whole-to-part.

Pictorial deduction: if a picture is described as removed or added, count remaining items rather than guessing from the overall scene.

Watch for distractors that share a category but reverse the relationship direction (user-to-tool instead of tool-to-user).

Figural series: separate the figure into elements (outer shape, inner shape, dots, shading, rotation) and find each element's independent rule.

Rotation rules: quarter turns of 90 degrees clockwise or counterclockwise; half turns of 180 degrees; check orientation of a distinguishing feature such as an arrow or notch.

Reflection rules: mirror images flip left-right or top-bottom but preserve size; rotations preserve orientation of the shape, reflections reverse it.

Matrix (3x3) problems: read across rows and down columns; the third cell is often the combination, subtraction, or overlay of the first two.

Overlay rules: shapes may be added, removed (only lines in the first but not the second remain), or intersected; shading may invert in the result.

Counting rules: number of sides, dots, enclosed regions, or lines of symmetry may increase by a constant, double, or alternate.

Size and position rules: elements may grow or shrink by a fixed step, or move one position clockwise around the frame per step.

Odd-one-out figural items: compare number of sides, symmetry, open vs. closed figures, straight vs. curved lines, and shading.

A synonym is a word with the same or nearly the same meaning; an antonym has the opposite meaning. Test each answer choice by substituting it into the original sentence.

Context clues: definition clues restate the word (often after 'or', 'that is', a dash, or a comma); contrast clues signal opposites with 'but', 'although', 'unlike', 'instead'.

Word-class check: before choosing, confirm the answer choice matches the part of speech of the target word (noun for noun, verb for verb).

Analogies use a fixed relationship expressed as a bridge sentence: 'A is a kind of B', 'A is the part to the whole B', 'A is the worker who uses tool B'.

Common analogy relationships: synonym, antonym, category-to-member, part-to-whole, cause-to-effect, function, degree (warm is to hot as cool is to cold).

Order in analogies follows the stem: if the stem reads A : B, the answer must read C : D in the same direction, never reversed.

Sentence completion: read the whole sentence first, predict a word, then eliminate choices; a choice that fits grammatically but contradicts a contrast word is wrong.

Passage questions: main idea answers must cover the whole passage, while detail answers must be traceable to a specific stated sentence.

Classification (odd-one-out): find the shared attribute of all but one item; the outlier may differ by category, function, material, or living/nonliving status.

Logical deduction with 'all', 'some', 'none': 'All A are B' plus 'All B are C' yields 'All A are C'; 'Some A are B' does not yield 'All A are B'.

Valid reversal rules: 'All A are B' does not imply 'All B are A'; 'No A are B' does imply 'No B are A'.

If-then reasoning: 'If P then Q' allows inferring Q from P (affirming the antecedent) and not-P from not-Q (contrapositive); inferring P from Q is invalid.

Ordering and sequencing problems: place the most constrained item first, then fill remaining positions using the 'before/after' clues.

Series completion with words or letters: check alphabet position shifts (+1, +2, alternating +2/-1) and letter-pair patterns before assuming meaning-based rules.

Either/or and negation: 'not all' means 'at least one is not'; 'not any' means 'none'; these are not interchangeable.

Elimination strategy: cross off choices contradicted by a single stated clue; remaining choices must satisfy every clue simultaneously.

Picture analogies: name the relationship in the first pair (tool-to-user, animal-to-home, part-to-whole, action-to-result), then apply the same relationship to the second pair.

Picture classification: identify the category shared by all but one picture (e.g., all are vehicles except a chair); the outlier is the answer.

Picture series: track one attribute at a time - size, number, color, orientation, or position - and check whether it increases, decreases, or alternates.

Picture sequencing (story order): arrange by natural cause-effect or time order, such as seed, sprout, plant, flower, fruit.

Common pictorial relationships to test: container-to-contents, worker-to-tool, object-to-material, young-to-adult, whole-to-part.

Pictorial deduction: if a picture is described as removed or added, count remaining items rather than guessing from the overall scene.

Watch for distractors that share a category but reverse the relationship direction (user-to-tool instead of tool-to-user).

Figural series: separate the figure into elements (outer shape, inner shape, dots, shading, rotation) and find each element's independent rule.

Rotation rules: quarter turns of 90 degrees clockwise or counterclockwise; half turns of 180 degrees; check orientation of a distinguishing feature such as an arrow or notch.

Reflection rules: mirror images flip left-right or top-bottom but preserve size; rotations preserve orientation of the shape, reflections reverse it.

Matrix (3x3) problems: read across rows and down columns; the third cell is often the combination, subtraction, or overlay of the first two.

Overlay rules: shapes may be added, removed (only lines in the first but not the second remain), or intersected; shading may invert in the result.

Counting rules: number of sides, dots, enclosed regions, or lines of symmetry may increase by a constant, double, or alternate.

Size and position rules: elements may grow or shrink by a fixed step, or move one position clockwise around the frame per step.

Odd-one-out figural items: compare number of sides, symmetry, open vs. closed figures, straight vs. curved lines, and shading.

A synonym is a word with the same or nearly the same meaning; an antonym has the opposite meaning. Test each answer choice by substituting it into the original sentence.

Context clues: definition clues restate the word (often after 'or', 'that is', a dash, or a comma); contrast clues signal opposites with 'but', 'although', 'unlike', 'instead'.

Word-class check: before choosing, confirm the answer choice matches the part of speech of the target word (noun for noun, verb for verb).

Analogies use a fixed relationship expressed as a bridge sentence: 'A is a kind of B', 'A is the part to the whole B', 'A is the worker who uses tool B'.

Common analogy relationships: synonym, antonym, category-to-member, part-to-whole, cause-to-effect, function, degree (warm is to hot as cool is to cold).

Order in analogies follows the stem: if the stem reads A : B, the answer must read C : D in the same direction, never reversed.

Sentence completion: read the whole sentence first, predict a word, then eliminate choices; a choice that fits grammatically but contradicts a contrast word is wrong.

Passage questions: main idea answers must cover the whole passage, while detail answers must be traceable to a specific stated sentence.

Classification (odd-one-out): find the shared attribute of all but one item; the outlier may differ by category, function, material, or living/nonliving status.

Logical deduction with 'all', 'some', 'none': 'All A are B' plus 'All B are C' yields 'All A are C'; 'Some A are B' does not yield 'All A are B'.

Valid reversal rules: 'All A are B' does not imply 'All B are A'; 'No A are B' does imply 'No B are A'.

If-then reasoning: 'If P then Q' allows inferring Q from P (affirming the antecedent) and not-P from not-Q (contrapositive); inferring P from Q is invalid.

Ordering and sequencing problems: place the most constrained item first, then fill remaining positions using the 'before/after' clues.

Series completion with words or letters: check alphabet position shifts (+1, +2, alternating +2/-1) and letter-pair patterns before assuming meaning-based rules.

Either/or and negation: 'not all' means 'at least one is not'; 'not any' means 'none'; these are not interchangeable.

Elimination strategy: cross off choices contradicted by a single stated clue; remaining choices must satisfy every clue simultaneously.

Picture analogies: name the relationship in the first pair (tool-to-user, animal-to-home, part-to-whole, action-to-result), then apply the same relationship to the second pair.

Picture classification: identify the category shared by all but one picture (e.g., all are vehicles except a chair); the outlier is the answer.

Picture series: track one attribute at a time - size, number, color, orientation, or position - and check whether it increases, decreases, or alternates.

Picture sequencing (story order): arrange by natural cause-effect or time order, such as seed, sprout, plant, flower, fruit.

Common pictorial relationships to test: container-to-contents, worker-to-tool, object-to-material, young-to-adult, whole-to-part.

Pictorial deduction: if a picture is described as removed or added, count remaining items rather than guessing from the overall scene.

Watch for distractors that share a category but reverse the relationship direction (user-to-tool instead of tool-to-user).

Figural series: separate the figure into elements (outer shape, inner shape, dots, shading, rotation) and find each element's independent rule.

Rotation rules: quarter turns of 90 degrees clockwise or counterclockwise; half turns of 180 degrees; check orientation of a distinguishing feature such as an arrow or notch.

Reflection rules: mirror images flip left-right or top-bottom but preserve size; rotations preserve orientation of the shape, reflections reverse it.

Matrix (3x3) problems: read across rows and down columns; the third cell is often the combination, subtraction, or overlay of the first two.

Overlay rules: shapes may be added, removed (only lines in the first but not the second remain), or intersected; shading may invert in the result.

Counting rules: number of sides, dots, enclosed regions, or lines of symmetry may increase by a constant, double, or alternate.

Size and position rules: elements may grow or shrink by a fixed step, or move one position clockwise around the frame per step.

Odd-one-out figural items: compare number of sides, symmetry, open vs. closed figures, straight vs. curved lines, and shading.

A synonym is a word with the same or nearly the same meaning; an antonym has the opposite meaning. Test each answer choice by substituting it into the original sentence.

Context clues: definition clues restate the word (often after 'or', 'that is', a dash, or a comma); contrast clues signal opposites with 'but', 'although', 'unlike', 'instead'.

Word-class check: before choosing, confirm the answer choice matches the part of speech of the target word (noun for noun, verb for verb).

Analogies use a fixed relationship expressed as a bridge sentence: 'A is a kind of B', 'A is the part to the whole B', 'A is the worker who uses tool B'.

Common analogy relationships: synonym, antonym, category-to-member, part-to-whole, cause-to-effect, function, degree (warm is to hot as cool is to cold).

Order in analogies follows the stem: if the stem reads A : B, the answer must read C : D in the same direction, never reversed.

Sentence completion: read the whole sentence first, predict a word, then eliminate choices; a choice that fits grammatically but contradicts a contrast word is wrong.

Passage questions: main idea answers must cover the whole passage, while detail answers must be traceable to a specific stated sentence.

Classification (odd-one-out): find the shared attribute of all but one item; the outlier may differ by category, function, material, or living/nonliving status.

Logical deduction with 'all', 'some', 'none': 'All A are B' plus 'All B are C' yields 'All A are C'; 'Some A are B' does not yield 'All A are B'.

Valid reversal rules: 'All A are B' does not imply 'All B are A'; 'No A are B' does imply 'No B are A'.

If-then reasoning: 'If P then Q' allows inferring Q from P (affirming the antecedent) and not-P from not-Q (contrapositive); inferring P from Q is invalid.

Ordering and sequencing problems: place the most constrained item first, then fill remaining positions using the 'before/after' clues.

Series completion with words or letters: check alphabet position shifts (+1, +2, alternating +2/-1) and letter-pair patterns before assuming meaning-based rules.

Either/or and negation: 'not all' means 'at least one is not'; 'not any' means 'none'; these are not interchangeable.

Elimination strategy: cross off choices contradicted by a single stated clue; remaining choices must satisfy every clue simultaneously.

Picture analogies: name the relationship in the first pair (tool-to-user, animal-to-home, part-to-whole, action-to-result), then apply the same relationship to the second pair.

Picture classification: identify the category shared by all but one picture (e.g., all are vehicles except a chair); the outlier is the answer.

Picture series: track one attribute at a time - size, number, color, orientation, or position - and check whether it increases, decreases, or alternates.

Picture sequencing (story order): arrange by natural cause-effect or time order, such as seed, sprout, plant, flower, fruit.

Common pictorial relationships to test: container-to-contents, worker-to-tool, object-to-material, young-to-adult, whole-to-part.

Pictorial deduction: if a picture is described as removed or added, count remaining items rather than guessing from the overall scene.

Watch for distractors that share a category but reverse the relationship direction (user-to-tool instead of tool-to-user).

Figural series: separate the figure into elements (outer shape, inner shape, dots, shading, rotation) and find each element's independent rule.

Rotation rules: quarter turns of 90 degrees clockwise or counterclockwise; half turns of 180 degrees; check orientation of a distinguishing feature such as an arrow or notch.

Reflection rules: mirror images flip left-right or top-bottom but preserve size; rotations preserve orientation of the shape, reflections reverse it.

Matrix (3x3) problems: read across rows and down columns; the third cell is often the combination, subtraction, or overlay of the first two.

Overlay rules: shapes may be added, removed (only lines in the first but not the second remain), or intersected; shading may invert in the result.

Counting rules: number of sides, dots, enclosed regions, or lines of symmetry may increase by a constant, double, or alternate.

Size and position rules: elements may grow or shrink by a fixed step, or move one position clockwise around the frame per step.

Odd-one-out figural items: compare number of sides, symmetry, open vs. closed figures, straight vs. curved lines, and shading.

A synonym is a word with the same or nearly the same meaning; an antonym has the opposite meaning. Test each answer choice by substituting it into the original sentence.

Context clues: definition clues restate the word (often after 'or', 'that is', a dash, or a comma); contrast clues signal opposites with 'but', 'although', 'unlike', 'instead'.

Word-class check: before choosing, confirm the answer choice matches the part of speech of the target word (noun for noun, verb for verb).

Analogies use a fixed relationship expressed as a bridge sentence: 'A is a kind of B', 'A is the part to the whole B', 'A is the worker who uses tool B'.

Common analogy relationships: synonym, antonym, category-to-member, part-to-whole, cause-to-effect, function, degree (warm is to hot as cool is to cold).

Order in analogies follows the stem: if the stem reads A : B, the answer must read C : D in the same direction, never reversed.

Sentence completion: read the whole sentence first, predict a word, then eliminate choices; a choice that fits grammatically but contradicts a contrast word is wrong.

Passage questions: main idea answers must cover the whole passage, while detail answers must be traceable to a specific stated sentence.

Classification (odd-one-out): find the shared attribute of all but one item; the outlier may differ by category, function, material, or living/nonliving status.

Logical deduction with 'all', 'some', 'none': 'All A are B' plus 'All B are C' yields 'All A are C'; 'Some A are B' does not yield 'All A are B'.

Valid reversal rules: 'All A are B' does not imply 'All B are A'; 'No A are B' does imply 'No B are A'.

If-then reasoning: 'If P then Q' allows inferring Q from P (affirming the antecedent) and not-P from not-Q (contrapositive); inferring P from Q is invalid.

Ordering and sequencing problems: place the most constrained item first, then fill remaining positions using the 'before/after' clues.

Series completion with words or letters: check alphabet position shifts (+1, +2, alternating +2/-1) and letter-pair patterns before assuming meaning-based rules.

Either/or and negation: 'not all' means 'at least one is not'; 'not any' means 'none'; these are not interchangeable.

Elimination strategy: cross off choices contradicted by a single stated clue; remaining choices must satisfy every clue simultaneously.

Picture analogies: name the relationship in the first pair (tool-to-user, animal-to-home, part-to-whole, action-to-result), then apply the same relationship to the second pair.

Picture classification: identify the category shared by all but one picture (e.g., all are vehicles except a chair); the outlier is the answer.

Picture series: track one attribute at a time - size, number, color, orientation, or position - and check whether it increases, decreases, or alternates.

Picture sequencing (story order): arrange by natural cause-effect or time order, such as seed, sprout, plant, flower, fruit.

Common pictorial relationships to test: container-to-contents, worker-to-tool, object-to-material, young-to-adult, whole-to-part.

Pictorial deduction: if a picture is described as removed or added, count remaining items rather than guessing from the overall scene.

Watch for distractors that share a category but reverse the relationship direction (user-to-tool instead of tool-to-user).

Figural series: separate the figure into elements (outer shape, inner shape, dots, shading, rotation) and find each element's independent rule.

Rotation rules: quarter turns of 90 degrees clockwise or counterclockwise; half turns of 180 degrees; check orientation of a distinguishing feature such as an arrow or notch.

Reflection rules: mirror images flip left-right or top-bottom but preserve size; rotations preserve orientation of the shape, reflections reverse it.

Matrix (3x3) problems: read across rows and down columns; the third cell is often the combination, subtraction, or overlay of the first two.

Overlay rules: shapes may be added, removed (only lines in the first but not the second remain), or intersected; shading may invert in the result.

Counting rules: number of sides, dots, enclosed regions, or lines of symmetry may increase by a constant, double, or alternate.

Size and position rules: elements may grow or shrink by a fixed step, or move one position clockwise around the frame per step.

Odd-one-out figural items: compare number of sides, symmetry, open vs. closed figures, straight vs. curved lines, and shading.

A synonym is a word with the same or nearly the same meaning; an antonym has the opposite meaning. Test each answer choice by substituting it into the original sentence.

Context clues: definition clues restate the word (often after 'or', 'that is', a dash, or a comma); contrast clues signal opposites with 'but', 'although', 'unlike', 'instead'.

Word-class check: before choosing, confirm the answer choice matches the part of speech of the target word (noun for noun, verb for verb).

Analogies use a fixed relationship expressed as a bridge sentence: 'A is a kind of B', 'A is the part to the whole B', 'A is the worker who uses tool B'.

Common analogy relationships: synonym, antonym, category-to-member, part-to-whole, cause-to-effect, function, degree (warm is to hot as cool is to cold).

Order in analogies follows the stem: if the stem reads A : B, the answer must read C : D in the same direction, never reversed.

Sentence completion: read the whole sentence first, predict a word, then eliminate choices; a choice that fits grammatically but contradicts a contrast word is wrong.

Passage questions: main idea answers must cover the whole passage, while detail answers must be traceable to a specific stated sentence.

Classification (odd-one-out): find the shared attribute of all but one item; the outlier may differ by category, function, material, or living/nonliving status.

Logical deduction with 'all', 'some', 'none': 'All A are B' plus 'All B are C' yields 'All A are C'; 'Some A are B' does not yield 'All A are B'.

Valid reversal rules: 'All A are B' does not imply 'All B are A'; 'No A are B' does imply 'No B are A'.

If-then reasoning: 'If P then Q' allows inferring Q from P (affirming the antecedent) and not-P from not-Q (contrapositive); inferring P from Q is invalid.

Ordering and sequencing problems: place the most constrained item first, then fill remaining positions using the 'before/after' clues.

Series completion with words or letters: check alphabet position shifts (+1, +2, alternating +2/-1) and letter-pair patterns before assuming meaning-based rules.

Either/or and negation: 'not all' means 'at least one is not'; 'not any' means 'none'; these are not interchangeable.

Elimination strategy: cross off choices contradicted by a single stated clue; remaining choices must satisfy every clue simultaneously.

Picture analogies: name the relationship in the first pair (tool-to-user, animal-to-home, part-to-whole, action-to-result), then apply the same relationship to the second pair.

Picture classification: identify the category shared by all but one picture (e.g., all are vehicles except a chair); the outlier is the answer.

Picture series: track one attribute at a time - size, number, color, orientation, or position - and check whether it increases, decreases, or alternates.

Picture sequencing (story order): arrange by natural cause-effect or time order, such as seed, sprout, plant, flower, fruit.

Common pictorial relationships to test: container-to-contents, worker-to-tool, object-to-material, young-to-adult, whole-to-part.

Pictorial deduction: if a picture is described as removed or added, count remaining items rather than guessing from the overall scene.

Watch for distractors that share a category but reverse the relationship direction (user-to-tool instead of tool-to-user).

Figural series: separate the figure into elements (outer shape, inner shape, dots, shading, rotation) and find each element's independent rule.

Rotation rules: quarter turns of 90 degrees clockwise or counterclockwise; half turns of 180 degrees; check orientation of a distinguishing feature such as an arrow or notch.

Reflection rules: mirror images flip left-right or top-bottom but preserve size; rotations preserve orientation of the shape, reflections reverse it.

Matrix (3x3) problems: read across rows and down columns; the third cell is often the combination, subtraction, or overlay of the first two.

Overlay rules: shapes may be added, removed (only lines in the first but not the second remain), or intersected; shading may invert in the result.

Counting rules: number of sides, dots, enclosed regions, or lines of symmetry may increase by a constant, double, or alternate.

Size and position rules: elements may grow or shrink by a fixed step, or move one position clockwise around the frame per step.

Odd-one-out figural items: compare number of sides, symmetry, open vs. closed figures, straight vs. curved lines, and shading.

A synonym is a word with the same or nearly the same meaning; an antonym has the opposite meaning. Test each answer choice by substituting it into the original sentence.

Context clues: definition clues restate the word (often after 'or', 'that is', a dash, or a comma); contrast clues signal opposites with 'but', 'although', 'unlike', 'instead'.

Word-class check: before choosing, confirm the answer choice matches the part of speech of the target word (noun for noun, verb for verb).

Analogies use a fixed relationship expressed as a bridge sentence: 'A is a kind of B', 'A is the part to the whole B', 'A is the worker who uses tool B'.

Common analogy relationships: synonym, antonym, category-to-member, part-to-whole, cause-to-effect, function, degree (warm is to hot as cool is to cold).

Order in analogies follows the stem: if the stem reads A : B, the answer must read C : D in the same direction, never reversed.

Sentence completion: read the whole sentence first, predict a word, then eliminate choices; a choice that fits grammatically but contradicts a contrast word is wrong.

Passage questions: main idea answers must cover the whole passage, while detail answers must be traceable to a specific stated sentence.

Classification (odd-one-out): find the shared attribute of all but one item; the outlier may differ by category, function, material, or living/nonliving status.

Logical deduction with 'all', 'some', 'none': 'All A are B' plus 'All B are C' yields 'All A are C'; 'Some A are B' does not yield 'All A are B'.

Valid reversal rules: 'All A are B' does not imply 'All B are A'; 'No A are B' does imply 'No B are A'.

If-then reasoning: 'If P then Q' allows inferring Q from P (affirming the antecedent) and not-P from not-Q (contrapositive); inferring P from Q is invalid.

Ordering and sequencing problems: place the most constrained item first, then fill remaining positions using the 'before/after' clues.

Series completion with words or letters: check alphabet position shifts (+1, +2, alternating +2/-1) and letter-pair patterns before assuming meaning-based rules.

Either/or and negation: 'not all' means 'at least one is not'; 'not any' means 'none'; these are not interchangeable.

Elimination strategy: cross off choices contradicted by a single stated clue; remaining choices must satisfy every clue simultaneously.

Picture analogies: name the relationship in the first pair (tool-to-user, animal-to-home, part-to-whole, action-to-result), then apply the same relationship to the second pair.

Picture classification: identify the category shared by all but one picture (e.g., all are vehicles except a chair); the outlier is the answer.

Picture series: track one attribute at a time - size, number, color, orientation, or position - and check whether it increases, decreases, or alternates.

Picture sequencing (story order): arrange by natural cause-effect or time order, such as seed, sprout, plant, flower, fruit.

Common pictorial relationships to test: container-to-contents, worker-to-tool, object-to-material, young-to-adult, whole-to-part.

Pictorial deduction: if a picture is described as removed or added, count remaining items rather than guessing from the overall scene.

Watch for distractors that share a category but reverse the relationship direction (user-to-tool instead of tool-to-user).

Figural series: separate the figure into elements (outer shape, inner shape, dots, shading, rotation) and find each element's independent rule.

Rotation rules: quarter turns of 90 degrees clockwise or counterclockwise; half turns of 180 degrees; check orientation of a distinguishing feature such as an arrow or notch.

Reflection rules: mirror images flip left-right or top-bottom but preserve size; rotations preserve orientation of the shape, reflections reverse it.

Matrix (3x3) problems: read across rows and down columns; the third cell is often the combination, subtraction, or overlay of the first two.

Overlay rules: shapes may be added, removed (only lines in the first but not the second remain), or intersected; shading may invert in the result.

Counting rules: number of sides, dots, enclosed regions, or lines of symmetry may increase by a constant, double, or alternate.

Size and position rules: elements may grow or shrink by a fixed step, or move one position clockwise around the frame per step.

Odd-one-out figural items: compare number of sides, symmetry, open vs. closed figures, straight vs. curved lines, and shading.

A synonym is a word with the same or nearly the same meaning; an antonym has the opposite meaning. Test each answer choice by substituting it into the original sentence.

Context clues: definition clues restate the word (often after 'or', 'that is', a dash, or a comma); contrast clues signal opposites with 'but', 'although', 'unlike', 'instead'.

Word-class check: before choosing, confirm the answer choice matches the part of speech of the target word (noun for noun, verb for verb).

Analogies use a fixed relationship expressed as a bridge sentence: 'A is a kind of B', 'A is the part to the whole B', 'A is the worker who uses tool B'.

Common analogy relationships: synonym, antonym, category-to-member, part-to-whole, cause-to-effect, function, degree (warm is to hot as cool is to cold).

Order in analogies follows the stem: if the stem reads A : B, the answer must read C : D in the same direction, never reversed.

Sentence completion: read the whole sentence first, predict a word, then eliminate choices; a choice that fits grammatically but contradicts a contrast word is wrong.

Passage questions: main idea answers must cover the whole passage, while detail answers must be traceable to a specific stated sentence.

Classification (odd-one-out): find the shared attribute of all but one item; the outlier may differ by category, function, material, or living/nonliving status.

Logical deduction with 'all', 'some', 'none': 'All A are B' plus 'All B are C' yields 'All A are C'; 'Some A are B' does not yield 'All A are B'.

Valid reversal rules: 'All A are B' does not imply 'All B are A'; 'No A are B' does imply 'No B are A'.

If-then reasoning: 'If P then Q' allows inferring Q from P (affirming the antecedent) and not-P from not-Q (contrapositive); inferring P from Q is invalid.

Ordering and sequencing problems: place the most constrained item first, then fill remaining positions using the 'before/after' clues.

Series completion with words or letters: check alphabet position shifts (+1, +2, alternating +2/-1) and letter-pair patterns before assuming meaning-based rules.

Either/or and negation: 'not all' means 'at least one is not'; 'not any' means 'none'; these are not interchangeable.

Elimination strategy: cross off choices contradicted by a single stated clue; remaining choices must satisfy every clue simultaneously.

Picture analogies: name the relationship in the first pair (tool-to-user, animal-to-home, part-to-whole, action-to-result), then apply the same relationship to the second pair.

Picture classification: identify the category shared by all but one picture (e.g., all are vehicles except a chair); the outlier is the answer.

Picture series: track one attribute at a time - size, number, color, orientation, or position - and check whether it increases, decreases, or alternates.

Picture sequencing (story order): arrange by natural cause-effect or time order, such as seed, sprout, plant, flower, fruit.

Common pictorial relationships to test: container-to-contents, worker-to-tool, object-to-material, young-to-adult, whole-to-part.

Pictorial deduction: if a picture is described as removed or added, count remaining items rather than guessing from the overall scene.

Watch for distractors that share a category but reverse the relationship direction (user-to-tool instead of tool-to-user).

Figural series: separate the figure into elements (outer shape, inner shape, dots, shading, rotation) and find each element's independent rule.

Rotation rules: quarter turns of 90 degrees clockwise or counterclockwise; half turns of 180 degrees; check orientation of a distinguishing feature such as an arrow or notch.

Reflection rules: mirror images flip left-right or top-bottom but preserve size; rotations preserve orientation of the shape, reflections reverse it.

Matrix (3x3) problems: read across rows and down columns; the third cell is often the combination, subtraction, or overlay of the first two.

Overlay rules: shapes may be added, removed (only lines in the first but not the second remain), or intersected; shading may invert in the result.

Counting rules: number of sides, dots, enclosed regions, or lines of symmetry may increase by a constant, double, or alternate.

Size and position rules: elements may grow or shrink by a fixed step, or move one position clockwise around the frame per step.

Odd-one-out figural items: compare number of sides, symmetry, open vs. closed figures, straight vs. curved lines, and shading.

A synonym is a word with the same or nearly the same meaning; an antonym has the opposite meaning. Test each answer choice by substituting it into the original sentence.

Context clues: definition clues restate the word (often after 'or', 'that is', a dash, or a comma); contrast clues signal opposites with 'but', 'although', 'unlike', 'instead'.

Word-class check: before choosing, confirm the answer choice matches the part of speech of the target word (noun for noun, verb for verb).

Analogies use a fixed relationship expressed as a bridge sentence: 'A is a kind of B', 'A is the part to the whole B', 'A is the worker who uses tool B'.

Common analogy relationships: synonym, antonym, category-to-member, part-to-whole, cause-to-effect, function, degree (warm is to hot as cool is to cold).

Order in analogies follows the stem: if the stem reads A : B, the answer must read C : D in the same direction, never reversed.

Sentence completion: read the whole sentence first, predict a word, then eliminate choices; a choice that fits grammatically but contradicts a contrast word is wrong.

Passage questions: main idea answers must cover the whole passage, while detail answers must be traceable to a specific stated sentence.

Classification (odd-one-out): find the shared attribute of all but one item; the outlier may differ by category, function, material, or living/nonliving status.

Logical deduction with 'all', 'some', 'none': 'All A are B' plus 'All B are C' yields 'All A are C'; 'Some A are B' does not yield 'All A are B'.

Valid reversal rules: 'All A are B' does not imply 'All B are A'; 'No A are B' does imply 'No B are A'.

If-then reasoning: 'If P then Q' allows inferring Q from P (affirming the antecedent) and not-P from not-Q (contrapositive); inferring P from Q is invalid.

Ordering and sequencing problems: place the most constrained item first, then fill remaining positions using the 'before/after' clues.

Series completion with words or letters: check alphabet position shifts (+1, +2, alternating +2/-1) and letter-pair patterns before assuming meaning-based rules.

Either/or and negation: 'not all' means 'at least one is not'; 'not any' means 'none'; these are not interchangeable.

Elimination strategy: cross off choices contradicted by a single stated clue; remaining choices must satisfy every clue simultaneously.

Picture analogies: name the relationship in the first pair (tool-to-user, animal-to-home, part-to-whole, action-to-result), then apply the same relationship to the second pair.

Picture classification: identify the category shared by all but one picture (e.g., all are vehicles except a chair); the outlier is the answer.

Picture series: track one attribute at a time - size, number, color, orientation, or position - and check whether it increases, decreases, or alternates.

Picture sequencing (story order): arrange by natural cause-effect or time order, such as seed, sprout, plant, flower, fruit.

Common pictorial relationships to test: container-to-contents, worker-to-tool, object-to-material, young-to-adult, whole-to-part.

Pictorial deduction: if a picture is described as removed or added, count remaining items rather than guessing from the overall scene.

Watch for distractors that share a category but reverse the relationship direction (user-to-tool instead of tool-to-user).

Figural series: separate the figure into elements (outer shape, inner shape, dots, shading, rotation) and find each element's independent rule.

Rotation rules: quarter turns of 90 degrees clockwise or counterclockwise; half turns of 180 degrees; check orientation of a distinguishing feature such as an arrow or notch.

Reflection rules: mirror images flip left-right or top-bottom but preserve size; rotations preserve orientation of the shape, reflections reverse it.

Matrix (3x3) problems: read across rows and down columns; the third cell is often the combination, subtraction, or overlay of the first two.

Overlay rules: shapes may be added, removed (only lines in the first but not the second remain), or intersected; shading may invert in the result.

Counting rules: number of sides, dots, enclosed regions, or lines of symmetry may increase by a constant, double, or alternate.

Size and position rules: elements may grow or shrink by a fixed step, or move one position clockwise around the frame per step.

Odd-one-out figural items: compare number of sides, symmetry, open vs. closed figures, straight vs. curved lines, and shading.

A synonym is a word with the same or nearly the same meaning; an antonym has the opposite meaning. Test each answer choice by substituting it into the original sentence.

Context clues: definition clues restate the word (often after 'or', 'that is', a dash, or a comma); contrast clues signal opposites with 'but', 'although', 'unlike', 'instead'.

Word-class check: before choosing, confirm the answer choice matches the part of speech of the target word (noun for noun, verb for verb).

Analogies use a fixed relationship expressed as a bridge sentence: 'A is a kind of B', 'A is the part to the whole B', 'A is the worker who uses tool B'.

Common analogy relationships: synonym, antonym, category-to-member, part-to-whole, cause-to-effect, function, degree (warm is to hot as cool is to cold).

Order in analogies follows the stem: if the stem reads A : B, the answer must read C : D in the same direction, never reversed.

Sentence completion: read the whole sentence first, predict a word, then eliminate choices; a choice that fits grammatically but contradicts a contrast word is wrong.

Passage questions: main idea answers must cover the whole passage, while detail answers must be traceable to a specific stated sentence.

Classification (odd-one-out): find the shared attribute of all but one item; the outlier may differ by category, function, material, or living/nonliving status.

Logical deduction with 'all', 'some', 'none': 'All A are B' plus 'All B are C' yields 'All A are C'; 'Some A are B' does not yield 'All A are B'.

Valid reversal rules: 'All A are B' does not imply 'All B are A'; 'No A are B' does imply 'No B are A'.

If-then reasoning: 'If P then Q' allows inferring Q from P (affirming the antecedent) and not-P from not-Q (contrapositive); inferring P from Q is invalid.

Ordering and sequencing problems: place the most constrained item first, then fill remaining positions using the 'before/after' clues.

Series completion with words or letters: check alphabet position shifts (+1, +2, alternating +2/-1) and letter-pair patterns before assuming meaning-based rules.

Either/or and negation: 'not all' means 'at least one is not'; 'not any' means 'none'; these are not interchangeable.

Elimination strategy: cross off choices contradicted by a single stated clue; remaining choices must satisfy every clue simultaneously.

Picture analogies: name the relationship in the first pair (tool-to-user, animal-to-home, part-to-whole, action-to-result), then apply the same relationship to the second pair.

Picture classification: identify the category shared by all but one picture (e.g., all are vehicles except a chair); the outlier is the answer.

Picture series: track one attribute at a time - size, number, color, orientation, or position - and check whether it increases, decreases, or alternates.

Picture sequencing (story order): arrange by natural cause-effect or time order, such as seed, sprout, plant, flower, fruit.

Common pictorial relationships to test: container-to-contents, worker-to-tool, object-to-material, young-to-adult, whole-to-part.

Pictorial deduction: if a picture is described as removed or added, count remaining items rather than guessing from the overall scene.

Watch for distractors that share a category but reverse the relationship direction (user-to-tool instead of tool-to-user).

Figural series: separate the figure into elements (outer shape, inner shape, dots, shading, rotation) and find each element's independent rule.

Rotation rules: quarter turns of 90 degrees clockwise or counterclockwise; half turns of 180 degrees; check orientation of a distinguishing feature such as an arrow or notch.

Reflection rules: mirror images flip left-right or top-bottom but preserve size; rotations preserve orientation of the shape, reflections reverse it.

Matrix (3x3) problems: read across rows and down columns; the third cell is often the combination, subtraction, or overlay of the first two.

Overlay rules: shapes may be added, removed (only lines in the first but not the second remain), or intersected; shading may invert in the result.

Counting rules: number of sides, dots, enclosed regions, or lines of symmetry may increase by a constant, double, or alternate.

Size and position rules: elements may grow or shrink by a fixed step, or move one position clockwise around the frame per step.

Odd-one-out figural items: compare number of sides, symmetry, open vs. closed figures, straight vs. curved lines, and shading.

A synonym is a word with the same or nearly the same meaning; an antonym has the opposite meaning. Test each answer choice by substituting it into the original sentence.

Context clues: definition clues restate the word (often after 'or', 'that is', a dash, or a comma); contrast clues signal opposites with 'but', 'although', 'unlike', 'instead'.

Word-class check: before choosing, confirm the answer choice matches the part of speech of the target word (noun for noun, verb for verb).

Analogies use a fixed relationship expressed as a bridge sentence: 'A is a kind of B', 'A is the part to the whole B', 'A is the worker who uses tool B'.

Common analogy relationships: synonym, antonym, category-to-member, part-to-whole, cause-to-effect, function, degree (warm is to hot as cool is to cold).

Order in analogies follows the stem: if the stem reads A : B, the answer must read C : D in the same direction, never reversed.

Sentence completion: read the whole sentence first, predict a word, then eliminate choices; a choice that fits grammatically but contradicts a contrast word is wrong.

Passage questions: main idea answers must cover the whole passage, while detail answers must be traceable to a specific stated sentence.

Classification (odd-one-out): find the shared attribute of all but one item; the outlier may differ by category, function, material, or living/nonliving status.

Logical deduction with 'all', 'some', 'none': 'All A are B' plus 'All B are C' yields 'All A are C'; 'Some A are B' does not yield 'All A are B'.

Valid reversal rules: 'All A are B' does not imply 'All B are A'; 'No A are B' does imply 'No B are A'.

If-then reasoning: 'If P then Q' allows inferring Q from P (affirming the antecedent) and not-P from not-Q (contrapositive); inferring P from Q is invalid.

Ordering and sequencing problems: place the most constrained item first, then fill remaining positions using the 'before/after' clues.

Series completion with words or letters: check alphabet position shifts (+1, +2, alternating +2/-1) and letter-pair patterns before assuming meaning-based rules.

Either/or and negation: 'not all' means 'at least one is not'; 'not any' means 'none'; these are not interchangeable.

Elimination strategy: cross off choices contradicted by a single stated clue; remaining choices must satisfy every clue simultaneously.

Picture analogies: name the relationship in the first pair (tool-to-user, animal-to-home, part-to-whole, action-to-result), then apply the same relationship to the second pair.

Picture classification: identify the category shared by all but one picture (e.g., all are vehicles except a chair); the outlier is the answer.

Picture series: track one attribute at a time - size, number, color, orientation, or position - and check whether it increases, decreases, or alternates.

Picture sequencing (story order): arrange by natural cause-effect or time order, such as seed, sprout, plant, flower, fruit.

Common pictorial relationships to test: container-to-contents, worker-to-tool, object-to-material, young-to-adult, whole-to-part.

Pictorial deduction: if a picture is described as removed or added, count remaining items rather than guessing from the overall scene.

Watch for distractors that share a category but reverse the relationship direction (user-to-tool instead of tool-to-user).

Figural series: separate the figure into elements (outer shape, inner shape, dots, shading, rotation) and find each element's independent rule.

Rotation rules: quarter turns of 90 degrees clockwise or counterclockwise; half turns of 180 degrees; check orientation of a distinguishing feature such as an arrow or notch.

Reflection rules: mirror images flip left-right or top-bottom but preserve size; rotations preserve orientation of the shape, reflections reverse it.

Matrix (3x3) problems: read across rows and down columns; the third cell is often the combination, subtraction, or overlay of the first two.

Overlay rules: shapes may be added, removed (only lines in the first but not the second remain), or intersected; shading may invert in the result.

Counting rules: number of sides, dots, enclosed regions, or lines of symmetry may increase by a constant, double, or alternate.

Size and position rules: elements may grow or shrink by a fixed step, or move one position clockwise around the frame per step.

Odd-one-out figural items: compare number of sides, symmetry, open vs. closed figures, straight vs. curved lines, and shading.

A synonym is a word with the same or nearly the same meaning; an antonym has the opposite meaning. Test each answer choice by substituting it into the original sentence.

Context clues: definition clues restate the word (often after 'or', 'that is', a dash, or a comma); contrast clues signal opposites with 'but', 'although', 'unlike', 'instead'.

Word-class check: before choosing, confirm the answer choice matches the part of speech of the target word (noun for noun, verb for verb).

Analogies use a fixed relationship expressed as a bridge sentence: 'A is a kind of B', 'A is the part to the whole B', 'A is the worker who uses tool B'.

Common analogy relationships: synonym, antonym, category-to-member, part-to-whole, cause-to-effect, function, degree (warm is to hot as cool is to cold).

Order in analogies follows the stem: if the stem reads A : B, the answer must read C : D in the same direction, never reversed.

Sentence completion: read the whole sentence first, predict a word, then eliminate choices; a choice that fits grammatically but contradicts a contrast word is wrong.

Passage questions: main idea answers must cover the whole passage, while detail answers must be traceable to a specific stated sentence.

Classification (odd-one-out): find the shared attribute of all but one item; the outlier may differ by category, function, material, or living/nonliving status.

Logical deduction with 'all', 'some', 'none': 'All A are B' plus 'All B are C' yields 'All A are C'; 'Some A are B' does not yield 'All A are B'.

Valid reversal rules: 'All A are B' does not imply 'All B are A'; 'No A are B' does imply 'No B are A'.

If-then reasoning: 'If P then Q' allows inferring Q from P (affirming the antecedent) and not-P from not-Q (contrapositive); inferring P from Q is invalid.

Ordering and sequencing problems: place the most constrained item first, then fill remaining positions using the 'before/after' clues.

Series completion with words or letters: check alphabet position shifts (+1, +2, alternating +2/-1) and letter-pair patterns before assuming meaning-based rules.

Either/or and negation: 'not all' means 'at least one is not'; 'not any' means 'none'; these are not interchangeable.

Elimination strategy: cross off choices contradicted by a single stated clue; remaining choices must satisfy every clue simultaneously.

Picture analogies: name the relationship in the first pair (tool-to-user, animal-to-home, part-to-whole, action-to-result), then apply the same relationship to the second pair.

Picture classification: identify the category shared by all but one picture (e.g., all are vehicles except a chair); the outlier is the answer.

Picture series: track one attribute at a time - size, number, color, orientation, or position - and check whether it increases, decreases, or alternates.

Picture sequencing (story order): arrange by natural cause-effect or time order, such as seed, sprout, plant, flower, fruit.

Common pictorial relationships to test: container-to-contents, worker-to-tool, object-to-material, young-to-adult, whole-to-part.

Pictorial deduction: if a picture is described as removed or added, count remaining items rather than guessing from the overall scene.

Watch for distractors that share a category but reverse the relationship direction (user-to-tool instead of tool-to-user).

Figural series: separate the figure into elements (outer shape, inner shape, dots, shading, rotation) and find each element's independent rule.

Rotation rules: quarter turns of 90 degrees clockwise or counterclockwise; half turns of 180 degrees; check orientation of a distinguishing feature such as an arrow or notch.

Reflection rules: mirror images flip left-right or top-bottom but preserve size; rotations preserve orientation of the shape, reflections reverse it.

Matrix (3x3) problems: read across rows and down columns; the third cell is often the combination, subtraction, or overlay of the first two.

Overlay rules: shapes may be added, removed (only lines in the first but not the second remain), or intersected; shading may invert in the result.

Counting rules: number of sides, dots, enclosed regions, or lines of symmetry may increase by a constant, double, or alternate.

Size and position rules: elements may grow or shrink by a fixed step, or move one position clockwise around the frame per step.

Odd-one-out figural items: compare number of sides, symmetry, open vs. closed figures, straight vs. curved lines, and shading.