Look for the rule
Check how each term changes: adding, multiplying, alternating, or rotating.
2, 6, 18, 54 … each term is multiplied by 3, so the next is 162.
Study Resources
Thinking Skills
Thinking Skills questions in the OC and Selective tests reward clear, step-by-step reasoning. These strategies help with the most common question types.
Patterns and sequences
Check more than one change
In shape patterns, track size, colour, position and number separately.
A shape might rotate 90° each step while also gaining a dot.
Logical reasoning
Use a grid
For “who owns what” puzzles, draw a table and cross out what is impossible.
If Ana doesn't have the dog and Ben has the cat, Ana must have the fish.
Test each option
When stuck, try each answer choice against every clue and eliminate those that break a rule.
Spot the flaw
For argument questions, ask whether the conclusion really follows from the evidence given.
“All the shops I visited were closed, so every shop in town is closed” jumps to a conclusion.
Spatial reasoning
Track one feature
When folding, rotating or reflecting, follow a single distinctive mark to see where it ends up.
Count faces, edges and corners
For nets and 3D shapes, check that the counts match before choosing an answer.
A cube net always has 6 squares.