How To Prepare For Spatial Visualization Test | Best Tips

Spatial visualization tests are designed to determine a candidate’s ability to manipulate 2D and 3D objects, visualize movements and changes between shapes, and spot patterns between those shapes.

Every day we use spatial reasoning as we deal with objects in our daily lives. In this article, we’ll show you how to prepare for spatial visualization tests by listing helpful tips.

What Is Spatial Visualization?

Lifehack defines spatial visualization as the ability to visualize items’ positions, shapes, movements, and relationships to other objects. 

Spatial thinking, or spatial reasoning, concerns the positions of objects, their shapes, their spatial relations to one another, and the movement they make.

It involves knowing and remembering the relative locations of objects in the mind. Then through imagining or visualizing, objects are influenced through mental movement or transformation to form new spatial relations.

Visual-spatial intelligence is one of Howard Gardner’s multiple intelligences. Gardner’s theory expands what we think of as intelligence.

It goes beyond academic intelligence, or to musical, verbal-linguistic, logical-mathematical, bodily-kinesthetic, interpersonal, intrapersonal, naturalistic, existential, and visual-spatial intelligence.

What Is The Spatial Visualization Test?

According to Practiceaptitudetests, spatial reasoning tests are aptitude tests that need candidates to draw conclusions about shapes based on restricted information.

Questions are object-based and to answer right you will need to visualize the movement, find patterns and use logic to find the right picture.

These tests can be described as spatial reasoning tests or spatial awareness tests, and are mostly used as part of the recruitment process for technical and engineering roles.

Spatial reasoning tests focus on the following::

• Shape matching
• Rotation of shapes
• Mirror images
• Block counting
• Maps
• Cube views
• Combining 2D shapes

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How To Prepare or Spatial Visualization Test

Spatial visualization tests are nerve cracking. Although they don’t require any previous knowledge, the unknown structure of the questions, the imagination needed to manipulate the images mentally, and the logic to find the answers without all the information is tricky.

Here are a few tips to help you succeed in the spatial visualization test and make the test count.

Step 1: Identify the publisher

Not all spatial visualization tests are similar. Different publishers create assessments that are used in various industries – so if you can find out who is publishing your test you can get a headstart on preparation.

Speak to the recruiter if the information is not provided in your application pack.

Step 2: Work on your weaknesses

In a spatial awareness test, you will find some questions difficult to answer correctly. When you spot such weaknesses during practice,  focus on them till you become good at them.

Step 3: Give yourself the best chance

Because most spatial reasoning examinations are administered online, you’ll most likely be doing yours at home.

To ensure that you are adequately prepared, get a good night’s sleep and a nutritious breakfast. Don’t forget to stay hydrated as well.

Make sure you’re taking the test in a quiet location where you won’t be disturbed. Lastly, ensure you have a strong internet connection.

Step 4: Practice

Practice is the best way to prepare for any aptitude test. When you do mock tests and practice spatial visualization questions, try to recreate exam conditions so you get used to working against the clock with no external help.

Step 5: Read the instructions

Before each spatial assessment, it is always a good idea to carefully read the instructions in the real test. They might suggest a different way to record your answers or provide other important information.

In some tests, there might be a demo question to try beforehand. Always spend a few moments answering this, to get yourself ready for the real test.

Step 6: Structure your time

In spatial visualization tests, one of the key elements is time. You need to master how to maximize the little time given.

You can start by dividing the whole time allotted by the number of questions, to get an idea of how long you have for each question.

The practice you do will help you identify patterns, look for rules, and get to the answer – if you take enough time to fully read and understand the question.

Step 7: Understand what the question is asking for

Before you look at the answers, understand what the question is asking. This entails taking some time to examine the given shapes or images, and imagining what the answers might be.

For example, if the question asks you to find the mirrored image, you are expected to picture the mirrored image first.

Step 8: Rule out definite wrong answers

The benefit of a multiple-choice answer is that there are likely to be obviously wrong answers that you can strike off immediately.

One of the easiest ways to manipulate the image is by looking at the way the question is answered and comparing your options.

Step 9: Think logically

Even if you can’t come up with a response, it’s crucial not to panic. Because the spatial reasoning test is a multiple-choice test, you may usually eliminate a few possibilities as definite ‘no’s. 

Then, using logic, try to make a decision between any remaining possibilities. Remember that if you have time left over towards the end, you can always return to any difficult questions.

Step 9: Develop your spatial skills

Try drawing things in 3D, doing jigsaws, rotating shapes in front of the mirror, or assembling complex model kits using plans. These are all ways to train your brain at spatial visualization.

Step 10: Check over your answers

At the end of the test, check through the test and make sure that you have answered all the questions, or go back to the questions you found tricky and spend a bit more time answering them.

What To Expect In Spatial Visualization Tests

Suppose you are due to take an application in a career that requires spatial reasoning, such as architecture or engineering.

In that case, you will be taking a spatial visualization test as part of that application.

Consequently, you must be able to develop and demonstrate these skills effectively. So knowing what to expect in a spatial ability test is extremely useful.

These are some of the more common questions types in a spatial reasoning test:

1. Organising 2D shapes

In this question type, you must display your ability to correctly manipulate 2D shapes. You will need to answer which option accurately represents the manipulation of the shape that it is asking you to achieve. Questions of this style test your ability to understand relative size and orientation.

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2. Transforming 2D nets to 3D shapes

Here you are to manipulate a 2D net shape like a cube and identify which of the answer options can be created by that 2D net.

This can be tough due to figuring out each side of the shape as it requires you to work out how each side will look once it’s been folded together and rotated.

3. Rotation and reflection

In this question type, you must manipulate a 2D or 3D shape with rotation or reflection.

Many people believe these question types to be of the easier variety because they require spatial reasoning, which is something that most people are familiar with.

Mentally rotating 3D shapes, on the other hand, can be far more difficult and requires a thorough understanding of an object’s attributes.

The answer alternatives will all be in 3D, but you’ll usually see a mark or design on the side of the shape to help you recognize the point as an anchor.

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Why Visual-Spatial Skills Matter

According to an article published on frontiersin.org, the visual-spatial ability is a cognitive precursor directly impacting academic achievement such as mathematics-related tasks.

An alternative assumption might be that visual-spatial ability impacts academic achievement via other cognitive abilities.

Visual-spatial skills are becoming increasingly important in the workplace. Architects and designers used to be the only ones who could do it, but now a growing number of programming, computer, and tech positions require people to be able to mentally move objects in space.

In fact, you need visual-spatial skills to be able to think abstractly and understand how details fit together to create the big picture. So, whether you’re painting, playing, building, or roaming, spatial skills matter.

FAQs On Spatial Visualization

Conclusion

In spatial visualization tests, you’re likely to find certain types of questions harder to answer correctly. You might find it difficult to visualize 3D shapes, it’s normal. All it takes to succeed at it is practice and focus. Keep practicing!

References

• assessment-training.com – Tips to pass a Spatial Reasoning test
• betterhelp.com – What Is Spatial Visualization?
• lifehack.org – How To Improve Your Visual-Spatial Skills
• practiceaptitudetests.com – What is spatial reasoning?

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