Spatial ability
Figure analysis (paper folding)
Figure analysis is the CAT4's paper-folding test. A square of paper is folded, holes are punched through it, and your child picks what it looks like opened out.
What the questions look like
A row of pictures shows the square being folded one step at a time, then where the holes are punched. Five answer options show unfolded squares with different patterns of holes.
In the digital test at Levels A to G this section lasts 9 minutes, with worked examples and untimed practice questions first.
What it measures
GL Assessment describes this as visualisation: building a mental picture, holding it in mind and changing it. It sits in the spatial ability battery.
Try one
An original example at Level B. Choose an answer, then check it to see the explanation.
The square is folded, then holes are punched through every layer. What does it look like unfolded?
Keys 1 to 5 choose an answer. Enter continues.
How to approach it
- Unfold one step at a time, starting with the last fold.
- Each fold line is a mirror: every hole gets a twin the same distance from it.
- Count holes: each fold doubles the holes punched through both layers.
Common mistakes
- Unfolding only the last fold, so half the holes are missing.
- Mirroring across the wrong line, especially after a diagonal fold.
- Losing track of which layers a punch went through when the paper was folded twice.