Spatial ability
Figure recognition (hidden shapes)
Figure recognition is the CAT4's hidden-shapes test. Your child finds the one design that contains a target shape at exactly the same size and the same way up.
What the questions look like
A simple target shape is shown with five busy line drawings. Only one drawing contains the target's complete outline; the others hold near misses.
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 holding a firm mental image of a shape, with its angles and lengths, and finding it among distractions. 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.
Which design contains the shape exactly, the same size and the same way up?
Keys 1 to 5 choose an answer. Enter continues.
How to approach it
- Pick one distinctive corner of the target and hunt for it first.
- Check every side. A near miss usually has one side too short or too long.
- Do not turn or flip the shape: it must be the same way up.
Common mistakes
- Choosing the shape flipped or turned round, which does not count.
- Accepting a shape with one side a little too long or too short.
- Searching the whole design at once instead of hunting for one distinctive corner.