TACHS Ability

What to study

• figure matrices
• paper folding
• figure classification

How to approach the section

1. Separate attributes before proposing a rule: outline, orientation, position, count and shading. A matrix can change two attributes at once. State a rule that predicts a missing cell and then verify it against every complete row or column where it applies.
2. Read fold arrows in order, then undo the folds in reverse order. A punch goes through the layers actually present at its location. When unfolding, reflect every existing hole across the last fold before reversing the previous fold.
3. Find a property shared by all three reference figures and test each alternative against that property. Start with shape type, containment, line relationships, fill, symmetry and count. Size or orientation can vary while a deeper structural relationship stays fixed.
4. After a lesson, answer a fresh item and explain why the closest competing choice fails. Revisit that reasoning after a delay; recognizing a stored answer is less informative than reproducing the method.

Common mistakes

• Relying on unauthorized scratch paper after Mathematics.
• Using a rule that fits only one row or two reference figures.
• Assuming every punch produces a new distinct hole when it lies on a crease.

Put the method into practice