Cubes and nets: 11 Plus non-verbal reasoning practice
Fold a net with symbols in your head and find the cube it makes.
OftenIn many papers, especially GL AssessmentAbout 45 seconds a question in the test
The big idea
A net folds into a cube. Two quick checks find most answers. First, faces that are opposite each other on the cube can never be seen together: on the net, opposite faces are never touching (in a straight row of three, the first and third are opposite). Second, the order matters: a cube can show three symbols in one order but not in its mirror image.
Tips that save marks
Cross out any cube that shows two opposite faces.
Pick one face as the top, fold its neighbours down around it, and see which side each lands on.
Check the order clockwise around the corner, not just which symbols appear.
Now try five
Try each one before you look at the answer: answering from memory is what makes it stick. Tap an option to check it. Most children get three or four right at first; five out of five means move on to the next topic.
Question 1Aim for about 45 seconds
Which cube can be made from this net?
Show the worked answer
Answer: B
How to work it out
First rule out cubes that show two opposite faces: on the net, opposite faces are never next to each other (in a row of three, the first and third are opposite).
Then check the order: fold the net in your head around one face and see which way the other two go.
Why the other options are wrong
A: All three symbols can be next to each other, but not in this order: this is the mirror image of a real corner.
C: All three symbols can be next to each other, but not in this order: this is the mirror image of a real corner.
D: Two of these faces are opposite each other on the cube, so they can never be seen at the same time.
E: Two of these faces are opposite each other on the cube, so they can never be seen at the same time.
Question 2Aim for about 45 seconds
Which cube can be made from this net?
Show the worked answer
Answer: D
How to work it out
First rule out cubes that show two opposite faces: on the net, opposite faces are never next to each other (in a row of three, the first and third are opposite).
Then check the order: fold the net in your head around one face and see which way the other two go.
Why the other options are wrong
A: Two of these faces are opposite each other on the cube, so they can never be seen at the same time.
B: All three symbols can be next to each other, but not in this order: this is the mirror image of a real corner.
C: Two of these faces are opposite each other on the cube, so they can never be seen at the same time.
E: All three symbols can be next to each other, but not in this order: this is the mirror image of a real corner.
Question 3Aim for about 45 seconds
Which cube can be made from this net?
Show the worked answer
Answer: E
How to work it out
First rule out cubes that show two opposite faces: on the net, opposite faces are never next to each other (in a row of three, the first and third are opposite).
Then check the order: fold the net in your head around one face and see which way the other two go.
Why the other options are wrong
A: Two of these faces are opposite each other on the cube, so they can never be seen at the same time.
B: All three symbols can be next to each other, but not in this order: this is the mirror image of a real corner.
C: All three symbols can be next to each other, but not in this order: this is the mirror image of a real corner.
D: Two of these faces are opposite each other on the cube, so they can never be seen at the same time.
Question 4Aim for about 45 seconds
Which cube can be made from this net?
Show the worked answer
Answer: E
How to work it out
First rule out cubes that show two opposite faces: on the net, opposite faces are never next to each other (in a row of three, the first and third are opposite).
Then check the order: fold the net in your head around one face and see which way the other two go.
Why the other options are wrong
A: All three symbols can be next to each other, but not in this order: this is the mirror image of a real corner.
B: Two of these faces are opposite each other on the cube, so they can never be seen at the same time.
C: Two of these faces are opposite each other on the cube, so they can never be seen at the same time.
D: All three symbols can be next to each other, but not in this order: this is the mirror image of a real corner.
Question 5Aim for about 45 seconds
Which cube can be made from this net?
Show the worked answer
Answer: A
How to work it out
First rule out cubes that show two opposite faces: on the net, opposite faces are never next to each other (in a row of three, the first and third are opposite).
Then check the order: fold the net in your head around one face and see which way the other two go.
Why the other options are wrong
B: All three symbols can be next to each other, but not in this order: this is the mirror image of a real corner.
C: All three symbols can be next to each other, but not in this order: this is the mirror image of a real corner.
D: Two of these faces are opposite each other on the cube, so they can never be seen at the same time.
E: Two of these faces are opposite each other on the cube, so they can never be seen at the same time.
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