Spatial Ability: Meaning, Block Counting, Question and Answer

The NID-DAT exam evaluates your spatial ability and visual ability. Block counting is a critical exercise that improves these skills, enabling you to see and work with three-dimensional structures. This study guide will help you comprehend and become an expert at block counting so you'll be ready for this section of the test.The questions are asked to count visible and hidden cubes/blocks, which need strong visualisation skills in an aspirant. The Exercise is designed to cultivate the skills of aspirants from simple to advanced level.

This Story also Contains

1. What is Block Counting
2. Techniques and Challenges for Block Counting
3. Spatial Ability questions:

What is Block Counting

Block counting is figuring out how many distinct blocks—whether basic or complex—are present in a particular arrangement. A simple question in this section could be something like this.

Q1: Considering the given cubes of the same size and dimensions(two different views of the same arrangement), count the number of cubes in the given arrangement without any repetition.

Options:

1. A= 9

2. B= 10

3. C= 11

4. D=12

Techniques and Challenges for Block Counting

Layer-to-Layer Method

• Step 01: Break down Complex structures into individual layers.

• Step 02: Counting the blocks in each layer separately to later sum them all.

• Step 03: Identify if there are any hidden blocks or no blocks in the given space.

Symmetry vs Asymmetrical Arrangement of Blocks

The block arrangement provided usually follows a Symmetrical and Asymmetrical arrangement.

1. Symmetrical Arrangement

In block counting, symmetry describes a proportionate and balanced arrangement of blocks. One side of a symmetrical building is the mirror image of the other, and the other half is identical. Because you only need to count the blocks in half and then double the count to get the total number of blocks, this attribute makes the counting fast.

Next, we can count the number of cubes in either direction, either left or right of the arrangement, and multiply by two(2) to calculate the total number of cubes quickly.

2. Asymmetric Block Counting

Conversely, an imbalance or lack of proportion in the block arrangement is called asymmetry. Counting becomes more difficult since the two halves of an asymmetrical building are not identical. Each structure component must be looked at separately to determine the number of blocks in the given arrangement.

Tips & Tricks Worth Remembering

• Most aspirants were found attempting the question confidently, later to realise that they had overlooked the hidden blocks in the question image upon rechecking.

• Due to the Perspective View of the image, Miscounting is also a standard error that needs training and practice to overcome and crack the NID-DAT Examination.

• Whenever there is a cube in the air, it is evident that there is support below; thus, always consider the support below that cube as another or a set of cubes per the 3D visual image shared.

• For complex cubes, divide the arrangement into two or more fragments for easy visualisation and counting.

For example, in the above example, to count the cubes of the arrangement, first check if there is any asymmetry possible. Later, the arrangement is divided into Tower-A & Tower-B, including the non-common cubes between the towers.

Spatial Ability questions:

Q1: For the given two views of the same arrangement of cubes, count the number of cubes.

Hint: Try to find a line that divides the arrangement and break it down into two parts for counting

Q2: For the given arrangement of cubes, count the number of cubes.

Q3: For the given arrangement, count the number of cubes.