Note: 5th and 6th graders do not take the Perspectives Subtest.

In this test, you see fictitious constellations of stars. Some stars are light; others are dark. All stars are the same size. So, when some stars appear to be large, they are in the foreground of the constellation; when others appear to be small, they are in the background. Note that further stars might be hidden behind those that you see. Look at the example below. The perspective from which you see the constellation is assumed to be the view from the FRONT:

If the constellation would rotate in space or if you were in a spaceship orbiting it, you could see it from other perspectives, relative to the front view shown above. For instance, you might see it from the LEFT or from the RIGHT as indicated here:

The following four movies show you various rotations of the constellation. Suppose the constellation performs a rotation by 90 degrees in a horizontal plane, as shown in the first movie (once image loads, you may need to click start or play to begin the rotation).

At the end of the first movie, the constellation appears to you as seen from the RIGHT. To demonstrate this, the movie shows both the static front view (in Picture #1) and the constellation as it rotates (in Picture #2). Look at the rotation on the screen several times to understand the change of perspective.

If the constellation performed the same rotation in the opposite direction, you would see it from the LEFT. This rotation is shown in the second movie. Follow the second movie several times to see how the constellation looks from the LEFT.

If the the second movie continued for another 90 degrees, you could see the constellation from BEHIND.

The third and fourth movie show 90 degree rotations in a vertical plane, so that you see the constellation from ABOVE and from BELOW, respectively. The third movie shows you the rotation that results in the view from ABOVE. The fourth movie shows you the rotation that results in the view from BELOW. Start the rotations in the movies to see how the constellation looks from the various perspectives.

In the actual test, you will see more such constellations. In every task, two pictures of one constellation will be presented. Picture #1 will always show the FRONT view. The perspective from which you see the constellation in Picture #2 will not be named. It will be your task to find out whether that is the view from the RIGHT, from the LEFT, from ABOVE, from BELOW, or from BEHIND.

All images in the actual test will be static. Rotating images will be shown only in the tutorial preceding the test.

A complete outline of the number of questions per sub-test and the maximum time allowed for each tutorial and sub-test is available.

Here are six sample questions:

Remember: Fifth and Sixth graders do not take the Perspectives subtest.

Answers to the Perspectives Sample Items:

Perspective Test Answers
Item 1=Left
Item 2=Above
Item 3=Right
Item 4=Below
Item 5=Above
Item 6=Below

You can also view sample items for the Block Rotation, Surface Development and Visual Memory subtests.