1. Pattern spotting: the rule behind the numbers
Puzzle: 3, 5, 9, 17, … What comes next?
Solution: the gaps are 2, 4 and 8, so they double each time. The next gap is 16, which gives 17 + 16 = 33.
Check the gaps first, then look for doubling, halving or adding the previous two.
2. Word sense: spotting the relationship
Puzzle: Author is to book as composer is to …?
Solution: an author creates a book, so a composer creates a piece of music, such as a symphony.
Say the first relationship as a sentence, then apply the same sentence to the second pair.
3. Visual thinking: turning shapes in your head
Puzzle: How many edges does a square-based pyramid have?
Solution: the square base has 4 edges, and 4 more edges run up to the tip. That makes 8 edges in total.
Break a solid shape into simple parts you can count one by one.
4. Deduction: only what must be true
Puzzle: All the runners in the race wore trainers. Priya wore trainers. Was Priya in the race?
Solution: we cannot tell. The statement only works in one direction: being in the race means wearing trainers, not the other way round.
Focus on what the statements really say, not on what sounds likely.