Pattern spotting
Pattern spotters notice rules in sequences of numbers, letters or symbols. They ask: what changes from one step to the next, and by how much?
Practise by writing down the difference between each pair of neighbours.
Word sense
People with strong word sense quickly grasp how meanings relate: opposites, categories, parts and wholes, tools and their uses.
Practise with word analogies and odd-one-out lists.
Visual thinking
Visual thinkers picture objects, turn them, fold them or follow directions in their head. This helps with maps, diagrams and 3D shapes.
Practise by sketching the shape or direction instead of holding it all in mind.
Deduction
Deduction means drawing only the conclusions that must follow from what you know. Strong deductive thinkers avoid being led by what merely sounds plausible.