OLSAT® Question Type: Classifications

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In this post, we start with an overview of "Classifications" question types, including what skills they measure and how many of these question types are on the OLSAT test. We also show you a sample question, accompanied by tips and strategies to help your student perform successfully on "Classifications" questions during the official OLSAT® exam.

Classifications: What To Expect?

‘Classification’ questions assess a student’s ability to identify what does not belong among a group of objects (figures or pictures). A student has to evaluate differences and similarities among the items in order to correctly answer the question.

These questions test a student’s ability to identify and classify common objects into basic categories by one or more common physical property or attribute (e.g., color, size, shape, weight, liquid/solid, quantity, function).

These questions test knowledge of common objects and categories, such as fruits, vegetables, flowers, reptiles, mammals, jungle animals, farm animals, tools, furniture, musical instruments, eating utensils, seasons, birds, etc.

Pre-K students taking the OLSAT® (for admission into Kindergarten) and Kindergarten students taking the OLSAT® (for admission into 1st Grade) are asked approximately 12 of these types of questions (seven picture classifications and five figural classifications questions).

Classifications: Sample Question

ANSWER: E

ANSWER: E

Classifications:Tips and Strategies

  • Encourage your student to carefully consider all the answer options before selecting one. Ask her to eliminate obviously wrong answers to narrow down the answer choices.
  • Ask your student to explain why she chose a specific answer. This will help you identify where your student is stumbling or provide the opportunity to reinforce understanding of a category and the object/s that can “belong” to it.
  • Encourage your student to expand on him knowledge of a category in a question. Ask him to name other objects that share the same characteristics and belong to a specific category.

    • What's Next?

    Learn more about the different question types on the OLSAT, including Following Directions, Aural Reasoning, Arithmetic Reasoning, Analogies, Series and Pattern Matrices.

    If you think you need more information and guidance about the OLSAT, check out our in-depth article on the test, as well as our posts on the verbal and non-verbal section.

    Also, learn everything you need to know about other tests that measure a child’s potential to learn in school, like the NNAT2.