The phrase refers to a specific type of assessment typically accessed or distributed in a portable document format. This assessment measures an individual’s aptitude for reasoning and problem-solving using visual patterns and designs, without relying on verbal skills or knowledge. An example would be a collection of abstract figures where the task is to identify the missing figure in a sequence or to determine which figure does not belong in a group.
Such assessments are valuable because they can provide insights into cognitive abilities independent of language proficiency and prior academic learning. This makes them useful in evaluating individuals from diverse linguistic backgrounds, those with learning disabilities that affect language, or those who are very young. Historically, these types of tests have been used in educational placement, identifying gifted students, and in neuropsychological evaluations.
