What the cube folding test measures
Each item shows a net: six squares that fold into a cube, with a symbol on every face. Five finished cubes are drawn below it, each showing three faces, and only one of them can come from that net. The other four break the net in one specific way: two faces shown side by side that are really opposite each other, the right three faces in mirror order around their corner, or a directional symbol turned the wrong way.
Candidates and prep sites link this item type to the Mako Trading aptitude test, a 37-question, 15-minute screen where you have about 24 seconds per question, and spatial items also appear in CCAT-style screens such as the CTC aptitude test. The drill here generates every item from the rules of cube geometry, and each one is checked by two independent folding programs before it is shown, so there is always exactly one right cube.
A three-step method
1. Opposite faces first
In a net, two squares with exactly one square between them in a straight row or column are opposite faces, and so are the two far ends of an L that wrap around onto each other. Opposite faces can never be seen together, so any cube showing both is out. This alone usually removes one or two options in a couple of seconds.
2. Corner order second
Three faces that meet at a corner always appear in the same clockwise order, however the cube is turned. Pick one face shown on top, find its two neighbours in the net, and check whether the option has them in the same clockwise order. A mirror-image arrangement is the most common trap.
3. Directions last
On Medium and Hard, arrows, corner triangles and L shapes point somewhere. Ask which neighbour the arrow points toward in the net, then check that it points toward the same neighbour on the cube. Leave this check for last: it is the slowest, and the first two steps often settle the item.
Scoring and pace
The drill scores +1 for a right answer and −1 for a wrong one. With five options a blind guess loses 0.6 points on average, so it pays to eliminate before you click. Aim for accuracy first; once you are above about 90% on Easy, move to a shorter clock or the next level.
FAQ
What is a cube folding test?
A cube folding test shows a flat net of six squares and asks which cube it folds into, or which net matches a cube. It measures spatial visualisation: tracking which faces end up next to each other and which way each symbol faces after folding.
Which trading firms use cube folding questions?
Candidates and prep sites tie cube folding to Mako's aptitude assessment, and spatial items also turn up in CCAT-style screens such as the ones used by CTC and Millennium. Firms rarely publish their item types, so treat this as candidate-reported, not official.
How do you solve cube folding questions fast?
Check opposite faces first: in a net, two squares with exactly one square between them in a straight line are opposite and can never be seen together, which removes most wrong cubes at once. Then check the order of the three visible faces around their shared corner, and only then the direction of any arrow or corner mark.
How is this drill scored?
Plus one for a right answer and minus one for a wrong one, so guessing among five options loses points on average. Your best net score is saved per level and length in this browser.
Is the cube folding drill free?
Yes. The full Easy drill is free at every length with no signup. Medium and Hard add symbols that point in a direction, so every face can also be turned, and are part of QuantVault Pro.
Practice every firm's OA: timed replicas, free game replicas and guides in one place →