Hole Punching PAT/DAT Practice Problem & Strategies
Hole Punching Problems on the PAT Section of the DAT
Overview:
The Hole Punching section of the Perceptual Ability Test (PAT) assesses spatial reasoning and mental folding skills. You will be shown a square piece of paper that is folded one to three times. Then, a hole is punched through the folded paper. Your task is to visualize how the holes will appear once the paper is unfolded back to its original form.
Each question provides four multiple-choice answer choices, and only one is correct.
Common Folding Patterns:
One Fold – The hole will be duplicated symmetrically across the fold.
Two Folds – The hole will appear four times in a symmetrical pattern.
Three Folds – The hole will appear eight times, distributed evenly based on the folds.
Strategies for Solving Hole Punching Problems:
Use the Line of Symmetry Rule
Each fold creates a mirror reflection of the hole punched before unfolding.
If a hole is near the fold, it will appear symmetrically mirrored on the other side.
Count the Folds
Every time you make a fold, the hole is duplicated across that fold.
The number of final holes = 2^n, where n is the number of folds.
Work Backward
Imagine the paper fully unfolded and trace back to the original punch location.
Avoid guessing; try sketching if needed.
Look for Symmetry
The final pattern will always be symmetrical. If an answer choice lacks symmetry, it is likely incorrect.
Eliminate Incorrect Answers
Check if any answer has extra or misaligned holes.
Some answer choices may have too many holes, immediately ruling them out.
Practice with Realistic Problems
Regular practice will help you recognize patterns and improve visualization skills.
QUESTION:
After the paper is fully unfolded, where will the holes be located?
