Problem Solving

In the Graphic Communication exam, problem solving is a key skill where you are asked to carefully study drawings and make decisions based on what you see. This often includes working out which view of an object is correct, identifying the correct sectional drawing, or finding the true shape or length of a surface. To answer these questions, you need to understand how drawings relate to 3D objects and how different views (like plan, elevation, and end elevations) fit together. It’s all about using visual thinking and interpreting technical drawings accurately to solve design-related problems.

Content

Sections

Spatial Awareness

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Sections

When deciding which sectional view is correct, there are important rules to remember:

Solid areas that have been cut through must be filled with hatching lines to show the material.
If the object has more than one part, the hatching lines on each part should go in different directions or angles to show they are separate.
Webs, bolts, nuts, and other standard parts like screws or washers are not hatched, even if they are cut through.
If the cutting plane passes through a hole, the inside of the hole should not be hatched, as it is empty space.

Example of how to answer a section question

Correctly identify the correct section of view X-X.

First, let's look at option A...

Because the holes are hatched, we know option A is incorrect. Now let's look at option B...

Because the web is hatched, we know option B is also incorrect, so let's look at option C...

Option C looks correct; however, let's look at option D to double-check our answer.

Because the holes are missing on option D, we can also rule it out, therefore confirming that option C was correct.

Spatial Awareness

To answer an isometric spatial awareness question correctly, it’s important to carefully study the drawing and think about what it’s showing you. This type of question tests your ability to visualise shapes in 3D and understand how different views connect. Here are some helpful things to ask yourself:

What features can I see? Look at the shapes, edges, holes, and other details.
What are the key features? Focus on parts that only appear once, look unusual, or stand out from the rest.
Which direction are the parts facing? Pay attention to the angles and the way the object is positioned.
Is it facing the right way? If it doesn’t look right, try to imagine turning the object, or even rotating the page to see it from another angle.