Folding and Nets

Folding and nets questions test your ability to visualise in 3D. You might be asked what happens when a piece of paper is folded and a hole is punched, or which 3D shape a flat net would make when folded up. These are among the trickiest NVR question types, but with the right strategies you can tackle them confidently.

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Part 1: Paper Folding

In a paper-folding question, a piece of paper is folded one or more times, and then something happens to it (usually a hole is punched or a corner is cut off). You must work out what the paper looks like when it is unfolded again.

The Key Rule

Every fold creates a line of symmetry. When you unfold the paper, the holes or cuts are reflected across each fold line, just like a mirror.

How Many Holes?

Number of folds	Holes punched while folded	Total holes when unfolded
1 fold	1 hole	2 holes
2 folds	1 hole	4 holes
3 folds	1 hole	8 holes