University of Cambridge Cognitive Ability Test

I do not understand the shape problems. How are they solved? Does then pattern progress left to right, top to bottom? Or is that part of the riddle?

For the dice questions, which rotation on the is being performed? I think that's part of the riddle, most rotations are impossible given the initial position.

Either am an idiot or the solution to the riddles is something taught in school, which is something I've never been taught.