The case study examines the challenges of secondary vocational education in Slovakia, focusing on the preparation of students in technically oriented study programs for practical applications. Its primary objective is to explore the relationship between students' geometric and spatial skills and their proficiency in solving spatial representation tasks relevant to their fields. Utilizing a custom stereometrical test and a revised mental rotation test, the research employs both quantitative and qualitative analyses, including graphs, tables, and content analysis of solutions, alongside statistical methods such as Item Response Theory with a one-dimensional 2PL model. Findings indicate that effective problem-solving in the relevant field is influenced not only by mental rotation skills but also by a comprehensive understanding of spatial geometry. The study sample comprises 544 students from ten secondary vocational or industrial schools in Slovakia, with detailed findings presented in the paper, emphasizing the need for a holistic approach in teaching spatial skills to enhance students' preparedness for real-world challenges in their careers.

Keywords: Visualization methods, spatial ability, secondary vocational education, mental rotation test, results and findings.