Explained per part › Abstract reasoning (figures)
Abstract reasoning (figures)
You see a series or grid of figures and look for the rule: what moves, rotates, changes colour or is added? Then you choose the figure that completes the series, or the one that does not belong.
SHL (inductive), the Dutch capacity test (matrices), the Dutch Armed Forces (figure series) and Harver (odd one out). Also the IQ test on this site.
How to solve it
A series of four squares. Each square contains one dot. Figure 1: dot top left. Figure 2: top right. Figure 3: bottom right. The square also alternates between white and grey: white, grey, white. What does figure 4 look like?
- Look at one element at a time. First the dot: top left, top right, bottom right. It moves one corner clockwise each step.
- So step 4: bottom left.
- Then the colour: white, grey, white. So step 4 is grey.
- Combine and check every option against both rules.
Answer: A grey square with the dot bottom left. Options with only one rule right are the trap.
Try it yourself
1. A dot moves one corner clockwise each step: top left, top right, bottom right, … Where is it in step 5?
- Top left
- Top right
- Bottom right
- Bottom left
Show the answer
A. Step 4 is bottom left, step 5 is top left again: after four steps it has gone round.
2. The number of corners increases by one each step: triangle, square, pentagon, … What comes after the hexagon?
- Octagon
- Heptagon
- Pentagon
- Circle
Show the answer
B. 3, 4, 5, 6 corners, so next is 7: a heptagon.
3. In a 3 by 3 grid, each row has one black, one grey and one white figure. Row 3 already has a black and a white figure. What colour is the missing figure?
- Black
- Grey
- White
- Cannot be determined
Show the answer
B. Each colour appears once per row. Black and white are there, so grey.
Tips
- Look at one element at a time: position, number, colour, size, rotation.
- Common rules: moving clockwise, one more each step, alternating colour, overlaying figures.
- Check every option against all rules. Options with one rule right are there to mislead you.
- If you cannot solve it within a minute, move on.
Practise with new questions: Abstract reasoning (figures)
Numbered practice tests with an explanation for every answer, plus interview and assessment day practice. No account needed.
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