Abstract, Spatial and Pattern Reasoning
Abstract and spatial items measure fluid reasoning: spotting the rule that governs a sequence or relationship without relying on language. Concepts include rotation and reflection, number of elements or sides, alternating or paired sequences, positional movement (a shape moving one step clockwise each time), and analogy relationships (A is to B as C is to ?).
Traps to expect: a rule that seems to fit but breaks at the last item; distractor patterns where colour changes but position does not; mirror versus rotation, which look similar but are not the same; and sequences with two interleaved rules (odd positions follow one pattern, even positions another). Candidates also lose marks by assuming the simplest rule when a second attribute (size, shading, count) is also changing.
Rule of thumb: for each item, name every attribute that changes - shape, count, position, orientation, shading - and check each one separately across the series. Then test your rule against all items, not just the first two.
Worked example: A dot moves one corner clockwise, then two, then three. The next move should be four corners clockwise. Verify by counting positions from the last figure rather than eyeballing the direction - clockwise from the top-left by four steps lands bottom-right.