Figural Reasoning
Figural Reasoning uses abstract shapes rather than words or numbers. You may see sequences, 3×3 matrices, odd-one-out sets, rotations and reflections, paper folding, or cube nets. The test measures pattern detection and spatial manipulation; each figure is a set of separate features, not one indivisible image.
Track features separately
For every shape, note position, orientation, size, shading, line style, and count. A sequence may rotate the outer shape while the inner dot alternates black and white. Solve one feature at a time and check the combined result against the options.
Rotation versus reflection
A 90° clockwise rotation turns an upward arrow to the right; a reflection in a vertical line turns it left. Reflection reverses handedness (a left-facing notch becomes right-facing), while rotation preserves it. Confirm the direction by tracing one landmark, such as a gap or a dot.
Matrices and overlays
In a 3×3 matrix, look for a rule that holds across each row and down each column. Overlay rules include add lines, keep only lines common to both, and cancel shared lines. Check the rule on a complete row before applying it to the missing cell.
Worked example: In each row, an arrow rotates 90° clockwise from left to right. The bottom row has a left-pointing arrow, then an up-pointing arrow, then a blank. Left to up is 90° clockwise, so the next arrow must point right. Answer: a right-pointing arrow.
Traps: assuming rotation when the figure is mirrored; ignoring shading or line count; applying a row rule to a column that follows a different rule; choosing an option that fits one feature but not the others.