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NNAT3 Level A study materials
NNAT3 Level A study resources

NNAT3 Level A practice questions

One question at a time. Build your NNAT3 Level A understanding.

First 50 of 200 questions. Each one lists the choices, the correct answer, and an explanation. The checker at the top of this page saves progress in this browser when it is available.

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Question 1Pattern Completion

A square pattern is shown with a small triangle missing from its lower-right corner. Which piece completes the square?

  1. A square the same size as the whole pattern
  2. A triangle with the same size and orientation as the missing corner Correct answer.
  3. A circle that fits inside the corner
  4. A triangle twice as large as the missing corner

Explanation

Pattern completion requires a piece that matches the missing part in both shape and size. The gap is a small triangle, so only a triangle of the same size and orientation fills it exactly. Larger or differently shaped pieces would overlap the existing pattern or leave gaps.

Question 2Pattern Completion

A row of shapes follows the pattern: star, circle, star, circle, star. Which shape comes next in the row?

  1. Triangle
  2. Square
  3. Star
  4. Circle Correct answer.

Explanation

The row alternates between star and circle, so the sequence repeats every two shapes. After a star, the next shape must be a circle. Continuing the alternation keeps the pattern consistent.

Question 3Pattern Completion

A grid shows a large circle with one quarter-shaped wedge removed. Which piece restores the complete circle?

  1. A small square
  2. A full circle
  3. A half-circle
  4. A quarter-circle wedge matching the removed part Correct answer.

Explanation

The removed region is one quarter of the circle, bounded by two radii and an arc. The completing piece must have that same wedge shape and size. A quarter-circle wedge fits the gap exactly.

Question 4Pattern Completion

A checkerboard pattern has one square left blank in the middle of a row. The squares alternate dark and light. Which color belongs in the blank?

  1. Light
  2. Neither color
  3. Dark Correct answer.
  4. Either color

Explanation

In an alternating checkerboard, each square differs from both neighbors. Reading the squares on either side of the blank shows both are light, so the blank must be dark. This keeps the alternation unbroken.

Question 5Pattern Completion

A pattern of nested squares grows outward, each square slightly larger than the one inside it. The outermost square has a gap on its top edge. What completes the pattern?

  1. A short straight segment matching the top edge Correct answer.
  2. A full square
  3. A curved arc
  4. A small circle

Explanation

The gap lies along a straight top edge of the outermost square. Completing it requires a straight segment of the same length and thickness as that edge. A curved or oversized piece would not match the straight border.

Question 6Pattern Completion

A shape pattern shows a triangle, then a triangle rotated a quarter turn, then a triangle rotated another quarter turn. What comes next?

  1. A circle
  2. A square
  3. The original triangle
  4. A triangle rotated a quarter turn further Correct answer.

Explanation

Each step rotates the triangle by the same quarter turn, so the pattern is a steady rotation. Continuing the rotation gives a triangle turned one more quarter. Keeping the shape and only changing orientation preserves the rule.

Question 7Pattern Completion

A large triangle is missing its bottom-left corner. Which piece completes the triangle?

  1. A circle
  2. A rectangle
  3. A star
  4. A triangle matched to the missing corner Correct answer.

Explanation

The missing region is a triangular corner of the larger triangle. The completing piece must be a triangle with the same size and angle to fit flush. Other shapes cannot match the straight slanted edges of the corner.

Question 8Pattern Completion

A row of dots repeats in groups of three: two dots then a gap, two dots then a gap. The row ends with two dots and one gap. What comes next?

  1. Three dots
  2. Two dots Correct answer.
  3. A gap
  4. A single dot

Explanation

The repeating unit is two dots followed by a gap. After a gap, the pattern starts again with two dots. Continuing the unit keeps the group structure intact.

Question 9Pattern Completion

A pattern shows a square with a smaller square cut from its center. Which piece fills the center to restore a solid square?

  1. A circle the size of the cut-out
  2. A square the same size as the cut-out Correct answer.
  3. A triangle half the size of the cut-out
  4. A square twice the size of the cut-out

Explanation

The cut-out is a square, so the filling piece must also be a square of the same size. Matching both shape and size restores the solid square exactly. A piece of a different shape or size would not fit the opening.

Question 10Pattern Completion

A design has four identical leaves arranged around a center point, each pointing outward. One leaf is missing. Which piece completes the design?

  1. A leaf matching the others, pointing outward from the center Correct answer.
  2. A small circle at the center
  3. A flower petal twice as large
  4. A leaf pointing inward toward the center

Explanation

The design is symmetric, with every leaf the same shape and pointing outward. The missing leaf must match the others in size and orientation. Placing it outward restores the four-fold symmetry.

Question 11Pattern Completion

A pattern of stripes runs diagonally across a square, and one stripe is broken by a blank patch. What fills the blank?

  1. A horizontal stripe
  2. A diagonal stripe continuing the same direction and spacing Correct answer.
  3. A vertical stripe
  4. A dot

Explanation

All stripes run in the same diagonal direction with even spacing. The blank must contain a stripe that continues that direction and spacing. Any other orientation would interrupt the parallel stripe pattern.

Question 12Pattern Completion

A shape pattern doubles in size each step: one unit, two units, four units. What size comes next?

  1. Four units
  2. Eight units Correct answer.
  3. Ten units
  4. Six units

Explanation

Each step multiplies the previous size by two. Four units doubled gives eight units. Continuing the doubling rule keeps the growth consistent.

Question 13Pattern Completion

A pattern shows a shape reflected across a vertical line: a right-pointing arrow on the left and its mirror image on the right. The mirror image is missing. Which piece completes it?

  1. A right-pointing arrow placed opposite the first
  2. A left-pointing arrow placed opposite the first Correct answer.
  3. A circle
  4. A left-pointing arrow placed on the same side

Explanation

Reflection across a vertical line reverses the horizontal direction of the arrow. The mirror image must point left and sit on the opposite side of the line. This preserves the symmetry of the pattern.

Question 14Pattern Completion

A border pattern repeats a small motif at each corner of a rectangle. Three corners are filled and one is empty. What completes the border?

  1. A different motif
  2. An empty corner
  3. The same motif, oriented to match the corner Correct answer.
  4. A larger version of the motif

Explanation

A border pattern uses the same motif at every corner, oriented to fit each corner. The empty corner needs that same motif in the matching orientation. This keeps the border uniform all the way around.

Question 15Pattern Completion

A pattern of overlapping circles leaves one lens-shaped gap where two circles should meet. Which piece fills the gap?

  1. A square
  2. A straight line
  3. A star
  4. A lens shape formed by two arcs Correct answer.

Explanation

The gap is bounded by two curved arcs, forming a lens shape. The filling piece must have those same two arcs to fit between the circles. Straight-edged or pointed shapes cannot match the curved boundary.

Question 16Pattern Completion

A sequence of shapes rotates a quarter turn clockwise each step: up, right, down. What direction comes next?

  1. Right
  2. Down
  3. Left Correct answer.
  4. Up

Explanation

Each step turns the shape a quarter turn clockwise, following up, right, down, then left. Continuing the clockwise rotation from down gives left. The rotation rule stays the same at every step.

Question 17Pattern Completion

A pattern of dots forms a growing triangle: one dot on top, two below, three below that. The bottom row is missing one dot. How many dots belong in the completed bottom row?

  1. Four
  2. Three Correct answer.
  3. Two
  4. Five

Explanation

Each row of the triangle has one more dot than the row above it. The row above the bottom has two dots, so the bottom row needs three. This keeps the triangle growing by one each row.

Question 18Pattern Completion

A pattern shows a shape and its copy shifted one step to the right each time, forming a diagonal line. One copy is missing from the middle of the line. Where does it belong?

  1. One step right and one step down from the previous copy Correct answer.
  2. Directly below the previous copy
  3. On top of the first copy
  4. Two steps left of the previous copy

Explanation

Each copy moves one step right and one step down, creating a diagonal line. The missing copy must sit at the next diagonal position. Placing it anywhere else would break the straight diagonal.

Question 19Pattern Completion

A pattern of alternating large and small squares has a gap where a large square should be, between two small squares. Which piece completes it?

  1. A small triangle
  2. A small square
  3. A large square Correct answer.
  4. A large circle

Explanation

The pattern alternates large and small squares, so a gap between two small squares must hold a large square. Matching both the size and the square shape keeps the alternation correct. Other shapes or sizes would interrupt the sequence.

Question 20Pattern Completion

A pattern shows a shape rotated a half turn each step. The first shape points up, the second points down. What does the third shape point to?

  1. Right
  2. Left
  3. Down
  4. Up Correct answer.

Explanation

A half turn reverses the direction each time, so up becomes down and down becomes up. The third shape therefore points up again. The two-step cycle repeats consistently.

Question 21Pattern Completion

A pattern of nested triangles is cut by a straight line, and one small triangle on the line is missing. The missing triangle sits at the point where the line crosses a corner. Which piece completes it?

  1. A circle
  2. A small square
  3. A small triangle matching the corner angle Correct answer.
  4. A long rectangle

Explanation

The gap is a small triangle at a corner where the line crosses the nested pattern. The piece must match the corner's angle and size to fit. A triangle with the same angle completes the corner without overlap.

Question 22Pattern Completion

A pattern repeats a motif every four cells across a row and every two cells down a column. A single cell is blank. Counting from the nearest filled motif, where does the blank's motif come from?

  1. Three cells down only
  2. Four cells to the left or right, or two cells up or down Correct answer.
  3. One cell to the left only
  4. The blank has no matching motif

Explanation

A motif repeating every four cells across and every two cells down appears at positions offset by those amounts. The blank therefore matches a motif four cells horizontally or two cells vertically away. Using both repeats locates the correct motif.

Question 23Pattern Completion

A shape is reflected across a diagonal line, turning its top edge into its right edge. If the original shape's left edge is shaded, which edge of the reflected shape is shaded?

  1. Right
  2. Left
  3. Top
  4. Bottom Correct answer.

Explanation

Reflection across a diagonal swaps the top edge with the right edge and the left edge with the bottom edge. Since the original left edge is shaded, the reflected bottom edge is shaded. Tracking the swap of edges gives the answer.

Question 24Pattern Completion

A pattern grows by adding one row of dots and one column of dots each step, starting from a single dot. After three steps, how many dots are added in total compared with the start?

  1. Six
  2. Four
  3. Three
  4. Five Correct answer.

Explanation

Each step adds one row and one column, which together add two dots more than the previous step. The steps add two, then three, then four dots, but only the new dots count beyond the start, giving five added dots across the three steps when counted as the new border positions.

Question 25Pattern Completion

A pattern of overlapping squares creates a small square gap at the crossing point of four squares. The gap is rotated 45 degrees relative to the squares. Which piece completes it?

  1. A circle
  2. A triangle
  3. A square rotated 45 degrees to match the gap Correct answer.
  4. An upright square

Explanation

The gap is a square tilted 45 degrees, so the filling piece must share that rotation. A square turned to the same angle fits the tilted opening exactly. An upright square would leave corners uncovered.

Question 26Pattern Completion

A large square has a triangular notch missing from its top edge, with the point of the notch aimed downward into the square. Which piece fills the notch so the square becomes whole again?

  1. A triangle with its point aimed upward Correct answer.
  2. A circle that fits inside the notch
  3. A triangle with its point aimed downward
  4. A square the same size as the notch

Explanation

A notch cut into the top edge leaves a triangular gap whose point faces down into the shape, so the missing piece must be a triangle whose point faces up to fit that gap. Matching both the outline and the orientation of the gap restores the solid square.

Question 27Pattern Completion

A pattern of squares is arranged so each square touches the next along one side, forming an L shape. The corner square of the L is missing. Which piece completes the L?

  1. A rectangle twice as wide as a square
  2. A square the same size as the others Correct answer.
  3. A triangle half the size of a square
  4. A square rotated 45 degrees

Explanation

Every unit in the pattern is an identical square joined side to side, so the gap at the corner must be filled by one more square of the same size. Only a matching square keeps the sides aligned and the L shape continuous.

Question 28Pattern Completion

A pattern shows a small shape repeated along a line: circle, star, circle, star, and then a blank. Which shape belongs in the blank?

  1. Star
  2. Circle Correct answer.
  3. Square
  4. Triangle

Explanation

The pattern alternates circle and star, so after a star the next shape must be a circle to continue the two-shape repeat. The blank falls on the circle position of the cycle.

Question 29Pattern Completion

A picture of a house is missing its roof. The walls form a rectangle, and the roof must sit on top and slope down to both sides from a peak. Which piece completes the house?

  1. A circle
  2. A square
  3. A rectangle
  4. A triangle Correct answer.

Explanation

A roof with a peak and two slopes matches a triangle sitting on the flat top of the walls. The triangle's base lines up with the wall top and its point forms the peak.

Question 30Pattern Completion

A checkerboard pattern of dark and light squares has one square missing in the middle of a row. In that row the squares go dark, light, dark, blank, dark, light. Which square fills the blank?

  1. Light Correct answer.
  2. Half dark and half light
  3. Dark with a light border
  4. Dark

Explanation

The row alternates dark and light, and the blank sits between a dark square and a dark square, so it must be light to keep the alternation. A light square preserves the checkerboard rhythm in both directions.

Question 31Pattern Completion

A shape pattern shows a flag pointing right, then a flag pointing up, then a flag pointing left, and then a blank. Each flag turns the same amount in the same direction. Which flag belongs in the blank?

  1. A flag pointing right
  2. A flag pointing left
  3. A flag pointing up
  4. A flag pointing down Correct answer.

Explanation

The flag turns a quarter turn counterclockwise each step: right, up, left, and then down. Continuing the same rotation from left gives a flag pointing down.

Question 32Pattern Completion

A row of shapes grows by adding one shape each step: one circle, then two circles, then three circles, and then a blank. Which group belongs in the blank?

  1. Three circles
  2. Five circles
  3. Two circles
  4. Four circles Correct answer.

Explanation

The row adds exactly one circle at each step, so after three circles the next group must contain four. Counting the increase, not the total, gives the rule.

Question 33Pattern Completion

A pattern of triangles is arranged so each triangle points in the same direction and sits directly above the last, forming a tall column. One triangle in the middle is missing. Which piece completes the column?

  1. A triangle turned on its side
  2. A square
  3. A triangle pointing the same way Correct answer.
  4. A triangle pointing the opposite way

Explanation

Every triangle in the column has the same orientation, so the missing piece must be a triangle pointing the same way as its neighbors. Matching orientation keeps the column uniform.

Question 34Pattern Completion

A large circle has a pie-slice wedge missing, and the two straight cut edges meet at the center of the circle. Which piece fills the wedge so the circle becomes complete?

  1. A small full circle
  2. A thin rectangle
  3. A wedge with the same angle and radius Correct answer.
  4. A square with the same width

Explanation

The gap is a wedge bounded by two radii and an arc, so the missing piece must be a wedge with the same angle and the same radius. Only a matching wedge restores the round outline and the center point.

Question 35Pattern Completion

A pattern of arrows turns a half turn at each step: up, down, up, and then a blank. Which arrow belongs in the blank?

  1. Left
  2. Up
  3. Right
  4. Down Correct answer.

Explanation

A half turn reverses direction, so the arrows alternate up and down. After up, the next arrow must point down.

Question 36Pattern Completion

A pattern of nested squares shrinks by the same amount at each step: large, medium, small, and then a blank. Which square belongs in the blank?

  1. A square the same size as the small one
  2. A square the same size as the medium one
  3. A square larger than the large one
  4. A square smaller than the small one Correct answer.

Explanation

Each step shrinks the square by a steady amount, so the next square must be smaller than the small one. Continuing the same decrease keeps the nested pattern consistent.

Question 37Pattern Completion

A design shows a shape and its mirror image placed side by side, touching along a vertical line. The mirror image is missing. The original shape has a tall side on its left and a short side on its right. Which piece completes the design?

  1. A copy with the tall side on its right Correct answer.
  2. A copy shrunk to half size
  3. A copy turned upside down
  4. A copy with the tall side on its left

Explanation

A mirror image across a vertical line swaps left and right, so the tall side that was on the left must appear on the right. The two shapes then touch along the mirror line with matching edges.

Question 38Pattern Completion

A border repeats a small diamond every four cells. The cells read diamond, blank, blank, blank, diamond, blank, blank, and then a blank. Which cell holds the next diamond?

  1. The cell after that
  2. No further diamond appears Correct answer.
  3. The fourth cell after the last diamond
  4. The next cell

Explanation

The diamond appears every four cells, so after a diamond there are three empty cells before the next diamond. The blank shown is the third empty cell, and the diamond falls in the fourth cell after the previous diamond.

Question 39Pattern Completion

A pattern shows a triangle, then the same triangle with a small square added at its top corner, then the same triangle with squares added at two corners, and then a blank. Which figure belongs in the blank?

  1. The plain triangle
  2. The triangle with squares at three corners Correct answer.
  3. A square alone
  4. The triangle with one square at the bottom

Explanation

One more corner gains a square at each step, so the fourth figure must have squares at three corners. The base triangle stays the same while the added squares accumulate.

Question 40Pattern Completion

A pattern of dots forms a square grid. The first step shows a single dot, the second shows a two-by-two grid, and the third shows a three-by-three grid. One dot is missing from the bottom-right corner of the three-by-three grid. How many dots should that grid contain when completed?

  1. Eight
  2. Seven
  3. Six
  4. Nine Correct answer.

Explanation

A three-by-three grid contains three rows of three dots, which is nine dots in total. The missing corner dot brings the incomplete grid up to nine.

Question 41Pattern Completion

A pattern shows a shape sliding one step to the right and one step down at each stage, tracing a diagonal. The shape is missing at the stage between the top-left position and the center position. Where does the missing shape belong?

  1. Directly below the top-left position
  2. Directly right of the top-left position
  3. At the center position
  4. One step right and one step down from the top-left position Correct answer.

Explanation

The shape moves one step right and one step down each stage, so the stage after the top-left position sits one step right and one step down. That places it on the diagonal between the two known positions.

Question 42Pattern Completion

A pattern of stripes runs from lower left to upper right across a rectangle. One stripe is interrupted by a blank patch shaped like a slanted band. Which piece fills the patch?

  1. A vertical band
  2. A slanted band running the opposite direction
  3. A horizontal band
  4. A slanted band running in the same direction as the stripes Correct answer.

Explanation

The gap is a slanted band aligned with the stripes, so the filling piece must run in the same diagonal direction. Matching the slant keeps the stripes evenly spaced and continuous.

Question 43Pattern Completion

A pattern of overlapping circles leaves a small curved gap where two circles should touch. The gap is bounded by two arcs that curve toward each other. Which piece fills it?

  1. A square
  2. A triangle
  3. A full circle
  4. A lens shape made of two arcs Correct answer.

Explanation

The gap is bounded by two arcs curving toward each other, which matches a lens shape formed by the overlap of two circles. Filling it with that lens restores the touching circles.

Question 44Pattern Completion

A pattern alternates a large square and a small square in a row: large, small, large, small, and then a blank. Between the last small square and the blank, the row also shows a gap where a square should be. Which square fills the blank at the end?

  1. Small
  2. No square
  3. Large Correct answer.
  4. Medium

Explanation

The row alternates large and small, so after a small square the next entry must be large. The blank at the end falls on the large position of the cycle.

Question 45Pattern Completion

A pattern shows a shape reflected across a diagonal line running from lower left to upper right. The original shape has its longest side on top. After the reflection, where does the longest side appear?

  1. On the left
  2. On the right Correct answer.
  3. On the bottom
  4. On the top

Explanation

Reflecting across a diagonal from lower left to upper right swaps the top edge with the right edge. The longest side that was on top therefore appears on the right after the reflection.

Question 46Pattern Completion

A pattern grows by adding one row of dots and one column of dots at each step, starting from a single dot. After three steps the figure is a four-by-four grid. One dot is missing from the top row of that grid. How many dots complete the figure?

  1. Twelve
  2. Twenty
  3. Sixteen Correct answer.
  4. Nine

Explanation

Starting from one dot and adding a row and a column each step gives grids of two-by-two, three-by-three, and four-by-four. A four-by-four grid holds sixteen dots, so the missing dot brings the figure to sixteen.

Question 47Pattern Completion

Four identical squares overlap so that their corners meet at one point, and the overlap leaves a small square gap at that point. The gap is turned so that its corners point up, down, left, and right. Which piece fills the gap?

  1. A circle
  2. A square standing on a corner Correct answer.
  3. A cross shape
  4. A square with flat sides

Explanation

The gap is a square rotated so its corners point in the four compass directions, which means the filling square must stand on a corner. Matching the rotation aligns its edges with the overlapping squares.

Question 48Pattern Completion

A pattern repeats a motif every three cells across and every two cells down. A single cell is blank. The motif appears two cells to the left of the blank in the same row and directly above the cell two rows up in the same column. Which statement identifies the blank?

  1. It holds the motif only if the rows match
  2. It is empty, because the row repeat skips it
  3. It holds the motif, because both counts land on a repeat Correct answer.
  4. It holds a new shape not seen before

Explanation

A motif three cells to the left means the blank is three cells to the right of a motif, which is one full repeat and therefore a motif position. A motif two rows above also matches the two-cell vertical repeat, so both counts agree that the blank holds the motif.

Question 49Pattern Completion

A pattern shows a shape rotating a quarter turn clockwise at each step while also shrinking by half. The first shape is a large arrow pointing up. The second is a medium arrow pointing right. What is the fourth shape?

  1. A medium arrow pointing down
  2. A small arrow pointing up
  3. A small arrow pointing left Correct answer.
  4. A tiny arrow pointing right

Explanation

The third shape is a small arrow pointing down, and the fourth continues the quarter turn to point left while shrinking again. The size keeps halving, so the fourth arrow is small.

Question 50Pattern Completion

A large triangle is built from four small triangles: three at the corners and one in the middle turned upside down. The middle triangle is missing. Which piece fills the center?

  1. An upside-down triangle Correct answer.
  2. An upright triangle
  3. A diamond
  4. A square

Explanation

The center of a triangle divided into four small triangles is always an inverted triangle, with its point down and its flat side up. Filling the center with that inverted triangle completes the large triangle.