Abstract Reasoning Guide 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A sequence of shapes grows by adding one triangle to each side per step. Step 1 has 4 triangles, Step 2 has 8, Step 3 has 12. How many triangles are in Step 6?
- 20
- 24 (Correct answer)
- 28
- 32
Correct answer: 24
The pattern adds 4 triangles per step, so Step 6 = 4 × 6 = 24.
Question 2: In a matrix, Row 1 is: Circle, Square, Triangle. Row 2 is: Square, Triangle, Circle. What completes Row 3?
- Circle, Square, Triangle
- Triangle, Circle, Square (Correct answer)
- Square, Circle, Triangle
- Triangle, Square, Circle
Correct answer: Triangle, Circle, Square
Each row is a cyclic rotation of the previous row, so Row 3 is Triangle, Circle, Square.
Question 3: Which strategy is BEST when approaching an unfamiliar abstract reasoning question format?
- Guess immediately to save time
- Identify the simplest attribute that changes first (Correct answer)
- Focus on the most complex pattern immediately
- Skip it and return only if time permits
Correct answer: Identify the simplest attribute that changes first
Starting with the simplest changing attribute (size, color, number) builds a foundation before tackling complex interactions.
Question 4: A pattern alternates between shaded and unshaded shapes. The 1st is shaded, 2nd unshaded, 3rd shaded. What is the 9th shape?
- Unshaded
- Shaded (Correct answer)
- Half-shaded
- Cannot be determined
Correct answer: Shaded
Odd-numbered positions are shaded; the 9th position is odd, so it is shaded.
Question 5: Each figure in a series rotates 45° clockwise. The first figure points up. What direction does the 5th figure point?
- Up (Correct answer)
- Right
- Down
- Left
Correct answer: Up
After 8 rotations of 45° the figure completes a full 360°; the 5th is 180° from start, but 4 × 45° = 180° so the 5th figure (4 rotations from the 1st) points down — wait, recalculating: starting at 0°, figure 2=45°, 3=90°, 4=135°, 5=180° = down.
Question 6: You notice two potential rules in a matrix: a color rule and a size rule. Both seem valid. What should you do?
- Apply only the color rule
- Apply only the size rule
- Test each rule against all cells to see which holds universally (Correct answer)
- Pick the rule that explains the most cells
Correct answer: Test each rule against all cells to see which holds universally
A valid rule must hold for every cell in the matrix, not just most; testing both rules universally identifies the correct one.
Question 7: Shapes in a series: large circle, medium circle, small circle, large square, medium square, small square, large triangle. What comes next?
- Small triangle
- Large circle
- Medium triangle (Correct answer)
- Medium circle
Correct answer: Medium triangle
The pattern cycles through large, medium, small for each shape type; after large triangle comes medium triangle.
Abstract Reasoning Guide 2
A sequence of shapes grows by adding one triangle to each side per step.
Step 1 has 4 triangles, Step 2 has 8, Step 3 has 12.
How many triangles are in Step 6?