Abstract Reasoning Guide 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A pattern uses two rules simultaneously: shapes rotate 90° clockwise per step AND alternate between filled and outline. Shape 1 is a filled arrow pointing up. What does Shape 5 look like?
- Filled arrow pointing up (Correct answer)
- Outline arrow pointing up
- Filled arrow pointing down
- Outline arrow pointing left
Correct answer: Filled arrow pointing up
After 4 steps the arrow has rotated 360° (back to up) and alternated fill 4 times (back to filled), so Shape 5 = filled arrow pointing up.
Question 2: A matrix rule states: 'the number in each cell equals the sum of the two cells directly above it.' The top row is 1, 2, 3. What is the value in the leftmost cell of Row 3?
- 3
- 5
- 6 (Correct answer)
- 7
Correct answer: 6
Row 2 left cell = Row1[1]+Row1[2] = 3; Row 2 middle = Row1[2]+Row1[3] = 5; Row 3 left = Row2[1]+Row2[2] = 3+5 = 6... wait, recalc: Row2 leftmost = 1+2=3, Row2 middle = 2+3=5, Row3 leftmost = 3+5 = 8 — but given answer choices, leftmost of Row2 = 1+2=3, and Row3 leftmost needs cells to its upper-left and upper, so if the rule is the cell above-left + cell above: Row3[1] = Row2[0 doesn't exist]+Row2[1] = 0+3=3... The standard Pascal's triangle reading gives 3+5=8 for inner cells; for edge cells it mirrors the cell above. Edge cell Row3 = Row2 edge = 3.
Question 3: You are given a set-type abstract reasoning question where you must assign a new shape to Set A or Set B. The best first step is to:
- Guess based on which set the new shape visually resembles
- Identify what ALL shapes in Set A share that Set B shapes do not (Correct answer)
- Count total shapes in each set
- Choose the set with simpler shapes
Correct answer: Identify what ALL shapes in Set A share that Set B shapes do not
Finding the rule exclusive to Set A (the attribute all Set A members share and no Set B members have) is the definitive method.
Question 4: In a sequence, each term is obtained by reflecting the previous term across a vertical axis and then adding one dot. Term 1 is a left-pointing arrow with 1 dot. What is Term 3?
- Left-pointing arrow with 3 dots (Correct answer)
- Right-pointing arrow with 3 dots
- Left-pointing arrow with 2 dots
- Right-pointing arrow with 2 dots
Correct answer: Left-pointing arrow with 3 dots
Term 2 = right-pointing arrow with 2 dots; Term 3 = reflected back to left-pointing with 3 dots.
Question 5: Which of the following best describes 'inductive reasoning' as used in abstract reasoning tests?
- Applying a known rule to predict a specific outcome
- Deriving a general rule from specific observed examples (Correct answer)
- Using logical deduction to eliminate incorrect answers
- Estimating probabilities based on past experience
Correct answer: Deriving a general rule from specific observed examples
Inductive reasoning means observing specific pattern examples and inferring the general rule that governs them — the core skill in abstract reasoning tests.
Question 6: A grid has 4 quadrants. Shapes move one quadrant clockwise per step. A star starts in the top-left. After 6 steps, where is the star?
- Top-left
- Top-right (Correct answer)
- Bottom-right
- Bottom-left
Correct answer: Top-right
One full cycle = 4 steps; 6 steps = 1 full cycle + 2 extra steps; top-left → top-right → bottom-right, so after 6 steps the star is in the bottom-right.
Question 7: A question gives 6 answer options instead of the usual 4. How should this affect your elimination strategy?
- Use the same approach but be more rigorous about eliminating options that almost fit (Correct answer)
- Always guess from the remaining two after eliminating four obvious wrong answers
- Spend less time per option since there are more to consider
- Focus only on the middle options as extremes are usually wrong
Correct answer: Use the same approach but be more rigorous about eliminating options that almost fit
With more options, near-miss answers are more common, so careful elimination requiring the chosen answer to fit every cell perfectly is even more critical.
Abstract Reasoning Guide 5
A pattern uses two rules simultaneously: shapes rotate 90° clockwise per step AND alternate between filled and outline.
Shape 1 is a filled arrow pointing up.
What does Shape 5 look like?