Basic Ability Test Basic Ability Abstract Pattern Recognition 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In a matrix, each row contains a circle, a square, and a triangle in some order. The first row is circle-square-triangle, second is square-triangle-circle. What is the third row?
- Circle-square-triangle
- Triangle-circle-square (Correct answer)
- Square-triangle-circle
- Triangle-square-circle
Correct answer: Triangle-circle-square
Each row shifts the shapes one position left, so the third row is triangle-circle-square.
Question 2: The number of dots in a pattern increases by 3 each step: 3, 6, 9, 12, ___. What is the 6th term?
- 14
- 15
- 16
- 18 (Correct answer)
Correct answer: 18
The sequence adds 3 each time, so the 6th term is 3 × 6 = 18.
Question 3: A shape is divided into sections; each step doubles the number of sections: 2, 4, 8, ___. How many sections are there in the 5th step?
- 16
- 20
- 32 (Correct answer)
- 64
Correct answer: 32
Doubling from step 1: 2, 4, 8, 16, 32 — the 5th step has 32 sections.
Question 4: In a pattern, white squares turn gray and gray squares turn black. A 3×3 grid starts all white. What color are all squares after 2 steps?
- White
- Gray
- Black (Correct answer)
- A mix of gray and black
Correct answer: Black
Step 1: all white → all gray; Step 2: all gray → all black.
Question 5: A sequence of letters: A, C, E, G, ___. What comes next?
- H
- I (Correct answer)
- J
- K
Correct answer: I
The sequence skips one letter each time (A, skip B, C, skip D, E, skip F, G, skip H, I).
Question 6: Each image in a series shows an arrow rotating 45° counterclockwise. If the arrow starts pointing right (0°), what direction does it point after 4 rotations?
- Up-left (135°)
- Up (90°)
- Left (180°) (Correct answer)
- Down-left (225°)
Correct answer: Left (180°)
4 rotations × 45° = 180° counterclockwise from right, which points left.
Question 7: A pattern alternates between filled and unfilled shapes, and between circles and squares. The sequence is: filled circle, unfilled square, filled circle, unfilled square. What is the 5th shape?
- Unfilled circle
- Filled circle (Correct answer)
- Filled square
- Unfilled square
Correct answer: Filled circle
The pattern repeats every 2 steps; the 5th item matches the 1st, which is a filled circle.
In a matrix, each row contains a circle, a square, and a triangle in some order.
The first row is circle-square-triangle, second is square-triangle-circle.
What is the third row?