CFAT - Canadian Forces Aptitude Problem Solving: Figure Series Questions and Answers

Question 1

Observe the sequence of figures. Figure 1 is a square with a small black circle in the top-left corner. Figure 2 is the same square with the black circle in the top-right corner. Figure 3 is the same square with the black circle in the bottom-right corner. Which figure logically comes next in the series?

Accepted Answer

A square with the black circle in the bottom-left corner.

Answer

The pattern shows the small black circle moving one corner clockwise with each step. From the top-left, it moves to the top-right, then to the bottom-right. The next logical step is for it to move to the bottom-left corner.

Question 2

Consider the following series of figures. The first figure contains a large triangle. The second figure contains a large triangle and a small square inside it. The third figure contains a large triangle, a small square, and a small circle inside the square. What is the fourth figure in this series?

Accepted Answer

A large triangle with a small square, a small circle, and a small diamond inside the circle.

Answer

The pattern demonstrates a cumulative addition of a new, nested shape with each step. Figure 1 has a triangle. Figure 2 adds a square inside. Figure 3 adds a circle inside the square. The next logical step is to add a new shape (a diamond) inside the innermost shape (the circle).

Question 3

A series of figures follows a specific pattern. Figure 1 is a five-pointed star that is shaded black. Figure 2 is a six-pointed star that is white (unshaded). Figure 3 is a five-pointed star that is shaded black. Figure 4 is a six-pointed star that is white. Which figure should come fifth in the series?

Accepted Answer

A five-pointed star that is shaded black.

Answer

This series follows an alternating pattern. The figure alternates between a five-pointed black star (positions 1, 3, 5...) and a six-pointed white star (positions 2, 4, 6...). Since the fourth figure was the six-pointed white star, the fifth figure must be the five-pointed black star.

Question 4

Examine the progression of figures in this series. Figure 1 shows a 3x1 vertical grid (3 rows, 1 column) with the top cell shaded. Figure 2 shows the same grid with the middle cell shaded. Figure 3 shows the same grid with the bottom cell shaded. What is the fourth figure in the sequence?

Accepted Answer

A 3x1 vertical grid with the middle cell shaded.

Answer

The pattern shows the shaded cell moving down one position at each step. After reaching the bottom in Figure 3, it is logical for the pattern to cycle back to the beginning or reverse. In many CFAT-style questions, the pattern cycles. However, the most common simple progression is a back-and-forth movement. After moving down, it moves back up. The sequence is top, middle, bottom, so the next step would be to reverse, returning to the middle position.

Question 5

A sequence of figures is presented. Figure 1 contains one large arrow pointing to the right. Figure 2 contains two medium-sized arrows pointing up. Figure 3 contains three small arrows pointing to the left. Which of the following describes the most likely fourth figure?

Accepted Answer

Four extra-small arrows pointing down.

Answer

This pattern involves two independent rules. First, the number of arrows increases by one in each step (1, 2, 3, so next is 4), and their size decreases accordingly. Second, the direction of the arrows rotates 90 degrees counter-clockwise each step (Right -> Up -> Left -> Down). Therefore, the fourth figure must have four extra-small arrows pointing down.

(CFAT) Canadian Forces Aptitude Test Practice Test

(CFAT) Canadian Forces Aptitude Test Practice Test

CFAT - Canadian Forces Aptitude Problem Solving: Figure Series Questions and Answers