FREE QPSea Abstract Reasoning: Pattern Recognition Questions and Answers

Question 1

A sequence of shapes is shown. An arrow points upwards, then right, then down. Which shape is next in the sequence?

Accepted Answer

An arrow pointing left.

Answer

The pattern is a simple 90-degree clockwise rotation at each step. Starting upwards, the first rotation points it right, the second points it down. The next 90-degree clockwise rotation will point the arrow to the left.

Question 2

A sequence of shapes is shown: 1. A square. 2. A square with a small circle inside. 3. A square with a small circle and a small triangle inside. Which shape is next in the sequence?

Accepted Answer

A square with a circle, triangle, and cross inside.

Answer

This is an additive pattern. In each step, a new, different shape is added inside the main square. The next logical step would be to add a third new shape, such as a small cross, to the existing circle and triangle.

Question 3

A sequence shows a black dot moving between the four corners of a square. It starts in the top-left, moves to the top-right, then to the bottom-right. Where will the dot be in the next shape?

Accepted Answer

In the bottom-left corner.

Answer

The dot is moving one corner at a time in a clockwise direction around the square. From the top-left, it moves to the top-right, then the bottom-right. The next logical position in this clockwise movement is the bottom-left corner.

Question 4

A sequence of shapes is shown: 1. A white circle. 2. A black circle. 3. A white circle. 4. A black circle. What is the next shape in the sequence?

Accepted Answer

A white circle.

Answer

This is a simple alternating pattern. The color of the circle switches between white and black with each step. Since the last shape was a black circle, the next one must be a white circle to continue the pattern.

Question 5

Consider a 3x3 grid with shapes in each cell except for the bottom right. In the top row, there is a circle, a square, and a triangle. In the middle row, there is a square, a triangle, and a circle. In the bottom row, there is a triangle, a circle, and a blank space. What shape should be in the blank space?

Accepted Answer

A square

Answer

The pattern follows a Sudoku-like logic where each row and each column must contain one of each shape (circle, square, triangle). The bottom row already has a triangle and a circle, so it is missing a square. The rightmost column has a triangle and a circle, so it is also missing a square.

(QPSea) Queensland Police Service Entrance Assessment Practice Test

(QPSea) Queensland Police Service Entrance Assessment Practice Test

FREE QPSea Abstract Reasoning: Pattern Recognition Questions and Answers