GCAT Abstract Reasoning Matrices 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A matrix shows figures that gain one additional axis of symmetry moving right across each row. Column 1 has no symmetry, column 2 has one axis, column 3 has two axes. Row 3 uses hexagons. What describes the bottom-right cell?
- Hexagon with two axes of symmetry (Correct answer)
- Pentagon with two axes of symmetry
- Hexagon with no axes of symmetry
- Hexagon with one axis of symmetry
Correct answer: Hexagon with two axes of symmetry
Row 3 uses hexagons and column 3 requires two axes of symmetry.
Question 2: In a number matrix, the value in each cell equals the sum of the cell directly above it and the cell to its left. Row 1: 1, 2, 3. Row 2: 2, ?, 8. What is the missing value?
- 5 (Correct answer)
- 4
- 6
- 7
Correct answer: 5
Row 2 col 3 = 8 = row 1 col 3 (3) + row 2 col 2 (?), so the missing value is 8 − 3 = 5.
Question 3: A matrix has figures where each row applies a different transformation: row 1 = reflection, row 2 = rotation, row 3 = size change. Each column applies a shading rule: col 1 = white, col 2 = gray, col 3 = black. What rule applies to row 3, column 2?
- Size-changed figure, gray shading (Correct answer)
- Reflected figure, gray shading
- Rotated figure, black shading
- Size-changed figure, white shading
Correct answer: Size-changed figure, gray shading
Row 3 applies size change and column 2 applies gray shading.
Question 4: A sequence of figures uses an XOR rule: overlapping regions between two shapes disappear. Figure 3 shows a square overlapping a triangle. Which answer correctly describes the XOR result?
- Square and triangle with their shared area removed (Correct answer)
- Square and triangle fully merged into one solid shape
- Only the overlapping region shown
- Separate square and triangle with no overlap indicated
Correct answer: Square and triangle with their shared area removed
XOR removes the region where both shapes overlap, leaving only the non-overlapping parts of each shape.
Question 5: A 3×3 matrix of letters follows a pattern. Row 1: A, C, E. Row 2: B, D, F. Row 3: C, E, ?. What is the missing letter?
- G (Correct answer)
- F
- H
- D
Correct answer: G
Row 3 starts at C and increases by 2 per column: C, E, G.
Question 6: A matrix has a checkerboard arrangement of two patterns: Pattern A (horizontal lines) and Pattern B (vertical lines). The top-left cell is Pattern A. What pattern appears at row 3, column 2?
- Pattern B (vertical lines) (Correct answer)
- Pattern A (horizontal lines)
- Both patterns overlaid
- No pattern
Correct answer: Pattern B (vertical lines)
In a checkerboard, cells where row + column is odd have the opposite pattern from the top-left; 3 + 2 = 5 (odd), so Pattern B.
Question 7: In a pattern where shapes decrease diagonally from the center outward: the center cell has 4 shapes, cells one step from center have 3, and corner cells have 1 shape. In a 3×3 matrix, which cells have the fewest shapes?
- Corner cells (Correct answer)
- Center cell
- Edge (non-corner) cells
- All cells equally
Correct answer: Corner cells
Corner cells are farthest from the center and contain the fewest shapes (1 each).
GCAT Abstract Reasoning Matrices 3
A matrix shows figures that gain one additional axis of symmetry moving right across each row.
Column 1 has no symmetry, column 2 has one axis, column 3 has two axes.
Row 3 uses hexagons.
What describes the bottom-right cell?