GMA Figural Odd One Out 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A set of shapes all have straight sides and are regular polygons EXCEPT one. Triangle, Square, Pentagon, Circle, Hexagon. Which is the odd one out?
- Triangle
- Square
- Pentagon
- Circle (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Circle
A circle has no straight sides and is not a polygon. All the others (triangle, square, pentagon, hexagon) are regular polygons with straight sides.
Figural odd-one-out tasks require identifying which item breaks the common rule. Here, all shapes except the circle are polygons — closed figures made of straight line segments. A circle is a curved figure with no vertices. Identifying the defining property shared by the majority is the key strategy.
Question 2: Five shapes are shaded: all are solid black EXCEPT one. Square (solid), Triangle (solid), Circle (solid), Rectangle (outline only), Pentagon (solid). Which is the odd one out?
- Square
- Triangle
- Circle
- Rectangle (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Rectangle
The rectangle is the only shape that is an outline (not solid/filled), making it the odd one out.
In figural pattern questions, the distinguishing property may not be shape type but rather visual property such as fill, size, or orientation. Here four shapes share solid black fill while the rectangle alone is an outline. Recognising that the common property is fill style — not shape — is the key insight.
Question 3: All figures rotate clockwise by 90° between each position EXCEPT one. Five arrows are shown: Up, Right, Down, Left, Up. Which arrow breaks the rotation pattern?
- Up (1st)
- Right (2nd)
- Down (3rd)
- Up (5th) (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Up (5th)
Following a 90° clockwise rotation: Up→Right→Down→Left→Right. The 5th arrow should be Right, not Up, making the 5th arrow the odd one out.
Rotation patterns require tracking directional changes systematically. Up rotated 90° clockwise becomes Right; Right becomes Down; Down becomes Left; Left becomes Right. Therefore the 5th position should be Right, not Up. The last arrow breaks the consistent clockwise rotation rule.
Question 4: A series of shapes increases in number of sides: 3-sided, 4-sided, 5-sided, 4-sided, 7-sided. Which shape does NOT follow the increasing-sides pattern?
- 3-sided
- 5-sided
- 4-sided (4th) (Correct answer)
- 7-sided
Correct answer: 4-sided (4th)
The 4th shape (4-sided) breaks the increasing pattern of 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. It should be a 6-sided hexagon, not a 4-sided figure.
Figural sequences with an increasing-sides rule should produce 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 sides. The fourth shape should have 6 sides (a hexagon), but instead has 4 sides, breaking the pattern. Identifying the position of the rule violation is a key abstract reasoning skill.
Question 5: All shapes in a group have exactly one line of symmetry EXCEPT one. Which shape has no lines of symmetry? (A) Isosceles triangle (B) Regular pentagon (C) Scalene triangle (D) Rectangle
- Isosceles triangle
- Regular pentagon
- Scalene triangle (Correct answer)
- Rectangle
Correct answer: Scalene triangle
A scalene triangle has no equal sides or angles and therefore no line of symmetry. The others all have at least one: isosceles triangle (1), regular pentagon (5), rectangle (2).
Symmetry recognition is a visual-spatial skill. An isosceles triangle has one axis of symmetry (through its apex and base midpoint), a regular pentagon has five, and a rectangle has two. A scalene triangle — with all sides and angles different — has zero lines of symmetry and is the odd one out.
Question 6: In a group of figures, all are 3-dimensional EXCEPT one: Cube, Sphere, Cylinder, Square, Cone. Which is the odd one out?
- Cube
- Sphere
- Cylinder
- Square (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Square
A square is a 2-dimensional figure. All other shapes (cube, sphere, cylinder, cone) are three-dimensional solids.
Classifying shapes by dimensionality is a basic figural reasoning skill. Cubes, spheres, cylinders, and cones all occupy three-dimensional space. A square is a flat, two-dimensional figure. This type of categorisation question tests whether candidates can identify the defining property of geometric objects.
GMA Figural Odd One Out 2
A set of shapes all have straight sides and are regular polygons EXCEPT one.
Triangle, Square, Pentagon, Circle, Hexagon.
Which is the odd one out?