PI - Cognitive Assessment Abstract Pattern Series Questions and Answers

Question 1

Observe the sequence of figures. Which of the answer choices is the correct next figure in the series? The series progresses as follows: Figure 1 is a large square containing a small black circle in the top-left corner. Figure 2 is a large square containing a small black circle in the top-right corner and a small white circle in the top-left corner. Figure 3 is a large square containing a small black circle in the bottom-right corner, a small white circle in the top-right corner, and a small black circle in the top-left corner.

Accepted Answer

A large square with a black circle in the bottom-left, a white circle in the bottom-right, a black circle in the top-right, and a white circle in the top-left.

Answer

The pattern has two rules. First, the original black circle moves 90 degrees clockwise to the next corner in each step. Second, a new circle is added in the corner that the original black circle just vacated. The color of the newly added circle alternates, starting with white, then black, then white, and so on. In Figure 4, the original black circle moves to the bottom-left. A new, white circle is added in its previous position (the bottom-right). This results in four circles in total.

Question 2

A 3x3 grid contains figures in each cell, except for the bottom right which is empty. Analyze the rows and columns to determine which figure should be in the empty cell. Row 1: [A shape with 3 sides (triangle)], [A shape with 4 sides (square)], [A shape with 5 sides (pentagon)]. Row 2: [A square shaded completely black], [A square shaded half black and half white vertically], [A square shaded completely white]. Row 3: [A circle with one horizontal line through it], [A circle with two horizontal lines through it], [ ? ].

Accepted Answer

A circle with three horizontal lines through it.

Answer

The logic for each row is independent. In Row 1, the number of sides of the shape increases by one. In Row 2, the amount of black shading decreases by half in each step. In Row 3, the number of horizontal lines within the circle increases by one at each step (one line, then two lines). Therefore, the missing figure must be a circle with three horizontal lines.

Question 3

Examine the following series of figures and identify the one that should come next. Figure 1: A large square. Figure 2: A large square with a smaller square drawn inside it, sharing the same center. Figure 3: A large square with a smaller square inside it, and a small black dot in the very center. Figure 4: A large square with a smaller square inside it, a small black dot in the center, and a horizontal line drawn through the dot.

Accepted Answer

A large square with a smaller square inside, a dot in the center, and both a horizontal and vertical line through the dot (a plus sign).

Answer

The pattern is cumulative, with a new element being added at each step in a specific sequence. Step 1: Large square. Step 2: Add inner square. Step 3: Add center dot. Step 4: Add horizontal line. The next logical step would be to add a vertical line to the existing figure, creating a plus sign at the center.

Question 4

Which figure logically completes the following sequence? Figure 1: A black circle is in the top-left cell of a 2x2 grid. Figure 2: A white square is in the top-right cell. Figure 3: A black circle is in the bottom-right cell. Figure 4: A white square is in the bottom-left cell.

Accepted Answer

A black circle in the top-left cell.

Answer

There are three distinct patterns occurring simultaneously. 1. Position: The object moves one cell clockwise in each step. From the bottom-left, the next position is the top-left. 2. Shape: The shape alternates between circle and square. After the square in Figure 4, the next shape must be a circle. 3. Color: The color alternates between black and white. After the white in Figure 4, the next color must be black. Combining these three rules, the next figure must be a black circle in the top-left cell.

Question 5

Consider the following sequence of figures and determine which of the options should be next. Figure 1: A large circle containing a triangle. Figure 2: A large square containing a plus sign (+). Figure 3: A large circle containing a square. Figure 4: A large square containing a cross (X). Figure 5: A large circle containing a pentagon.

Accepted Answer

A large square containing a plus sign (+).

Answer

This sequence is composed of two interleaved patterns. The odd-numbered figures (1, 3, 5) consist of a large circle, and the inner shape is a polygon that gains one side with each step (triangle -> square -> pentagon). The even-numbered figures (2, 4) consist of a large square, and the inner shape is a cross that rotates 45 degrees with each step (+ -> X). The next figure is the sixth in the series, so it must follow the pattern for even-numbered figures. The inner cross (X) will rotate 45 degrees to become a plus sign (+) again.

PI - Cognitive Assessment Practice Test

PI - Cognitive Assessment Practice Test

PI - Cognitive Assessment Abstract Pattern Series Questions and Answers