Abstract Reasoning: Pattern Recognition Flashcards

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

Answer: An arrow pointing left.

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.

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?

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

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.

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?

Answer: In the bottom-left corner.

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.

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?

Answer: A white circle.

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.

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?

Answer: A square

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.

A sequence of shapes is shown. The first shape is the letter 'F'. The second shape is a horizontally mirrored 'F'. The third shape is the letter 'F' again. What is the next shape in the sequence?

Answer: The letter 'F' mirrored horizontally.

The pattern alternates between the original shape and its horizontal mirror image. Since the third shape is the original 'F', the fourth shape must be its mirror image to maintain the alternating sequence.

A sequence of shapes is shown. 1. A pentagon (5 sides). 2. A square (4 sides). 3. A triangle (3 sides). What is the next shape in the sequence?

Answer: A line

The pattern involves a shape with one fewer side at each step. It starts with a pentagon (5 sides), moves to a square (4 sides), then a triangle (3 sides). The next logical shape in this descending sequence would have 2 sides, which is a line.