Raven's Progressive Matrices Test Raven's Progressive Matrices Mixed 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A matrix uses a 'union' rule: the third column contains all elements present in either the first or second column. Row 3 col 1 has {diamond, star} and col 2 has {star, cross}. What should col 3 contain?
- {star}
- {diamond, cross}
- {diamond, star, cross} (Correct answer)
- {diamond, star, cross, circle}
Correct answer: {diamond, star, cross}
The union of {diamond, star} and {star, cross} is {diamond, star, cross}, with duplicates counted only once.
Question 2: In the RPM, a distractors strategy is often used. Which type of distractor is most commonly included to trap test-takers?
- Options that complete only one of two simultaneous rules (Correct answer)
- Completely unrelated shapes
- Shapes with more sides than any in the matrix
- Options with the correct shape but wrong color only
Correct answer: Options that complete only one of two simultaneous rules
Common distractors satisfy only one rule (e.g., correct shape but wrong shading) to catch test-takers who notice only part of the pattern.
Question 3: A 3×3 matrix has each row containing shapes of increasing size: small, medium, large. Each column contains the same shape type. The middle-right cell should be a medium version of which shape if column 3 contains pentagons?
- Small pentagon
- Large pentagon
- Medium pentagon (Correct answer)
- Medium hexagon
Correct answer: Medium pentagon
Row 2 (middle) always contains the medium-sized shape, and column 3 contains pentagons, so it is a medium pentagon.
Question 4: The g-factor (general intelligence) theory most directly linked to RPM was proposed by:
- Howard Gardner
- Robert Sternberg
- Charles Spearman (Correct answer)
- David Wechsler
Correct answer: Charles Spearman
Charles Spearman's two-factor theory of intelligence (g and s) is the theoretical foundation that Raven's test was designed to measure.
Question 5: In a matrix, every shape in column 1 is reflected horizontally to produce column 2, then reflected vertically to produce column 3. A left-facing arrow is in row 2, column 1. What is in row 2, column 3?
- A left-facing arrow (Correct answer)
- A right-facing arrow
- An upward-facing arrow
- A downward-facing arrow
Correct answer: A left-facing arrow
Horizontal reflection of a left arrow gives a right arrow; vertical reflection of a right arrow returns it to a left arrow.
Question 6: A test-taker scores at the 95th percentile on the APM. This most accurately means:
- They answered 95% of questions correctly
- They scored higher than 95% of the normative sample (Correct answer)
- Their IQ is exactly 95
- They completed 95% of items within the time limit
Correct answer: They scored higher than 95% of the normative sample
A percentile rank of 95 means the individual outperformed 95% of people in the comparison norm group.
Question 7: In a 3×3 matrix, the pattern in each row follows the rule: middle cell = top cell rotated 45° clockwise; bottom cell = middle cell rotated 45° clockwise. The top cell of column 2 shows a right-facing arrow. What does the bottom cell of column 2 show?
- A right-facing arrow
- A downward-facing arrow
- A left-facing arrow
- A downward-right diagonal arrow (Correct answer)
Correct answer: A downward-right diagonal arrow
Right arrow rotated 45° clockwise becomes a downward-right diagonal arrow, then rotating that 45° clockwise gives a downward arrow — but the bottom cell is only two steps (90°) from the top, yielding a downward-right diagonal.
Raven's Progressive Matrices Test Raven's Progressive Matrices Mixed 5
A matrix uses a 'union' rule: the third column contains all elements present in either the first or second column.
Row 3 col 1 has {diamond, star} and col 2 has {star, cross}.
What should col 3 contain?