Raven's Progressive Matrices Test Raven's Progressive Matrices Positional Changes and Motion 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A matrix row shows a shape in cell 1 that is absent from cell 2 and reappears in cell 3. In the next row, it is absent from cell 1, present in cell 2, absent in cell 3. What pattern controls presence?
- The presence alternates in a staggered checkerboard pattern (Correct answer)
- The shape is always present in the center cell
- The shape shifts one cell right each row
- The shape appears in all three cells simultaneously
Correct answer: The presence alternates in a staggered checkerboard pattern
Across rows, the presence/absence of the shape follows a staggered alternating checkerboard, shifting the offset by one each row.
Question 2: In a Raven's test matrix, a shape rotates 180° each column. If it starts pointing up-right, what is its orientation in column 3?
- Up-right (original orientation) (Correct answer)
- Down-left
- Up-left
- Down-right
Correct answer: Up-right (original orientation)
Two 180° rotations return the shape to its original orientation, so column 3 matches column 1.
Question 3: A matrix tracks a moving element that jumps 2 cells to the right but wraps around: in a row of 3 cells, starting at cell 1, it goes 1 → 3 → 2 → 1. After how many steps does it return to cell 1?
- 3 steps (Correct answer)
- 2 steps
- 4 steps
- 6 steps
Correct answer: 3 steps
The sequence 1→3→2→1 completes the cycle in 3 steps, as there are 3 cells and the jump length (2) is coprime with 3.
Question 4: In a Raven's matrix, an element's position within its cell is described by polar-like coordinates: it moves outward from the center by 1 unit per row. By row 3, it is at the cell's edge. What rule governs this?
- Radial outward displacement from center (Correct answer)
- Clockwise rotation around center
- Vertical descent from top to bottom
- Horizontal right-to-left sweep
Correct answer: Radial outward displacement from center
The element moves radially outward—away from the center—by a fixed amount each step.
Question 5: In a Raven's matrix, position changes occur along the horizontal axis for even rows and along the vertical axis for odd rows. Which term best describes this alternating motion rule?
- Axis-alternating positional change (Correct answer)
- Spiral convergence
- Diagonal progression
- Rotational displacement
Correct answer: Axis-alternating positional change
When the axis of movement alternates between horizontal and vertical on even/odd rows, it is called axis-alternating positional change.
Question 6: A 3×3 Raven's matrix shows a shape that moves to the cell diagonally below and to the right in each step. Starting from the top-left corner, how many steps before it reaches the bottom-right corner?
- 2 steps (Correct answer)
- 3 steps
- 4 steps
- 1 step
Correct answer: 2 steps
From top-left (1,1) → (2,2) center → (3,3) bottom-right takes exactly 2 diagonal steps.
Question 7: A Raven's matrix contains an element that oscillates: it moves right in odd rows and left in even rows, advancing one cell at a time. After 4 rows starting from the leftmost cell, what net displacement has occurred?
- Zero net displacement — it returns to start (Correct answer)
- Two cells to the right
- Two cells to the left
- One cell to the right
Correct answer: Zero net displacement — it returns to start
Moving right in rows 1 and 3 (+2) and left in rows 2 and 4 (–2) cancel out, resulting in zero net displacement.
Raven's Progressive Matrices Test Raven's Progressive Matrices Positional Changes and Motion 5
A matrix row shows a shape in cell 1 that is absent from cell 2 and reappears in cell 3.
In the next row, it is absent from cell 1, present in cell 2, absent in cell 3.
What pattern controls presence?