Raven's Progressive Matrices Test Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield Raven's Progressive Matrices Test facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. A matrix shows one separate shape per cell in row 1, two shapes in row 2, and three shapes in row 3. How many shapes appear in each cell of the missing row 3? → Three
2. On the Coloured Progressive Matrices (CPM), the distribution of scores among children aged 5–11 tends to exhibit which characteristic? → Positive skew with many low scores and fewer high scores in younger age bands
3. One item in the store has a 20% price reduction. How much more must be added to the percentage to reach the original price? → 25
4. A matrix shows 8 elements in the first cell, with each subsequent cell losing 2 elements. What is the count in the 4th cell? → 2
5. Which RPM edition uses age-stratified norms to account for developmental changes in fluid intelligence? → All major RPM editions
6. In an RPM figure, a line at 135° is described as pointing in which direction? → Diagonal from upper-right to lower-left
7. Which calculation converts a raw RPM score into a z-score, enabling comparison across different norm groups? → z = (raw score − mean) / SD
8. In a matrix, identical shapes rotate 45° clockwise per column: 0° in column 1, 45° in column 2, and ___ in column 3? → 90°
9. 4-7 years. Mental/physical issues in older people. → CPM recommended group
10. The Standard Progressive Matrices norming data show that the distribution of scores tends to become more negatively skewed in which population? → University students and highly educated adults
11. We standardized quantified evaluation of a characteristic. → Psychometric test
12. Which of the following best describes a 'constant angle' pattern in Raven's Progressive Matrices? → All lines in the matrix share the same orientation
13. A 3×3 matrix uses decreasing quantities: Row 1: 9, 7, 5. Row 2: 7, 5, 3. Row 3: 5, 3, ?. What completes the matrix? → 1
14. On the Advanced Progressive Matrices (APM), why is the score distribution typically more negatively skewed than on the Standard Progressive Matrices? → APM is designed for above-average ability groups, so most scores cluster near the top
15. A matrix has the following quantity pattern: Row 1: 1, 2, 4. Row 2: 2, 4, 8. Row 3: 4, 8, ?. What value belongs in the missing cell? → 16
16. In a combination matrix, overlaying a shape with a diagonal line and a shape with a vertical line produces which result when shared features cancel? → A shape with both a diagonal and a vertical line
17. An RPM matrix row has lines at 10°, 20°, and 40°. Which description best fits this sequence? → Geometric — each angle doubles
18. Decide what number should be used in place of the question mark. 1, 3, 12, 60, 360, ? → 2520
19. Which of the following scenarios best describes a 'distribution of three values' rule as it applies to Raven's Progressive Matrices? → Each row must contain exactly one circle, one square, and one triangle.
20. In a matrix, outer shapes are always shaded black while inner shapes are always white. The missing figure shows a black pentagon — what does it contain inside? → A white inner pentagon
21. In a normal RPM score distribution, approximately what percentage of scores fall within one standard deviation of the mean? → 68%
22. In an RPM matrix, when three shapes mutually overlap in a Venn-diagram arrangement, how many distinct non-overlapping regions are created in total? → 7 regions
23. A matrix has a no-repeat shading rule: no two cells in the same row share a shade. Row 3 shows black in column 1, white in column 2, and ___ in column 3? → Gray
24. A matrix shows quantities 5, 10, 20 in the first row and 3, 6, 12 in the second row. What single rule is common to both rows? → Doubling each cell value
25. A test-taker scores at the 95th percentile on the SPM. What does this mean in terms of score distribution? → 95% of their age-norm group scored at or below their raw score
26. Which of the following principles is fundamental to solving a continuous pattern progression problem in a Raven's Progressive Matrices test? → Recognizing a consistent, logical transformation across rows and columns.
27. A matrix has Row 1 quantities: 3, 5, 7 and Row 2 quantities: 6, 10, 14. What single pattern connects Row 1 to Row 2? → Row 2 doubles each Row 1 value
28. A Raven's matrix diagonal displays the values 1, 4, 9. This sequence is best classified as: → A sequence of perfect squares
29. Decide what number should be used in place of the question mark. → 26
30. Almost exclusively colored, with some black and white items. Answer: SPM presentation → FALSE