Abstract reasoning questions with answers: 20 figure puzzles

Look at the first row alone and list what differs across its tiles. Then see if row two differs the same way.

Treat shape and shading separately. The shape is fixed in a row, and the shading grows by one level each column. Row 1: outlined to half-filled.

1. Start with the bottom row's shape, which stays fixed along the row.
2. Tile 1 is 1 outlined circle; tile 2 is 1 half-filled circle.
3. The shading moves on again, as it did in the rows above.
4. The missing tile is 1 filled circle.

Now find it among the options.

Answer: C. 1 filled circle.

• AOption A breaks two features: its shape comes from the tiles above the gap, not its own row, and its shading repeats the bottom row.
• BOption B has triangle as its shape, taken from the tiles above the gap, not from its own row.
• C✓ AnswerOption C is correct: 1 filled circle.
• DOption D uses outlined for its shading, a value the bottom row already holds.

Cover tile 3 in row 1. Study the lines in tiles 1 and 2, then uncover tile 3 and see what stayed.

Ask of each element: is it in both tiles? Then it cancels; if it is in just one tile, it stays. Row 1 keeps arcs at the bottom right, bottom left and top left and spokes at the top and bottom. Your turn on the bottom row.

1. Apply the rule to the bottom row.
2. Tile 1 has the top-left arc and spokes at the top and right.
3. Tile 2 has the bottom-right arc and the bottom spoke.
4. Elements in both tiles cancel.
5. Elements in exactly one tile stay.
6. Tile 3 therefore shows arcs at the bottom right and top left and spokes at the top, right and bottom.

Now find it among the options.

Answer: C. Arcs at the bottom right and top left; spokes at the top, right and bottom.

• AOption A has two faults: its arcs are off (bottom left extra), and its spokes take tile 2's off tile 1 (bottom missing).
• BOption B takes tile 2's spokes off tile 1: it drops the one at the bottom (only in tile 2).
• C✓ AnswerThe correct one is option C: arcs at the bottom right and top left and spokes at the top, right and bottom.
• DOption D gets the arcs wrong: it adds the one at the bottom left (in neither tile).

Compare the first and second tiles in one row. Count what is in each and say what changed.

Each tile has one more figure than the tile before it. Row 1 counts 1, 2, 3; the bottom row takes the same steps.

1. Bottom row: tile 1 is 1 outlined diamond, tile 2 is 2 outlined diamonds.
2. The number goes up by one again, while the shape and shading stay the same.
3. So tile 3 is 3 outlined diamonds.

Now find it among the options.

Answer: B. 3 outlined diamonds.

• AOption A breaks two features: its shape comes from the tiles above the gap, not its own row, and its number of figures repeats the bottom row.
• B✓ AnswerOption B is correct: 3 outlined diamonds.
• COption C uses 1 for its number of figures, a value the bottom row already holds.
• DOption D gets its shape, square, from the tiles above the gap instead of from its own row.

In row 1, describe how the flag moves from tile 1 to 2, then from tile 2 to 3. Compare the two.

Each step, the flag turns anticlockwise by a quarter. Row 1: from top pointing left to upside down. Now take one more step from tile 2 of the bottom row.

1. Start at the bottom row.
2. Tile 1: upright.
3. Tile 2: top pointing left.
4. Repeat the same turn, anticlockwise, from tile 2.
5. Tile 3 would be an upside-down flag.

Now find it among the options.

Answer: C. An upside-down flag.

• AOption A turns the flag a half turn from tile 2, a quarter turn too far, so its top points right.
• BOption B turns the flag clockwise from tile 2, against the rule, so its top points up.
• C✓ AnswerOption C is correct: an upside-down flag.
• DOption D stops the flag where tile 2 has it, top pointing left; it still has a step to take.

Compare the five tiles feature by feature: shape, shading and number. Note which never change.

Only the number of figures changes. It starts 1, 2, 3 and follows a cycle of three. Carry the cycle on to the gap.

1. Shape and shading never change, so only the number of figures matters.
2. The cycle has three steps: 1, 2, 3.
3. Tile 5 shows 2 figures, and after 2 comes 3, which gives 3 filled triangles.

Now find it among the options.

Answer: E. 3 filled triangles.

• AOption A breaks two features: its shading is half-filled, which no tile in the row has, and its number of figures stays at 2.
• BOption B is wrong on two features: its shading is half-filled, which no tile in the row has, and its number of figures jumps to 1, the wrong step.
• COption C stays on 2 for the number of figures, so the cycle seems to stop.
• DOption D shows 1 for the number of figures. That is in the cycle, but it is not the next step.
• E✓ AnswerThe correct one is option E: 3 filled triangles.