Inductive reasoning
With the inductive reasoning test you are provided with a series of figures to examine. These figures undergo a logical change as you move through each one in the series. These changes contain a connection that you have to discover in order to complete the series. The inductive reasoning test is used to measure logical and abstract reasoning.
Sample problems
Here are a few examples to get you acquainted with figure series problems. First, try to think what the answer should be before you look at the explanation under the problem.
The correct answer to this problem is A. The opening in the figure always rotates counter-clockwise by 15 minutes. In addition, the piece that sticks out always points to a position in a diagram. This position rotates clockwise and always skips two steps. Finally, the line of the figure becomes a bit thicker in each subsequent figure.
B is the right answer to this problem. Each picture is balanced. In the first picture, you can see that two gray blocks in the first position from the center are equal to one gray block in the second position from the center. In the second figure, you can see that two gray blocks are equal to one red block. According to these rules, B is the only option with the right quantities for a balance.
The correct answer to this last sample problem is C. In the pattern for the plus sign, this number increases by one each time. In the pattern for the circle, this number always increases by one and then decreases with one: this pattern repeats itself. The triangles are irrelevant in this case and serve as a distraction.
Tips for solving figure series problems
- Pay attention to the shape of the figures. Does the shape of the figure change or does it remain the same in the following pictures? If there are several figures, do the shapes all remain the same or does one constantly change?
- Pay attention to the number of figures. Does the number of figures remain the same in the following pictures? Is the number steadily increasing or decreasing or is there another fluctuating pattern?
- Pay attention to the location of the figures. Do the figures change location? Does only one particular part of a figure change place? Also look at how the figures move: clockwise, counter-clockwise, to the opposite corner, to the corner next to it. Does the figure remain in the same position in one picture before it moves again?
- Pay attention to the color. Does the color of the figures remain the same or does it change in the following pictures? Does only one figure change color? Is one figure consistently the same color?
- Pay attention to any lines. Are there lines that stand out in the picture? If so, do they change at all? If there are both lines and figures in the picture, is there a relationship between the change in the lines and the changes in the figures?
- Try to logically prove which figure should follow. Try to use your reasoning skills to predict which figure should follow in the sequence. Do not go right to all the pictures and try to fit one of them into the series. The figure has to fit into the series: the series shouldn’t match the answer option that you think it should be without any clear reasoning.
Practice makes perfect!
It is very important to practice for a capacity test. If you do not practice, your score may be lower and this often decreases your chances of getting that much-desired job! By practicing, you can solve problems more quickly and efficiently, so that your score will increase.
Start immediately with exercises for inductive reasoning and many other tests at: