Abstract reasoning test

Fifteen shape puzzles in twelve minutes: find the rule, then pick the next figure or the odd one out. Every set is freshly generated, so you can practise until the rules jump out at you.

  • 15

    questions

  • 12 min

    time limit

  • Free

    score and answers

No sign-up. Every answer is explained at the end.

By the LifeScore Editorial Team · Updated · How we check facts · How the questions are made

5
rule types cover most puzzles
48 s
per question in this test
No
words or numbers needed
New
set of puzzles every time

What an abstract reasoning test measures

Abstract reasoning tests show you shapes that change by a hidden rule and ask what comes next, what completes a grid or which figure breaks the pattern. They are also sold as inductive reasoning, diagrammatic reasoning or non-verbal reasoning tests, with small differences in format. Because they need no vocabulary or arithmetic, employers use them to measure how quickly you pick up new patterns, a part of what psychologists call fluid reasoning.

You will meet them in graduate and professional assessments (often alongside numerical and verbal reasoning), in the shape questions of the CCAT, and in some apprenticeship and armed forces selection tests.

The five rules behind most puzzles

Check them in this order; it is roughly the order of how often they appear, and how quickly you can rule each one out.

RuleWhat to look forQuick check
RotationA shape or a shaded half turns by the same angle each step (45°, 90°, 135°)Follow one point, like an arrow tip, across the frames
CountDots, sides or shapes go up or down by a fixed amountCount in every frame and write the numbers down
ShadingFill cycles: solid, outline, halfSay the fills out loud: is it a repeating cycle?
Shape cycleThe shapes repeat in a fixed orderFind where the cycle restarts
Two rules at onceOne attribute rotates while another counts upSolve each attribute separately, then find the option that has both

Worked examples

Three puzzles from a practice set, with the rule spelled out.

Example 1 · Next in series

Which figure comes next in the series?

A
B
C
D
E
Answer E. Two dots are added each step. So the next figure is a solid star with nine dots.

Example 2 · Odd one out

Which figure is the odd one out?

A
B
C
D
E
Answer D. Four shapes are shaded on the left. The circle is shaded on the right.

Example 3 · Odd one out

Which figure is the odd one out?

A
B
C
D
E
Answer D. The rule links shading and dots: solid shapes have an even number of dots and outline shapes have an odd number. The odd one out is the solid triangle with three dots.

Timing strategy

  • Give each puzzle one pass of about 30 seconds: check rotation, count, shading and shape in order. If nothing fits, guess and move on.
  • Eliminate options as you find each rule. Often two rules leave a single option, and you never need to find the third.
  • Odd-one-out puzzles: look for what four figures share (the same number of dots, the same direction), not for what makes one different.
  • Hard puzzles usually combine two simple rules rather than using one complicated rule.

Common mistakes

  • Spotting one rule and stopping. If two options both fit, a second rule is in play.
  • Mixing up clockwise and counterclockwise when a shape turns by 135°; trace it with your finger.
  • Counting the frames wrongly when the rule depends on position in the sequence.
  • Spending two minutes on one puzzle. Every question is worth the same.

A study plan for the time you have

Our suggested plans. Practice helps on these tests mostly by making the common rule types familiar, so variety matters more than volume.
Time to the testPlan
2 daysThree sets a day. After each, read the rule for every miss and say it in your own words.
1 weekOne or two sets a day. Keep a tally of which rule types you miss, and do a spatial reasoning set every other day for rotation practice.
2 weeksWeek 1 as above; week 2, cut the time per set by a quarter so the real test feels slower than practice.

Shape questions are a fifth of the CCAT

The full CCAT practice test mixes them with verbal, math and logic questions: 50 in 15 minutes, scored the moment you finish.

Start the free CCAT test

Frequently asked questions

What is an abstract reasoning test?

A test of shape puzzles where you work out the rule linking a series of figures and choose the next one, the missing one or the odd one out. It measures pattern-finding without words or numbers.

Is abstract reasoning the same as inductive reasoning?

Nearly. Publishers use abstract, inductive, diagrammatic and non-verbal reasoning for closely related shape-based tests; the formats differ in details, not in the skill measured.

Can you improve at abstract reasoning tests?

Yes. Most improvement comes from knowing the common rule types (rotation, count, shading, shape cycles) and checking them in order, which practice makes automatic.

What is a good abstract reasoning score?

Employers compare you with a norm group and set their own cut-offs, so there is no single pass mark. In practice here, aim for 12 or more of 15 inside the time.

Are these questions from SHL or another publisher?

No. Every puzzle is generated by our own code from simple drawing rules, and the answer is checked by the same code.

LifeScore is not affiliated with SHL, Kenexa, Saville, Criteria Corp or any test publisher. Every question here is generated by our own code. Reviewed 14 October 2026 by the LifeScore Editorial Team.