Pattern recognition test

Six matrix puzzles, easy to hard: find the rule in each grid or row of shapes and pick the piece that fits. You get a score out of six and every answer explained.

6 puzzles · about 3 minutes · practice puzzles, not the IQ test questions
Puzzle 1 of 6 · Counting across rowseasy

Each row follows the same rule. Which shape completes the grid?

?

Tap the piece that completes the pattern.

Is pattern recognition a sign of high IQ?

Largely, yes. Finding rules in unfamiliar patterns is the core of what psychologists call fluid reasoning, and matrix puzzles are among the best single measures of general ability. In John Carroll's 1993 survey of more than 460 data sets, inductive reasoning tasks of this kind sat close to the general factor that IQ tests are built to capture.

That is why so many IQ tests lean on pattern items. Raven's Progressive Matrices is made of nothing else, and the Wechsler tests include a Matrix Reasoning subtest. People who do well on them usually do well across the rest of an IQ test too.

Three honest limits:

  • It is one ability. Vocabulary, memory and processing speed are measured separately, and people can be strong on one and average on another.
  • Practice helps the score more than the skill. People who have done many matrix puzzles do somewhat better on new ones, mostly because the rule types are familiar.
  • Everyday "pattern spotting" is different. Noticing trends at work or in people relies a lot on knowledge and experience, not only on the abstract reasoning these puzzles test.

The rule types behind pattern puzzles

Most visual pattern items, from simple quizzes to professional tests, are built from a handful of rule types. The six puzzles above use all five.

Common rule types in matrix and sequence puzzles
Rule typeWhat happensPuzzle above
ProgressionA feature grows, shrinks or turns by a fixed step1 and 2
Constant in a row or columnOne feature stays fixed along one direction3
DistributionEach value appears once in every row and column4
ArithmeticTwo cells add or subtract to make the third5
AlternationTwo patterns take turns in one sequence6

Harder items stack several rule types at once. The method that works is the same every time: list the features, test each one across rows and down columns, then predict the answer before looking at the options. For harder items, try the hard IQ test page, and for worked examples of every question type, the IQ test questions and answers.

From six puzzles to a pattern recognition IQ test

Six puzzles show whether you enjoy this kind of reasoning. They cannot place you on the IQ scale, because six items leave too much room for luck. A full test needs more items, harder items and a time limit.

The LifeScore IQ test uses 25 picture puzzles in five sets: patterns, spatial reasoning, sequences, analogies and rules, each running from easy to hard, with a 12-minute timer. There is no sign-up to start. Seeing your result is a one-time paid report. It is an online estimate, not a clinical assessment.

Frequently asked questions

What is a pattern recognition test?

A test where you find the rule in a set of shapes, numbers or letters and use it to fill a gap or predict the next item. Matrix puzzles, like the six above, are the most common visual form.

Is pattern recognition a sign of high IQ?

Pattern reasoning is one of the strongest single parts of IQ. Matrix tests relate closely to overall scores, so being good at them usually goes with above-average general ability. It is one ability, though, not the whole of intelligence.

What is a pattern recognition IQ test?

An IQ test built mainly from pattern items, such as matrices and series. Raven's Progressive Matrices is the best-known example. The LifeScore IQ test uses 25 picture puzzles, including patterns, sequences and spatial items.

Can six puzzles tell me my IQ?

No. Six items are too few for a reliable estimate, so this page gives a score out of six and worked answers, not an IQ. A longer test, with harder items and more of them, gives a steadier estimate.

Can you improve pattern recognition?

You can get better at matrix puzzles by learning the common rule types and checking one feature at a time. That improves practice scores. Evidence that it raises general reasoning ability is weak.

Are pattern recognition tests culture fair?

They depend less on language than verbal tests, which is why they are used across countries. They are not untouched by culture: schooling and familiarity with puzzles still affect scores.

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Good at patterns? See how you do on 25.

The full test adds spatial items, sequences, analogies and rules, each set easy to hard, in about 12 minutes.

Take the IQ test

25 questions · about 12 minutes