What comes next in this pattern?
A triangle, then a square, then a triangle, then an empty box.
Correct: B — Square. The pattern alternates triangle, square, triangle — so the next shape is a square.
Shape Sequences
Continue a pattern of shapes, shades and turns — the gentlest introduction to non-verbal reasoning.
Ask two questions: what changes each step, and by how much? Shapes, shading and turns all follow a rule, and the rule is always the same each step.
Practising: Repeating patterns · Shading patterns · Turns of 45° and 90°
Non-Verbal Reasoning · Question 1 of 4
Score: 0 / 4
What comes next in this pattern?
A filled square, then a hollow square, then a filled square, then an empty box.
Correct: B — Hollow square. The shading alternates: filled, hollow, filled — so the next square is hollow.
What comes next in this pattern?
An arrow pointing up, then up and right, then right, then an empty box.
Correct: C — Pointing down-right. The arrow turns 45° clockwise each time: up, up-right, right, so next is down-right.
What comes next in this pattern?
A triangle pointing up, then pointing right, then pointing down, then an empty box.
Correct: C — Pointing left. The triangle turns 90° clockwise each time: up, right, down — so next it points left.
You scored 0 out of 4.
Read each explanation again for the questions you missed — the explanations are the part that makes the practice stick.
Tip for parents: let your child attempt every question before you step in. The explanation appears straight after they answer — read it together, then use Start again a day or two later to check it has stuck.
More Non-Verbal Reasoning practice
Rotation
Turn a shape by a given number of degrees, clockwise or anticlockwise, and pick the matching picture.
Reflection
Mirror a shape in a vertical or horizontal line — the mirror image is flipped, never simply turned.
Odd One Out: Shapes
Three of the shapes share a property — same shape, same number of sides — and one does not.
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