What the task looks like
You see a series of matrices. Symbols move, rotate or change colour from one matrix to the next, each following its own rule. You work out the rules and choose the next two matrices.
Rules worth memorising
- A figure does not switch from a diagonal movement to another type of movement.
- Figures either bounce off an edge or travel along the border.
- A change can grow step by step, for example one step, then two, then three.
A method that works under time pressure
- Take one symbol at a time and ignore the rest.
- Say its rule as a sentence in your head: "moves one square right, bounces at the edge".
- Apply the sentence to get its next position, then move to the next symbol.
- Only then compare with the answer options, and eliminate on the symbol you are most sure about.
Common traps
- Trying to read the whole matrix at once instead of one symbol at a time.
- Assuming a rule from two matrices when the third contradicts it.
- Spending too long on one item. About 75 seconds is the budget; guess and move on, since the official instructions tell you to guess when unsure.
Practise with generated Figure Sequence items and worked explanations in the app. Mock Test 1 is free.
A worked example
Imagine three matrices, each a 4x4 grid holding two symbols: a black square and a small circle.
- Matrix 1: square in the top-left cell; circle in the bottom-right cell.
- Matrix 2: square one cell to the right; circle one cell up.
- Matrix 3: square one more cell to the right; circle one more cell up.
Handle one symbol at a time. The square's rule as a sentence: "moves one cell right each step". The circle's rule: "moves one cell up each step". So in matrix 4 the square sits in the fourth column of the top row and the circle sits two cells above its start.
Now the edge rule matters. Once the square reaches the last column it cannot keep moving right, so it either bounces back or continues along the border, depending on which the earlier matrices showed. That is why you read the first three matrices for the rule and not just for the position: the rule tells you what happens at the edge.
Only after you have both sentences do you look at the answer options, and you eliminate using the symbol you are most confident about.
Common questions
How many Figure Sequences questions are in the dMAT?
The official materials state 25 minutes for 20 items for this subtest.
Can I take notes while solving Figure Sequences?
No. The official materials state that notes are not allowed during the exam, so practise solving in your head.