Shapes follow secret rules. They might get bigger, change colour, rotate, or move position. Your job is to crack the code and predict what comes next!
This is one of the most common question types in the 11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning exam. Let's train your detective skills! 🧩
Can you spot the patterns? Let's find out! 🎯
📋 Types of Pattern Changes
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Here are the five main things that can change in a pattern sequence. Learn to spot each one!
📏 Size
→→
Getting bigger or smaller
🎨 Shading
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Light to dark or changing fill
🔢 Number
●→● ●→● ● ●
More or fewer shapes
🔄 Rotation
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Turning clockwise or anticlockwise
📍 Position
↓ moves down
Moving around a grid
Detective tip: When you see a sequence, go through this checklist: Is anything changing in size? Shade? Number? Rotation? Position? This will help you crack every pattern!
🧩 Worked Example
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Let's solve a sequence step by step. Look at these four shapes and work out what comes next!
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🔍 Let's investigate!
Step 1: Check SIZE
The circle is getting bigger each time! Size: Increasing
Step 2: Check POSITION of the dot
The small dot moves: top-left → top-right → bottom-right → bottom-left. It's moving clockwise! Position: Clockwise
Step 3: Predict what comes next
The circle gets bigger again, and the dot returns to the top-left (completing the clockwise circuit). Answer: Bigger circle, dot top-left
Two rules at once! The circle changes size AND the dot changes position. Always check for multiple changes!
🎮 Pattern Challenge!
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Time to put your detective skills to the test! Spot the pattern and pick what comes next.
Score: 0 / 3
Q1: What comes next in this sequence?
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A
B
C
D
Q2: What comes next? The arrow is rotating.
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A
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B
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C
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D
Q3: What comes next? Count the shapes!
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A (2)
B (4)
C (5)
D (3)
🧠 Multi-Rule Sequences
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Sometimes two or more things change at once! This is where many students slip up. But not you, Detective — you know the secret method!
Example: TWO rules at once
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Rule 1: Size increasesRule 2: Shading gets darker
Answer: An even bigger square that's fully dark (or the cycle may restart!)
🔍 The Systematic Checking Method
Go through each item in the sequence and ask:
Size: Is it getting bigger or smaller? ✅ or ❌
Shading: Is the fill/colour changing? ✅ or ❌
Number: Are there more or fewer shapes? ✅ or ❌
Rotation: Is anything turning? ✅ or ❌
Position: Is anything moving to a new spot? ✅ or ❌
Write down each rule you find. Then apply ALL the rules to predict the next shape!
⚡ Advanced: Alternating Patterns
Some patterns alternate: big-small-big-small or dark-light-dark-light
Some patterns cycle: they repeat every 3 or 4 steps
Always look at more than just the last two items — check the whole sequence!
🏆 Exam-Style Challenge
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These are proper 11+ difficulty patterns! Use the systematic method: check size, shading, number, rotation, and position. You've got this, Detective!
Score: 0 / 4
Q1: What comes next? (Two things are changing!)
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Hint: check rotation AND shading
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A
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B
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C
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D
Q2: What comes next in this sequence?
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A
B
C
D
Q3: What comes next? Watch the shape AND the rotation!
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A
B
C
D
Q4: What comes next? (Advanced - check shading and position!)
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The blue square is moving AND its shading is changing!
A
B
C
D
🎉 Case Closed! 🎉
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Outstanding detective work! You've cracked every pattern case!
You scored 0 out of 7 across all challenges!
🏅 Your Achievements:
🔍 Pattern Detective
🧩 Sequence Solver
🧠 Multi-Rule Master
📝 What You Learned:
Five things that can change: size, shading, number, rotation, and position
How to use the systematic checking method for every sequence
Sometimes TWO or more things change at once — always check for multiple rules
Some patterns alternate or cycle — look at the whole sequence, not just the last item
Practice makes perfect — the more patterns you see, the faster you'll spot the rules!
🌟 ⭐ 🔍 ✨ 🎊
You're now a certified Pattern Detective! Keep practising and you'll ace the 11+ exam! 💪