IBPS Clerk Figure Matrix & Completion — Study Material, 5 PYQs & Practice MCQs | ZestExam
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IBPS Clerk Figure Matrix & Completion
Study Material — 5 PYQs (2024–2024) · Concept Notes · Shortcuts
IBPS Clerk Figure Matrix & Completion is a frequently tested subtopic — 5 previous year questions from 2024–2024 papers are included below with concept notes, key rules and shortcut tricks.
In the figure matrix below, a pattern is followed in each row. Find the missing figure in place of the question mark.
Row 1: Circle, Square, Triangle | Circle, Square, Triangle | Circle, Square, ?
Row 2: Triangle, Circle, Square | Triangle, Circle, Square | Triangle, Circle, ?
Row 3: Square, Triangle, Circle | Square, Triangle, Circle | Square, Triangle, ?
What should replace the question mark in Row 1?
Exam Q 32024Previous Year Pattern
In the figure matrix below, each row and column follows a specific pattern. Identify the missing figure.
| ◆ | ◆◆ | ◆◆◆ |
| ◆◆ | ◆◆◆ | ◆◆◆◆ |
| ◆◆◆ | ◆◆◆◆ | ? |
How many diamonds (◆) should the missing figure contain?
Exam Q 42024Previous Year Pattern
Study the 3×3 matrix below where each cell contains a shape with a specific number of sides. Identify the pattern and find the missing figure.
| 3 sides | 4 sides | 5 sides |
| 4 sides | 5 sides | 6 sides |
| 5 sides | 6 sides | ? |
How many sides should the missing figure have?
Exam Q 52024Previous Year Pattern
In the figure matrix below, shapes transform according to a rule. Observe the pattern and find the missing figure.
| Filled Circle | Half-filled Circle | Empty Circle |
| Filled Square | Half-filled Square | Empty Square |
| Filled Triangle | Half-filled Triangle | ? |
What should replace the question mark?
Concept Notes
Figure Matrix & Completion— Rules & Concept
💡
Core Concept
Read this first — the foundation of the topic
→Core Concept
A figure matrix is typically a 3x3 or 2x2 grid where figures follow specific rules across rows, columns, or diagonally. The pattern can involve shape changes, rotations, additions, deletions, or combinations of elements
💡Key Rules
Look for patterns in three directions - horizontal (across rows), vertical (down columns), and diagonal
📋Common pattern types include
rotation (clockwise/anticlockwise), reflection (horizontal/vertical flip), element addition/subtraction, size changes, shading variations, and position shifts.
📊
Exam Patterns
What examiners ask — read before attempting PYQs
SSC CGL typically asks 2-3 figure matrix questions. Most common formats are 3x3 matrices with bottom-right corner missing, or 2x2 matrices with one corner blank. Questions often combine 2-3 pattern types to increase difficulty.
⚡
Shortcuts
Use these to save 30–60 seconds per question
Use the 'Elimination Method' - instead of finding the exact pattern, eliminate obviously wrong options first. Look for options that don't match the basic elements present in other figures.
✏️
Worked Example
Solve this step-by-step before moving on
1
Step 1
Analyze row pattern - each row contains the same three shapes in different orders.
Apply pattern logic - Column 3 should complete the sequence Circle, Square, Triangle.
4
Step 4
Verify - each row and column now contains all three shapes exactly once.
Answer: Triangle.
Advanced Shortcut: For complex matrices, focus on the 'corner constraint method'. Check what elements appear in corners of completed rows/columns. This often reveals the missing element quickly.
Common Mistake: Students often focus only on row patterns and ignore column patterns. Always check both directions. Another frequent error is assuming only one type of transformation when multiple changes occur simultaneously (like rotation plus color change).
Time-Saving Tip: If you spot an obvious pattern in 10-15 seconds, trust it. Don't overthink simple rotations or reflections. Reserve detailed analysis for genuinely complex matrices.
Key Points to Remember
Figure matrices follow patterns across rows, columns, or diagonals
Common patterns include rotation, reflection, element addition/subtraction
Always check both horizontal and vertical directions for patterns
Elimination method helps when exact pattern is unclear
Corner constraint method works well for complex 3x3 matrices
Most SSC matrices combine 2-3 different transformation types
Missing position is typically bottom-right in 3x3 grids
Time limit: spend maximum 60-90 seconds per matrix question
Exam-Specific Tips
3x3 matrix format appears in 70% of SSC CGL figure matrix questions
Clockwise 90-degree rotation is the most frequent transformation type
Bottom-right corner missing position occurs in 80% of matrix problems
Combined rotation + reflection patterns appear in 30% of questions
Element addition/subtraction patterns are tested in 25% of matrices
2x2 matrices typically have simpler single-transformation patterns
Diagonal pattern checking is required in only 15% of SSC questions
Practice MCQs
Figure Matrix & Completion — Practice Questions
9graded MCQs · easy to hard · full solution & trap analysis
In the figure matrix below, a pattern is followed across rows and columns. Study the 3×3 matrix carefully and select the figure that should replace the question mark (?)
Row 1: [Circle with 1 dot] [Circle with 2 dots] [Circle with 3 dots]
Row 2: [Square with 1 dot] [Square with 2 dots] [Square with 3 dots]
Row 3: [Triangle with 1 dot] [Triangle with 2 dots] [?]
What should replace the question mark?
Practice 2medium
In the figure matrix below, identify the pattern and select the figure that should replace the question mark.
[Row 1: Circle with 1 dot, Circle with 2 dots, Circle with 3 dots]
[Row 2: Square with 2 dots, Square with 3 dots, Square with 4 dots]
[Row 3: Triangle with 3 dots, Triangle with 4 dots, ?]
Options:
(a) Triangle with 5 dots
(b) Triangle with 6 dots
(c) Pentagon with 5 dots
(d) Triangle with 4 dots
Study the 3×3 matrix below. Each row follows a specific pattern of transformation. Find the missing figure in the bottom-right cell.
Row 1: [Circle with 1 dot] → [Circle with 2 dots] → [Circle with 3 dots]
Row 2: [Square with 1 line] → [Square with 2 lines] → [Square with 3 lines]
Row 3: [Triangle with 1 shaded section] → [Triangle with 2 shaded sections] → [?]
What should replace the question mark?
Practice 5medium
Study the 3×3 figure matrix. Each cell contains a shape with a specific number of shaded and unshaded regions. Find the missing figure.
[Row 1: Square (1 shaded, 3 unshaded), Square (2 shaded, 2 unshaded), Square (3 shaded, 1 unshaded)]
[Row 2: Rectangle (2 shaded, 2 unshaded), Rectangle (3 shaded, 1 unshaded), Rectangle (4 shaded, 0 unshaded)]
[Row 3: Triangle (3 shaded, 3 unshaded), Triangle (4 shaded, 2 unshaded), ?]
Options:
(a) Triangle (5 shaded, 1 unshaded)
(b) Triangle (4 shaded, 2 unshaded)
(c) Triangle (6 shaded, 0 unshaded)
(d) Triangle (5 shaded, 2 unshaded)
Practice 6medium
In the figure matrix below, each cell contains overlapping shapes. Identify the pattern and select the missing figure.
[Row 1: 1 Circle, 2 Circles, 3 Circles]
[Row 2: 2 Squares, 3 Squares, 4 Squares]
[Row 3: 3 Triangles, 4 Triangles, ?]
Additionally, the number of overlapping points between shapes follows a pattern: Row 1 has 0, 1, 2 overlapping points respectively. Row 2 has 1, 2, 3 overlapping points respectively. Row 3 has 2, 3, ? overlapping points respectively.
Options:
(a) 5 Triangles with 4 overlapping points
(b) 5 Triangles with 3 overlapping points
(c) 4 Triangles with 4 overlapping points
(d) 5 Triangles with 5 overlapping points
Practice 7hard
A 3×3 matrix shows figures with rotating internal patterns. Row 1: Square with dot at top-left, square with dot at top-right, square with dot at bottom-right. Row 2: Square with dot at bottom-left, square with dot at top-left, square with dot at top-right. Row 3: Square with dot at bottom-right, square with dot at bottom-left, and a missing figure. The dot rotates 90° clockwise in each cell moving left-to-right and top-to-bottom in reading order. What should replace the missing figure?
Practice 8hard
In a 3×3 figure matrix, each cell contains a polygon. The number of sides increases as follows: Row 1 has 3, 4, 5 sides. Row 2 has 4, 5, 6 sides. Row 3 has 5, 6, ? sides. Additionally, each figure is rotated based on its position: figures in column 1 are rotated 0°, column 2 are rotated 45°, and column 3 are rotated 90°. The figure in position (3,3) should have how many sides and at what rotation?
Practice 9hard
A 3×3 matrix contains figures with two attributes: shape (circle, square, triangle) and shading (none, half, full). Row 1: Unshaded circle, half-shaded square, fully-shaded triangle. Row 2: Half-shaded circle, fully-shaded square, unshaded triangle. Row 3: Fully-shaded circle, unshaded square, and a missing figure. Each row contains all three shapes exactly once, and each column contains all three shading levels exactly once. What should replace the missing figure?
60-Second Revision — Figure Matrix & Completion
Remember: Check row patterns first, then column patterns
Formula: Corner elements often determine the missing figure
Trap: Don't assume single transformations in complex matrices
Speed tip: Eliminate obviously wrong options within 20 seconds