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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
Test Figure Matrix & Completion under exam conditions
In a sequence of figures, each figure rotates 90° clockwise from the previous one. If Figure 1 shows a triangle pointing upward, what direction does the triangle point in Figure 4?
Practice 2easy
In a 3×3 matrix, the first row contains: Circle, Square, Triangle. The second row contains: Square, Triangle, Circle. The third row contains: Triangle, Circle, ?. What should replace the question mark?
Practice 3easy
A 2×2 matrix shows: Top-left: 2 dots, Top-right: 4 dots, Bottom-left: 3 dots, Bottom-right: ?. The pattern follows: each cell = (row number + column number) × 1 dot. What is the answer?
Practice 4easy
A 3×3 grid contains shaded and unshaded squares. Row 1: Shaded, Unshaded, Shaded. Row 2: Unshaded, Shaded, Unshaded. Row 3: Shaded, Unshaded, ?. What should replace the question mark?
Practice 5easy
Four figures show a square with an internal line. Figure 1: vertical line in center. Figure 2: horizontal line in center. Figure 3: diagonal line (top-left to bottom-right). Figure 4: ?. What is the pattern?
Practice 6medium
In a 3×3 matrix, the first row contains: Circle, Square, Triangle. The second row contains: Square, Triangle, Circle. The third row contains: Triangle, Circle, ?. Each row and each column must contain all three shapes exactly once. What should replace the question mark?
Practice 7medium
Study the pattern in the 2×2 grid:
Top-left: 4 dots arranged in a square
Top-right: 6 dots arranged in two rows of 3
Bottom-left: 8 dots arranged in two rows of 4
Bottom-right: ?
What should replace the question mark?
Practice 8medium
In a 3×3 matrix, each cell contains a shape with internal lines. Row 1: Triangle with 0 internal lines, Square with 1 internal line, Pentagon with 2 internal lines. Row 2: Square with 1 internal line, Pentagon with 2 internal lines, Hexagon with 3 internal lines. Row 3: Pentagon with 2 internal lines, Hexagon with 3 internal lines, ?. What should replace the question mark?
Practice 9medium
A 2×3 matrix shows a transformation pattern. Top row: Black circle → White circle → Black square. Bottom row: White square → Black triangle → ?. The pattern alternates color (Black↔White) and rotates shape type in a fixed sequence (Circle→Square→Triangle→Circle...). What replaces the question mark?
Practice 10medium
In a 3×3 figure matrix, each cell contains overlapping shapes. The number of overlapping regions increases as follows: Row 1 has 1, 2, 3 overlapping regions. Row 2 has 2, 3, 4 overlapping regions. Row 3 has 3, 4, ? overlapping regions. Additionally, the shapes used are: Row 1 uses circles only, Row 2 uses circles and squares, Row 3 uses circles, squares, and triangles. What should replace the question mark?
Practice 11medium
A 2×2 matrix contains figures with rotating elements. Top-left: Arrow pointing North. Top-right: Arrow pointing East. Bottom-left: Arrow pointing South. Bottom-right: ?. The rotation follows a clockwise pattern. Additionally, each figure has a background: Top-left is white, Top-right is gray, Bottom-left is white, Bottom-right should be ?. The background pattern alternates diagonally.
Practice 12hard
In a 3×3 matrix, the first row contains: Circle with 2 dots, Square with 3 dots, Triangle with 4 dots. The second row contains: Pentagon with 5 dots, Hexagon with 6 dots, Heptagon with ?. The third row contains: Octagon with 8 dots, Nonagon with 9 dots, Decagon with 10 dots. What should replace the question mark?
Practice 13hard
A 3×3 matrix shows shapes with internal divisions. Row 1: Circle divided into 2 parts, Square divided into 4 parts, Pentagon divided into 6 parts. Row 2: Hexagon divided into 8 parts, Heptagon divided into 10 parts, Octagon divided into ?. Row 3: Nonagon divided into 14 parts, Decagon divided into 16 parts, Hendecagon divided into 18 parts. How many parts should the Octagon be divided into?
Practice 14hard
In a 3×3 matrix, each cell contains a shape with a specific rotation and shading pattern. Row 1: Right-pointing triangle (unshaded), Right-pointing triangle (half-shaded), Right-pointing triangle (fully shaded). Row 2: Down-pointing triangle (unshaded), Down-pointing triangle (half-shaded), Down-pointing triangle (?). Row 3: Left-pointing triangle (unshaded), Left-pointing triangle (half-shaded), Left-pointing triangle (fully shaded). What should replace the question mark?
Practice 15hard
A 3×3 matrix contains numbers arranged as follows: Row 1: 2, 4, 8. Row 2: 3, 9, ?. Row 3: 5, 25, 125. Each cell's value is derived from the cell directly above it in the previous row. What should replace the question mark?
Practice 16hard
In a 3×3 matrix, each cell contains a shape with a specific number of sides and internal lines. Row 1: Triangle (3 sides, 0 internal lines), Square (4 sides, 1 internal line), Pentagon (5 sides, 2 internal lines). Row 2: Hexagon (6 sides, 3 internal lines), Heptagon (7 sides, 4 internal lines), Octagon (8 sides, ?). Row 3: Nonagon (9 sides, 6 internal lines), Decagon (10 sides, 7 internal lines), Hendecagon (11 sides, 8 internal lines). How many internal lines should the Octagon have?
Practice 17hard
A 3×3 matrix shows circles with dots arranged in a specific pattern. Row 1: 1 dot, 2 dots, 3 dots. Row 2: 4 dots, 5 dots, ?. Row 3: 7 dots, 8 dots, 9 dots. The dots are positioned clockwise starting from the top. What should replace the question mark?
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