What should you describe in a figure?
FNEGE describes Logic as categorizing data, including spatial data. The three exercises below break down observation skills; an isolated rotation is not presented as a reproduction of the full test format. These learning exercises are provided by Upsilar.
An arrow can change direction without changing position. A dot can move without changing shape. A triangle can be empty or filled while retaining the same number of sides. Describing these properties separately avoids looking for an overly vague overall resemblance.
Symbols are paired with words so the information remains accessible if their visual rendering or screen-reader output varies. In sequences, the “|” sign separates steps; it is not an object to count. In three-position rows, brackets mark the positions and the middle dot indicates an empty position.
| Symbol | Description |
|---|---|
| ↑ → ↓ ← | Arrows pointing up, right, down, and left |
| ○ / ● | Hollow circle / filled disk |
| △ / ▲ | Hollow triangle / filled triangle |
| □ / ■ | Hollow square / filled square |
How can you describe the movement instead of memorizing it?
Illustrated sequence: ↑ | → | ↓ | ?. Description: an arrow points up, then right, then down. The center stays fixed, and each step applies the same rotation.
Dans la séquence décrite, chaque flèche tourne d’un quart de tour dans le sens des aiguilles d’une montre. Quelle flèche vient ensuite ?
Choose an answer.
The solution, step by step
← — an arrow pointing left.
The method in action
- The movement is up → right → down → left. From down, a quarter-turn in the same direction points left.
- Up would require a half-turn from down; right would reverse the rotation; down would not change. A circle would change the shape and violate the rule.
- The rule is explicitly given to isolate the mental operation. When looking for a pattern, check every available transition before accepting it.
What changes when an object moves?
Three-position sequence: [● · ·] | [· ● ·] | [· · ●] | ?. Description: a filled disk occupies the left, then center, then right position. After the right position, it returns to the left.
Le disque avance d’une place vers la droite à chaque étape et revient à gauche après la troisième place. Quelle est l’étape suivante ?
Choose an answer.
The solution, step by step
[● · ·] — one filled disk on the left.
The method in action
- The rule describes a three-position cycle. Left follows right, with one filled disk retained.
- The center would be two steps forward from the right; staying on the right would eliminate the movement. Two disks would change the count, and a hollow circle would change the fill.
- A correct answer must preserve all the relevant properties, not only the expected position.
The pitfall
Checking only one shared property
A figure may meet one row’s criterion and fail another’s. If an answer must belong to two categories, check them one at a time. An immediate visual resemblance to the first group is not enough.
Conversely, avoid inventing a rule based on an accidental rendering detail, such as line thickness. In our figures, relevant criteria are indicated by shape, fill, direction, or position, with a description that clarifies their meaning.
How can you find the intersection of categories?
Set A: ▲, ■, ● — filled triangle, filled square, filled disk. Set B: △, ▽, ◁ — three hollow triangles pointing up, down, and left. In this exercise, A contains filled shapes and B contains triangles; the goal is to find a figure that meets both criteria.
Quelle figure appartient à la fois à la catégorie des formes pleines et à celle des formes triangulaires ?
Choose an answer.
The solution, step by step
▶ — the filled triangle pointing right.
The method in action
- The filled triangle meets both criteria. Its right-facing orientation does not exclude it; the triangle category does not specify a particular direction.
- The hollow triangle meets only the shape criterion; the filled square meets only the fill criterion. The hollow circle and hollow square meet neither of the two criteria.
- This worked solution distinguishes an invariant attribute from a variable one. In an open-ended pattern search, the observed items help determine which properties matter.
Key takeaways
- Describe each property separately.
- Check every step or every item in the set.
- For an intersection, check both criteria for every answer.