Size is type of pattern that can be detected in abstract reasoning questions.

It's pretty simple actually, the size of the image or part of an image in question is either:

• increasing, or
• decreasing.

Where it gets hard is where:

• Certain components increase or decrease e.g. the side of one shape.
• An image in relation to its other parts is increasing or decreasing in size e.g. if a square block is increasing in a larger sized block which is decreasing.
• Two or more types of size changes occur at the same time. For example, in an image with 2 rectangles: 1 rectangle increases its size horizontally and 1 rectangle decreases its size vertically.
• Size increases with direction. Is it increasing vertically, horizontally, diagonally?
• Size increases by specific units. Each square by be increasing by 1 new square. Make sure you choose the solution which goes by the pattern that exists.

Size as a pattern almost always works alongside other existing patterns such as direction and positioning and colour.

To detect these patterns:

• Isolate the element which is changing by size.
• Make a statement as to the pattern change by size, and if required, make it a joint statement if there are other patterns involved.

Because abstract reasoning involves visual pattern detection, let’s apply this to the following question/s.

Example Question/s

Watch video for explanation of the following question/s:

Source: VetAssess

Example 2

Source: VetAssess

Key Rules to remember

• Size goes small to large or remains as is, or does this in a combination.
• Elements within an image will be increasing or decreasing in size or moving in a combination. Isolate out all those individual elements to find the answer.

Practice time!

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