One of the most common patterns that emerge in abstract reasoning comes in the form of:

• Direction, and
• Positioning.

Think of direction as being a compass . Here's a type of pattern that could exist: If I were to more in a direction which is 45 degrees clockwise, which points of the compass would I hit each time if I were to start at North?

Think of position as being location within a map . Here's a pattern that could exist. Name all the towns directly north-west of Sydney. How many are there?

Why is this important?

• In abstract reasoning:
  • Images may form the pattern of direction. Many patterns go clockwise or anticlockwise in a 45 degree or 90 degree angle (very common).
  • Images may form the pattern of position e.g. being next to another image, being next to 1 corner, then next to the opposite corner.

To summarise:

• Direction involves which way things are rotating.

  • North, East, South, West, North East, South East, North West, South West.
  • Things can more clockwise or anti-clockwise.
  • Degree on which things move - is it 90, 45, 180? What's the magnitude of movement?

• Positioning involves the placement of an item/image on space. It is where a certain shape or image is in the large space of things. Things to consider are:

  • Where is it located? Near the corner, near the end?
  • Position often involves comparison, so is it positioned next to something that is:
  • White? Black? Grey?
  • Larger? Smaller?

Now, let's go through some sample questions:

Example 1

Example 2

Example 3

Key Rules to remember:

• Think of a compass for direction

  • North, East, South, West, North East, South East, North West, South West.
  • Things can more clockwise or anti-clockwise.
  • Degree on which things move - is it 90, 45, 180? What's the magnitude of movement?

• . Positioning involves the placement of an item/image on space. It is where a certain shape or image is in the large space of things. Things to consider are:

  • Where is it located? Near the corner, near the end?
  • Position often involves comparison, so is it positioned next to something that is:
  • White? Black? Grey?
  • Larger? Smaller?

Now it's time to do your assignment.

1. Download the assignment question here.
2. Print it out or if you want to do it electronically, save it.
3. Complete the questions to it.
4. Then check the solutions on the video below.
5. For the answers in text instead of video, download them here.