ExamShortcut
low importance~0-1 Q in Tier 11 formulasโšก 3 shortcuts2 subtopics

A row of figures changes by fixed rules โ€” an element moves round the border, an arrow rotates, a shaded quarter turns, or a count grows. Track each element separately, find its step, and pick the only option that satisfies every rule.

Track record in the exam

avg 1.0 Q / shift2024: 1 Q2025: 1 Q

Questions per shift in recent SSC CGL papers.

Test difficulty mix (28 questions)

9 easy14 medium5 hard

Question patterns exams keep repeating

Taken from previous-year papers. If a pattern is marked "very common", expect to see it in your exam.

Rotating arrow or line

very common
Spot it:

An arrow or line at a different angle in every frame.

How to solve: Write the direction per frame; find the constant turn; turn once more for the answer.

Example: Q. Arrow: up, up-right, right, down-right - next?

45ยฐ clockwise each step โ†’ points down.

Learn this in โ€œMovement and rotationโ€ โ†’

Element moving round the border

very common
Spot it:

A dot, ring or square on a different border place each frame.

How to solve: Number the 8 border places clockwise from the top-left corner; add the step (mod 8).

Example: Q. Dot at places 0, 2, 4, 6 - next?

Place 0, the top-left corner.

Learn this in โ€œMovement and rotationโ€ โ†’

Shaded part moving

common
Spot it:

A shaded quarter shifts around the square.

How to solve: The quarter circles the 4 places; read the direction from frames 1-2 and continue.

Example: Q. TL โ†’ TR โ†’ BR โ†’ BL - next?

Back to the top-left.

Learn this in โ€œMovement and rotationโ€ โ†’

Two or three rules together

common
Spot it:

Shading, arrow and dot all change from frame to frame.

How to solve: Solve one element at a time; the answer satisfies every rule.

Example: Q. Shading anticlockwise + arrow 90ยฐ clockwise - fifth frame?

Apply both rules once more and combine.

Learn this in โ€œMovement and rotationโ€ โ†’

Growing count

very common
Spot it:

Strokes or marks increase by a fixed step.

How to solve: Write the count row and extend it one term.

Example: Q. Strokes 1, 3, 5 - next?

Learn this in โ€œAdding, removing and changing elementsโ€ โ†’

Dots added round the frame

common
Spot it:

One new dot at the next corner each frame.

How to solve: Follow the corners in order; the fourth frame has all four corners dotted.

Example: Q. TL; TL+TR; TL+TR+BR - next?

4 dots, one in every corner.

Learn this in โ€œAdding, removing and changing elementsโ€ โ†’

Count with a second rule

common
Spot it:

A growing or shrinking count plus an alternating arrow or mark.

How to solve: Extend the count row and the alternation separately; the answer fits both.

Example: Q. Strokes 1, 2, 3, 4 with the arrow alternating up/down - next?

5 strokes with the arrow up.

Learn this in โ€œAdding, removing and changing elementsโ€ โ†’

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