Series & Sequences

In Series (or Sequence) questions, you are given a row of shapes that follow a pattern. Your job is to work out what comes next — or what fits in a gap in the middle.

Think of it like a number pattern (2, 4, 6, 8, ?) but with shapes instead of numbers. The shapes change in a regular, predictable way, and once you spot the rule, you can predict the next shape.

---

How Series Questions Work

You will see a row of shapes in order, like this:

[Shape 1]  [Shape 2]  [Shape 3]  [Shape 4]  [?]

You need to pick the shape that should replace the question mark.

---

Types of Patterns in Series

1. Rotation Sequences

The shape rotates (turns) by the same amount each step.

Example:

Step 1: Arrow pointing UP (↑)
Step 2: Arrow pointing RIGHT (→)
Step 3: Arrow pointing DOWN (↓)
Step 4: Arrow pointing LEFT (←)
Step 5: ?

The arrow rotates 90° clockwise each step. Step 5 = arrow pointing UP again (it has completed a full turn).

2. Shading Sequences

The shading changes in a regular pattern.

Example:

Step 1: Black circle
Step 2: Grey circle
Step 3: White circle
Step 4: Black circle
Step 5: ?

The shading cycles: Black → Grey → White → Black → Grey...

Step 5 = Grey circle.

3. Shape Progression (Increasing Sides)

The number of sides increases each step.

Example:

Step 1: Triangle (3 sides)
Step 2: Square (4 sides)
Step 3: Pentagon (5 sides)
Step 4: Hexagon (6 sides)
Step 5: ?

Step 5 = Heptagon (7 sides). Each step adds one more side.

4. Size Sequences

The shape gets bigger or smaller each step.

Example:

Step 1: Small square
Step 2: Medium square
Step 3: Large square
Step 4: Small square
Step 5: ?

The size cycles: Small → Medium → Large → Small → Medium...

Step 5 = Medium square.

5. Counting Elements

The number of shapes or elements changes each step.

Example:

Step 1: 1 dot
Step 2: 2 dots
Step 3: 3 dots
Step 4: 4 dots
Step 5: ?

Step 5 = 5 dots. One dot is added each step.

6. Position Movement

An element moves to a different position each step.

Example:

Step 1: A square with a dot in the top-left corner
Step 2: A square with a dot in the top-right corner
Step 3: A square with a dot in the bottom-right corner
Step 4: A square with a dot in the bottom-left corner
Step 5: ?

The dot moves clockwise around the corners. Step 5 = dot in the top-left corner again.

7. Alternating Patterns

Two different things alternate (take turns).

Example:

Step 1: Black triangle
Step 2: White circle
Step 3: Black triangle
Step 4: White circle
Step 5: ?

Step 5 = Black triangle (the pattern repeats ABAB...).

8. Combined Patterns

The trickiest sequences change more than one property at the same time.

Example:

Step 1: Small black triangle
Step 2: Medium grey square
Step 3: Large white pentagon
Step 4: ?

Three things are changing:

• Size: Small → Medium → Large
• Shading: Black → Grey → White
• Shape: Triangle (3) → Square (4) → Pentagon (5)

Step 4 = the pattern might cycle back (Small, Black, Hexagon) — or it might continue growing. Check the answer options carefully!

---

Worked Example 1