Type 3 Questions: Next in Sequence

Type 3 questions test your ability to identify progressive patterns — changes that happen systematically from one step to the next. You are shown a sequence of shapes and must determine what comes next. This requires a different mindset from Types 1 and 2: instead of looking for what stays the same across a set, you are looking for what changes and how it changes.

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How Type 3 Questions Are Structured

Feature	Detail
What you see	A sequence of 4 shapes in a row
What you must find	The 5th shape that continues the pattern
Answer options	4 choices (A, B, C, D)
Key skill	Identifying progressive changes

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Types of Progressive Patterns

1. Rotation

A shape (or element within a shape) rotates by a fixed angle at each step.

Rotation amount	What it looks like
45° clockwise	Shape turns slightly clockwise each step — takes 8 steps to complete a full rotation
90° clockwise	Quarter turn each step — takes 4 steps to complete
90° anticlockwise	Quarter turn the other way
180°	Half turn each step — effectively flips the shape

Example sequence:

• Step 1: Arrow pointing up (↑)
• Step 2: Arrow pointing right (→)
• Step 3: Arrow pointing down (↓)
• Step 4: Arrow pointing left (←)
• Step 5: Arrow pointing up (↑) — it has completed a full rotation

How to identify rotation: Look at a distinctive feature (like a point, a notch, or an asymmetric element) and track its position across steps. If it moves around a central point, you have rotation.

2. Translation (Movement)

A shape moves position within the box at each step.

Common translation patterns:

• Moves one space right each step (wrapping from right edge to left edge)
• Moves diagonally (down-right each step)
• Bounces off edges (moves right until hitting the edge, then reverses direction)
• Follows a specific path (e.g., around the perimeter of the box)

Example sequence:

• Step 1: Dot in top-left corner
• Step 2: Dot in top-right corner
• Step 3: Dot in bottom-right corner
• Step 4: Dot in bottom-left corner
• Step 5: Dot returns to top-left corner (completing a clockwise circuit)

3. Addition and Removal

Elements are added to or removed from the shape at each step.

Common patterns:

• One new shape is added each step (1, 2, 3, 4 → next has 5)
• One shape is removed each step (5, 4, 3, 2 → next has 1)
• A specific element is added (e.g., one more line is drawn each step)
• Alternating addition and removal (add, remove, add, remove)

Example sequence:

• Step 1: One dot
• Step 2: Two dots
• Step 3: Three dots
• Step 4: Four dots
• Step 5: Five dots

4. Colour Cycling

The fill or shading of shapes changes through a repeating sequence.

Common cycles:

• Black → grey → white → black → grey → white...
• Black → white → black → white... (alternating)
• Striped → solid → empty → striped...
• One shape changes colour while others stay the same

Example sequence:

• Step 1: Black circle
• Step 2: Grey circle
• Step 3: White circle
• Step 4: Black circle (cycle restarts)
• Step 5: Grey circle

5. Size Change

Shapes grow or shrink progressively.

Common patterns:

• Shape gets larger each step
• Shape gets smaller each step
• Shape alternates between large and small
• Shape cycles through three sizes: small → medium → large → small...

6. Shape Morphing

The shape itself changes type progressively.

Common patterns:

• Number of sides increases: triangle → square → pentagon → hexagon → heptagon
• Shapes cycle: circle → triangle → square → circle → triangle
• Shape becomes more complex each step (e.g., straight line → angle → triangle → square)

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Tracking Multiple Simultaneous Changes

Many Type 3 questions involve two or more changes happening at the same time. This is where most candidates lose marks.

Strategy: Isolate Each Change

Create a mental (or written) table tracking each feature separately:

Example Sequence:

• Step 1: Small black circle in top-left
• Step 2: Medium grey circle in top-right
• Step 3: Large white circle in bottom-right
• Step 4: Small black circle in bottom-left