Spatial Relationship Rules

Spatial relationship rules go beyond "where" a shape is located (covered in the previous course) to describe how shapes relate to each other within a box. These rules require you to look at the interactions between shapes — overlapping, adjacency, containment, relative positioning, and directional pointing. They are among the hardest rules to spot because they require examining pairs or groups of shapes rather than individual features.

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Category 1: Containment Rules

One shape is inside another shape.

Common Containment Rules

Rule	Description
"A small shape is always inside the largest shape"	Containment based on size
"Circles always contain a triangle"	Specific shape types in containment
"The black shape is always inside the white shape"	Containment based on shading
"No shapes overlap or contain other shapes"	Absence of containment

Worked Example: Black Shape Inside White Shape

Set A:

• Box 1: A large white circle containing a small black triangle; a separate grey square nearby
• Box 2: A large white rectangle containing a small black diamond
• Box 3: A large white pentagon containing a small black circle; two separate white hexagons
• Box 4: A large white hexagon containing a small black arrow
• Box 5: A large white square containing a small black pentagon; a separate grey triangle
• Box 6: A large white triangle containing a small black square

Rule: In every box, a small black shape is inside a large white shape. The specific shape types vary (distractor), but the containment + colour relationship is constant.

Test shape: A large black circle containing a small white triangle → the colours are reversed (black outside, white inside) → Not Set A

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Category 2: Adjacency and Touching Rules

Shapes that are next to each other or touching (sharing an edge or point).

Common Adjacency Rules

Rule	Description
"All shapes touch at least one other shape"	No isolated shapes
"Exactly two shapes are touching"	Specific number of contact points
"Circles never touch other shapes"	Shape-specific non-adjacency
"Only same-coloured shapes touch each other"	Adjacency linked to colour

Worked Example: All Shapes Touching

Set A:

• Box 1: A circle touching a triangle, which touches a square — all connected in a chain
• Box 2: Three overlapping circles — all touching
• Box 3: A pentagon touching a hexagon
• Box 4: Four shapes arranged in a cluster, each touching at least one neighbour
• Box 5: Two triangles sharing an edge
• Box 6: A rectangle touching a circle, which touches an arrow — chain of contacts

Set B:

• Box 1: A circle on the left, a triangle on the right — not touching (gap between them)
• Box 2: Three shapes, all separated by clear gaps
• Box 3: A square in one corner, a pentagon in another — no contact
• (and so on)

Rule A: All shapes are touching/connected. Rule B: At least two shapes are separated (not touching).

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Category 3: Overlapping and Intersection

Shapes that overlap — partially covering each other.

Key Distinctions

Term	Meaning
Touching	Shapes share a boundary point or edge but do not overlap
Overlapping	One shape's area partially covers another's
Containing	One shape is completely inside another
Separate	Shapes do not touch, overlap, or contain

Common Overlap Rules

• "Exactly two shapes overlap in every box"
• "Overlapping shapes always create 2 regions" (the overlap region, plus the two non-overlapping parts)
• "No shapes overlap" (all separate or merely touching)
• "The overlapping region is always in the centre of the box"

Worked Example: Exactly One Pair of Overlapping Shapes

Set A:

• Box 1: Circle and square overlapping; separate triangle nearby
• Box 2: Two overlapping pentagons; separate hexagon
• Box 3: Rectangle overlapping with a diamond; separate arrow, separate circle
• Box 4: Triangle overlapping with a circle
• Box 5: Two overlapping hexagons; separate square; separate triangle
• Box 6: Pentagon overlapping with a circle; separate rectangle