Figure Sequences for dMAT: Rules and Practice

Figure Sequences is one of the three dMAT Core Module subtests. In the official task type, students see a series of square grids. One or more figures change from grid to grid, and the student must identify the rule and choose the next continuation.

For APS India candidates, this is part of the Core Module, not the General Academic Module. The official preparation material gives 20 Figure Sequence series in 25 minutes, so you have about 75 seconds per item.

Start with the dMAT structure guide if you are unsure where this subtest fits. Use the main dMAT preparation guide for the full study plan.

Last reviewed: 1 August 2026. This article uses the official dMAT preparation material only for rule categories and format understanding. All practice questions below are Think Mile original and are not official dMAT questions.

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Direct Answer

Figure Sequences tests visual rule detection under time pressure. You need to track how each figure changes by:

• position;
• colour;
• orientation;
• movement direction;
• step size;
• boundary behaviour;
• interaction with other figures.

The key skill is not artistic ability. It is systematic tracking.

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Official Rule Types to Know

The official preparation material describes several rule families.

Do not assume every item uses only one rule. Many harder items combine two rules on one figure, or one rule per figure across multiple figures.

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Solving Method

Use this process for every item:

1. Pick one figure only.
2. Track its position across the given frames.
3. Identify whether the step size is constant or increasing.
4. Check what happens at boundaries.
5. Track orientation separately from position.
6. Track colour separately from orientation.
7. Repeat for the next figure.
8. Combine the rules only at the end.
9. Eliminate answer options that violate any one rule.

The common mistake is trying to understand the whole grid at once. Under a 75-second target, that becomes noisy. Track one figure at a time.

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Common Traps

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No-Note Strategy

The official dMAT rules do not allow notes during the exam. Train mentally from the beginning.

Use short verbal labels in your head:

• "red square: right one, right two, right three";
• "triangle: rotate clockwise each frame";
• "circle: black, white, black, white";
• "diamond: bounce at edge."

This reduces memory load. You are not memorising full grids; you are compressing each figure into a rule phrase.

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Think Mile Original Practice

These are original text-based practice questions. They train rule recognition, but they are not official dMAT questions and do not replace visual practice in the official material.

Notation:

• Rows are numbered 1 to 5 from top to bottom.
• Columns are numbered 1 to 5 from left to right.
• R means red, B means blue.

Easy Question

A red circle appears in these positions:

Where should it appear in Frame 5?

A. row 3, column 5
B. row 4, column 4
C. row 2, column 5
D. row 3, column 1

Answer: A. The circle moves one step to the right each frame.

Medium Question

A black triangle appears in these positions and orientations:

Where should it appear in Frame 5?

A. row 5, column 5, orientation up
B. row 5, column 4, orientation up
C. row 4, column 5, orientation right
D. row 1, column 1, orientation up

Answer: A. Position moves one step diagonally down-right. Orientation rotates 90 degrees clockwise each frame: up, right, down, left, then up.

Difficult Question

Two figures appear in a 5 by 5 grid.

Rules:

• The red square increases movement by x + 1 horizontally: 1 step, then 2 steps, then 3 steps. At the boundary, it bounces.
• The blue circle moves one step left each frame.

Where should both figures appear in Frame 5?

A. red square row 5, column 2; blue circle row 2, column 1
B. red square row 5, column 4; blue circle row 2, column 1
C. red square row 5, column 5; blue circle row 2, column 1
D. red square row 5, column 3; blue circle row 2, column 2

Answer: A. The red square's next movement is 3 steps after reaching the right edge at column 5. It bounces left: column 5 to 4 to 3 to 2. The blue circle continues one step left from column 2 to column 1.

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Timed Practice Plan

Do not start with speed if your rule recognition is weak. Build clean tracking first, then compress time.

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Free Learning Path

Use TestAS only as supplementary practice for similar task formats. It is not official dMAT material.

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Official vs Preparation Inference

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Figure Sequences an IQ test?
It resembles non-verbal reasoning and pattern-recognition tasks, but for dMAT preparation you should focus on the official rule types rather than generic IQ tricks.

How fast should I solve each question?
The official timing is 20 series in 25 minutes, or about 75 seconds per series.

Should I practise with notes first?
No. Because notes are not allowed in the real exam, practise mental tracking from the beginning.

What is the most common mistake?
Trying to track all figures at once. Track one figure, one rule, then combine.

What should I study next?
Continue with Mathematical Equations and Latin Squares, then use the General Academic Module guide for Part 2.

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Source note: This article was reviewed against the official dMAT General Academic Module preparatory material, the official dMAT preparation page, and the official digital TestAS preparation page. All practice items are Think Mile original and are not affiliated with APS India or g.a.s.t.