AR: Type 3 — Analogical Reasoning (Statement Completion)

The Format

These questions present a visual analogy: “Shape A is to Shape B as Shape C is to ___?” You must identify the relationship (transformation) between A and B, then apply it to C to find the answer.

Common Transformations

• Reflection (horizontal or vertical flip)
• Rotation (90°, 180°, 270°)
• Colour inversion (black ↔ white)
• Size change (enlarge/shrink)
• Shape change (e.g., all circles become squares)
• Addition or removal of elements
• Repositioning of elements

Step-by-Step Method

1. Study A and B carefully. List every difference between them
2. Express the relationship as a rule: “A becomes B by rotating 90° clockwise and changing from black to white”
3. Apply EVERY part of that rule to C
4. The result should match one of the four options
5. If multiple options seem close, re-examine the A→B transformation for subtle changes you missed

Multiple Transformation Traps

Hard Type 3 questions apply 2–3 transformations simultaneously. Students often catch one transformation and miss another. Always check:

• Has the shape changed?
• Has the size changed?
• Has the colour/shading changed?
• Has the orientation changed?
• Has the position changed?
• Have elements been added or removed?