Figure Analogies — Prelims Strategy

Prelims Strategy

Identify the reference centre, mirror line or arrangement of cells before comparing the figures. List changes in position, orientation, shading and count separately. Then propose a transformation that explains the entire first pair, including features that remain unchanged, and test it against any additional example.

Apply that transformation to the new input rather than copying the example’s final direction or location. For a clockwise quarter-turn, follow the cycle up → right → down → left. For reflection, identify which coordinate changes and which stays fixed. A position-only move around a grid does not automatically rotate the symbol within its cell.

Compare the resulting feature ledger with each option. Close distractors often implement one part of a compound rule correctly while omitting another. If a symmetric shape conceals the difference between rotation and no movement, look for an asymmetric marker or an explicit instruction. Do not invent a rule simply to make an option unique. Finish with a check of the unchanged features, because a correct turn cannot compensate for an unsupported change in shading or number.