How to solve Raven-style matrices
Work out the relationship between the figures, then choose the missing piece. A good explanation accounts for the whole matrix.
Choose a practice drillStart with one feature at a time
- Describe what is there. Count the shapes. Note their positions, directions and whether they are solid or outline. An outline is an unfilled shape with a visible border.
- Test the completed rows. Does something move, turn, increase, repeat or combine? Check your proposed rule against both complete rows.
- Check the columns. The missing figure must also fit the relationships down the grid. Track separate features independently when they follow different rules.
- Predict before comparing options. Name the missing shape, its exact position, its fill and its direction. Then eliminate options that break any of those requirements.
- Recheck the whole grid. A rule that explains one pair of figures but fails elsewhere is not enough.
Four useful rule families
Movement and rotation
Follow position changes and turns across both rows and columns.
Practice this rule familyDistribution and counting
Track which shapes, fills and quantities belong in each row and column.
Practice this rule familyCombining figures
Find what is added, shared or removed when two figures combine.
Practice this rule familyMultiple rules
Solve harder matrices with several changes happening at the same time.
Practice this rule familyFor combinations, distinguish three possibilities: keep everything present in either figure; keep only what both share; or remove shared parts and keep the differences. Match positions exactly. For multiple rules, solve position and appearance separately before putting them together.
Raven formats are not interchangeable
| Version | Format and preparation |
|---|---|
| APM-III | An adult reasoning assessment that draws 23 questions from a question bank, with a 40-minute limit. Our full test uses that length and timing with original questions and our own difficulty levels. Pearson’s APM-III overview |
| Raven’s Adaptive | TalentLens lists 15 questions, untimed, taking approximately 12 minutes. The difficulty responds to your answers. Our drills train related reasoning skills; our full test is not an adaptive simulation. TalentLens Adaptive overview |
| Classic Standard, Coloured and Advanced Matrices | Standard Matrices has 60 items and Coloured Matrices has 36. Classic Advanced Matrices has a 12-item Set I and a 36-item Set II, rather than the 23-item workplace format. Follow the instructions for your edition. Pearson’s classic editions |
| Raven’s 2 | A separate clinical and educational assessment for a broad age range, available in paper and digital formats. Our adult practice is not a clinical assessment or a replacement for its standardized administration. Pearson’s Raven’s 2 overview |
Practice under the clock
Forty minutes for 23 questions averages about 1 minute 44 seconds per question. Use less time on straightforward matrices so you can spend more on combined rules. Our full test lets you skip, flag and return to questions; those are our practice controls, not a guarantee of your employer’s interface. The clock continues if you switch tabs or reload.
Learn in the untimed drills first. After a full test, look at correct answers, unanswered questions and the rule families that caused mistakes. Try a fresh form after reviewing the explanations. Remembering the answer to a previous question is different from solving a new one.
What a practice score means
Our questions deliberately include demanding combinations of rules. Their difficulty is an editorial design choice, not a statistically validated match to a Raven test. Use your results to identify skills to improve. They do not establish an IQ, official percentile, employer cutoff or probability of passing.