ISSB Non-Verbal Reasoning Test
25 original figure-based practice questions with answers and explanations — built for ISSB screening and Pakistan Army, PAF and Pak Navy initial test preparation.
What Is the Non-Verbal Reasoning Test?
The non-verbal reasoning test is a core part of the ISSB screening and the initial tests for the Pakistan Army, Pakistan Air Force and Pakistan Navy. Whether you are applying for PMA Long Course, joining the PAF or appearing for Pak Navy selection, you will face figure-based questions that test your logic without using a single word.
Non-verbal reasoning measures how quickly you can spot patterns in shapes: completing series, finding the odd one out, tracking rotations, shading changes, and identifying mirror or water images. In the real initial test these questions come thick and fast, with only seconds allowed for each figure set, so speed and accuracy both matter.
The good news is that pattern recognition is a trainable skill. Practise with shape series, rotation and shading questions until the logic becomes second nature. Below you will find 25 original practice questions built with clear, easy-to-read figures, each with four options, followed by a complete answer key with one-line explanations. Attempt them under timed conditions — about 30 to 40 seconds per question — then check your score.
25 Practice Questions
Which figure comes next in the series?
- A
- B
- C
- D
The shaded quarter moves one step at a time. Which figure comes next?
- A
- B
- C
- D
The number of dots grows in each step. Which figure comes next?
- A
- B
- C
- D
The two shapes alternate. Which figure comes next?
- A
- B
- C
- D
One more ring is added in each step. Which figure comes next?
- A
- B
- C
- D
Odd one out: three of these figures point the same way. Which is different?
- A Figure 1
- B Figure 2
- C Figure 3
- D Figure 4
Odd one out: three dots sit in the same place. Which figure is different?
- A Figure 1
- B Figure 2
- C Figure 3
- D Figure 4
The circle grows steadily. Which figure comes next?
- A
- B
- C
- D
Filled and empty squares alternate. Which figure comes next?
- A
- B
- C
- D
The diagonal line flips direction each time. Which figure comes next?
- A
- B
- C
- D
One more horizontal line is added each time. Which figure comes next?
- A
- B
- C
- D
Which figure is the mirror image of this shape?
- A
- B
- C
- D
Which figure is the water image (vertical reflection) of this arrow?
- A
- B
- C
- D
The hand of the clock turns 90° clockwise each step. Which figure comes next?
- A
- B
- C
- D
Odd one out: three of the lines inside the squares run the same way. Which figure is different?
- A Figure 1
- B Figure 2
- C Figure 3
- D Figure 4
The shaded half switches sides each time. Which figure comes next?
- A
- B
- C
- D
The square shrinks by the same amount each step. Which figure comes next?
- A
- B
- C
- D
Two more dots appear in each step. Which figure comes next?
- A
- B
- C
- D
Odd one out: three of these shapes are the same. Which is different?
- A Figure 1
- B Figure 2
- C Figure 3
- D Figure 4
The arrow flips 180° each time. Which figure comes next?
- A
- B
- C
- D
The shaded area grows each time. Which figure comes next?
- A
- B
- C
- D
The arrow turns 45° clockwise each step. Which figure comes next?
- A
- B
- C
- D
Odd one out: three arrows point the same way. Which is different?
- A Figure 1
- B Figure 2
- C Figure 3
- D Figure 4
One more small circle appears inside each time. Which figure comes next?
- A
- B
- C
- D
Which figure is the mirror image of this flag?
- A
- B
- C
- D
Answer Key with Explanations
| Q | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A | The arrow rotates 90° clockwise each step: up, right, down, left — so it points up again. |
| 2 | C | The shaded quarter moves one corner anticlockwise each step and returns to the top-right corner. |
| 3 | B | The dot count rises by one each time (1, 2, 3, 4), so five dots come next. |
| 4 | A | Circle and square strictly alternate, so a circle follows the square. |
| 5 | D | One ring is added per step (1, 2, 3, 4), so the next figure has five rings. |
| 6 | C | Figures 1, 2 and 4 point up; only figure 3 points down. |
| 7 | B | The dot is centred in figures 1, 3 and 4, but sits near the edge in figure 2. |
| 8 | B | The radius grows by 6 each step (12, 18, 24, 30), so 36 comes next. |
| 9 | A | Filled and empty squares alternate, so a filled square follows the empty one. |
| 10 | C | The diagonal flips direction each step (\, /, \, /), so \ comes next. |
| 11 | C | The line count rises by one each step (1, 2, 3, 4), so five lines come next. |
| 12 | A | A mirror image flips left and right: the L-shape’s foot points left instead of right. |
| 13 | C | A water image flips top and bottom, so the upward arrow points down. |
| 14 | A | The hand turns 90° clockwise each step (12, 3, 6, 9) and returns to 12. |
| 15 | B | The inner line is vertical in figures 1, 3 and 4, but horizontal in figure 2. |
| 16 | A | The shaded half alternates left, right, left, right — so the left half comes next. |
| 17 | B | The side shrinks by 16 each step (72, 56, 40, 24), so a side of 8 comes next. |
| 18 | A | Two dots are added each step (2, 4, 6, 8), so ten dots come next. |
| 19 | C | Figures 1, 2 and 4 are circles; only figure 3 is a square. |
| 20 | A | The arrow flips 180° each step (up, down, up, down), so up comes next. |
| 21 | B | The shaded area grows from a quarter to a half to three-quarters, so the full square comes next. |
| 22 | D | The arrow turns 45° clockwise each step (NE, E, SE, S), so SW comes next. |
| 23 | B | Arrows 1, 3 and 4 point up; only figure 2 points right. |
| 24 | B | The inner circle count rises by one each step (2, 3, 4, 5), so six come next. |
| 25 | D | A mirror image flips left and right: the pole moves to the right and the flag points left. |
More ISSB Practice Tests
Keep preparing with the ISSB non-verbal test series: