Non-Verbal Odd One Out 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 an Odd One Out Test?
An odd one out test gives you four figures that look almost alike. Three of them follow exactly the same rule, and one quietly breaks it. Your task in this odd one out test is to find the rule the three share — and then pick the figure that does not belong. The hidden difference is always something precise: a shape turned the wrong way, a dot in the wrong corner, a different number of elements, or shading on the wrong side. Odd one out questions are a standard part of ISSB screening and of the Pakistan Army, PAF and Pak Navy initial tests, because they reward careful observation under time pressure.
In the real initial test you will meet these questions mixed with series and rotation sets, with only seconds allowed for each. PMA Long Course candidates, PAF trainees and Pak Navy applicants all face them. The secret is to compare the figures feature by feature instead of trusting a first glance: check direction, then position, then count, then shading. The figure that fails just one of those checks is almost always your answer.
25 Practice Questions
In each question, three figures follow the same rule and one is different. Choose the odd one out (A, B, C or D). The full answer key with explanations follows.
Question 1
Three arrows point the same way. Which figure is the odd one out?
Question 2
In three figures the dot sits in the centre of the square. Which figure is different?
Question 3
Three of these shapes are the same. Which is the odd one out?
Question 4
Three triangles share the same shading. Which is different?
Question 5
In three squares the inner line runs the same way. Which square is the odd one out?
Question 6
Three figures contain the same number of dots. Which figure has a different count?
Question 7
Three flags fly the same way. Which flag is the odd one out?
Question 8
Three circles are the same size. Which circle is different?
Question 9
Three shapes have the same number of sides. Which shape is the odd one out?
Question 10
Three squares are shaded in the same way. Which square is different?
Question 11
Three arrows point north-east. Which arrow points a different way?
Question 12
In three figures the small triangle sits at the top of the circle. Which figure is the odd one out?
Question 13
Three figures contain two lines. Which figure contains a different number?
Question 14
Three figures pair a circle with the same second shape. Which pairing is different?
Question 15
In three squares the diagonal falls the same way. Which square is the odd one out?
Question 16
Three squares are half shaded on the same side. Which square is different?
Question 17
Three of these shapes are identical. Which is the odd one out?
Question 18
In three figures the dot is inside the circle. Which figure breaks the rule?
Question 19
Three squares have the shaded quarter in the same corner. Which is the odd one out?
Question 20
Three figures show two small triangles. Which figure shows a different number?
Question 21
Three L-shapes stand the same way up. Which L-shape is turned differently?
Question 22
Three figures are drawn as double rings. Which figure is the odd one out?
Question 23
Three figures are upright crosses. Which figure is different?
Question 24
Three circles are half shaded. Which circle is shaded differently?
Question 25
Three figures show a single arrow. Which figure is the odd one out?
Answer Key
| Q | Odd One Out | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | C | Three arrows point up; C points down. |
| 2 | B | Three dots sit in the centre; B’s dot is in the top-left corner. |
| 3 | D | Three figures are circles; D is a square. |
| 4 | A | Three triangles are navy; A is gold. |
| 5 | C | Three inner lines are vertical; C’s line is horizontal. |
| 6 | B | Three figures have 3 dots; B has 4 dots. |
| 7 | D | Three flags point right; D’s flag points left. |
| 8 | A | Three circles are large; A is small. |
| 9 | C | Three shapes are pentagons (5 sides); C is a hexagon (6 sides). |
| 10 | B | Three squares are filled; B is only an outline. |
| 11 | D | Three arrows point north-east; D points north-west. |
| 12 | A | Three triangles sit at the top of the circle; A’s sits at the bottom. |
| 13 | C | Three figures have 2 lines; C has 3 lines. |
| 14 | B | Three pair a circle with a square; B pairs it with a triangle. |
| 15 | D | Three diagonals run top-left to bottom-right; D’s runs the other way. |
| 16 | A | Three squares are shaded on the left half; A is shaded on the right. |
| 17 | C | Three shapes are diamonds; C is a star. |
| 18 | B | Three dots are inside the circle; B’s dot is outside it. |
| 19 | D | Three shaded quarters are top-left; D’s is bottom-right. |
| 20 | C | Three figures show 2 triangles; C shows 3. |
| 21 | B | Three L-shapes stand upright; B is rotated 180 degrees. |
| 22 | D | Three figures have an inner ring; D has only one circle. |
| 23 | A | Three figures are plus signs (+); A is a diagonal cross (×). |
| 24 | C | Three circles are half shaded; C is only quarter shaded. |
| 25 | B | Three figures show 1 arrow; B shows 2 arrows. |
More ISSB Non-Verbal Tests
Keep practising with the full series. Start from the ISSB Test Preparation hub, then try:
