1. Pattern Completion
A larger continuous design contains a missing rectangular window. The student chooses the piece that continues every relevant line, color, and shape across the cutout edges.
What to notice: all four edges of the window, not merely the most obvious color in the center.
2. Reasoning by Analogy
A 2 by 2 relationship shows how the top picture changes. The student applies that same transformation to the bottom picture. A rule can involve rotation, reflection, position, number, fill, nesting, or more than one coordinated change.
What to notice: what changed, what stayed the same, and whether the answer preserves both.
3. Serial Reasoning
A 3 by 3 matrix has one missing cell. The correct answer must satisfy patterns across rows and down columns. Credible questions often combine background color, shape, count, fill, position, or internal divisions.
What to notice: whether each row and each column contains a complete set, cycle, or progression.
4. Spatial Visualization
The student mentally combines, overlays, rotates, assembles, or folds visual information. The answer must preserve positions and relationships, including which shapes remain visible when items overlap.
What to notice: orientation, location, overlap, and which details should remain unchanged.
Why a screen-based experience helps
When the school administers an online assessment, on-screen practice can build familiarity with selecting choices, moving between questions, working within a timed period, and keeping the entire visual task together. GateBuddy does not claim to reproduce Pearson’s proprietary interface. It provides a realistic, independent digital practice environment.
Try every format in one short session.
The free GateBuddy sampler includes all four types and explains what to notice.
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