Honest note: these are original practice puzzles in the style of matrix reasoning tasks. They are not taken from Raven’s Progressive Matrices or any licensed test, and your score is not an IQ score.
What A Matrix Reasoning Test Measures
A matrix puzzle shows a grid of figures with one cell missing. The figures change according to rules that run along the rows and down the columns, and you have to work out the rules to choose the missing piece. Because the puzzles use shapes rather than words or numbers, they are widely used to study fluid reasoning: the ability to solve new problems without relying on learned knowledge.
The best-known example is Raven’s Progressive Matrices, first published by John C. Raven in 1938. Matrix tasks also appear as subtests in modern intelligence batteries. Our puzzles are written from scratch and follow the same general idea.
The Rules You Will Meet
| Rule type | What changes | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Progression | Number, size or shading steps up across a row | Count and compare neighbours |
| Distribution | Each shape or colour appears once per row and column | Look for what is missing |
| Rotation | A figure turns by a fixed angle each step | Track one point, such as an arrow tip |
| Addition | The third cell combines the first two | Overlay the first two in your head |
| Cancellation | Lines in both cells disappear, the rest stay | Check line by line |
| Subtraction | The second cell is taken away from the first | Remove, then compare |
| Movement | A dot travels around the cell step by step | Read the grid like a book |
| Two rules at once | Rows and columns follow different rules | Solve one feature at a time |
How The Test Works
Each round picks 12 puzzles at random from a pool of 16. You choose from six options, A to F, and see the rule explained straight after each answer. There is no timer, so take as long as you need. The puzzles are drawn as clean shapes and lines, so they work on phones and large screens.
| Score | Result |
|---|---|
| 0% to 40% | Warming up |
| 41% to 65% | Solid pattern finder |
| 66% to 85% | Strong abstract reasoner |
| 86% to 100% | Excellent abstract reasoning |
A Strategy That Works
- List the features: shape, number, size, shading, angle, position, lines.
- Check rows first, then columns, then diagonals.
- Test one feature at a time and rule out options that break it.
- Predict before you look: sketch the answer in your mind, then find it.
- Watch for distractors: wrong options usually get just one feature wrong.
Why Matrix Scores Rise With Practice
Political scientist James Flynn documented large rises in scores on tests like Raven’s matrices across the 20th century, now known as the Flynn effect. Familiarity with abstract puzzles is one of several explanations researchers have proposed. Practice also helps on an individual level: once you know the common rule types, puzzles get easier. That is why practice scores like this one cannot stand in for a professionally administered test.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this a real IQ test?
No. A real IQ assessment uses standardised, normed tests given under controlled conditions. This is a free practice test of matrix-style reasoning.
Why are there six options?
Six options make guessing less effective and force you to check every feature of your chosen answer.
What if I find these hard?
That is normal. Matrix puzzles feel unfamiliar at first, and most people improve after learning the common rule types above.
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For practice and entertainment. Not a clinical or standardised assessment. See how we build our tests.