Explore the New SHL Inductive Reasoning: Nested Shapes & Inner–Outer Patterns
SHL Inductive Reasoning:
Nested Shapes &
Inner–Outer Patterns
Learn to follow shapes as they move, change and return—with 12 original practice questions and explanations that show every step.
Looking for a structured study route beyond this free workshop? Explore our full SHL preparation programme for numerical, verbal, inductive and deductive reasoning, with worked explanations and timed practice.
How do you solve shapes inside shapes?
Separate the figure into outer, middle and centre layers. Track one feature at a time, check its rule against all the frames, then combine your predictions. A shape can move to another layer; a layer can also change its own shape without anything moving.
That distinction is the starting point. If a circle is outside now and in the middle next, ask whether it is the same circle changing position. If the outside alternates circle and square while everything else stays still, you may be looking at a change within a fixed position.
When the next figure contains something new, find the evidence that determines it. An unexplained “new shape” leaves the rule unfinished.
circle → square → triangle.
The outline colours label the layers; colour is not an extra rule in this guide.
What “nested” means here. A nested figure has one shape inside another. The shapes may share a centre, but they do not have to be circles. In this article, “nested shapes” means layered figures—not the separate task of finding a hidden figure in a busy drawing.
SHL describes inductive reasoning as finding rules and patterns and using them to predict outcomes.[1] The layered examples below are original ReasoningCampus teaching exercises. They are not official SHL questions or a prediction of your assessment’s question mix. Use your invitation and official familiarisation material to identify the format you will take.
Give each layer one small job.
You do not need to understand the entire picture at once. Write a short description of each frame, then test simple explanations. Use the following four steps before looking for an answer that merely looks familiar.
- Name the places.Record outside / middle / centre. Add any dots, markers, shading or arrows. A fixed feature is useful evidence too.
- Follow one feature.Track a circle across frames, or read only the centre shapes. Avoid mixing a movement rule with a shape-change rule.
- Test every transition.A rule must explain more than the first change. If it fails, try an alternating sequence or a delayed relationship.
- Build, then check.Predict the next outside, middle and centre before choosing. Finally check the small details that can invalidate an option.
A tiny tracking table can untangle a busy picture.
| Frame | Outside | Middle | Centre |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Circle | Square | Triangle |
| 2 | Triangle | Circle | Square |
| 3 | Square | Triangle | Circle |
Read the circle’s route: outside → middle → centre. Now check the square and triangle. They follow the same route. This supports a cyclic transfer rule; it is stronger evidence than noticing that the figures contain the same three shapes.
If the pattern seems ambiguous: check whether your explanation uses every frame and every changing feature. Prefer a simple, consistent rule supported by the given information. A short sequence can admit invented alternatives, so the exercise instructions and response choices matter too.
Similar-looking pictures can follow different rules.
Use this map to choose what to check next. These are teaching categories used in this guide, not an official SHL syllabus or a claim that every category will appear in your test.
| Pattern family | What to look for | Practise |
|---|---|---|
| Transfer between layers | A shape changes position. A returning shape may have been absent for a frame. | 1, 2, 10 |
| Independent or alternating updates | Different layers have different cycles, or take turns changing. | 3, 4 |
| Rotation and reflection | A marker’s position reveals the direction or kind of transformation. | 5, 6 |
| Count-to-shape dependency | The number of elements controls another feature, sometimes in the next frame. | 7, 12 |
| Odd and even sequences | Frames 1, 3, 5 form one sequence; frames 2, 4, 6 form another. | 8 |
| Shading and combined rules | The correct option must preserve shape, position and fill together. | 9, 11, 12 |
When a shape disappears, ask where it goes.
Disappearance can mean removal, a temporary gap in a cycle, or an object hidden by another one. These explanations need different evidence. The delayed-return exercise below shows a shape becoming absent and then reappearing in a predictable place. It does not rely on guessing what is behind an opaque object.
Similarly, a new outer shape must come from a visible sequence or a stated rule. In practice 2, the prompt explicitly gives a repeating cycle length; the frames identify its members. That is enough to justify the next arrival.
Still identifying your assessment?
Start with the broader guide, then return to this workshop if layered visual patterns are a skill you need to practise.
12 nested-shape practice questions.
Choose an answer before opening the explanation. These are teaching exercises, so some prompts give a useful hint. Work without a timer first. Then return to the challenge questions and explain each rule in your own words.
With JavaScript enabled, your first checked answer is recorded for each question during this visit. You can change your choice to learn, but that does not overwrite the first-check score. This score describes this practice set; it is not an SHL percentile or a pass prediction.
Three shapes, three positions
The same three shapes change places. Which option continues the sequence?
Read the figures as text
| Figure | Description |
|---|---|
| Frame 1 | outer circle; middle square; centre triangle. |
| Frame 2 | outer triangle; middle circle; centre square. |
| Frame 3 | outer square; middle triangle; centre circle. |
| Frame 4 | outer circle; middle square; centre triangle. |
| Option A | outer circle; middle square; centre triangle. |
| Option B | outer triangle; middle circle; centre square. |
| Option C | outer triangle; middle square; centre circle. |
| Option D | outer square; middle triangle; centre circle. |
Show answer & step-by-step explanation
Correct answerOption Bouter triangle; middle circle; centre square.
- Name the three places. In frame 1, read from outside to inside: circle, square, triangle.
- Follow one shape. The circle moves from outside in frame 1 to the middle in frame 2 and the centre in frame 3. It returns outside in frame 4.
- Check the other two. The square and triangle follow the same route: outside → middle → centre → outside. The rule works for every shown transition.
- Build the next frame. Starting with frame 4: move the centre triangle outside, the outer circle to the middle, and the middle square to the centre.
- Check the complete answer. The next frame is triangle / circle / square, read from outside to inside. All three positions must match.
Why the other options do not fit
- Option A: This repeats frame 4. All three shapes should move to their next positions.
- Option C: The outside is right, but the middle and centre are swapped. The old outer circle must move to the middle.
- Option D: This moves the shapes in the opposite direction. It repeats frame 3 rather than following frame 4.
Take this to your next question: Track the identity of a shape, not just the position it occupies.
A new shape enters from outside
The incoming outer shape follows a repeating four-shape cycle. Use the frames to identify that cycle and the movement of the other two shapes.
Read the figures as text
| Figure | Description |
|---|---|
| Frame 1 | outer circle; middle pentagon; centre triangle. |
| Frame 2 | outer square; middle circle; centre pentagon. |
| Frame 3 | outer triangle; middle square; centre circle. |
| Frame 4 | outer pentagon; middle triangle; centre square. |
| Frame 5 | outer circle; middle pentagon; centre triangle. |
| Option A | outer circle; middle circle; centre pentagon. |
| Option B | outer square; middle circle; centre triangle. |
| Option C | outer square; middle pentagon; centre pentagon. |
| Option D | outer square; middle circle; centre pentagon. |
Show answer & step-by-step explanation
Correct answerOption Douter square; middle circle; centre pentagon.
- Read the outside only. The outer shapes are circle, square, triangle, pentagon, circle. The prompt tells us this is a four-shape cycle, so the next outer shape is square.
- Check the middle. Each middle shape is the outer shape from the preceding frame. For example, frame 4 has an outer pentagon, and frame 5 has a middle pentagon.
- Check the centre. Each centre is the previous middle. The square in the middle of frame 3 becomes the centre in frame 4.
- Use frame 5. Bring in the next outer square. Move the current outer circle to the middle and the current middle pentagon to the centre. The old centre triangle leaves.
- Explain the new shape. The square is justified by the stated repeating cycle and the visible outer sequence. We are not inventing a shape simply because a new one is needed.
Why the other options do not fit
- Option A: This keeps the outer circle. The visible outer cycle is circle → square → triangle → pentagon → circle, so square comes next.
- Option B: This leaves the old centre in place. The pentagon in the middle of frame 5 must move to the centre.
- Option C: This leaves the middle unchanged. The circle on the outside of frame 5 must become the new middle.
Take this to your next question: A new arrival needs its own rule. “A new shape appears” is not a complete explanation.
Two cycles running at different speeds
Compare the outside and centre separately. Which option continues both patterns?
Read the figures as text
| Figure | Description |
|---|---|
| Frame 1 | outer circle; middle hexagon; centre triangle. |
| Frame 2 | outer square; middle hexagon; centre circle. |
| Frame 3 | outer circle; middle hexagon; centre square. |
| Frame 4 | outer square; middle hexagon; centre triangle. |
| Frame 5 | outer circle; middle hexagon; centre circle. |
| Option A | outer square; middle hexagon; centre square. |
| Option B | outer circle; middle hexagon; centre square. |
| Option C | outer square; middle hexagon; centre triangle. |
| Option D | outer square; middle pentagon; centre square. |
Show answer & step-by-step explanation
Correct answerOption Aouter square; middle hexagon; centre square.
- Find what stays still. Every middle shape is a hexagon. Keep it as a hexagon.
- Read the outer sequence. Circle, square, circle, square, circle. This alternation requires a square next.
- Read the centre sequence. Triangle, circle, square, triangle, circle. This three-shape cycle requires a square next.
- Combine the results. The outside and centre can both be squares. They follow different cycles, so sharing the same shape in one frame is not a problem.
- Check all three layers. The answer is square / hexagon / square. A correct centre alone does not make an option correct.
Why the other options do not fit
- Option B: This follows the centre rule but misses the outside change. The outside alternates circle and square.
- Option C: The centre sequence is triangle → circle → square, then it repeats. After the circle in frame 5, a square is needed.
- Option D: The middle hexagon never changes in the given frames. There is no evidence for replacing it with a pentagon.
Take this to your next question: Different layers may have different cycle lengths.
Only one layer changes on each turn
One inner layer changes, then the other. Find the next frame.
Read the figures as text
| Figure | Description |
|---|---|
| Frame 1 | outer hexagon; middle circle; centre triangle. |
| Frame 2 | outer hexagon; middle square; centre triangle. |
| Frame 3 | outer hexagon; middle square; centre pentagon. |
| Frame 4 | outer hexagon; middle circle; centre pentagon. |
| Frame 5 | outer hexagon; middle circle; centre triangle. |
| Option A | outer hexagon; middle square; centre pentagon. |
| Option B | outer hexagon; middle circle; centre pentagon. |
| Option C | outer hexagon; middle square; centre triangle. |
| Option D | outer hexagon; middle circle; centre triangle. |
Show answer & step-by-step explanation
Correct answerOption Couter hexagon; middle square; centre triangle.
- Compare frames 1 and 2. Only the middle changes: circle becomes square. The centre stays a triangle.
- Compare frames 2 and 3. Only the centre changes: triangle becomes pentagon. The middle stays a square.
- Check the next two turns. Frame 3 → 4 changes the middle back to circle. Frame 4 → 5 changes the centre back to triangle.
- Take the next turn. It is the middle’s turn again. Change its circle to a square. Leave the centre triangle and outer hexagon alone.
- Avoid changing too much. The correct frame is hexagon / square / triangle. A rule about turns is different from a rule that changes both layers every time.
Why the other options do not fit
- Option A: This changes both the middle and centre at once. Only the middle should change on this turn.
- Option B: This changes the centre again. The last transition already changed the centre; the middle changes next.
- Option D: This repeats frame 5. The middle should now switch from circle to square.
Take this to your next question: Write down which layer is allowed to change next.
Two markers travel in opposite directions
The dot sits in the outer band and the diamond sits in the middle band. Track their positions separately.
Read the figures as text
| Figure | Description |
|---|---|
| Frame 1 | outer circle; middle circle; centre circle; outer dot at top; middle diamond at bottom. |
| Frame 2 | outer circle; middle circle; centre circle; outer dot at right; middle diamond at right. |
| Frame 3 | outer circle; middle circle; centre circle; outer dot at bottom; middle diamond at top. |
| Frame 4 | outer circle; middle circle; centre circle; outer dot at left; middle diamond at left. |
| Frame 5 | outer circle; middle circle; centre circle; outer dot at top; middle diamond at bottom. |
| Option A | outer circle; middle circle; centre circle; outer dot at right; middle diamond at left. |
| Option B | outer circle; middle circle; centre circle; outer dot at left; middle diamond at right. |
| Option C | outer circle; middle circle; centre circle; outer dot at right; middle diamond at right. |
| Option D | outer circle; middle circle; centre circle; outer dot at top; middle diamond at bottom. |
Show answer & step-by-step explanation
Correct answerOption Couter circle; middle circle; centre circle; outer dot at right; middle diamond at right.
- Track the outer dot. It moves top → right → bottom → left → top. That is one quarter-turn clockwise each time.
- Track the middle diamond. It moves bottom → right → top → left → bottom. That is one quarter-turn anticlockwise each time.
- Advance the outer dot. From the top of frame 5, a clockwise quarter-turn takes the dot to the right.
- Advance the middle diamond. From the bottom of frame 5, an anticlockwise quarter-turn also takes the diamond to the right.
- Keep the bands separate. Both markers point right, but they remain at different distances from the centre. One belongs to each band.
Why the other options do not fit
- Option A: The outer dot is correct, but the middle diamond should move from bottom to right. Sending it left reverses its observed direction.
- Option B: The outer dot has been moved the wrong way. Its sequence is top → right → bottom → left → top.
- Option D: This repeats frame 5. Both markers must take another quarter-turn.
Take this to your next question: Markers can finish in the same direction while moving in opposite directions.
A mirror flip is not a half-turn
Watch the corner dot and the centre arrow. Which transformation explains every step?
Read the figures as text
| Figure | Description |
|---|---|
| Frame 1 | outer circle; middle triangle; centre arrow pointing right; outer dot at upper-left. |
| Frame 2 | outer circle; middle triangle; centre arrow pointing left; outer dot at upper-right. |
| Frame 3 | outer circle; middle triangle; centre arrow pointing right; outer dot at upper-left. |
| Frame 4 | outer circle; middle triangle; centre arrow pointing left; outer dot at upper-right. |
| Frame 5 | outer circle; middle triangle; centre arrow pointing right; outer dot at upper-left. |
| Option A | outer circle; middle triangle; centre arrow pointing left; outer dot at upper-right. |
| Option B | outer circle; middle triangle; centre arrow pointing left; outer dot at lower-right. |
| Option C | outer circle; middle triangle; centre arrow pointing right; outer dot at upper-right. |
| Option D | outer circle; middle triangle; centre arrow pointing left; outer dot at upper-left. |
Show answer & step-by-step explanation
Correct answerOption Aouter circle; middle triangle; centre arrow pointing left; outer dot at upper-right.
- Track the dot’s height. The dot alternates upper-left and upper-right. It never enters the lower half.
- Track the arrow. The centre arrow alternates right and left.
- Identify the mirror. Reflecting the whole figure across a vertical line changes left to right without changing top to bottom. That explains both observations.
- Rule out a half-turn. A 180° turn would put an upper-left dot in the lower-right and would turn the middle triangle upside down. Neither happens.
- Reflect frame 5. Move the dot to the upper-right and point the arrow left. The outer circle and upward-pointing middle triangle keep their appearance.
Why the other options do not fit
- Option B: A half-turn would move the upper-left dot to the lower-right. The given sequence keeps the dot in the upper half.
- Option C: The dot moves correctly, but the arrow still points right. A left–right mirror flip also reverses the arrow.
- Option D: The arrow reverses, but the dot stays on the left. Both asymmetric features must be reflected.
Take this to your next question: Use an asymmetric detail to distinguish a mirror image from a rotation.
Today’s dots control tomorrow’s shape
The outer dot count repeats. The centre uses information from one frame earlier. Choose the next complete figure.
Read the figures as text
| Figure | Description |
|---|---|
| Frame 1 | outer circle; middle circle; centre pentagon; 3 dots in the outer band. |
| Frame 2 | outer circle; middle circle; centre triangle; 4 dots in the outer band. |
| Frame 3 | outer circle; middle circle; centre square; 5 dots in the outer band. |
| Frame 4 | outer circle; middle circle; centre pentagon; 3 dots in the outer band. |
| Frame 5 | outer circle; middle circle; centre triangle; 4 dots in the outer band. |
| Option A | outer circle; middle circle; centre pentagon; 5 dots in the outer band. |
| Option B | outer circle; middle circle; centre square; 4 dots in the outer band. |
| Option C | outer circle; middle circle; centre triangle; 5 dots in the outer band. |
| Option D | outer circle; middle circle; centre square; 5 dots in the outer band. |
Show answer & step-by-step explanation
Correct answerOption Douter circle; middle circle; centre square; 5 dots in the outer band.
- Read the dot count. The counts are 3, 4, 5, 3, 4. The next count is 5.
- Compare neighbouring frames. Three dots in frame 1 are followed by a three-sided triangle in frame 2. Four dots in frame 2 are followed by a square in frame 3.
- Check the rule again. Five dots in frame 3 are followed by a pentagon in frame 4. Three dots in frame 4 are followed by a triangle in frame 5.
- Use the correct source frame. Frame 5 has four dots. Therefore the next centre has four sides: it is a square.
- Combine both predictions. The answer has five outer dots and a centre square. The dots and centre need not match within the same frame because the link has a one-frame delay.
Why the other options do not fit
- Option A: This uses the five dots in the answer frame. The centre must use the four dots from frame 5, so it needs four sides.
- Option B: The centre square is correct, but the outer count stops at four. The repeating count is 3, 4, 5.
- Option C: This keeps the old centre. The four dots in frame 5 call for a square in the next frame.
Take this to your next question: When a count seems wrong, check whether it controls the next frame instead of the current one.
Odd and even frames tell different stories
Separate frames 1, 3, 5 from frames 2, 4, 6. What belongs in frame 7?
Read the figures as text
| Figure | Description |
|---|---|
| Frame 1 | outer circle; middle square; centre triangle. |
| Frame 2 | outer pentagon; middle circle; centre circle; 1 dots in the outer band. |
| Frame 3 | outer circle; middle square; centre square. |
| Frame 4 | outer pentagon; middle circle; centre circle; 2 dots in the outer band. |
| Frame 5 | outer circle; middle square; centre pentagon. |
| Frame 6 | outer pentagon; middle circle; centre circle; 3 dots in the outer band. |
| Option A | outer pentagon; middle circle; centre circle; 4 dots in the outer band. |
| Option B | outer circle; middle square; centre hexagon. |
| Option C | outer circle; middle square; centre pentagon. |
| Option D | outer circle; middle circle; centre hexagon. |
Show answer & step-by-step explanation
Correct answerOption Bouter circle; middle square; centre hexagon.
- Split the row into two lists. The first list is frames 1, 3 and 5. The second is frames 2, 4 and 6. Do not treat frame 6 as the sole starting point.
- Read the odd frames. Their outer circle and middle square stay fixed. Their centres are triangle, square and pentagon: 3, 4 and 5 sides.
- Read the even frames. They keep a pentagon / circle / circle layout while the outer dots increase from 1 to 2 to 3.
- Choose the right list. Frame 7 is odd. Continue the odd list, so the centre must have 6 sides: a hexagon.
- Keep the odd-frame structure. Use an outer circle, middle square and centre hexagon, with no outer dots. Four dots would belong to the next even frame.
Why the other options do not fit
- Option A: This would continue the even-numbered frames and belongs in frame 8. We need the next odd frame, number 7.
- Option C: This repeats the last odd frame. The centre should gain one side: triangle (3), square (4), pentagon (5), hexagon (6).
- Option D: The middle circle belongs to the even frames. Every odd frame has a middle square.
Take this to your next question: If adjacent frames seem unrelated, compare every other frame.
The shading moves; the shapes do not
Striped shading marks one layer at a time. Which layer is shaded next?
Read the figures as text
| Figure | Description |
|---|---|
| Frame 1 | outer shaded circle; middle square; centre triangle. |
| Frame 2 | outer circle; middle shaded square; centre triangle. |
| Frame 3 | outer circle; middle square; centre shaded triangle. |
| Frame 4 | outer shaded circle; middle square; centre triangle. |
| Frame 5 | outer circle; middle shaded square; centre triangle. |
| Option A | outer shaded circle; middle square; centre triangle. |
| Option B | outer circle; middle square; centre shaded triangle. |
| Option C | outer circle; middle shaded square; centre triangle. |
| Option D | outer circle; middle square; centre shaded circle. |
Show answer & step-by-step explanation
Correct answerOption Bouter circle; middle square; centre shaded triangle.
- Ignore the stripes for a moment. Every frame contains an outer circle, a middle square and a centre triangle. These shapes do not move.
- Read only the shaded layer. The shaded positions are outside, middle, centre, outside, middle.
- Continue the three-step cycle. The next shaded position is the centre.
- Preserve the shapes. Shade the centre triangle. Leave the outside circle and middle square unshaded.
- Check what is moving. The changing property is shading, not shape identity. Moving a shape would add a rule that the sequence does not show.
Why the other options do not fit
- Option A: This jumps back outside too early. After the middle layer, shading moves to the centre.
- Option C: This repeats frame 5. The shading must move inward to the centre.
- Option D: The shading is in the correct place, but the centre has changed shape. The shapes stay circle / square / triangle throughout.
Take this to your next question: Separate a moving property from a moving object.
The outer shape returns after a gap
A shape can be absent for one frame before returning. Follow identities across more than one transition.
Read the figures as text
| Figure | Description |
|---|---|
| Frame 1 | outer circle; middle square; centre triangle. |
| Frame 2 | outer square; middle triangle; centre pentagon. |
| Frame 3 | outer triangle; middle pentagon; centre circle. |
| Frame 4 | outer pentagon; middle circle; centre square. |
| Frame 5 | outer circle; middle square; centre triangle. |
| Option A | outer square; middle triangle; centre circle. |
| Option B | outer triangle; middle triangle; centre pentagon. |
| Option C | outer square; middle triangle; centre pentagon. |
| Option D | outer square; middle triangle; centre triangle. |
Show answer & step-by-step explanation
Correct answerOption Couter square; middle triangle; centre pentagon.
- Follow the middle. The middle shape becomes the next outer shape: frame 1’s square goes outside in frame 2; frame 2’s triangle goes outside in frame 3.
- Follow the centre. The centre becomes the next middle: frame 1’s triangle moves to the middle in frame 2. This also works in every later transition.
- Find the missing shape. The outer circle in frame 1 is absent in frame 2 and returns at the centre of frame 3. The outer square in frame 2 returns at the centre of frame 4.
- Apply the same delay. We want frame 6. Its centre must be the shape that was outside two frame numbers earlier, in frame 4: the pentagon.
- Complete the other layers. From frame 5, move the middle square outside and the centre triangle to the middle. The answer is square / triangle / pentagon.
Why the other options do not fit
- Option A: This brings back the outer circle from frame 5 immediately. The observed delay is two frame numbers: frame 4’s outer pentagon supplies frame 6’s centre.
- Option B: This moves the current centre straight outside. In the shown sequence, the current middle moves outside.
- Option D: This leaves the centre unchanged. The pentagon that was outside in frame 4 must now return to the centre.
Take this to your next question: An absent shape may be part of a delayed cycle. Look back before declaring it a new arrival.
Different speeds, plus changing fill
The outer dot, middle diamond and centre shading each have a job. Predict all three.
Read the figures as text
| Figure | Description |
|---|---|
| Frame 1 | outer circle; middle square; centre circle; outer dot at top; middle diamond at top. |
| Frame 2 | outer circle; middle square; centre shaded circle; outer dot at right; middle diamond at bottom. |
| Frame 3 | outer circle; middle square; centre circle; outer dot at bottom; middle diamond at top. |
| Frame 4 | outer circle; middle square; centre shaded circle; outer dot at left; middle diamond at bottom. |
| Frame 5 | outer circle; middle square; centre circle; outer dot at top; middle diamond at top. |
| Option A | outer circle; middle square; centre shaded circle; outer dot at right; middle diamond at right. |
| Option B | outer circle; middle square; centre circle; outer dot at right; middle diamond at bottom. |
| Option C | outer circle; middle square; centre shaded circle; outer dot at left; middle diamond at bottom. |
| Option D | outer circle; middle square; centre shaded circle; outer dot at right; middle diamond at bottom. |
Show answer & step-by-step explanation
Correct answerOption Douter circle; middle square; centre shaded circle; outer dot at right; middle diamond at bottom.
- Read the outer dot. Top, right, bottom, left, top. Its next position is right.
- Read the middle diamond. Top, bottom, top, bottom, top. Its next position is bottom. It moves twice as far per step as the outer dot.
- Read the centre fill. Unshaded, shaded, unshaded, shaded, unshaded. The next centre must be shaded.
- Leave the outlines alone. The outer circle, middle square and centre circle do not change shape.
- Use a three-item check. Right-hand outer dot? Bottom middle diamond? Shaded centre? An option must pass all three checks.
Why the other options do not fit
- Option A: This gives both markers a quarter-turn. The middle diamond actually alternates top and bottom, so it takes a half-turn.
- Option B: Both marker positions are right, but the centre should be shaded after the unshaded centre in frame 5.
- Option C: This sends the outer dot anticlockwise. It has moved clockwise through top, right, bottom, left and top.
Take this to your next question: A convincing answer can satisfy two rules and still fail the third.
Final challenge: combine the evidence
Use the outer shape cycle, the middle’s source, the dot count and the centre fill. The centre’s number of sides follows the previous frame’s dot count.
Read the figures as text
| Figure | Description |
|---|---|
| Frame 1 | outer circle; middle triangle; centre triangle; 4 dots in the outer band. |
| Frame 2 | outer square; middle circle; centre shaded square; 5 dots in the outer band. |
| Frame 3 | outer triangle; middle square; centre pentagon; 3 dots in the outer band. |
| Frame 4 | outer circle; middle triangle; centre shaded triangle; 4 dots in the outer band. |
| Frame 5 | outer square; middle circle; centre square; 5 dots in the outer band. |
| Option A | outer triangle; middle square; centre shaded pentagon; 3 dots in the outer band. |
| Option B | outer triangle; middle square; centre shaded triangle; 3 dots in the outer band. |
| Option C | outer triangle; middle square; centre pentagon; 3 dots in the outer band. |
| Option D | outer triangle; middle circle; centre shaded pentagon; 3 dots in the outer band. |
Show answer & step-by-step explanation
Correct answerOption Aouter triangle; middle square; centre shaded pentagon; 3 dots in the outer band.
- Predict the outer shape. The outside runs circle → square → triangle → circle → square. A triangle comes next.
- Identify the middle’s source. Each middle copies the previous outer shape. Frame 5’s outer square therefore becomes frame 6’s middle.
- Continue the dot cycle. The counts are 4, 5, 3, 4, 5. The next frame has 3 dots.
- Use the previous count for the centre. Frame 5 has 5 dots. The next centre needs 5 sides, so it is a pentagon. Using the new count of 3 would ignore the stated delay.
- Finish with the fill check. The centre alternates unshaded and shaded. Frame 5 is unshaded, so frame 6 is shaded. Combine the results: triangle / square / shaded pentagon, with 3 outer dots.
Why the other options do not fit
- Option B: This uses the three dots in the answer frame. The centre must use frame 5’s five dots, so a pentagon is required.
- Option C: The shapes and dots are correct, but the centre fill fails the alternating shading rule.
- Option D: This leaves the middle circle unchanged. Frame 5’s outer square must become the new middle.
Take this to your next question: Build the answer feature by feature, then check the complete figure once more.
Your next useful practice step.
Review the mistake, not just the answer.
A wrong choice tells you where to look; it does not automatically tell you why you made the mistake. Compare your reasoning with the worked steps. Use this table to choose a specific correction.
| What happened? | What to change next time |
|---|---|
| You followed the right shape into the wrong layer. | Write the route as outside → middle → centre. Check the direction with a second shape. |
| You chose an unexplained new shape. | Find the incoming sequence or stated cycle. Do not infer a new arrival from an empty position alone. |
| Your rule worked once and then failed. | Check all the transitions. Separate odd/even frames or look for a delay before adding complexity. |
| You used the right count from the wrong frame. | Write a source arrow: dots in frame 5 → centre in frame 6. |
| You solved the main pattern but missed a detail. | Finish with a short checklist: shapes, positions, counts, markers and shading. |
| You remembered the answer but could not explain it. | Try an unseen exercise with the same kind of rule. Repeating the same item is not an independent check of learning. |
A focused three-session plan
- Build a clear description. Use questions 1–4 and 9. Before selecting, say which feature changes and which stays fixed.
- Test the less obvious relationships. Use questions 5–8 and 10. Draw a tiny marker path, split the row, or identify the earlier source frame.
- Combine and transfer. Use questions 11–12, then practise new examples. Measure time only after your explanations consistently account for all the visible evidence.
For a wider practice profile, use the free inductive reasoning diagnostic. For the overall assessment context, visit the SHL Inductive Reasoning guide.
Nested shapes: the details that matter.
What are nested shapes in inductive reasoning?
They are figures with shapes arranged inside other shapes. The task may involve tracking shape identity, position, direction, count or shading across frames. In this guide, the three main places are called outside, middle and centre.
How do I know which new shape should appear?
Look for an incoming cycle, a relationship with another feature, or an instruction that determines it. If the explanation only says “a new shape appears” without identifying its source, it has not explained the prediction. Practice 2 demonstrates a stated cycle; practice 10 demonstrates a delayed return.
Can the inner and outer shapes follow different rules?
Yes, in these practice patterns they can. Read each layer as a separate sequence before trying to connect them. Practice 3 combines a two-shape outer cycle with a three-shape centre cycle.
How can I distinguish reflection from rotation?
Track a detail that is not symmetrical. A left–right reflection preserves its height while reversing its side. A half-turn changes both top/bottom and left/right. A plain circle alone cannot reveal its orientation; a marker or asymmetric shape provides the evidence.
Are these real SHL test questions?
No. All 12 are original ReasoningCampus educational exercises. They teach layered pattern reasoning. SHL’s own practice materials are the appropriate starting point for familiarising yourself with its assessment formats.
Does clicking an answer make this an SHL Interactive simulation?
No. This page uses clickable multiple-choice answers for learning. That is different from an assessment where you construct an answer by manipulating shapes or connecting elements. Use the format named in your invitation and its official tutorial to guide your preparation.
What does my score out of 12 mean?
It shows how many of these exercises you answered correctly on your first check. It is not normed against an SHL comparison group and cannot be converted into an official percentile. Because you can read the explanations, later attempts may also reflect memory of these examples.
Where can I find official practice information?
Start with SHL’s official guidance on free practice tests and the instructions linked from your invitation. SHL’s support page explains that its short example questions provide answers and brief explanations, while answers to full-length timed practice tests are not supplied.[2]
Turn a solved example into a skill you can reuse.
Continue with structured SHL-style preparation across inductive, numerical, verbal and deductive reasoning. Explore the current programme, its sample exercises, worked explanations and practice options, then choose the areas that match your assessment.
What this guide is based on.
The exercises, diagrams, answer options and teaching categories are original to this ReasoningCampus guide. Each worked explanation checks the proposed rule against the visible frames and explains the incompatible alternatives. The choices are designed around identifiable mistakes, such as reversing a transfer or using a count from the wrong frame.
The source documents below provide assessment context; they are not the source of our question bank. Product factsheets can describe a particular version. Your own invitation and assessment instructions determine the format and rules that apply to you.
- SHL: Verify Interactive – Inductive Reasoning factsheet (2022 document). Describes pattern inference and shows examples of interactive response formats.
- SHL Candidate Support: Can I get the answers to the practice tests on your site? Explains the distinction between short example feedback and full-length timed practice answers.
- SHL Candidate Support: Can I do a practice test? Explains the purpose and availability of official free practice tests.
Have a question about an explanation? Contact ReasoningCampus and include the exercise number and the step you would like clarified.
