What is a deductive figures test?

A deductive figures test gives you explicit rules about shapes, such as their type, colour, number or position, and asks which figure obeys them, which breaks them, or what must go in a missing cell.

It is the visual counterpart of deductive reasoning: because the rules are stated, every answer is certain. It measures how accurately you apply conditions and eliminate options, not how well you spot hidden patterns.

By What's Your IQ · Published 4 Oct 2026 · Updated 4 Oct 2026

Format: Stated rules plus shape cards or a partly filled grid
Question types: Which breaks the rule, which is allowed, missing cell
Typical employer test: 15–25 items in 15–20 minutes
Measures: Rule application, attention to detail, elimination
This test: 10 items, 10 minutes, free, rule-by-rule explanations

Rule checker

Tap every card that breaks at least one rule, then check. A card only needs to break one.

R1Circle cards are always blue.R2Cards with 3 shapes must be solid.

Four kinds of rule

Each one is checked a slightly different way. Knowing which you're facing tells you where to look.

If-then"If a card has stars, it has exactly 2."Check:only cards with the first feature. Everything else passes automatically.

Never / no"No circle is outline."Check:look for the one forbidden combination. It's a single case to rule out.

Only"Only triangles can be outline."Check:reverse it: every outline shape must be a triangle. Start from the outlines.

Count & position"Each row has one of every shape."Check:list what each row and column already holds, then eliminate.

Take the test

10 items · 10 minutes · every answer is certain

Breaks the rule4 items, one rule eachMissing cell3 grids, 3×3 and 4×4Obeys every rule3 items, 2–3 rules

Item 1 of 10Breaks the rule

00:00

Which card breaks the rule?

Every circle card is blue.

0/10Use the rule checker above, then try again.Weakest: breaks the rule (0/4) · 29854919:30

Breaks the rule0/4Missing cell0/3Obeys every rule0/3

Item 1 · Breaks the ruleAnswer C · you chose nothingA: obeys · B: obeys · C: breaks “Every circle card is blue” · D: obeys

Item 2 · Breaks the ruleAnswer A · you chose nothingA: breaks “No card with 3 shapes is red” · B: obeys · C: obeys · D: obeys

Item 3 · Breaks the ruleAnswer B · you chose nothingA: obeys · B: breaks “If a card has stars, it has exactly 2” · C: obeys · D: obeys

Item 4 · Breaks the ruleAnswer D · you chose nothingA: obeys · B: obeys · C: obeys · D: breaks “Only triangles can be outline”

Item 5 · Missing cellAnswer D · you chose nothingIts row already has a circle; its column already has a triangle. The only shape left is a square.

Item 6 · Missing cellAnswer A · you chose nothingIts row already has a triangle; its column already has a circle. The only shape left is a square.

Item 7 · Missing cellAnswer C · you chose nothingIts row already has a star and a square; its column already has a triangle. The only shape left is a circle.

Item 8 · Obeys every ruleAnswer B · you chose nothingA: breaks “Every card is blue or has 1 shape” · B: obeys · C: breaks “No circle is outline” · D: breaks “Every card is blue or has 1 shape”

Item 9 · Obeys every ruleAnswer D · you chose nothingA: breaks “Square cards have more than 1 shape” · B: breaks “Red cards are solid” · C: breaks “Red cards are solid” · D: obeys

Item 10 · Obeys every ruleAnswer C · you chose nothingA: breaks “Stars are never blue” · B: breaks “Triangles are always outline” · C: obeys · D: breaks “Each card has 2 or 3 shapes”

WHERE MARKS GO

Check rule by rule, not card by card

With two or three rules and four cards, checking each card against everything at once invites misses. Sweep one rule across all the cards, then the next.

1Sweep one rule at a timeRun rule 1 across all four cards, crossing out failures. Then rule 2 on what's left.

2Read 'only' backwards“Only triangles can be outline” is checked from the outlines, not from the triangles.

3Ignore features no rule mentionsIf no rule mentions colour, colour can't decide the answer. Stop looking at it.

4In grids, start where most is knownFind the row or column with the most givens. Fewer options means fewer errors.

Keep going

Deductive reasoningThe same logic in words: must, could or cannot.Open

Diagrammatic reasoningShapes transformed by operator boxes.Open

Logical reasoningOrdering and matching puzzles with clues.Open

References

Rips, L. J. (1994). The Psychology of Proof: Deductive Reasoning in Human Thinking. MIT Press.
Johnson-Laird, P. N. (2006). How We Reason. Oxford University Press.
Bruner, J. S., Goodnow, J. J., & Austin, G. A. (1956). A Study of Thinking. Wiley.