Figure Series (Non-Verbal)
Figure Series (Non-Verbal)
A figure series shows four or five figures that change step by step, and you choose the next one. The changes are the same as in figure analogy (rotation, count, shading, position), but now they repeat at every step, and two of them can run together. Here the figures are described in words.
1. What Changes from Step to Step
| Change | How it moves | What to note |
|---|---|---|
| Rotation | Fixed angle each step (45°, 90°) or growing angle (45°, 90°, 135°) | Direction: clockwise or anticlockwise |
| Count | One line, dot or side added or removed each step | Sometimes two at a time |
| Position | An element moves round the corners of a square | Number of corners moved each step |
| Shading | Shaded part moves one place, or alternates black-white | Count the shaded parts |
| Two rules together | One element rotates while another moves | Track each element separately |
Compass steps of 45°: N → NE → E → SE → S → SW → W → NW → N
A square has 4 corners: moving 1 corner per step returns to the start after 4 steps
✗ The arrow turned 45° then 90°, so the next turn is 90° again | ✓ Growing turns: 45°, 90°, then 135°
✗ Track only the biggest shape | ✓ Small dots and lines often carry the second rule
हिंदी नोट: आकृति श्रेणी में हर चरण पर घूर्णन, संख्या, स्थिति या छायांकन बदलता है। दो नियम साथ चल सकते हैं, इसलिए हर तत्व को अलग से देखिए।
Exam Pointer: These patterns had no verified NTPC shift in our check (the figure-series pages found were from SSC and AFCAT papers) and are tagged syllabus-based. Figure series is part of the NTPC non-verbal reasoning syllabus.
Pariksha Pattern: Every Way NTPC Asks This Topic
Pattern 1: Rotation by fixed or growing angles
[Pattern: syllabus-based, PYQ-style]
EXAM LEVEL
Q. An arrow points N, then E, then S, then W. Where does it point next?
It turns 90° clockwise each step, so after W comes N.
Answer: North
EXAMATLAS LEVEL
Q. An arrow points N, then NE, then SE, then W. Where does it point next?
The turns are 45°, 90° and 135° clockwise (N → NE is one step, NE → SE two steps, SE → W three steps). The next turn is 180°: W turned by 180° points E.
Answer: East
Pattern 2: Counting lines, sides or dots
[Pattern: syllabus-based, PYQ-style]
EXAM LEVEL
Q. The figures show 1, 3, 5 and 7 dots. How many dots are in the next figure?
Two dots are added each time: 9.
Answer: 9 dots
EXAMATLAS LEVEL
Q. The figures are a triangle with 1 line inside, a square with 3 lines, a pentagon with 5 lines and a hexagon with 7 lines. What is the next figure?
Sides rise by 1 and inner lines by 2, so the next figure is a heptagon with 9 lines inside.
Answer: Heptagon with 9 lines
Pattern 3: Element moving round the corners
[Pattern: syllabus-based, PYQ-style]
EXAM LEVEL
Q. A dot sits at the top-left corner of a square, then top-right, then bottom-right, then bottom-left. Where is it next?
It moves one corner clockwise each step, so it returns to top-left.
Answer: Top-left corner
EXAMATLAS LEVEL
Q. A star moves 1 corner clockwise in step 1, 2 corners in step 2, 3 corners in step 3, starting from top-left. Where is it after step 4?
Total corners moved = 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 = 10, which is 2 full rounds and 2 corners more. Two corners clockwise from top-left reaches bottom-right.
Answer: Bottom-right corner
Pattern 4: Two rules together
[Pattern: syllabus-based, PYQ-style]
EXAM LEVEL
Q. A circle is divided into 4 parts. One part is shaded and the shading moves one part clockwise each step, while the circle's outline alternates solid and dashed (solid in step 1). Describe step 5.
After 4 moves the shading is back in its first part. Odd steps are solid, so step 5 has a solid outline.
Answer: Shading in the starting part, solid outline
EXAMATLAS LEVEL
Q. In a square, an arrow at the centre turns 90° clockwise each step (starting N), while a dot moves 1 corner anticlockwise each step (starting top-left). Describe step 6.
After 5 turns of 90° the arrow has turned 450°, the same as 90°: it points E. After 5 corner moves anticlockwise from top-left (top-left → bottom-left → bottom-right → top-right → top-left → bottom-left) the dot is at bottom-left.
Answer: Arrow east, dot bottom-left
60-Second Revision
- Find each element's rule separately.
- Rotations may grow: 45°, 90°, 135° and so on.
- Corner moves repeat every 4 steps on a square; divide by 4.
- Check every element of your chosen option.
Next Step: Series done. Practise number and letter series in the ExamAtlas RRB NTPC 2026 mock tests; write positions or differences under the terms and the rule appears quickly.