Irish Public Service Logical Thinking Test (Ireland)

Consider the following sequence of figures: Figure 1: A triangle with a dot at the top vertex. Figure 2: A square with a dot at the top-right corner. Figure 3: A pentagon with a dot at the bottom-right corner. Figure 4: A hexagon with a dot at the bottom corner. Which of the following describes the next figure in the sequence?

• AA heptagon with a dot at the bottom-left corner.
• BA heptagon with a dot at the top-left corner.
• CA hexagon with a dot at the bottom-left corner.
• DAn octagon with a dot at the bottom-left corner.

A clock-like device has a black hand and a white hand. Initially, both hands point to 12 o'clock. At each step, the black hand rotates 45 degrees clockwise, and the white hand rotates 90 degrees counter-clockwise. What positions will the hands point to in Step 5?

• ABlack hand at 6 o'clock, White hand at 12 o'clock.
• BBlack hand at 4:30, White hand at 3 o'clock.
• CBlack hand at 6 o'clock, White hand at 6 o'clock.
• DBlack hand at 7:30, White hand at 12 o'clock.

In a 3x3 grid of squares, the shaded squares change at each step according to a sweeping diagonal pattern: Step 1: Only the top-left square is shaded. Step 2: The top-middle and middle-left squares are shaded. Step 3: The top-right, middle-middle, and bottom-left squares are shaded. Step 4: The middle-right and bottom-middle squares are shaded. Which square(s) will be shaded in Step 5?

• AOnly the bottom-right square.
• BThe bottom-left and bottom-middle squares.
• COnly the middle-middle square.
• DAll nine squares of the grid.

Consider the following sequence of compound figures: Step 1: Large white circle with a small black square inside. Step 2: Small black circle with a large white square inside. Step 3: Large white triangle with a small black circle inside. Step 4: Small black triangle with a large white circle inside. What is the next figure in the sequence?

• ALarge white square with a small black triangle inside.
• BSmall black square with a large white triangle inside.
• CLarge white circle with a small black square inside.
• DLarge white pentagon with a small black circle inside.

Consider the following sequence of figures: Step 1: A single vertical line with 1 small circle at the top. Step 2: Two parallel vertical lines with 2 small circles at the top. Step 3: Three parallel vertical lines with 4 small circles at the bottom. Step 4: Four parallel vertical lines with 8 small circles at the bottom. What does Step 5 look like?

• AFive parallel vertical lines with 16 small circles at the top.
• BFive parallel vertical lines with 10 small circles at the top.
• CSix parallel vertical lines with 16 small circles at the top.
• DFive parallel vertical lines with 16 small circles at the bottom.

A pattern of nested geometric figures evolves as follows: Step 1: A single black dot in the center. Step 2: A square around the black dot, with 4 small circles at its corners. Step 3: A circle around the square, with 4 triangles pointing outwards at the cardinal directions (North, South, East, West). Step 4: A square around the circle, with 4 black dots in its corners. What is added in Step 5?

• AA circle around the square, with 4 triangles pointing outwards at the cardinal directions.
• BAnother square around the square, with 4 small circles at its corners.
• CA circle around the square, with 4 black dots in its corners.
• DNothing, the pattern terminates.

A square frame rolls along a straight horizontal line to the right. One corner of the square is marked with a star. Initially, in Step 1, the star is at the bottom-left corner of the square. What is the position of the star in Step 5 after rolling?

• AAt the bottom-left corner.
• BAt the top-left corner.
• CAt the top-right corner.
• DAt the bottom-right corner.

Determine the next element in the following sequence: A2, D4, G8, J16, ...

• AM32
• BL32
• CM24
• DN32

Consider this sequence of overlapping line figures in a square box: Frame 1: A single horizontal line passing through the center. Frame 2: The horizontal line intersected by a vertical line (+ shape). Frame 3: The + shape intersected by a diagonal line from top-left to bottom-right. Frame 4: The previous shape intersected by another diagonal line from bottom-left to top-right (forming an * shape). What is the logical next frame (Frame 5) in this progression?

• AAn * shape enclosed in a circle.
• BA simple square box with no lines.
• CAn * shape with the horizontal line removed.
• DA solid black square.

A black marker moves in a 2x4 grid (2 rows, 4 columns) starting at the top-left cell (Row 1, Column 1) in Step 1. The movement follows a diagonal bouncing pattern: Step 1: Row 1, Column 1. Step 2: Row 2, Column 2. Step 3: Row 1, Column 3. Step 4: Row 2, Column 4. Where does the marker move in Step 5?

• ARow 1, Column 3.
• BRow 2, Column 3.
• CRow 1, Column 4.
• DRow 2, Column 1.

A circle is divided into 8 equal slices, numbered 1 to 8 clockwise. A shaded sector moves around the circle as follows: Step 1: Slice 1 is shaded. Step 2: Slice 3 is shaded. Step 3: Slice 6 is shaded. Step 4: Slice 2 is shaded. Which slice will be shaded in Step 5?

• ASlice 7
• BSlice 8
• CSlice 6
• DSlice 1

Consider the following sequence of configurations: Frame 1: A circle is inside a triangle; an arrow points UP. Frame 2: The circle is outside the triangle to its right; the arrow points RIGHT. Frame 3: The circle is inside the triangle; the arrow points DOWN. Frame 4: The circle is outside the triangle to its left; the arrow points LEFT. What is the next configuration in Frame 5?

• AA circle is inside a triangle; the arrow points UP.
• BA circle is outside the triangle to its right; the arrow points UP.
• CA circle is inside a triangle; the arrow points LEFT.
• DA circle is outside the triangle to its left; the arrow points DOWN.

Consider the following sequence of cross patterns: Step 1: A single cross (+). Step 2: A 3x3 grid of crosses, but with the center cross missing (8 crosses total). Step 3: A 5x5 grid of crosses, with the inner 3x3 grid of crosses missing (16 crosses total). Step 4: A 7x7 grid of crosses, with the inner 5x5 grid of crosses missing (24 crosses total). How many crosses are in the pattern in Step 5?

• A32
• B48
• C36
• D28

In a 5x5 grid, a dot moves along the outer border in a clockwise direction starting at the top-left cell (1,1) in Step 1. In Step 2, it is at (1,3). In Step 3, it is at (1,5). In Step 4, it is at (3,5). What is the position of the dot in Step 5?

• A(5,5) - the bottom-right corner.
• B(5,3) - the bottom-middle.
• C(4,5) - one cell up from the bottom-right.
• D(5,1) - the bottom-left corner.

A pattern of lines changes as follows: Step 1: A solid horizontal line. Step 2: A dashed vertical line. Step 3: A dotted horizontal line. Step 4: A solid vertical line. What is the next state in Step 5?

• AA dashed horizontal line.
• BA dotted vertical line.
• CA solid horizontal line.
• DA dashed vertical line.

A circle is divided into sections by straight lines passing through the center: Step 1: 1 line (divides circle into 2 sections). Step 2: 2 lines (divides circle into 4 sections). Step 3: 3 lines (divides circle into 6 sections). Step 4: 4 lines (divides circle into 8 sections). How many sections is the circle divided into in Step 5?

• A10 sections
• B12 sections
• C16 sections
• D9 sections

Consider the following sequence of overlapping circle patterns: Step 1: 2 separate circles next to each other. Step 2: 2 overlapping circles. Step 3: 3 overlapping circles in a horizontal row. Step 4: 4 overlapping circles forming a square loop. What is the logical next step (Step 5) in this progression?

• A5 overlapping circles forming a pentagonal loop.
• B5 overlapping circles in a horizontal row.
• C5 separate circles.
• DA single large circle containing 4 small circles.

A row of five lights represents binary numbers where [Off] = 0 and [On] = 1. The sequence of states is: Step 1: [Off, Off, Off, Off, On] (value 1) Step 2: [Off, Off, Off, On, Off] (value 2) Step 3: [Off, Off, Off, On, On] (value 3) Step 4: [Off, Off, On, Off, Off] (value 4) What is the state of the lights in Step 5?

• A[Off, Off, On, Off, On]
• B[Off, Off, On, On, Off]
• C[Off, On, Off, Off, Off]
• D[Off, Off, Off, Off, Off]

A shape morphs in a sequence of steps: Step 1: A square. Step 2: A square with its corners rounded. Step 3: A circle. Step 4: A circle with 4 points pulling outwards. What is the logical Step 5?

• AA 4-pointed star.
• BAn octagon.
• CA triangle.
• DA 3-pointed star.

Three shapes—a square, a circle, and a triangle—interact in a sequence: Step 1: Circle is inside the square; triangle is outside above. Step 2: Triangle is inside the circle; square is outside to the right. Step 3: Square is inside the triangle; circle is outside below. Step 4: Circle is inside the square; triangle is outside to the left. What is the next configuration in Step 5?

• ATriangle is inside the circle; square is outside above.
• BCircle is inside the triangle; square is outside above.
• CTriangle is inside the circle; square is outside to the right.
• DSquare is inside the triangle; circle is outside to the left.

A 3x3 matrix contains shapes with dots: Row 1: Triangle with 1 dot | Triangle with 2 dots | Triangle with 3 dots Row 2: Square with 1 dot | Square with 2 dots | Square with 3 dots Row 3: Pentagon with 1 dot | Pentagon with 2 dots | [?] What shape belongs in the [?] cell?

• APentagon with 3 dots
• BPentagon with 4 dots
• CHexagon with 3 dots
• DTriangle with 3 dots

A 3x3 matrix follows a logical combination (addition/XOR) rule: Row 1: Line pointing left | Line pointing right | Horizontal line pointing both left and right Row 2: Circle on top | Circle on bottom | Two circles (top and bottom) Row 3: Arrow pointing up | Arrow pointing down | [?] What belongs in the [?] cell?

• ATwo arrows pointing both up and down
• BA single arrow pointing up
• CA cross shape
• DAn arrow pointing left

Consider a 3x3 matrix with rotated arrows: Row 1: Arrow pointing North | Arrow pointing East | Arrow pointing South Row 2: Arrow pointing East | Arrow pointing South | Arrow pointing West Row 3: Arrow pointing South | Arrow pointing West | [?] What belongs in the [?] cell?

• AArrow pointing North
• BArrow pointing East
• CArrow pointing South-West
• DArrow pointing North-West

A 3x3 matrix contains nested shapes: Row 1: A square | A circle | A square containing a circle Row 2: A triangle | A star | A triangle containing a star Row 3: A hexagon | A diamond | [?] What belongs in the [?] cell?

• AA hexagon containing a diamond
• BA diamond containing a hexagon
• CA hexagon next to a diamond
• DA simple hexagon

A 3x3 matrix displays sizes of shapes: Row 1: Small circle | Medium circle | Large circle Row 2: Large square | Small square | Medium square Row 3: Medium triangle | Large triangle | [?] What belongs in the [?] cell?

• ASmall triangle
• BMedium triangle
• CLarge triangle
• DSmall square

A 3x3 matrix uses three shading styles (White, Black, Hatched/Striped): Row 1: White square | Black square | Hatched square Row 2: Hatched circle | White circle | Black circle Row 3: Black triangle | Hatched triangle | [?] What belongs in the [?] cell?

• AWhite triangle
• BBlack triangle
• CHatched triangle
• DWhite square

A 3x3 matrix follows a numerical progression rule based on shape counts: Row 1: 1 line | 2 lines | 3 lines Row 2: 2 circles | 3 circles | 4 circles Row 3: 3 triangles | 4 triangles | [?] What belongs in the [?] cell?

• A5 triangles
• B5 circles
• C6 triangles
• D4 triangles

A 3x3 matrix tracks a moving dot in the corners of a shape: Row 1: Circle in top-left | Circle in top-right | Circle in bottom-right Row 2: Square in top-right | Square in bottom-right | Square in bottom-left Row 3: Triangle in bottom-right | Triangle in bottom-left | [?] What belongs in the [?] cell?

• ATriangle in top-left
• BTriangle in top-right
• CTriangle in bottom-right
• DSquare in top-left

A 3x3 matrix represents overlay addition (XOR) of lines inside a square: Row 1: Square with vertical line | Square with horizontal line | Square with both lines (+) Row 2: Square with diagonal line (\) | Square with diagonal line (/) | Square with both diagonals (X) Row 3: Square with + lines | Square with X lines | [?] What belongs in the [?] cell?

• ASquare with both + and X lines (forming an 8-spoke star)
• BSquare with only horizontal and vertical lines
• CSquare with no lines inside
• DSquare with only diagonal lines

A 3x3 matrix shows arrows rotating by 45 degrees: Row 1: Arrow pointing North-East | Arrow pointing East | Arrow pointing South-East Row 2: Arrow pointing North-West | Arrow pointing North | Arrow pointing North-East Row 3: Arrow pointing South-West | Arrow pointing South | [?] What belongs in the [?] cell?

• AArrow pointing South-East
• BArrow pointing South-West
• CArrow pointing East
• DArrow pointing West

A 3x3 matrix has shapes with increasing sides: Row 1: Triangle (3) | Square (4) | Pentagon (5) Row 2: Square (4) | Pentagon (5) | Hexagon (6) Row 3: Pentagon (5) | Hexagon (6) | [?] What shape belongs in the [?] cell?

• AHeptagon (7 sides)
• BOctagon (8 sides)
• CPentagon (5 sides)
• DHexagon (6 sides)

A 3x3 matrix contains circle sectors: Row 1: Circle divided in 2 halves | Circle divided in 3 thirds | Circle divided in 4 quarters Row 2: Square divided in 2 halves | Square divided in 3 thirds | Square divided in 4 quarters Row 3: Pentagon divided in 2 halves | Pentagon divided in 3 thirds | [?] What belongs in the [?] cell?

• APentagon divided in 4 quarters
• BPentagon divided in 5 fifths
• CCircle divided in 4 quarters
• DPentagon with no divisions

A 3x3 matrix tracks nested combinations of a circle, square, and triangle: Row 1: Square inside Circle | Triangle inside Square | Circle inside Triangle Row 2: Triangle inside Square | Circle inside Triangle | Square inside Circle Row 3: Circle inside Triangle | Square inside Circle | [?] What belongs in the [?] cell?

• ATriangle inside Square
• BCircle inside Triangle
• CSquare inside Circle
• DTriangle inside Circle

A 3x3 matrix contains lines forming grids: Row 1: 1 horizontal line | 2 horizontal lines | 3 horizontal lines Row 2: 1 vertical line | 2 vertical lines | 3 vertical lines Row 3: 1 horizontal and 1 vertical line | 2 horizontal and 2 vertical lines | [?] What belongs in the [?] cell?

• A3 horizontal and 3 vertical lines forming a grid
• B4 horizontal and 4 vertical lines
• C3 horizontal lines only
• D3 vertical lines only

A 3x3 matrix has solid shapes with cutouts: Row 1: Solid black square | Square with white circular center | White circle Row 2: Solid black triangle | Triangle with white square center | White square Row 3: Solid black circle | Circle with white triangular center | [?] What belongs in the [?] cell?

• AWhite triangle
• BBlack triangle
• CWhite circle
• DCircle with white square center

A 3x3 matrix contains pairs of arrows: Row 1: Two arrows pointing away horizontally (<-- -->) | Two arrows pointing towards horizontally (--> <--) | Two parallel arrows pointing right (--> -->) Row 2: Two arrows pointing away vertically | Two arrows pointing towards vertically | Two parallel arrows pointing up Row 3: Two arrows pointing away diagonally (up-left and down-right) | Two arrows pointing towards diagonally | [?] What belongs in the [?] cell?

• ATwo parallel arrows pointing up-right diagonally
• BTwo parallel arrows pointing down-left diagonally
• CTwo arrows pointing away horizontally
• DTwo parallel arrows pointing left

A 3x3 matrix is sorted by line symmetry: Row 1: Shape with vertical symmetry only (e.g., A) | Shape with horizontal symmetry only (e.g., B) | Shape with both (e.g., H) Row 2: Triangle (vertical) | Crescent pointing up (horizontal) | Rectangle (both) Row 3: Arrow pointing Up (vertical) | Arrow pointing Right (horizontal) | [?] What shape belongs in the [?] cell?

• AA cross shape (+)
• BAn arrow pointing up-left
• CA crescent pointing right
• DA scalene triangle

A 3x3 matrix contains a single dot inside a square: Row 1: Dot in center | Dot in top-left | Dot in bottom-right Row 2: Dot in center | Dot in top-right | Dot in bottom-left Row 3: Dot in center | Dot in bottom-left | [?] What belongs in the [?] cell?

• ADot in top-right
• BDot in top-left
• CDot in bottom-right
• DDot in center

A 3x3 matrix shows a shifting wave pattern: Row 1: Wave peak on the left | Wave peak in the middle | Wave peak on the right Row 2: Diagonal line top-left to bottom-right | Horizontal line in middle | Diagonal line bottom-left to top-right Row 3: Crescent on the left | Crescent in the middle | [?] What belongs in the [?] cell?

• ACrescent on the right
• BCrescent on the left
• CDouble crescent in the middle
• DStraight vertical line

A 3x3 matrix tracks a count of circles and their shading: Row 1: 3 hollow circles | 3 solid black circles | 2 solid and 1 hollow circle Row 2: 4 hollow circles | 4 solid black circles | 3 solid and 1 hollow circle Row 3: 5 hollow circles | 5 solid black circles | [?] What belongs in the [?] cell?

• A4 solid circles and 1 hollow circle
• B3 solid circles and 2 hollow circles
• C5 solid circles
• D5 hollow circles

"Circle with a vertical line through it" is to "Circle with a horizontal line through it" as "Square with a vertical line through it" is to:

• ASquare with a horizontal line through it.
• BSquare with both vertical and horizontal lines.
• CCircle with a horizontal line through it.
• DDiamond with a vertical line through it.

"Triangle pointing up" is to "Triangle pointing down" as "Arrow pointing right" is to:

• AArrow pointing left.
• BArrow pointing right.
• CArrow pointing up.
• DDouble-headed arrow pointing left and right.

"Square with 4 small circles inside" is to "Pentagon with 5 small circles inside" as "Hexagon with 6 small circles inside" is to:

• AHeptagon with 7 small circles inside.
• BHeptagon with 6 small circles inside.
• COctagon with 8 small circles inside.
• DPentagon with 5 small circles inside.

"Circle" is to "Sphere" as "Square" is to:

• ACube
• BPyramid
• CRectangle
• DCylinder

"Gavel" is to "Judge" as "Baton" is to:

• AConductor
• BPolice Officer
• CAthlete
• DWriter

"A large square containing a small circle" is to "A large circle containing a small square" as "A large triangle containing a small diamond" is to:

• AA large diamond containing a small triangle.
• BA large triangle containing a small circle.
• CA large diamond containing a small square.
• DA large square containing a small diamond.

"Solid line" is to "Dashed line" as "Continuous curve" is to:

• ADotted curve
• BSolid line
• CContinuous straight line
• DClosed circle