Loading questions…

CogAT Grade 3 Figure Classification Practice Questions

Practice Figure Classification questions for the Cognitive Abilities Test — Grade 3 (Level 9). Every question includes a full explanation of why the correct answer is right and why the tempting distractors are wrong.

24 questions available · medium difficulty · CogAT Grade 3 · Free, no registration required

What Figure Classification measures

Three figures are shown that share something, and the child picks the fourth that belongs with them. It sounds simpler than the matrix items and often is not, because nothing announces the shared property - working out which of the many things the three figures have in common is the one that matters is most of the task.

What a grade 3 figure classification question looks like

Three figures in a row followed by five answer choices, exactly one of which belongs. The property uniting them is a single visible feature at this level: all the same shape, all the same colour, all the same size, or all built from the same number of parts.

At level 9 — grade 3

Level 9 items rest on a single nameable property, and a third grader who says the rule out loud will usually be right. The commonest error is not failing to find a rule but stopping at one that also admits another answer choice.

Where children go wrong

Finding a property instead of the property

Three figures always have several things in common. The one that matters is the one separating a single answer choice from the rest, so a rule leaving two options standing is the wrong rule, however true it is of the three figures.

Being pulled by the option that looks most alike

Children tend to choose the option most resembling the three figures overall rather than the one sharing the defining feature. Similar and belonging are different things, and this subtest is built entirely on the difference.

Ignoring how many shapes there are

Count is easy to overlook because it is not a property of any single shape. When shape, colour and size all fail to narrow the field, counting the parts is usually what resolves it.

How to practise this at home

Play the same game with objects around the house - put out three things and ask what they have in common, then offer a fourth and ask whether it belongs. The point to reinforce is that the answer has to be a reason, not a feeling. When your child gives a reason that would also let in one of the other choices, say so and ask for a better one; that single move teaches most of what this subtest measures.

Common questions about Figure Classification

What sort of thing do the three figures share?

At this level usually one visible feature - the same shape, colour, size, or number of parts. The useful test is whether the rule leaves exactly one answer choice standing.

Does the position or direction of the figures matter?

Rarely. A figure that is turned is still the same figure, and children lose marks by treating a different orientation as a different shape.

Why does my child find this harder than it looks?

Because nothing tells them which property to look at. Finding a shared feature is easy; finding the one that admits a single answer is the actual task, and it is a different skill.

Sample Figure Classification Questions with Answers

10 example questions with full explanations. Use the interactive practice above to work through the complete set.

Question 1easy

The three figures below go together. Which figure belongs with them?

A row of three figures that go together: one medium unfilled pentagon; then one small hatched pentagon; then one large dotted pentagon.
  • A.one large half-filled pentagonone large half-filled pentagon✓
  • B.one medium unfilled diamondone medium unfilled diamond
  • C.one large unfilled starone large unfilled star
  • D.one large half-filled squareone large half-filled square

Correct answer: A

Start by asking what the three figures have in common. They differ in size and in how they are shaded, so neither of those is the answer — but they are all pentagons. Option A is one large half-filled pentagon, the only choice that shares that, so it is the one that belongs with them. Option B copies the first figure's size and shading exactly, but it is a diamond — and shading is not what the three have in common. Option D is a square, not a pentagon. Option C is a star; every one of the three figures is a pentagon.

Question 2medium

The three figures below go together. Which figure belongs with them?

A row of three figures that go together: one large dotted square; then one small dotted star; then one medium dotted ell.
  • A.one large half-filled squareone large half-filled square
  • B.one medium solid circleone medium solid circle
  • C.one large dotted diamondone large dotted diamond✓
  • D.one large unfilled pentagonone large unfilled pentagon

Correct answer: C

Start by asking what the three figures have in common. They differ in shape and in size, so neither of those is the answer — but they are all dotted. Option C is one large dotted diamond, the only choice that shares that, so it is the one that belongs with them. Option A is the first figure at the same size, but half-filled rather than dotted. Option D is unfilled; the three figures are all dotted. Option B is solid, so it does not match how the three figures are filled.

Question 3easy

The three figures below go together. Which figure belongs with them?

A row of three figures that go together: one large half-filled pentagon; then one large solid triangle; then one large unfilled square.
  • A.one small half-filled pentagonone small half-filled pentagon
  • B.one large dotted ellone large dotted ell✓
  • C.one small dotted arrowone small dotted arrow
  • D.one small dotted crossone small dotted cross

Correct answer: B

Start by asking what the three figures have in common. They differ in shape and in how they are shaded, so neither of those is the answer — but they are all large. Option B is one large dotted ell, the only choice that shares that, so it is the one that belongs with them. Option A is the first figure exactly, except that it is small rather than large. Option D is shaded the same way as the right answer, but shading is not what the three figures share — their size is. Option C is small, while all three figures are large.

Question 4easy

The three figures below go together. Which figure belongs with them?

A row of three figures that go together: two small solid triangles; then two small unfilled hexagons; then two small hatched flags.
  • A.one large solid starone large solid star
  • B.two small solid diamondstwo small solid diamonds✓
  • C.one medium half-filled arrowone medium half-filled arrow
  • D.one large half-filled squareone large half-filled square

Correct answer: B

Start by asking what the three figures have in common. They differ in shape and in how they are shaded, so neither of those is the answer — but they each show two copies. Option B is two small solid diamonds, the only choice that shares that, so it is the one that belongs with them. Option A shows a single shape; each of the three figures shows two. Option C shows a single shape; each of the three figures shows two. Option D shows a single shape; each of the three figures shows two.

Question 5easy

The three figures below go together. Which figure belongs with them?

A row of three figures that go together: one small dotted pentagon; then one medium unfilled pentagon; then one large solid pentagon.
  • A.one small dotted squareone small dotted square
  • B.one medium half-filled circleone medium half-filled circle
  • C.one medium half-filled pentagonone medium half-filled pentagon✓
  • D.one large unfilled triangleone large unfilled triangle

Correct answer: C

Start by asking what the three figures have in common. They differ in size and in how they are shaded, so neither of those is the answer — but they are all pentagons. Option C is one medium half-filled pentagon, the only choice that shares that, so it is the one that belongs with them. Option A copies the first figure's size and shading exactly, but it is a square — and shading is not what the three have in common. Option B is a circle, not a pentagon. Option D is a triangle; every one of the three figures is a pentagon.

Question 6medium

The three figures below go together. Which figure belongs with them?

A row of three figures that go together: one medium solid pentagon; then one large solid ell; then one small solid flag.
  • A.one large unfilled squareone large unfilled square
  • B.one medium dotted pentagonone medium dotted pentagon
  • C.one small solid arrowone small solid arrow✓
  • D.one large half-filled hexagonone large half-filled hexagon

Correct answer: C

Start by asking what the three figures have in common. They differ in shape and in size, so neither of those is the answer — but they are all solid. Option C is one small solid arrow, the only choice that shares that, so it is the one that belongs with them. Option B is the first figure at the same size, but dotted rather than solid. Option D is half-filled; the three figures are all solid. Option A is unfilled, so it does not match how the three figures are filled.

Question 7easy

The three figures below go together. Which figure belongs with them?

A row of three figures that go together: one small dotted ell; then one small half-filled star; then one small unfilled circle.
  • A.one large unfilled flagone large unfilled flag
  • B.one large unfilled arrowone large unfilled arrow
  • C.one large dotted ellone large dotted ell
  • D.one small unfilled pentagonone small unfilled pentagon✓

Correct answer: D

Start by asking what the three figures have in common. They differ in shape and in how they are shaded, so neither of those is the answer — but they are all small. Option D is one small unfilled pentagon, the only choice that shares that, so it is the one that belongs with them. Option C is the first figure exactly, except that it is large rather than small. Option A is shaded the same way as the right answer, but shading is not what the three figures share — their size is. Option B is large, while all three figures are small.

Question 8easy

The three figures below go together. Which figure belongs with them?

A row of three figures that go together: two small unfilled ells; then two small dotted triangles; then two small half-filled hexagons.
  • A.two small hatched crossestwo small hatched crosses✓
  • B.one small half-filled diamondone small half-filled diamond
  • C.one medium half-filled squareone medium half-filled square
  • D.one small solid flagone small solid flag

Correct answer: A

Start by asking what the three figures have in common. They differ in shape and in how they are shaded, so neither of those is the answer — but they each show two copies. Option A is two small hatched crosses, the only choice that shares that, so it is the one that belongs with them. Option B shows a single shape; each of the three figures shows two. Option C shows a single shape; each of the three figures shows two. Option D shows a single shape; each of the three figures shows two.

Question 9easy

The three figures below go together. Which figure belongs with them?

A row of three figures that go together: one large unfilled diamond; then one medium dotted diamond; then one small half-filled diamond.
  • A.one medium hatched squareone medium hatched square
  • B.one medium hatched diamondone medium hatched diamond✓
  • C.one large unfilled circleone large unfilled circle
  • D.one small half-filled starone small half-filled star

Correct answer: B

Start by asking what the three figures have in common. They differ in size and in how they are shaded, so neither of those is the answer — but they are all diamonds. Option B is one medium hatched diamond, the only choice that shares that, so it is the one that belongs with them. Option C copies the first figure's size and shading exactly, but it is a circle — and shading is not what the three have in common. Option A is a square, not a diamond. Option D is a star; every one of the three figures is a diamond.

Question 10easy

The three figures below go together. Which figure belongs with them?

A row of three figures that go together: one small unfilled hexagon; then one large unfilled star; then one medium unfilled arrow.
  • A.one small hatched triangleone small hatched triangle
  • B.one small half-filled hexagonone small half-filled hexagon
  • C.one small solid flagone small solid flag
  • D.one medium unfilled squareone medium unfilled square✓

Correct answer: D

Start by asking what the three figures have in common. They differ in shape and in size, so neither of those is the answer — but they are all unfilled. Option D is one medium unfilled square, the only choice that shares that, so it is the one that belongs with them. Option B is the first figure at the same size, but half-filled rather than unfilled. Option A is hatched; the three figures are all unfilled. Option C is solid, so it does not match how the three figures are filled.