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CogAT Grade 4 Figure Classification Practice Questions

Practice Figure Classification questions for the Cognitive Abilities Test — Grade 4 (Level 10). 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 4 · 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 4 figure classification question looks like

The same layout, but the defining property is now often count or fill rather than outline, which catches out children who have learned to look at shape first. Items where two properties matter together begin appearing among the harder questions.

At level 10 — grade 4

Level 10 begins using count and fill as the defining property rather than shape, which catches out children who have learned to look at outline first. Two-property items appear among the harder questions but are not yet the norm.

Where children go wrong

Looking at outline before fill

Once a child has learned to check shape first, an item whose rule is about shading or pattern can pass unnoticed entirely. Fill is as legitimate a property as form, and at this level it carries the rule about as often.

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.

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.

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 hexagon; then one large dotted hexagon; then one small hatched hexagon.
  • A.one medium half-filled circleone medium half-filled circle
  • B.one medium half-filled hexagonone medium half-filled hexagon✓
  • C.one medium unfilled starone medium unfilled star
  • D.one large half-filled crossone large half-filled cross

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 hexagons. Option B is one medium half-filled hexagon, 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 star — and shading is not what the three have in common. Option A is a circle, not a hexagon. Option D is a cross; every one of the three figures is a hexagon.

Question 2medium

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

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

Correct answer: A

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 A is one large solid triangle, 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 solid. Option C is dotted; the three figures are all solid. Option D is hatched, 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 small unfilled ell; then one small hatched pentagon; then one small solid circle.
  • A.one large unfilled ellone large unfilled ell
  • B.one large half-filled hexagonone large half-filled hexagon
  • C.one large solid squareone large solid square
  • D.one small solid arrowone small solid arrow✓

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 solid arrow, 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 large rather than small. Option C 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 4easy

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

A row of three figures that go together: three small unfilled pentagons; then three small solid hexagons; then three small hatched stars.
  • A.one small dotted diamondone small dotted diamond
  • B.one large hatched circleone large hatched circle
  • C.three small dotted trianglesthree small dotted triangles✓
  • D.two small hatched flagstwo small hatched flags

Correct answer: C

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 three copies. Option C is three small dotted triangles, 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 three. Option D shows two copies rather than three. Option A shows a single shape; each of the three figures shows three.

Question 5easy

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

A row of three figures that go together: one medium half-filled diamond; then one large unfilled diamond; then one small hatched diamond.
  • A.one medium half-filled pentagonone medium half-filled pentagon
  • B.one small solid ellone small solid ell
  • C.one medium solid flagone medium solid flag
  • D.one medium solid diamondone medium solid diamond✓

Correct answer: D

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 D is one medium solid diamond, 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 pentagon — and shading is not what the three have in common. Option C is a flag, not a diamond. Option B is a ell; every one of the three figures is a diamond.

Question 6medium

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

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

Correct answer: B

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 B is one small solid star, the only choice that shares that, so it is the one that belongs with them. Option D is the first figure at the same size, but half-filled rather than solid. Option C is dotted; 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 large dotted circle; then one large solid ell; then one large unfilled pentagon.
  • A.one small solid squareone small solid square
  • B.one large solid starone large solid star✓
  • C.one small dotted arrowone small dotted arrow
  • D.one small dotted circleone small dotted circle

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 solid star, the only choice that shares that, so it is the one that belongs with them. Option D is the first figure exactly, except that it is small rather than large. Option A 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 8easy

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

A row of three figures that go together: three small unfilled triangles; then three small half-filled arrows; then three small dotted flags.
  • A.one small dotted hexagonone small dotted hexagon
  • B.one small half-filled ellone small half-filled ell
  • C.three small unfilled circlesthree small unfilled circles✓
  • D.two small half-filled starstwo small half-filled stars

Correct answer: C

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 three copies. Option C is three small unfilled circles, 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 three. Option D shows two copies rather than three. Option B shows a single shape; each of the three figures shows three.

Question 9easy

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

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

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 solid 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 star — and shading is not what the three have in common. Option D is a ell, not a pentagon. Option A is a cross; every one of the three figures is a pentagon.

Question 10medium

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

A row of three figures that go together: one medium half-filled flag; then one small half-filled star; then one large half-filled triangle.
  • A.one small solid arrowone small solid arrow
  • B.one medium unfilled flagone medium unfilled flag
  • C.one large dotted circleone large dotted circle
  • D.one small half-filled diamondone small half-filled diamond✓

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 half-filled. Option D is one small half-filled diamond, 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 unfilled rather than half-filled. Option C is dotted; the three figures are all half-filled. Option A is solid, so it does not match how the three figures are filled.