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CogAT Grade 8 Figure Classification Practice Questions

Practice Figure Classification questions for the Cognitive Abilities Test — Grade 8 (Level 13/14). Every question includes a full explanation of why the correct answer is right and why the tempting distractors are wrong.

42 questions available · medium difficulty · CogAT Grade 8 · 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 8 figure classification question looks like

The same form as grade 7, both grades taking one level. Because classification items resolve faster than the other two nonverbal formats, this is where a grade 8 student can most usefully build the time cushion that paper folding and matrices then spend.

At level 13/14 — grade 8

Eighth graders sit the Level 13/14 form alongside seventh graders and are compared against an older norm group. Since classification items resolve faster than the other nonverbal formats, this is where a grade 8 student can most easily build the time cushion the rest of the battery needs.

Where children go wrong

Spending here what should be spent elsewhere

Classification items either resolve in a few seconds or do not resolve at all. Treating a stuck item as worth another thirty seconds trades a question that was never going to be answered for one that would have been.

Over-thinking a simple item

Not every item hides a subtle rule. Some of them really are all triangles. Searching for depth that is not there costs time the harder items need, and this subtest is where the extra seconds for paper folding are supposed to come from.

Answering before checking all five options

A rule that is nearly right admits two choices, and stopping at the first one that fits means never discovering that. Running the rule past every option is the check that reveals a second property is in play.

How to practise this at home

Have your child state the rule and then test it against every option rather than stopping at the first that fits. The specific habit worth drilling is noticing when a rule leaves two options standing, because that is the signal a second property is in play. It is a quick check and it converts most of the near-misses at this level.

Common questions about Figure Classification

How do I know when I have found the right rule?

When exactly one answer choice satisfies it. A rule that is true of the three figures but leaves two options standing is incomplete, and at these levels that usually means a second property is waiting.

Should my child spend long on these?

No. Classification items tend to resolve quickly or not at all, which makes them the right place to save time for paper folding, where extra seconds actually convert into marks.

Is figure classification easier than figure matrices?

Most children score higher on it, though the gap narrows at the upper levels once two-property items become standard. The reasoning is less structured, which suits some children and unsettles others.

Sample Figure Classification Questions with Answers

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

Question 1hard

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

A row of three figures that go together: one small dotted circle; then one small half-filled circle; then one small unfilled circle.
  • A.one large solid circleone large solid circle
  • B.one small hatched circleone small hatched circle✓
  • C.one small half-filled crossone small half-filled cross
  • D.one large dotted hexagonone large dotted hexagon

Correct answer: B

Start by asking what the three figures have in common. They are each shaded differently, but they are alike in TWO ways at once: they are all circles, and they are all small too. Finding just one of those is not enough, because more than one answer matches it. Option B is one small hatched circle — the only choice that matches the three figures in BOTH ways, so it is the one that belongs with them. Option A is a circle like the three figures, but it is large rather than small — it matches them in only one of the two ways. Option C is small like the three figures, but it is a cross rather than a circle — again only one of the two ways. Option D matches the three figures in neither way: it is a hexagon and it is large.

Question 2hard

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 large unfilled cross; then one large hatched cross.
  • A.one small hatched diamondone small hatched diamond
  • B.one small unfilled crossone small unfilled cross
  • C.one large half-filled crossone large half-filled cross✓
  • D.one large solid squareone large solid square

Correct answer: C

Start by asking what the three figures have in common. They are each shaded differently, but they are alike in TWO ways at once: they are all crosss, and they are all large too. Finding just one of those is not enough, because more than one answer matches it. Option C is one large half-filled cross — the only choice that matches the three figures in BOTH ways, so it is the one that belongs with them. Option A matches the three figures in neither way: it is a diamond and it is small. Option B is a cross like the three figures, but it is small rather than large — it matches them in only one of the two ways. Option D is large like the three figures, but it is a square rather than a cross — again only one of the two ways.

Question 3hard

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

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

Correct answer: D

Start by asking what the three figures have in common. They are each shaded differently, but they are alike in TWO ways at once: they are all arrows, and they are all large too. Finding just one of those is not enough, because more than one answer matches it. Option D is one large solid arrow — the only choice that matches the three figures in BOTH ways, so it is the one that belongs with them. Option A is a arrow like the three figures, but it is small rather than large — it matches them in only one of the two ways. Option B is large like the three figures, but it is a triangle rather than a arrow — again only one of the two ways. Option C matches the three figures in neither way: it is a cross and it is small.

Question 4hard

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

A row of three figures that go together: one large unfilled triangle; then one large half-filled triangle; then one large solid triangle.
  • A.one large hatched triangleone large hatched triangle✓
  • B.one large solid circleone large solid circle
  • C.one small solid ellone small solid ell
  • D.one small dotted triangleone small dotted triangle

Correct answer: A

Start by asking what the three figures have in common. They are each shaded differently, but they are alike in TWO ways at once: they are all triangles, and they are all large too. Finding just one of those is not enough, because more than one answer matches it. Option A is one large hatched triangle — the only choice that matches the three figures in BOTH ways, so it is the one that belongs with them. Option B is large like the three figures, but it is a circle rather than a triangle — again only one of the two ways. Option C matches the three figures in neither way: it is a ell and it is small. Option D is a triangle like the three figures, but it is small rather than large — it matches them in only one of the two ways.

Question 5medium

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

A row of three figures that go together: one medium half-filled flag, rotated 45 degrees; then one medium unfilled flag, rotated 45 degrees; then one medium dotted flag, rotated 45 degrees.
  • A.one medium dotted flag, rotated 90 degreesone medium dotted flag, rotated 90 degrees
  • B.one medium solid flag, rotated 45 degreesone medium solid flag, rotated 45 degrees✓
  • C.one medium half-filled flag, rotated 180 degreesone medium half-filled flag, rotated 180 degrees
  • D.one medium unfilled flag, rotated 135 degreesone medium unfilled flag, rotated 135 degrees

Correct answer: B

Start by asking what the three figures have in common. They differ only in how they are shaded, so neither of those is the answer — but they all point the same way. Option B is one medium solid flag, rotated 45 degrees, the only choice that shares that, so it is the one that belongs with them. Option A is turned 90 degrees rather than 45, so it does not point the way the three figures do. Option C is turned 180 degrees rather than 45, so it does not point the way the three figures do. Option D is turned 135 degrees rather than 45, so it does not point the way the three figures do.

Question 6hard

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

A row of three figures that go together: one small unfilled square; then one small solid square; then one small half-filled square.
  • A.one large dotted squareone large dotted square
  • B.one large solid flagone large solid flag
  • C.one small hatched ellone small hatched ell
  • D.one small dotted squareone small dotted square✓

Correct answer: D

Start by asking what the three figures have in common. They are each shaded differently, but they are alike in TWO ways at once: they are all squares, and they are all small too. Finding just one of those is not enough, because more than one answer matches it. Option D is one small dotted square — the only choice that matches the three figures in BOTH ways, so it is the one that belongs with them. Option A is a square like the three figures, but it is large rather than small — it matches them in only one of the two ways. Option B matches the three figures in neither way: it is a flag and it is large. Option C is small like the three figures, but it is a ell rather than a square — again only one of the two ways.

Question 7hard

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

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

Correct answer: A

Start by asking what the three figures have in common. They are each shaded differently, but they are alike in TWO ways at once: they are all triangles, and they are all small too. Finding just one of those is not enough, because more than one answer matches it. Option A is one small half-filled triangle — the only choice that matches the three figures in BOTH ways, so it is the one that belongs with them. Option B matches the three figures in neither way: it is a ell and it is large. Option C is small like the three figures, but it is a arrow rather than a triangle — again only one of the two ways. Option D is a triangle like the three figures, but it is large rather than small — it matches them in only one of the two ways.

Question 8hard

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

A row of three figures that go together: one large unfilled star; then one large dotted star; then one large half-filled star.
  • A.one small solid squareone small solid square
  • B.one large solid starone large solid star✓
  • C.one large dotted triangleone large dotted triangle
  • D.one small hatched starone small hatched star

Correct answer: B

Start by asking what the three figures have in common. They are each shaded differently, but they are alike in TWO ways at once: they are all stars, and they are all large too. Finding just one of those is not enough, because more than one answer matches it. Option B is one large solid star — the only choice that matches the three figures in BOTH ways, so it is the one that belongs with them. Option A matches the three figures in neither way: it is a square and it is small. Option C is large like the three figures, but it is a triangle rather than a star — again only one of the two ways. Option D is a star like the three figures, but it is small rather than large — it matches them in only one of the two ways.

Question 9medium

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

A row of three figures that go together: one large unfilled flag, rotated 135 degrees; then one large half-filled flag, rotated 135 degrees; then one large solid flag, rotated 135 degrees.
  • A.one large solid flag, rotated 90 degreesone large solid flag, rotated 90 degrees
  • B.one large unfilled flagone large unfilled flag
  • C.one large dotted flag, rotated 135 degreesone large dotted flag, rotated 135 degrees✓
  • D.one large half-filled flag, rotated 180 degreesone large half-filled flag, rotated 180 degrees

Correct answer: C

Start by asking what the three figures have in common. They differ only in how they are shaded, so neither of those is the answer — but they all point the same way. Option C is one large dotted flag, rotated 135 degrees, the only choice that shares that, so it is the one that belongs with them. Option A is turned 90 degrees rather than 135, so it does not point the way the three figures do. Option B is the same flag left upright, while the three figures are all turned the same way. Option D is turned 180 degrees rather than 135, so it does not point the way the three figures do.

Question 10hard

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

A row of three figures that go together: one small dotted diamond; then one small unfilled diamond; then one small hatched diamond.
  • A.one large solid crossone large solid cross
  • B.one small dotted pentagonone small dotted pentagon
  • C.one large dotted diamondone large dotted diamond
  • D.one small solid diamondone small solid diamond✓

Correct answer: D

Start by asking what the three figures have in common. They are each shaded differently, but they are alike in TWO ways at once: they are all diamonds, and they are all small too. Finding just one of those is not enough, because more than one answer matches it. Option D is one small solid diamond — the only choice that matches the three figures in BOTH ways, so it is the one that belongs with them. Option A matches the three figures in neither way: it is a cross and it is large. Option B is small like the three figures, but it is a pentagon rather than a diamond — again only one of the two ways. Option C is a diamond like the three figures, but it is large rather than small — it matches them in only one of the two ways.