An inductive reasoning test shows you a pattern and asks you to work out the hidden rule that produces it. This guide walks through described inductive reasoning test examples, lists the kinds of rule that typically appear, and explains what employers can and cannot learn from the result.

What inductive reasoning test examples have in common

Inductive reasoning runs from examples to a rule. Evan Heit describes it as using what you know about some cases to project a property onto new ones, as when one burglary in a street makes you judge future burglaries more likely [1]. In a test, the "cases" are images, and the property you project is the next step in a visual sequence.

The Viewpoint inductive reasoning test has 36 questions to complete in 30 minutes. Each shows a nine-box grid with one image missing, and you choose the image that completes the pattern. Pattern-based questions of this kind rely far less on reading or specialist knowledge than verbal or numerical items, which makes the format useful for roles where people must make sense of new information quickly, from analysts and engineers to graduate trainees.

Working through a 3×3 pattern: a described example

The example below is a generic illustration described in words. It is not a Viewpoint item.

Picture a grid of three rows and three columns. In the top row, the first box holds one circle, the second two circles and the third three circles. In the middle row the same counts appear, but every circle is shaded grey. In the bottom row, the first box holds one black circle, the second two black circles, and the third box is empty.

A good approach has four steps.

1. Read across the rows. In each row, the number of circles goes up by one from left to right.

2. Read down the columns. In each column, the number stays the same, but the shading darkens from white to grey to black.

3. State the rule in words. "Count rises along the row; shading darkens down the column."

4. Predict before you look. The missing box should hold three black circles. Only now check the options, and reject any that get one feature right but another wrong, such as three grey circles.

Predicting before looking matters because answer options are designed to include near misses. If you browse the options first, a plausible distractor can pull you away from the rule you were forming.

Rules that commonly appear in inductive puzzles

Most pattern questions combine a few familiar building blocks. Knowing them speeds up the search for the rule.

• Progression: a number, size or angle increases or decreases by a steady amount.

• Rotation: a shape turns by the same angle from one box to the next.

• Alternation: a feature switches back and forth, such as filled and empty.

• Addition or subtraction: the third box in a row is what you get by combining, or taking away, the elements in the first two.

• Movement: an element travels around the edge of the box, one position at a time.

Harder questions layer two or three rules, often one across the rows and another down the columns. When you are stuck, pick a single feature, such as colour, and track only that until it makes sense, then move to the next.

How employers use inductive reasoning results

Abstract pattern tests are widely used as measures of general reasoning ability. Schmidt and Hunter's review concluded that general mental ability predicts job performance and success in training across a wide range of occupations [2], which is why abstract reasoning tests are a common part of selection.

The ability also responds to practice. Klauer and Phye's meta-analysis of 74 training experiments found that teaching children a structured strategy for comparing features improved both their reasoning test scores and their learning in school subjects [3]. For adults sitting a test, the practical implication is that familiarity with the format helps, so employers should give every candidate the same chance to see practice questions beforehand.

When reading results, place scores in bands from Very Low to Very High rather than applying a single cut-off. With an average of 50 seconds per question, the score reflects both accuracy and pace, so look at how many items a candidate attempted as well as how many they got right where that information is available. Then weigh the result alongside structured interviews and other evidence. The inductive reasoning test can be combined with other measures from our aptitude tests range, such as a deductive reasoning test for roles that also involve applying rules precisely.

Frequently asked questions

How long do I have for each inductive reasoning question?

The Viewpoint test gives you 30 minutes for 36 questions, which averages 50 seconds each. Some will take less, some more, so keep moving if you are stuck.

Is it better to guess or leave a question blank?

Check the instructions for the test you are taking. As a general rule, if you can rule out some options, an informed choice is better than leaving a gap.

Can I practise for an inductive reasoning test?

Yes. Working through pattern puzzles and learning the common rule types builds familiarity and confidence, and research shows the underlying reasoning skill can be trained.

Is inductive reasoning the same as abstract reasoning?

The terms overlap. Abstract reasoning usually refers to the shape-based format; inductive reasoning describes the thinking process of inferring a rule from examples.

References

1. Heit, E. (2008). Properties of inductive reasoning. In J. E. Adler & L. J. Rips (Eds.), Reasoning: Studies of Human Inference and its Foundations (pp. 353–382). Cambridge University Press.
2. Schmidt, F. L. & Hunter, J. E. (2004). General mental ability in the world of work: occupational attainment and job performance. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 86(1), 162–173.
3. Klauer, K. J. & Phye, G. D. (2008). Inductive reasoning: a training approach. Review of Educational Research, 78(1), 85–123.