Non-Verbal Reasoning Questions for SSC MTS

Figure Series

A row of figures is given and you must find the next figure or the missing one. Each figure changes by a fixed rule — rotation, shading, number of sides increasing, elements being added or removed. Think of it like a visual arithmetic sequence. Your job is to find what changes and by how much each step.

• Check rotation first — figures often rotate 45, 90, or 180 degrees each step
• Count elements inside the figure — they may increase or decrease by 1 each step
• Check shading — alternating shaded and unshaded is very common
• Look at the outer shape and inner shape separately
• If stuck, eliminate options that break the pattern rather than guessing directly

Odd One Out (Figure)

Four or five figures are given and you must pick the one that does not belong. The key is to find what three or four of them share. Common shared properties include number of sides, symmetry, direction of shading, or type of inner symbol. The odd figure either has an extra element, a different orientation rule, or breaks the symmetry pattern.

• Count sides of each shape — a circle among polygons or a 5-sided among 4-sided shapes stands out
• Check line symmetry — if three figures are symmetric and one is not, that is your answer
• Direction of opening matters — a bracket facing left among right-facing ones is the odd one
• Shading pattern — solid, hollow, half-shaded — one breaking this is the answer
• Do not overthink — your first instinct is often correct after enough practice

Mirror Image and Water Image

Mirror image flips a figure left to right — imagine holding it in front of a vertical mirror. Water image flips a figure top to bottom — like a reflection in a still pond. These are very common in SSC MTS and are quick scoring questions once you practise the flip direction. The most frequent error is confusing which axis the flip happens on.

• Mirror image: left becomes right, right becomes left — top and bottom stay the same
• Water image: top becomes bottom, bottom becomes top — left and right stay the same
• For letters: B, C, D, E have easy mirror images — practise all 26 letters and digits 0-9
• Clock times in mirror: subtract given time from 11:60 to get mirror time (e.g. 3:00 becomes 8:60 = 9:00)
• In figures with arrows, the arrow direction flips horizontally for mirror, vertically for water

Paper Folding and Punching

A square paper is folded one or more times and then a hole is punched. You must identify where the holes appear when the paper is fully unfolded. Each fold doubles the holes because punching through folded layers creates symmetric holes. Think of it as unfolding in reverse — unfold step by step and mirror the hole each time.

• One fold then one punch gives 2 holes when unfolded
• Two folds then one punch gives 4 holes when unfolded
• Always unfold in reverse order — last fold opens first
• The hole reflects across the fold line each time you unfold
• Holes always appear in symmetric pairs about the fold line

Embedded Figures

A small figure is given and you must find which of the four complex figures contains it hidden inside. The small figure must be present in its exact shape and size — not rotated or resized. Scan each option and look for the outline of the small figure inside the complex design. Lightly trace the small figure in your mind over each option.

• The small figure cannot be reflected or resized — exact match only
• Focus on unique or unusual angles in the small figure — they are easiest to spot
• Eliminate options that clearly do not have enough lines to contain the figure
• Practise by covering portions of complex figures with your finger
• This type rewards visual memory — the more you practise, the faster you get

Figure Analogy

Just like verbal analogy (A is to B as C is to D), figure analogy asks what change happens from Figure 1 to Figure 2, then applies the same change to Figure 3 to find Figure 4. Identify the exact transformation — rotation, size change, shading flip, element added or removed — and apply it consistently.

• First find the rule: what changes from Figure 1 to Figure 2
• Then apply the exact same rule to Figure 3
• Common rules: 90 degree rotation, shading reversal, adding one side to the shape
• If the rule involves two changes together, both must apply to Figure 3
• Do not assume — verify your rule fits before choosing the answer

Counting Figures (Triangles, Squares)

A complex figure is given and you are asked to count the total number of triangles or squares or rectangles in it. The trick is to count systematically — small units first, then combinations of 2, then combinations of 3, and so on. Missing even one combination is the most common error.

• For triangles in a triangle divided by lines: use the formula n(n+2)(2n+1)/8 for n divisions on each side
• Count small, medium, and large separately then add
• Mark each region with a letter and list combinations systematically
• For rectangles: count rows times columns combinations — nC2 x mC2 for a grid of n rows and m columns
• Do not rush — this question type rewards careful counting over speed

• Confusing mirror image with water image — always confirm which axis the flip is on before solving
• In paper folding, forgetting to unfold in reverse order — aspirants unfold in the same order as folding and get wrong hole positions
• In figure series, checking only one property like rotation and ignoring shading or element count — always check at least two properties
• In counting figures, stopping at small and large shapes and missing medium combinations — always be systematic
• In embedded figures, accepting a rotated or resized version of the small figure — the shape must match exactly without any transformation

• ROSE for Figure Series: Rotation, Objects inside, Shading, Elements outside — check all four before deciding the pattern
• Mirror = Side flip, Water = Splash down — mirror flips left-right like a side mirror, water flips top-bottom like a puddle
• Paper folding rule: Unfold in Reverse, Holes Reflect — U-R-H-R, like a reverse gear
• For counting triangles remember SML: Small plus Medium plus Large — never skip the Medium size

• SSC MTS typically asks 4 to 6 non-verbal questions — mirror images and figure series are the most frequent; practise these two types the most
• Questions are at easy to moderate difficulty — no highly complex multi-fold paper punching or 3D figure rotation, just standard 2D figures
• Mirror image and water image together often appear as a pair of questions in the same paper — if you see one, expect the other
• Time allocation should be around 30 to 40 seconds per non-verbal question — they should be faster than verbal or quantitative questions
• In the CBE (Computer Based Exam) format, figures are on screen — zoom in using Ctrl+ if a figure looks unclear, rather than guessing