Non-Verbal Reasoning
About 8 min · General Intelligence and Reasoning · English
Time worked out from the lesson's 641 words at 150 words a minute, plus a minute for each question.
Non-verbal reasoning tests your ability to analyse visual information, identify patterns, and solve problems using figures and shapes rather than words or numbers. In SSC CHSL Tier 1, this section typically includes pattern completion, mirror images, and figural series questions. These problems assess spatial intelligence, visual perception, and logical reasoning without relying on language skills.
Key ideas
- Pattern Completion: A figure is divided into sections; one section is missing. You must identify which option completes the overall pattern by matching design elements, symmetry, or recurring motifs across the given sections.
- Mirror Images: When an object is placed before a vertical or horizontal mirror, its reflection appears reversed along the mirror axis. Vertical mirrors flip left↔right; horizontal mirrors flip top↔bottom. Letters and asymmetric shapes behave predictably under reflection.
- Figural Series: A sequence of figures follows a logical progression—rotation, addition/deletion of elements, changing positions, or colour/shading changes. You identify the next figure in the series by extrapolating the rule governing the sequence.
- Rotation vs Reflection: Rotation turns a figure around a point (90°, 180°, 270°); all elements maintain their internal orientation. Reflection flips the figure across an axis, reversing internal orientations. Distinguishing these is critical.
- Element Counting: Many patterns involve systematic changes—number of lines, dots, or shapes increases/decreases by a fixed amount. Count carefully and track the progression rule.
Watch out for
- Confusing rotation with reflection: Students pick a rotated figure when reflection is asked, or vice versa. Fix: Always check if internal features reverse (reflection) or just turn (rotation).
- Ignoring small details: Overlooking the number of lines, dots, or shading changes leads to wrong pattern identification. Fix: Count elements systematically; don't rely on "looks similar."
- Misidentifying mirror axis: Applying vertical mirror rules to horizontal mirror questions (or vice versa) produces incorrect images. Fix: Note whether the mirror is on the right/left (vertical) or top/bottom (horizontal).
Quick reference
- Vertical mirror: Horizontal flip only. Left↔right swap, top and bottom stay.
- Horizontal mirror: Vertical flip only. Top↔bottom swap, left and right stay.
- Pattern completion: Look for symmetry, repetition, or logical progression across sections.
- Figural series: Track element count, rotation angle, position shifts, or shading changes step-by-step.
- Rotation check: Internal orientation preserved. Reflection check: Internal orientation reversed.
Check yourself: 3 questions
1. Find the mirror image of the given figure when the mirror is placed vertically on the right side. [Description: Original figure shows an arrow pointing to upper-right with a small circle at its tail on the left side] What will be the mirror image?
2. In the following series of figures, which figure will come next? [Description: Figure 1 - Square with one dot in top-left corner. Figure 2 - Square with two dots in top-left and top-right corners. Figure 3 - Square with three dots in top-left, top-right and bottom-right corners. Figure 4 - ?] Find the next figure in the series.
3. A piece of paper is folded and cut as shown in the figures. How will it appear when unfolded? [Description: Step 1 - Square paper folded vertically in half. Step 2 - Folded again horizontally. Step 3 - A small triangle is cut from the corner where all folds meet (center point). Step 4 - Another small circle is cut from the opposite corner] What pattern will appear when the paper is completely unfolded?
This lesson is cut from the topic's note, not rewritten. Fact-checked on 18 Oct 2026: an AI-assisted check of this note against cited sources; the errors it found were corrected that day. Some errors may remain. The questions are from Shishya's validated question bank.
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