Embedded / Completing the Image — Study Notes

Overview

Embedded figures and completing-the-image questions test your visual perception, pattern recognition, and spatial reasoning skills. In SSC MTS Paper 1, these non-verbal reasoning problems appear in 1–3 questions per exam. You'll either identify a simpler figure hidden inside a complex design (embedded figures) or recognize the missing piece that completes a pattern (completing the image).

These questions require no mathematical calculation or language skills — just careful observation and systematic elimination. Students often rush through these visually, making careless errors. The key is to develop a methodical approach: trace boundaries mentally, eliminate impossible options quickly, and verify your answer before marking. With consistent practice of 20–30 questions, most students achieve 90%+ accuracy on this topic. These are scoring questions if you train your eye to see patterns and hidden shapes systematically.

Key Concepts

• **Embedded Figures**: A simple geometric shape (triangle, square, circle, letter, arrow) is hidden within a complex figure filled with intersecting lines, overlapping shapes, or decorative patterns. Your task is to identify which option figure is actually present in the complex design without any rotation or distortion.

• **Completing the Pattern**: You're shown an incomplete figure or matrix with a missing portion. You must identify which answer choice correctly completes the design based on symmetry, continuation of lines, or logical pattern rules. The completed figure should maintain visual balance and follow the established pattern.

• **No Rotation or Flipping**: In embedded figure problems, the hidden shape appears in the same orientation as shown in the question. The shape cannot be rotated, flipped, or mirror-imaged. It must be traced exactly as presented in the options.

• **Continuous Boundaries**: When searching for embedded figures, trace the outline of the simple shape within the complex figure. The boundaries must be continuous — you cannot "jump" over lines or leave gaps. Every edge of the simple figure must correspond to an actual line in the complex design.

• **Distractor Lines**: The complex figure deliberately includes extra lines and shapes designed to confuse you. These distractors create visual noise. Train yourself to focus only on tracing the target shape and ignore irrelevant elements.

• **Symmetry and Pattern Logic**: In completing-the-image questions, look for axes of symmetry (vertical, horizontal, diagonal), repeating elements, or logical sequences. The missing piece must maintain the established visual rules of the pattern.

• **Size Consistency**: The embedded figure maintains the same size and proportion as shown in the options. It doesn't shrink, expand, or distort. If the option shows a regular pentagon, look for a regular pentagon of similar proportions in the complex figure.

Key Facts

• **Two main types**: Embedded figures (find hidden shape) and completing the pattern (identify missing piece).
• **Marks per question**: 1 mark each; typically 1–3 questions appear in SSC MTS Paper 1.
• **Time allocation**: Spend 30–45 seconds per question maximum; don't get stuck on visual puzzles.
• **Common shapes tested**: Simple polygons (triangle, square, pentagon, hexagon), letters (X, Y, Z, T, L), arrows, circles, and basic geometric combinations.
• **Answer verification**: Always trace your selected answer within the figure before final marking.
• **No partial credit**: Visual reasoning questions are objective; the answer is either correct or incorrect.
• **Practice requirement**: 20–30 practice questions build sufficient pattern recognition for exam readiness.
• **Difficulty level**: Moderate — requires focus but no advanced skills; accuracy improves rapidly with practice.

Worked Examples

**Example 1: Embedded Figure**

*Question*: Which of the following figures is embedded in the complex design below?

Complex Figure: [Imagine a design with multiple overlapping triangles, squares, and circles with intersecting lines]

Options: (A) Regular pentagon (B) Letter "X" (C) Right-angled triangle (D) Hexagon

*Solution*: Step 1: Examine option (A) — Pentagon has 5 sides. Scan the complex figure for any 5-sided closed shape. Cannot locate continuous 5-sided boundary. Eliminate (A).

Step 2: Check option (B) — Letter "X" requires two diagonal lines intersecting at center. Locate two prominent diagonal lines crossing in the middle-left portion of the complex figure. Trace both diagonals completely — they form a clear X shape. Keep (B) as strong candidate.

Step 3: Verify option (C) — Right triangle needs 90-degree angle. While triangles are present, tracing shows they are either obtuse or acute, not right-angled. Eliminate (C).

Step 4: Check option (D) — Hexagon needs 6 sides. No 6-sided closed figure can be traced. Eliminate (D).

**Answer**: (B) Letter "X"

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**Example 2: Completing the Pattern**

*Question*: Complete the following pattern by selecting the correct missing piece:

Pattern: [Imagine a 3×3 grid where 8 boxes contain arrows pointing in sequence: up, right, down, left, up, right, down, left, and the 9th box is empty]

Options: (A) Arrow pointing up (B) Arrow pointing right (C) Arrow pointing down (D) Arrow pointing left

*Solution*: Step 1: Identify the pattern rule. Reading left-to-right, top-to-bottom: up, right, down, left repeats cyclically.

Step 2: Count the sequence: Position 1 (up), Position 2 (right), Position 3 (down), Position 4 (left), Position 5 (up), Position 6 (right), Position 7 (down), Position 8 (left).

Step 3: Position 9 should continue the cycle. After "left" comes "up" in the repeating sequence.

**Answer**: (A) Arrow pointing up

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**Example 3: Embedded Figure with Distractors**

*Question*: Find the embedded shape among heavy distractors.

Complex Figure: [Dense design with multiple overlapping circles, squares, and decorative curved lines]

Options: (A) Simple circle (B) Perfect square (C) Equilateral triangle (D) Regular hexagon

*Solution*: Step 1: Focus on option (C) — Equilateral triangle. Look for three equal sides forming 60-degree angles at each vertex.

Step 2: Scan systematically from top-left. Notice three line segments in the upper-right region forming a closed triangle. Mentally trace each side.

Step 3: Verify angles appear equal (approximately 60 degrees each) and sides appear equal length. This matches an equilateral triangle.

Step 4: Check other options to confirm. Circles present are incomplete arcs; squares have unequal sides; no hexagon boundaries can be traced.

**Answer**: (C) Equilateral triangle

Common Mistakes

• **Mistake**: Rushing through without systematic checking → **Fix**: Trace each option's outline in the complex figure methodically; elimination takes only 10 extra seconds but prevents errors.

• **Mistake**: Assuming rotated or flipped versions are acceptable → **Fix**: Remember the embedded figure must appear in exactly the same orientation as the option; no rotation, reflection, or flipping allowed.

• **Mistake**: Seeing shapes that aren't fully bounded by continuous lines → **Fix**: Every edge of the simple figure must correspond to an actual line in the complex design; you cannot "imagine" missing segments or jump gaps.

• **Mistake**: Getting confused by deliberate distractors and giving up → **Fix**: Extra lines are placed to confuse you; ignore them by focusing only on tracing your target shape's boundaries step-by-step.

• **Mistake**: Not verifying the final answer before marking → **Fix**: Once you identify the embedded figure, trace it one more time to ensure all boundaries are continuous and correctly oriented; this 5-second check prevents careless errors.

Quick Reference

• Trace the simple figure's outline within the complex design systematically — every edge must be a real line.
• No rotation, flipping, or resizing allowed — embedded shape appears in exact orientation shown.
• Eliminate impossible options quickly; verify the remaining candidate carefully before marking.
• In completing-pattern questions, identify the rule first (symmetry, sequence, repetition), then apply it.
• Practice 20–30 questions to train pattern recognition — accuracy improves dramatically with repetition.
• Time limit: 30–45 seconds per question maximum; don't overthink visual puzzles.