Non-verbal reasoning questions account for approximately 40% of mistakes in RRB NTPC's General Intelligence section, despite being highly scoring when approached correctly. Figure analysis tests your ability to recognize visual patterns, spatial relationships, and logical sequences without language dependency—a pure test of analytical thinking.
This guide focuses exclusively on figure analysis questions in RRB NTPC Non-Verbal Reasoning. You'll learn the seven question types that appear repeatedly, systematic analysis techniques, and elimination strategies that help you solve these visual problems in 40-50 seconds.
Exam Weightage
RRB NTPC includes 8-10 non-verbal reasoning questions out of 30 General Intelligence questions. Mastering figure analysis can secure you 8-10 marks with minimal calculation—pure pattern recognition skills.
Quick Answer (30-Second Read)
- Non-verbal reasoning contributes 8-10 questions (27-33% of reasoning section) in RRB NTPC with figure analysis as the dominant type
- Seven question types cover 98% of figure problems: analogy, classification, series, mirror/water images, paper folding/cutting, embedded figures, figure completion
- Analyze elements systematically: rotation, reflection, shading, number of elements, size changes, position shifts
- Eliminate 2-3 obviously wrong options first, then compare remaining choices carefully
- Practice 300+ figure questions across all seven types for 85%+ accuracy
Source: Analysis of RRB NTPC 2023-2024 official question papers and non-verbal reasoning pattern distribution
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Seven Core Figure Analysis Question Types
These question types appear in every RRB NTPC exam. Understanding each type's logic is essential for quick solving.
Format: A is to B as C is to ? You identify the relationship between first pair and apply it to the second pair.
Common relationships:
- Rotation: 90°, 180°, or 270° clockwise/counter-clockwise
- Element addition/removal: Shapes added or removed systematically
- Shading changes: Filled to unfilled or vice versa
- Size variation: Enlargement or reduction
Solving strategy: Identify what changed from A to B (rotation + shading), then apply the same change to C.
Format: Find the odd one out among 4-5 figures. One figure doesn't follow the common pattern shared by others.
What to check:
- Number of sides/elements
- Symmetry (all except one are symmetrical)
- Rotation orientation
- Internal vs external elements
Quick tip: Count elements first—often the odd figure has different element count.
Format: Identify the next figure in a sequence. Similar to number series but with visual patterns.
Common patterns:
- Progressive rotation (each figure rotates 45°)
- Element addition (one shape added each step)
- Alternating patterns (two different sequences)
- Increasing/decreasing complexity
Solving strategy: Compare first and second figures to identify the change rule, then verify with second and third figures.
Format: Identify mirror reflection or water reflection of a given figure.
Mirror image rules:
- Left becomes right, right becomes left
- Top and bottom remain same
- Vertical axis reflection
Water image rules:
- Top becomes bottom, bottom becomes top
- Left and right remain same
- Horizontal axis reflection
Common trap: Students confuse mirror and water images. Mirror = vertical flip, Water = horizontal flip.
Format: Paper folded and cut, identify how it looks when unfolded.
Solving approach:
- Count number of folds (each fold doubles the cuts)
- Note cut position relative to fold line
- Symmetry is key—cuts appear symmetrically
Rajesh from Lucknow, who scored 88.4 in RRB NTPC 2024, says, "I used to guess these randomly. Once I learned the doubling rule—2 folds mean 4 identical cuts—my accuracy jumped to 80%."
Format: Identify which simple figure is hidden in a complex figure.
Technique:
- Ignore extra lines mentally
- Trace the simple figure's outline in the complex one
- Size remains same, only additional elements present
Time-saver: Eliminate options where basic shape orientation doesn't match.
Format: Complete the missing part of a figure pattern.
Analysis method:
- Check row-wise patterns first
- Then check column-wise patterns
- Look for diagonal patterns if grid is present
Pattern Analysis
According to our analysis of 350+ PrepGrind students' mock tests, Type 3 (Figure Series) and Type 1 (Figure Analogy) together constitute 45% of non-verbal questions, making them highest priority for practice.
Systematic Figure Analysis Framework
This step-by-step approach works for any figure analysis question type.
Step 1: Identify Question Type (5 seconds)
Read the question and classify it into one of seven types. Each type has specific solving rules.
Step 2: List Elements (10 seconds)
Count and categorize visual elements:
- Shapes present (circle, square, triangle, etc.)
- Number of elements
- Shading pattern (filled, unfilled, half-filled)
- Lines (straight, curved, dotted, solid)
Step 3: Check Transformations (15 seconds)
Look for systematic changes:
- Rotation: Clockwise or counter-clockwise?
- Reflection: Mirror or water image?
- Position: Elements moving in a pattern?
- Addition/Subtraction: Elements appearing/disappearing?
Step 4: Eliminate Wrong Options (10 seconds)
Remove 2-3 obviously incorrect choices based on your analysis. This improves guessing odds dramatically.
Step 5: Compare and Select (10 seconds)
Compare remaining options carefully against your identified pattern. Select the best match.
This framework keeps you under 50 seconds per question. Meera from Chennai reduced her non-verbal reasoning time by 35% using this systematic approach instead of intuitive guessing.
Common Figure Analysis Patterns and Shortcuts
For Rotation Questions:
- 90° clockwise = 270° counter-clockwise (same result)
- 180° rotation = upside down
- Full 360° = back to original
For Element Counting:
- If all figures have same element count except one, that's the odd one
- Progressive series often add one element per step
For Symmetry:
- Vertical symmetry = mirror halves left-right
- Horizontal symmetry = mirror halves top-bottom
- Both = figure looks same in all directions
For Shading:
- Alternating shading = filled, unfilled, filled pattern
- Progressive shading = more areas filled each step
- Inverse shading = filled becomes unfilled
Speed Tip: In figure series with 5 figures, compare figures 1-2 and 3-4. If the same transformation applies, that's your pattern.
Figure Analysis vs Other Reasoning Types
| Aspect | Figure Analysis | Verbal Reasoning | Number Series |
|---|---|---|---|
| Language dependency | Zero (universal) | High (requires vocabulary) | Low (number concepts) |
| Pattern types | 7 core types | 15+ types | 8 core patterns |
| Average solving time | 45-50 seconds | 40-60 seconds | 35-45 seconds |
| Accuracy potential | 85-90% with practice | 75-80% | 90-95% |
| Practice requirement | 300+ questions | 500+ questions | 200+ questions |
Source: PrepGrind mock test performance data from 600+ RRB NTPC 2024 aspirants
The advantage of figure analysis is zero language barrier. Students from vernacular backgrounds often score higher in non-verbal reasoning than verbal reasoning sections.
Your Figure Analysis Mastery Plan
Tailor your practice based on current performance level:
If accuracy is below 60%:
- Focus only on Types 1, 3, and 4 (Analogy, Series, Mirror Images)
- Solve 150 questions of these three types only
- Learn to identify question types instantly
- Target: 75% accuracy before expanding
If accuracy is 60-75%:
- Practice all seven types with 40 questions each (280 total)
- Create a visual pattern notebook—sketch recurring patterns
- Focus on systematic analysis over intuitive guessing
- Target: 85% accuracy with 50-second average time
If accuracy is above 75%:
- Practice only mixed question mocks
- Focus on cutting time to 40 seconds per question
- Identify and drill your weakest question type
- Target: 90% accuracy at 40 seconds per question
Arun from Hyderabad improved from 55% to 88% accuracy in non-verbal reasoning by dedicating 45 minutes daily for 8 weeks, solving 30 figure analysis questions with detailed self-review.
Handling Difficult Figure Questions
When a figure question seems unsolvable after 30 seconds:
Strategy 1: Element Isolation
Cover parts of complex figures with your finger. Analyze simpler components separately, then combine insights.
Strategy 2: Option Comparison
When pattern isn't obvious, compare answer options directly. Often options differ in just 1-2 aspects, making elimination easier.
Strategy 3: Reverse Engineering
Start from answer options and check which one logically fits the sequence or relationship.
Strategy 4: Strategic Guessing
If completely stuck, eliminate options with obviously different element counts or orientations. Guess from remaining 2 options.
Never spend more than 60 seconds on any single figure question. With 0.25 negative marking, unattempted is better than random guessing.
People also search for
1. How many non-verbal reasoning questions appear in RRB NTPC exam?
RRB NTPC includes 8-10 non-verbal reasoning questions out of 30 General Intelligence questions based on 2023-2024 exam analysis. Figure analysis questions dominate this section, contributing approximately 27-33% of total reasoning marks. With 1 mark per question and 0.25 negative marking, non-verbal reasoning offers high scoring potential since these questions don't require calculations—only pattern recognition skills.
2. Which figure analysis question type is most important for RRB NTPC?
Figure Series (25% of non-verbal questions) and Figure Analogy (20%) together constitute 45% of figure analysis questions in RRB NTPC. Focus on these two types first before practicing other types. According to our analysis of 350+ PrepGrind mock tests, students who mastered series and analogy patterns scored 3-4 marks higher in non-verbal reasoning compared to those who practiced all types equally without depth.
3. How can I improve my speed in solving figure analysis questions?
Use systematic analysis framework: identify question type (5 seconds), list elements (10 seconds), check transformations (15 seconds), eliminate wrong options (10 seconds), select answer (10 seconds). This keeps you under 50 seconds per question. Practice 300+ figure questions to make pattern recognition automatic. Avoid intuitive guessing—systematic approach is 40% faster once internalized through practice.
4. What's the difference between mirror image and water image questions?
Mirror image reflects along vertical axis—left becomes right, right becomes left, while top and bottom stay same. Water image reflects along horizontal axis—top becomes bottom, bottom becomes top, while left and right stay same. Memory trick: you see mirror image standing (vertical), you see water image looking down (horizontal). This confusion causes 60% of errors in reflection-type questions.
5. Should I attempt all non-verbal reasoning questions or skip difficult ones?
Attempt questions where you can identify the pattern within 30 seconds. Skip questions that seem completely random after initial analysis—spending 2 minutes on one difficult question wastes time better spent on easier questions in other sections. With 0.25 negative marking, accuracy beats attempts. Target 7-8 correct answers out of 8-10 non-verbal questions rather than attempting all with 60% accuracy.
Conclusion: Your Next Step
Non-verbal reasoning figure analysis in RRB NTPC follows seven predictable question types that you can master through systematic practice and pattern recognition. The key advantage is zero language dependency—pure visual analysis that rewards systematic thinking over intuition.
Focus first on figure series and figure analogy, which together contribute 45% of non-verbal questions. Use the five-step analysis framework to maintain 45-50 seconds per question with 85%+ accuracy. Practice 300 diverse figure questions to build pattern recognition automatically.
Ready to master RRB NTPC Non-Verbal Reasoning and secure 8-10 marks in figure analysis? Explore PrepGrind's RRB NTPC Mock Test Series with 500+ figure analysis questions, question-type-wise practice modules, and visual pattern recognition training designed by reasoning experts and railway exam toppers.
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