How to Prepare for dMAT Figure Sequences

Figure Sequences are the part of the dMAT most likely to make a candidate panic on first sight — and the part that improves fastest with the right method.

What the question is really asking

You are shown a series of matrices that change according to one or more hidden rules. Your job is to identify the rule and predict the next figure. The rules almost always fall into a small set of categories:

• Movement — an element rotates or shifts position.
• Colour or shading — cells fill, empty, or alternate.
• Orientation — shapes flip or rotate.
• Counting — the number of elements grows or shrinks predictably.

A repeatable reading method

1. Scan one dimension at a time. Look across rows first, then down columns. Do not try to see everything at once.
2. Name the change out loud. "The dot moves one clockwise." Naming it forces precision.
3. Check the rule holds twice. A rule that explains one step is a guess; a rule that explains two is an answer.
4. Predict before you look at options. Then match. This stops the answer choices from misleading you.

The traps

The most common mistake is spotting a pattern and stopping. Many sequences layer two rules — for example, a shape both rotates and changes colour. Always ask: "Is there a second thing changing?"

Speed on Figure Sequences comes from pattern recognition, and pattern recognition comes from volume. There is no shortcut — but there is a fast lane, and it is deliberate practice.

Our Core Module is built around exactly these rule types, with worked explanations for every question.