Complex questions
Complex questions combine two or more of the rule families above in a single puzzle, and sometimes add a decoy element that looks meaningful but plays no role in the actual rule — for example, a shape that repeats identically every time and can be safely ignored. These are the hardest items on the test precisely because they punish tunnel vision: solvers who lock onto the first rule they spot often submit an answer that satisfies only part of the puzzle.
The systematic approach is to check your rule against every option, not just the one that 'looks right'. If more than one option fits your rule, that's the signal you're missing a second rule — go back and look at a feature you haven't examined yet (colour, fill, position) rather than guessing between the remaining candidates.
How to spot it
- •After finding one rule, actively look for a second one — complex items are rarely explained by a single mechanic.
- •If a middle cell (or any single element) never changes across the whole puzzle, consider that it might be a decoy with no bearing on the rule.
- •Eliminate options systematically against your rule rather than picking whichever looks most familiar.
- •If you're stuck for more than a minute, move on — complex questions are exactly the ones worth returning to with fresh eyes.