What are the movement rules for figures in dMAT Figure Sequences?

Every dMAT Figure Sequences item follows the same closed set of movement rules, and knowing this list cold is often faster than analysing the picture from scratch. A figure can change colour, rotate, or move in one direction, but several things are always off limits, and those limits are your fastest route to eliminating wrong answers.

The Complete Movement Rule Set

Using the Rules to Eliminate Answers Fast

• Cross out any answer option where a figure has vanished or two figures sit on top of each other, since both are impossible under the rules.
• Cross out any option where a figure sits outside the matrix border.
• Cross out any option where a figure that was moving diagonally suddenly moves straight, since a diagonal mover can never switch movement type.

Free dMAT Practice Tests

Every section of the exam, with full solution paths for each question. Work through one section at a time, then sit the full timed mock.

• dMAT Mock Test: full timed simulation, 80 questions, instant section scores
• Figure Sequences practice: 15 free Core Module questions
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• General Academic Module practice: 15 free questions in the input format

My Advice

Memorise this rule table before you look at a single practice matrix, because it turns the exercise from open-ended pattern spotting into a checklist. Most wrong answer options in this subtest violate one of these five rules, so scanning for violations first will save you real time on exam day.