Pattern Completion and Incomplete Figures: Completing a Pattern and Dot Situation Questions for SSC Non-Verbal Reasoning
Rahul Kumar
SSC Exam Expert & Content Editor
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PDF Notes: Pattern Completion and Incomplete Figures: Completing a Pattern and Dot Situation Questions for SSC Non-Verbal Reasoning
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In a pattern completion question, a figure has a missing piece and you must choose the option that completes the figure perfectly. In the dot situation question, the position of dots in the figures follows a rule and you have to place the dot correctly. This guide on pattern completion and incomplete figures for SSC explains the methods, the use of symmetry and lines, and the solved examples described in words, with practice questions and FAQs.
Pattern Completion: Method
- Look at the incomplete figure and note the lines, curves and shading that end at the edge of the missing part.
- Check that each line that reaches the missing region continues in the right direction and has the right slope.
- Look for symmetry (line symmetry or rotational symmetry) of the whole figure; the missing piece should keep it.
- Compare the shape and size of the missing region with the options.
- Eliminate the options that do not match the edges (for example a line that does not join or a curve that does not continue).
Key Ideas
| Idea | What to Check |
|---|---|
| Edge matching | The lines at the edge of the missing piece must meet the lines of the piece in the options exactly |
| Continuation of curves | A curve entering the missing region should continue smoothly |
| Symmetry | If the figure is symmetrical, the missing piece is the mirror image of the corresponding part |
| Rotational symmetry | Each part of the figure looks the same after turning around the centre |
| Counting of shapes | The total number of the shapes (such as 4 circles, 4 squares) should be complete |
| Shading | The shading pattern should continue in the missing region |
| Orientation | The shape in the option should not be flipped or rotated unless required |
Dot Situation: Method
Dots are placed in the regions formed by a figure (such as a circle, a square and a triangle that overlap). The question asks to find the figure in which the dots are placed in the same relation as in the given figure.
- Find the region where each dot lies: inside only one shape, in the overlap of two shapes, or inside all the shapes.
- Count the number of the shapes in which each dot lies (for example the dot is inside the circle and the triangle but outside the square).
- Match this relation with the options, where the shapes are drawn in a different arrangement.
- The correct option has the dots with the same relations with the shapes.
Dot Situation: Example Relations
| Dot Position (in the Question Figure) | What the Option Must Show |
|---|---|
| Inside the circle only | A dot inside the circle but outside the other shapes |
| In the common area of the circle and the square | A dot inside both the circle and the square but outside the triangle |
| Inside all three shapes | A dot in the common area of all three |
| Outside all the shapes | A dot outside all of them but inside the outer frame |
Solved Examples (Described Figures)
Example 1. A circle has a diameter line drawn horizontally, and the lower-right quarter is missing, including the half of the diameter line. Which piece completes it?
The piece that has the quarter arc of the circle and the half-line along the horizontal diameter in the bottom-right.
Example 2. A symmetrical flower with 6 petals has 5 petals, and the sixth region is missing. What is the missing piece?
A petal of the same shape and size, placed in the gap to keep the 6-fold rotational symmetry.
Example 3. A figure has a vertical line of symmetry. The left half is complete and has a triangle and a dot. What must the missing right half have?
The mirror image of the left half: a triangle and a dot at the mirror positions.
Example 4 (dot). In a figure, a dot lies inside the circle and the square, but outside the triangle. Which option has the same relation?
The one in which the dot is inside the circle and the square and outside the triangle.
Example 5 (counting). A pattern has 4 circles at the corners of a square pattern and one is missing. What does the missing piece contain?
A circle at the missing corner.
Tips and Tricks
- Concentrate on the edges of the missing region and not on the whole figure.
- Check the lines and the curves one by one and match them with the options.
- Reject the options in which a line does not touch the edge or in which the shape is flipped.
- For the dot situation, write the relation as “in A, in B, not in C” and check the options.
- Check the symmetry of the whole figure to confirm the answer.
Quick Tips
- Match the lines at the edge of the missing piece.
- Use the symmetry of the figure to find the missing part.
- Eliminate the flipped and rotated options.
- For the dot questions, write the relation of the dot with each shape.
Quick Revision Points
- The missing piece must continue the lines and curves at its edges.
- A symmetrical figure has a mirror-image piece.
- Rotational symmetry means the same look after the rotation.
- For the dot situation, match the relation to the shapes.
- Use elimination.
Practice Questions With Answers
- What do you check first in a pattern completion question?
Answer: The lines at the edge of the missing region - If the left half of a figure is complete and the figure is symmetrical, what is the right half?
Answer: The mirror image of the left half - A dot is inside the circle and outside the square. What is its relation?
Answer: In the circle, not in the square - What does a 4-fold rotational symmetry mean?
Answer: The figure looks the same after turning by 90° - What is the dot in the overlap of the circle and the triangle?
Answer: Inside both the circle and the triangle - What type of options do you reject first?
Answer: The options with the lines not meeting the edge - A symmetric pattern has 8 petals and 7 are drawn. What is missing?
Answer: A petal in the empty place - What is edge matching?
Answer: Matching the lines at the boundary of the missing piece with the option - What is the relation of a dot lying outside all the shapes?
Answer: Not in any shape - What is the use of symmetry in a completion question?
Answer: It tells how the missing part looks
How to Practise This Chapter
Practise 10 questions every day and write the steps on paper. Then attempt timed sets from our practice papers and the previous year papers page. See all topics on the Non Verbal Reasoning notes page, read the previous topic Figure Matrix and Missing Figure and the next topic Rotation and Folding of Figures.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is pattern completion?
Choosing the piece that completes an incomplete figure.
How do I solve it?
Match the lines and curves at the edge of the missing piece with the options.
What is a dot situation?
A question in which the position of a dot relative to the shapes must be repeated in another figure.
What is line symmetry?
The figure has a line that divides it into two mirror images.
What is rotational symmetry?
The figure looks the same after a rotation of less than 360°.
Is this topic asked in SSC?
Yes. It appears as a non-verbal question in SSC exams.
How much time should I take?
About 30 seconds.
What should I eliminate first?
The options that do not match the edges of the missing piece.
How do I describe a dot position?
As being inside or outside each of the shapes.
Does the orientation of the piece matter?
Yes, a flipped or rotated piece may not fit.
Can the missing piece have more than one shape?
Yes, a piece can contain lines, shapes and shading.
How can I practise?
By solving many completion figures and checking the edges.
Previous chapter
Figure Matrix and Missing Figure: Row and Column Rules, Number Matrices and Completion Questions for SSC Non-Verbal Reasoning
Next chapter
Rotation and Reflection of Figures: Rotating a Figure, Embedded Turn and Direction Changes with Rules for SSC Non-Verbal Reasoning
Rahul Kumar
SSC Exam Expert & Content Editor
Rahul is a senior SSC exam strategist with 8+ years of experience helping aspirants crack CGL, CHSL and MTS exams. He writes in-depth notification breakdowns, exam pattern guides and preparation strategies.