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Space Orientation & Figural Reasoning

Reasoning & General Intelligence — Paper-I · Official 2026 Coverage

Useful for: SSC CGL

Overview

Space orientation and figural reasoning test rotations, mirror images, dice faces, embedded figures and figure series.

Key points

Rotation keeps handedness; reflection reverses it.
Dice: faces seen together are adjacent, never opposite.
If 1 is adjacent to 2, 3, 4 and 5, then 1 is opposite 6.
Figure series: track each element’s movement separately.
Embedded figures must appear in the same orientation.

Explanation

Two dice views sharing a common face give the opposite pairs by position.
Clockwise movement of shaded parts is common.
Count lines or dots for numeric patterns.
Water image reverses top–bottom; mirror reverses left–right.

Step by step

Identify the pattern, rule or relationship.
Apply it carefully to the question part.
Verify against every condition before marking.

Examples

A figure with a dot at top-left rotated 90° clockwise has the dot at top-right.
If a die shows 1 adjacent to 2, 3, 4 and 5, then 6 is opposite 1.
Dots increasing 2, 4, 6, 8 → next figure has 10 dots.

Traps and advanced points

Trap: Confusing rotation with reflection.
Trap: Treating adjacent faces as opposite.
Trap: Tracking only one changing element.

Quick revision

Reference corner mark.
Adjacent ≠ opposite.
One element at a time.

Practice MCQs

A cube painted on all faces is cut into 27 equal small cubes. How many small cubes have exactly two faces painted?
1. 6
2. 8
3. 12
4. 1
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Answer: (c) 12. One on each of the 12 edges.
In the same 27-cube arrangement, how many small cubes have no face painted?
1. 0
2. 1
3. 6
4. 8
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Answer: (b) 1. Only the centre cube is hidden.
How many small cubes have three faces painted?
1. 4
2. 12
3. 6
4. 8
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Answer: (d) 8. The corner cubes.
On a standard die, the sum of the numbers on opposite faces is
1. 7
2. 6
3. 8
4. 12
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Answer: (a) 7. 1–6, 2–5 and 3–4.
A clock's mirror image shows 4:20. What is the actual time?
1. 7:20
2. 8:40
3. 4:40
4. 7:40
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Answer: (d) 7:40. Actual time = 11:60 − 4:20.
Facing east, you turn 270° clockwise. Which direction do you face?
1. South
2. North
3. West
4. East
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Answer: (b) North. East → south → west → north.

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Notes and questions are written by Kundali IQ for practice. They are not official papers; always check the latest official notification for the syllabus and pattern.