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Arctic Shores · Reasoning

Arctic Shores Patterns Practice: Find the Next Square in the Series

Practise the Arctic Shores Patterns task: spot the rules changing across a series of squares and pick the next one, with 20 series on a 17-minute clock.

Practice: 20 series, 17 minutesAlso called “pattern game”Also called “next square game”

How the practice task works

  1. 01Each series shows four squares. Several features can change: the red dot, the line, the shaded corners and the centre shape.
  2. 02Find what changes from square to square, then choose the square that comes next.
  3. 03Every series is independent. Later series combine more rules.
  4. 04You have 17 minutes for 20 series. Your answer moves straight on.

Controls

  • Click or tap an option
  • Keys 1–4 or A–D

Included in the HireVue Games Prep and Full Access plans, with all 11 HireVue games. See plans

Task
Find the rules in a series of patterned squares and pick the next square
What it reportedly measures
Inductive (abstract) reasoning (candidate-reported)
Reported length
About 20 series on a 17-minute clock
Practice version
20 series in 17 minutes, from one rule up to three at once
Controls
Click or tap an option; keys 1–4 or A–D

What the Patterns task tests

Patterns is an abstract reasoning task. Prep sites describe a series of squares in which something changes from one square to the next, and you choose the square that should come next. Almost anything can be the pattern: the number of shapes, their position, size, shading or direction of movement, and each series is independent, so solving one does not help with the next. Prep sites report about 20 series in 17 minutes.

Arctic Shores does not publish the task, and several sources note that not every employer includes it. It is different from Order: in Order you build the next frame yourself, while in Patterns you pick the next square from options. Candidate Falcon’s practice squares combine four features that can each follow a rule, and later series combine up to three rules at once.

How the Patterns practice works

  1. Look at the four squares in the series and the empty space at the end.
  2. Follow one feature at a time: the red dot, the line, the shaded corners and the centre shape.
  3. Work out how each feature changes, apply that change once more, and find the option that matches.
  4. Click or tap the option, or press 1 to 4. Your answer moves straight to the next series.
  5. You have 17 minutes for 20 series. The first series use one rule; later ones combine two or three.
  6. Review how many series you completed and how you did as the rules multiplied.

Patterns tips

  • Check one feature at a time across all four squares rather than comparing whole squares.
  • For a moving dot, count how many places it moves each time and in which direction.
  • Use the options to help: rule out any option that breaks a feature you are sure about.
  • Features that do not change are clues too: an option that changes them is wrong.
  • Keep moving. With 17 minutes for 20 series, about 50 seconds each is the pace to aim for.

Common Patterns mistakes

  • Getting one feature right and picking the first option that matches it without checking the others.
  • Assuming the dot always moves one step when it is jumping two or three places.
  • Spending several minutes on one series and leaving later ones unanswered.
  • Choosing an option identical to the last square in the series.

A short Patterns practice routine

  1. Do one run and look at your results for one, two and three rules.
  2. In the next run, use a fixed checking order for the features on every series.
  3. Track how many series you complete in 17 minutes across sessions.
  4. Check your invitation: not every employer includes Patterns.

Patterns FAQ

What is the Arctic Shores Patterns task?

Prep sites describe a series of patterned squares in which you identify how things change and pick the square that comes next, with about 20 series in 17 minutes. Arctic Shores does not publish the task.

Is Patterns the same as the Order game?

No. Both are about rules in a sequence, but in Order you build the next frame yourself, while in Patterns you choose the next square from options.

Will Patterns be in my assessment?

Not necessarily. Prep sites note that it does not always appear, and Arctic Shores says employers choose up to nine tasks.

Should you practise for Arctic Shores?

Arctic Shores says you do not need to practise and should respond naturally. Practice can make the format and the pace familiar. Candidate Falcon does not claim it changes your Arctic Shores results.

Practise other Arctic Shores tasks

Arctic Shores does not publish its task list, so task names and mechanics on this page come from candidate reports. Candidate Falcon is not affiliated with Arctic Shores, and practice results are not Arctic Shores scores. For the official facts on results, devices and adjustments, read the Arctic Shores assessment guide.