What comes next?
Strategy card
Patterns repeat or grow by the same step.
- Step 1: Say the pattern out loud.
- Step 2: Find the chunk that repeats, or what changes each time.
- Step 3: Use the same change one more time.
- Step 4: Check: does your answer fit the whole pattern?
Tip: Cover the answers and guess first, then look.
Worked example
Which figure comes next in the pattern?
- A: blue arrow pointing up
- B: blue arrow pointing down
- C: blue arrow pointing left
- D: blue arrow pointing right (the answer)
Why: The arrow turns a quarter turn clockwise each step. So next comes the blue arrow pointing right.
Your turn
Your turn 1 of 3
Which figure comes next in the pattern?
Your turn 2 of 3
Which figure comes next in the pattern?
Your turn 3 of 3
Which figure comes next in the pattern?
Keep practicing
Grown-ups: Ask: "What is the rule? How do you know?" Parent guide
Next lesson: Analogies: find the link