Positional Shift Analogy

Positional Shift Figure Analogy problems involve figures where elements swap positions or move to new locations within the figure. You must identify the movement rule and apply it to a new figure. These problems test your understanding of spatial relationships and element rearrangement.

10Worksheets
200+Practice Questions
IntermediateDifficulty
2-3 hoursHours to Master

Introduction to Positional Shift Analogy

Positional Shift Figure Analogy problems involve figures where elements swap positions or move to new locations within the figure. You must identify the movement rule and apply it to a new figure. These problems test your understanding of spatial relationships and element rearrangement.

Prerequisites

Spatial relationship understanding Left-right positioning Element tracking skills Pattern recognition in arrangements
Why This Matters: Positional Shift problems appear in 1-2 questions in Banking PO and SSC CGL exams. They test spatial arrangement and movement tracking skills.

How to Solve Positional Shift Analogy Problems

1

Step 1: Identify the positions of elements in Figure A

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Step 2: Identify the positions of the same elements in Figure B

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Step 3: Determine the movement rule (swap, shift clockwise, shift anticlockwise)

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Step 4: Identify elements and their positions in Figure C

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Step 5: Apply the same movement rule to Figure C's elements

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Step 6: The container shape may remain the same

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Step 7: The correct answer shows elements in new positions

Pro Strategy: Track each element's position before and after. The movement rule could be simple swapping, circular shifting, or repositioning to specific locations. Apply the same positional changes to Figure C.

Example Problem

Example: Figure A: Circle with left dot and right line. Figure B: Circle with left line and right dot (swap). Figure C: Triangle with left square and right circle. What should Figure ? look like? Solution: Step 1: A has dot on left, line on right Step 2: B has line on left, dot on right (swap positions) Step 3: Apply swap to C: square on left, circle on right Step 4: Answer: Triangle with square on right, circle on left (swapped) Answer: Triangle with square on right, circle on left

Pro Tips & Tricks

  • Elements may swap positions (left↔right, top↔bottom)
  • Elements may shift clockwise or anticlockwise around the figure
  • The container shape usually remains the same
  • The number of elements typically stays constant
  • Track one element to understand the movement rule
  • If multiple elements, they may move independently or as a group

Shortcut Methods to Solve Faster

If A's left element becomes B's right element → swap or shift
Apply same position mapping to C's elements
If elements move in a cycle, identify the cycle direction and steps
The movement distance is usually the same for all elements

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Changing the container shape (should stay the same)
Losing track of which element moves where
Applying the wrong movement direction
Forgetting that elements may maintain relative order

Exam Importance

Positional Shift Analogy is an important topic for various competitive exams. Here's how frequently it appears:

SSC CGL
1-2 questions
BANKING PO
1-2 questions
RAILWAYS RRB
1-2 questions
CAT
0-1 questions
INSURANCE
1-2 questions

Ready to Master Positional Shift Analogy?

Start with Worksheet 1 and work your way up to expert level! Each worksheet includes:

20 practice questions
Detailed solutions
Step-by-step explanations
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