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Basic Shape Oddity

Basic Shape Oddity problems present five figures where four share the same geometric shape (e.g., all circles) and one has a different shape (e.g., a square). You must identify which figure does not match the common shape. These foundational problems test basic shape recognition and pattern identification skills.

10Worksheets
200+Practice Questions
BeginnerDifficulty
1-2 hoursHours to Master

What You'll Learn

Introduction & Overview Why This Matters How to Solve Pro Tips & Tricks
Shortcut Methods Common Mistakes Practice Worksheets Exam Importance

Introduction to Basic Shape Oddity

Basic Shape Oddity problems present five figures where four share the same geometric shape (e.g., all circles) and one has a different shape (e.g., a square). You must identify which figure does not match the common shape. These foundational problems test basic shape recognition and pattern identification skills.

Prerequisites

Basic geometric shape recognition (circle, square, triangle, pentagon) Understanding of shape categories Visual pattern recognition Ability to identify outliers in a set
Why This Matters: Basic Shape Oddity is fundamental to odd figure out reasoning. You can expect 2-3 questions in SSC CGL, 2-3 in Banking PO, and 2-3 in Railways RRB exams.

How to Solve Basic Shape Oddity Problems

1

Step 1: Identify the shape type of each figure

2

Step 2: Count how many figures share each shape type

3

Step 3: The shape that appears most frequently is the common pattern

4

Step 4: The figure with a different shape is the odd one out

5

Step 5: Verify that all other figures share the same shape

Pro Strategy: Always identify the shape type first. The shape that appears least frequently is usually the odd one out. Ignore size, color, and orientation differences.

Example Problem

Example: Four circles and one square. Which is odd? Solution: Step 1: Identify shapes: four circles, one square Step 2: Most common shape = circle Step 3: The square is different Answer: The square is the odd one out

Pro Tips & Tricks

  • Count how many figures share each shape type
  • The shape that appears least frequently is the odd one out
  • All other figures should share the same shape
  • Don't be distracted by size or orientation differences

Shortcut Methods to Solve Faster

If 3 circles and 1 triangle → triangle is odd
If 3 squares and 1 pentagon → pentagon is odd
The majority shape defines the pattern

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Choosing based on size instead of shape
Not checking that all other figures share the same shape
Confusing different types of quadrilaterals (square vs rectangle)

Exam Importance

Basic Shape Oddity is an important topic for various competitive exams. Here's how frequently it appears:

SSC CGL
2-3 questions
BANKING PO
2-3 questions
RAILWAYS RRB
2-3 questions
CAT
1-2 questions
GMAT
1-2 questions
INSURANCE
2-3 questions

Ready to Master Basic Shape Oddity?

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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