Types of Visual Reasoning

As the name says, visual reasoning refers to the approach to solving problems based on graphical representation. It deals with logical reasoning topics that include image and figure counting, Venn diagram, cubes and dice, etc. Visual reasoning tests the critical thinking and problem visualisation of the candidate. Visual reasoning is almost part of every aptitude test, whether it is a company interview, competitive exam or any government or bank exam. 

In this article, we will cover various components of visual reasoning in the logical reasoning section used in many aptitude exams conducted by schools, colleges, corporate companies or government authorities for recruiting candidates based on their logical reasoning ability.

Visual Reasoning

Visual Reasoning is the approach to solving logical reasoning problems by representing them in a graphical form to understand and find the correct solution. It includes various subtopics like image and figure counting, cube and dice, seating arrangements, Venn diagram, direction and distance, etc. 

Components of Visual Reasoning

There are various components of visual reasoning in the logical reasoning approach; some of them are as follows:

Image and Figure Counting

• Images and figures are an effective method to test the visual reasoning ability of any candidate. 
• It is the most intriguing component of visual reasoning in the logical reasoning section. 
• These are exciting questions containing images and figures in fun and intricate patterns.
• This section of counting figures will test your limits with the most complicated figures and shapes. 
• A typical counting figure type of question will ask how many triangles you can identify in a given figure. It seems easy, but sometimes it can get very tricky! 
• Some of the questions may include embedded images or images having complicated and intricate subparts. The question asks to identify these parts of the image or when separate from it. 
• The mirror image question section is tricky and challenging in the reasoning ability section. This section is mainly put as a time filler by the examiners. These questions provide an object image and ask for its mirror image as an answer. 

Cube & Dice

A cube is a three-dimensional solid object having six square faces or surfaces. Dice is a cubical shaped object containing numbers embedded on their faces. A cube has 6 faces, 8 vertices and 12 edges.  There are specific rules in reasoning followed to solve dice related queries. 

• Rule#1: Two opposite faces of dice cannot be adjacent to each other. 
• Rule#2: If the two dices are shown, and one of the two familiar faces is in the same position, the remaining faces will be opposite. 
• Rule#3: If the two dices are placed in different positions and have different standard faces, the face opposite to the given familiar face would be the face not shown in both given positions, and the opposite face of the remaining faces cannot be the same. 

Several types of questions based on cube and dice are asked in various competitive exams. Some of them are as follows:

• Single dice problems
• Problems based on two or more dice. 

Venn Diagram

• It is an illustration that uses circles to show the relationship between things or a finite group of things. Venn diagrams help to visualise the similarities and differences between two concepts. 
• It is a graphical representation of data. 
• Logical reasoning with the Venn diagram helps understand how the Venn diagram can graphically represent the relationship between words. 
• Representation of various similarity and dissimilarity of an object through diagrams give a better insight into the candidate’s ability to visualise any information graphically and identify differences. 

Seating Arrangement

• These questions involve arranging the persons or objects according to the requirement given in the question. 
• These questions are based on sequence pattern, direction, facing outside or inside, etc. 
• Since the information given is jumbled, candidates must segregate the information to understand the question. 
• These types of questions test the thinking ability of candidates based on the information given. 

Direction and Distance

• Distance is the measurement of the position of one thing concerning another thing. 
• Distance between two points is the displacement between the two points. 
• Such problems are generally more straightforward than other logical reasoning questions. 
• These types of questions test the candidate’s direction sense. 
• These questions always have some instructions or guidelines providing the basic information like the magnitude and direction of the movement required to solve these problems. 

Why is Visual Reasoning Important for Competitive Exams? 

Reasoning aptitude plays a significant role in every competitive exam. Almost every competitive exam includes a reasoning section to test and analyse the mental strength of the aspirants. 

Around 70 per cent of the entire recruiting bodies of the world include the reasoning section in a question paper. Visual reasoning is a vital component of the logical reasoning section in all banking exams and technical and management exams. 

Below mentioned are the various reasons why visual reasoning is vital for every competitive exam:

• It helps measure the mental, verbal and numerical ability of an individual. 
• To evaluate the inborn abilities of the individual and his/her capacity to learn and acquire new skills.

Conclusion

Data interpretation and logical reasoning play an important role in interpreting our personality and help us decide the right career option by analysing our behaviour and reasoning ability. Different types of logical reasoning help in the interpretation of different data and provide accurate analysis to predict one’s personality. Hence, Visual Reasoning has become important to understand people’s minds, behaviour and abilities. It is mostly used by recruiting bodies to study and interpret their minds to decide if they are the right choice for a particular job.