Oddball™ (Form B) - Instructions

Instructions:

In the test you are about to take, you will be required to determine which figure in a set is the odd one out (i.e., the oddball). There are 10 questions in total and you will have 10 minutes to complete as many questions as you can. You will not lose points for choosing the wrong answer.

On the following pages, you will find three example questions that are similar to the questions you will encounter in the test. The answers and explanations to each of the example questions is provided. Please take time to look at these examples before proceeding to the test.

Let's look at the first example below.

You can see that there are eight boxes grouped together; each box is numbered in the lower left hand corner. Within each box is a figure. Notice that each of the eight figures appear similar. A black circle, a straight line, and two curved lines comprise each figure. However, there is something that distinguishes one of the figures from the other seven. Can you determine what this is?

Is it the fact that one line crosses another? No, because figures 2, 5, and 8 all share this feature. Is it the length of the lines? No, because some of the curved lines are longer and some are shorter. Is it the relation of the lines to each other? Yes. Notice that if each figure is aligned so that the short, straight lines point in the same direction, the longer, curved lines also stem from the circle at approximately the same orientation. This is true except for figure 2, which makes it the oddball.

Thus, you would select 2 below; please do this to indicate that you understand what you need to do.

 

Let's look at the second example below. Notice that the question is presented in the same manner except the figures are different.

 

In this example we see that there are eight apparently similar figures; some appear to be 'upside down' relative to the rest. There are two black circles situated together, one short line, two longer curved lines, and shapes connected to various lines comprising each figure. However, there is something that distinguishes one of the figures from the other seven. Can you determine what this is?

 

Is it something to do with the lines? No, each figure is similar in that the short line and the two longer curved lines stem from separate black circles; these different types of lines are never attached to the same black circle. Also, if all figures are oriented so that the circle with the short line is 'on top', then the short line always stems out of the circle on the left side.

 

What about the longer curved lines? In this same rotated orientation, the longest curved line would sometimes be on the right (figures 6, 7, & 8) and sometimes be on the left (figures 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5). What about the smaller shapes attached to the lines? Sometimes the smaller, white circle to the long line and sometimes it is attached to the shorter lines. The same goes for this small square. This aspect of the figure does not set one apart from the rest. But are the small shapes attached to the lines the same for all figures? Does each figure have one small, white square and one small, white circle? Yes, all do except for figure 3, which has one small, white circle and two small, white squares. This makes figure 3 the oddball.

 

Thus, you would select 3 below; please do this to indicate that you understand what you need to do.

 

Let's look at the third and last example below.

 

Again, the question is set up in the same manner; there are eight numbered boxes each with a figure inside it. Three black circles, one shorter line, and one longer line comprise each figure. However, there is something that distinguishes one of the figures from the other seven. Can you determine what this is?

 

Is it something to do with the lines crossing each other? No, because for each figure there is only one point at which the lines cross each other.

 

What about the way in which the lines connect the circles? Let's look at the longer line; does this always connect the 'top' and 'bottom' circles? Yes, this is true for all eight figures. What about the shorter line; does this always connect the 'middle' and 'bottom' circles? Yes, except for figure 8. Notice that with figure 8 the shorter line connects the 'middle' and 'top' circles. This makes figure 8 the oddball.

 

Thus, you would select 8 below; please do this to indicate that you understand what you need to do.