Page 1 · Introduction
What comes next?
A pattern is something that repeats or follows a rule. Working out what comes next is a favourite kind of puzzle on the OC test — and it’s fun once you know how to spot the rule.
The big ideaLook at how the pattern changes from one step to the next. Is it going up by the same amount? Repeating? Once you spot the rule, you can find what comes next.
💡We start with simple number and shape patterns. Look carefully at what changes each time.
On the real testWhere this appearsPatterns are a big part of the Thinking Skills section of the OC test (sat in Year 4). Spotting the rule is the key.
Page 2 · Number patterns
Going up or down
Many patterns go up or down by the same amount. Find the jump between numbers.
What comes next? 2, 4, 6, 8, ?
It goes up by 2 each time. Next is 8 + 2 = 10.
10
What comes next? 20, 18, 16, 14, ?
It goes down by 2 each time. Next is 14 − 2 = 12.
12
Page 3 · Repeating patterns
Patterns that repeat
Some patterns repeat over and over. Find the part that repeats.
What comes next? red, blue, red, blue, red, ?
It repeats red, blue. After red comes blue.
blue
What comes next? ● ■ ● ■ ● ?
Circle, square, repeating. After circle comes square.
Square
Page 4 · Bigger jumps
Patterns with a rule
Some patterns go up by bigger jumps, or the jump changes. Look carefully.
What comes next? 5, 10, 15, 20, ?
Going up by 5 each time. Next is 25.
25
What comes next? 1, 2, 4, 8, ?
Each number doubles. Next is 8 × 2 = 16.
16
Level 1 · Easy
Warm up
Simple number patterns. Tap to check.
1. What comes next? 1, 2, 3, 4, ?
Going up by 1. Next is 5.
2. What comes next? 10, 20, 30, ?
Going up by 10. Next is 40.
3. What comes next? 2, 4, 6, ?
Going up by 2. Next is 8.
Level 2 · Medium
Building up
Counting up and down.
1. What comes next? 5, 10, 15, ?
Going up by 5. Next is 20.
2. What comes next? 30, 25, 20, ?
Going down by 5. Next is 15.
3. What comes next? 3, 6, 9, ?
Going up by 3. Next is 12.
Level 3 · Hard
Getting tougher
Trickier rules.
1. What comes next? 1, 2, 4, 8, ?
Each number doubles. Next is 16.
2. What comes next? 2, 5, 8, 11, ?
Going up by 3. Next is 14.
3. What comes next? 20, 16, 12, 8, ?
Going down by 4. Next is 4.
Level 4 · Challenge
Challenge
Patterns where the jump changes.
1. What comes next? 1, 3, 6, 10, ?
The jumps grow: +2, +3, +4, then +5. 10 + 5 = 15.
2. What comes next? 1, 4, 9, 16, ?
These are 1×1, 2×2, 3×3, 4×4. Next is 5×5 = 25.
3. What comes next? 2, 4, 8, 16, ?
Each number doubles. 16 × 2 = 32.
Page 9 · Well done
You’ve finished Patterns & Sequences
You can now spot number patterns, repeating patterns, and trickier ones where the jump changes. Finding the rule is the secret to knowing what comes next.
RememberLook at how the pattern changes each step. Going up or down by the same amount? Repeating? Doubling? Find the rule, then find what’s next.
🎉Great work! Try another module next — every one helps you get ready.
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