Approach

Within each image that forms part of the main sequence, there will usually be a number of different elements, for example shapes, lines and/or images. You should start by breaking down the first image in the sequence into its constituent parts. Once you have isolated each element (e.g. each shape or line), then - one by one - you should track how each element moves, changes or evolves as it progresses through the sequence of images. This should help you to identify whether each element follows a particular pattern, which will then enable you to infer how each element should appear in the final image of the sequence. 

Practising these tests can help you to get in the habit of quickly zoning out different elements and assessing which patterns might apply. However, there may be elements in each image that act as decoys, meaning they don't follow a pattern, so don’t spend a disproportionate amount of time focusing on any one element. In such cases, as long as you can identify patterns that are followed by one or two elements, you should be able to identify the correct answer from the options you are provided.

Patterns to look out for

The patterns in logical reasoning tests tend to vary and some are more complicated than others (I still come across some that I have no idea how to solve!), but below are examples of some of the patterns you should look out for when analysing sequences.

• Colour: You may for instance be presented with some black shapes and some white shapes. Check whether the shapes change colour as you progress through the sequence (e.g. every image or every 2 images). 
• Rotation, position and/or direction: You may have lines or shapes that rotate or move around the image. Check how often they move/rotate. Are they moving in a particular direction (e.g. clockwise) along a line or around a series of squares? Are their movements triggered by something within the image (e.g. an arrow that changes colour or moves)? Do the movements occur consistently as you progress through the sequence of images (e.g. does every new image host a line or shape in a different position)? 
• Quantity: You may have elements (for instance shapes or lines) that change in quantity throughout the sequence. Is there a pattern you can pick up on that dictates when an extra line or shape will appear or disappear? For example, the 1st image might contain 1 circle, the 2nd image might contain 2 circles, the 3rd image might contains 3 circles, and so on.
• Size: If there are shapes contained within another shape (e.g. a circle containing a smaller triangle, which in turn contains an even smaller square), try to see whether one of the shapes from the 1st image reappears in the 2nd image in some form. Does the largest shape in the 1st image (i.e. the circle) become the smallest shape in the 2nd image? Does the shape in the middle of the 1st image (i.e. the triangle) become the largest shape in the 2nd image? It's worth checking.

Whatever you do, don’t panic. When a new set of images flashes up on the screen, they may make little sense for the first few seconds. When this happens, keep calm and break down each image methodically in order to work towards discovering the answer. If there are all sorts of shapes in each image, and the sequence doesn’t appear to follow any particular pattern, then try looking only at the colour or number of shapes (or if there is a diagonal line in the middle, then the number of shapes on either side of the line). The pattern may well be simpler than you initially suspect.