What this pattern means
A shape changes position across cells in a fixed sequence — left to right, top to bottom, or along a diagonal. Solving requires identifying the position cycle and projecting it forward.
How to spot it
- The same shape appears in every cell, varying only by position inside the cell.
- Positions advance in a regular cycle — often three distinct positions repeated.
- Cell content otherwise unchanged: no rotation, no scale, no fill change.
Common visual signals
- A shape that visibly 'walks' across the grid.
- Position progression aligned with row, column, or diagonal.
- Often paired with a secondary attribute that varies per row or column.
Step-by-step solving tactic
- 1Identify the position cycle (e.g. top → centre → bottom).
- 2Confirm the axis along which the position advances.
- 3Project the next position at the missing cell.
- 4Check for a secondary rule on a different attribute.
Common traps
- Confusing translation with orbit movement — orbit cycles around a centre, translation is linear.
- Reading the cycle in the wrong order — confirm the direction with three visible cells.
- Mistaking position changes for shape changes when both vary together.
Related patterns
Orbit MovementPosition Progression
Apply this pattern under timed conditions
Take the free 10-question matrix reasoning practice test — every question carries the translation pattern or another commonly tested mechanic.