How to solve rotation puzzles

Last updated November 1, 2026

In a rotation puzzle, a shape turns by a fixed angle or moves a fixed number of places around a ring from one cell to the next. To solve it, follow one tip of the shape, measure how far it turns between two cells, and check that the same angle and direction hold across the row. Then turn the last shape by that angle once more.

What a rotation puzzle looks like

Rotation puzzles use shapes whose direction is easy to read: an L, an arrow, a triangle. The shape stays the same; only its angle or its place changes, by the same amount each step.

In our set the angle is 45°, 90° or 135°, clockwise or counterclockwise, and some puzzles add a second motion: the shape also moves one place around a ring of positions, or the number of shapes drops as it turns.

Worked example: Puzzle #23, Quarter-Turn L

Pick an option first, then open the solution.

Which option completes the pattern?

How to solve it (answer: C)

The rule

In each row, the L turns 90° clockwise at each step.

Step by step

Look at the top row and name what changes from panel to panel.
The middle row follows the same step.
Apply the same step to the bottom row: next comes a solid L pointing up and right.

Tip: Follow one tip of the shape and note how far it turns or moves between panels.

A method for rotation puzzles

Pick one feature of the shape, such as the tip of an arrow or the foot of an L, and track only that.
Measure the turn between the first two cells: an eighth of a turn is 45°, a quarter is 90°.
Note the direction. Clockwise and counterclockwise options are both offered on purpose.
Check the turn again between the second and third cells. If the shape also moves around a ring, measure that move separately.
Apply each motion to the last cell and compare the options on angle first, then position, then count.

Why the wrong options look right

The right turn, the wrong size

Some wrong options turn the shape by exactly the right angle and change its size. Once the angle matches, check that the shape is the same size as the rest of the row.

The right angle in the wrong direction

A 90° turn clockwise and a 90° turn counterclockwise land in different places. Wrong options often use the right angle the other way.

One motion of two

When the shape turns and moves, an option that gets the turn right but leaves it in the wrong place is the most tempting wrong answer.

The variants in this set

An L turns 90° or 135° clockwise at each step.
An arrow turns 135° clockwise, or 135° counterclockwise while it orbits.
A triangle moves one place counterclockwise around a ring.
An L turns 45° while the number of Ls drops by one.
An L moves around a ring and turns 45° at the same time.

Practice: 7 rotation puzzles

The other pattern types

Rotation is one of four pattern types

The Cogniva test has five puzzles of each type, 20 in all, and gives you a free score band in about 7 minutes. The full report shows how you did on each type.

Take the 20-question test

Free to take. Report $29.90 once, tax included. 14-day refund.