PAF Airman Non-Verbal Intelligence Test
The PAF airman initial test includes intelligence tests, verbal and non-verbal, alongside the academic test for your trade group, at a PAF selection centre.
The non-verbal intelligence test is made of figures instead of words. Shapes turn, move round a box, gain or lose parts and change their shading from one figure to the next, and each question asks which figure follows the rule, completes the pattern or breaks it.
What the PAF Airman non verbal intelligence test asks
Which figure comes next in the series?
Which figure completes a three by three pattern?
The first figure changes into the second; which figure does the third change into?
Three figures share a rule; find the one that does not.
How the figure looks in a mirror standing beside it.
How the figure looks reflected in water below it.
Which option is the same figure turned through a quarter or half turn.
Clearing the initial test leads to the physical, medical and interview stages before training school.
Sample PAF Airman non verbal intelligence test questions with answers
1. The first figure changes into the second by a rule. Which figure does the third change into by the same rule?
- A. Star at bottom centre; half-shaded arrow pointing down at top right; solid pentagon at middle left
- B. Star at bottom centre; half-shaded arrow pointing down at top right; pentagon at middle left
- C. Half-shaded star, shaded down-right at bottom centre; arrow pointing down at top right; solid pentagon at middle left
- D. Star at top centre; half-shaded arrow pointing down at top right; solid pentagon at middle left
The 180 degree turn sends the star to the bottom centre, the arrow to the top right, and the pentagon to the middle left. Their rotations increase by 135 degrees, while half becomes none, none becomes half, and solid remains solid. Only option A follows all three changes.
Discuss this question2. The first figure changes into the second by a rule. Which figure does the third change into by the same rule?
- A. Half-shaded square, shaded up-right at middle right; solid hexagon at top left
- B. Solid square (tilted) at middle right; solid hexagon at top left
- C. Half-shaded square, shaded up-right at middle right; solid hexagon at middle left
- D. Half-shaded square, shaded up-right at top right; solid hexagon at top left
In A, the circle moves one clockwise place and changes from none to solid. The triangle also moves one clockwise place and changes from solid to none. Applying this to C sends the square to middle right with half fill unchanged, and the hexagon to top left with solid fill, so option A fits both rules.
Discuss this question3. The first figure changes into the second by a rule. Which figure does the third change into by the same rule?
- A. Small half-shaded triangle pointing down-right at bottom right; small solid hexagon at middle left; small plus sign at top centre
- B. Small half-shaded triangle pointing down-right at bottom right; small solid hexagon at middle left; small solid plus sign at top centre
- C. Small half-shaded triangle pointing down-right at bottom right; small solid hexagon at middle left; small plus sign at bottom centre
- D. Small half-shaded triangle pointing right at bottom right; small solid hexagon at middle left; small plus sign at top centre
The first figure shows all three changes: top and bottom positions exchange, rotations increase by 90 degrees, and fills advance one step. In C, the triangle goes to bottom right with rotation 135 and half fill, the hexagon stays in middle left with solid fill, and the plus goes to top centre with none fill. Only option A has all three results.
Discuss this question4. The first figure changes into the second by a rule. Which figure does the third change into by the same rule?
- A. Half-shaded pentagon, shaded down at top centre; semicircle pointing up-left at bottom left
- B. Half-shaded pentagon, shaded down-left at top centre; semicircle pointing up-left at bottom left
- C. Solid pentagon at top centre; semicircle pointing up-left at bottom left
- D. Half-shaded pentagon, shaded down at top right; semicircle pointing up-left at bottom left
From A to B, the triangle changes from 0 to 135 degrees and the arrow from 90 to 225 degrees. The same 135 degree clockwise turn changes C's rotations to 180 and 315, without changing positions or fills. Only option A has both rotations correct.
Discuss this question5. Which figure completes the pattern? Choose the figure that replaces the question mark.
- A. Solid square at centre
- B. Solid circle at centre
- C. Half-shaded square, shaded up at centre
- D. Square at centre
The missing shape must be a square to continue the shape cycle in the bottom row. Because it is in the third column, it must be solid, which makes option A the only fit.
Discuss this questionHow to prepare for the PAF Airman non verbal intelligence test
- Aero and technical trades also sit physics and mathematics, so split your time; the intelligence tests are the part that improves fastest with daily timed practice.
- Track one change at a time. Ask what each shape does between two figures: does it turn, and by how much; does it move, and which way; does its shading change; does it appear or vanish?
- Rule options out rather than looking for the answer. Once one rule is clear, most options break it, and only one or two are left to check against the next rule.
- For mirror images, left and right swap and top and bottom stay. For water images, top and bottom swap and left and right stay. A quarter turn clockwise moves the top of the figure to its right side.
- Practise against the clock. Figure questions are quick once the common rules are familiar, and familiarity only comes from volume.
Read next: PAF airman test preparation
Keep practising
PAF Airman Verbal Intelligence Test
The other half of the PAF Airman intelligence test.
PAF Airman practice and past papers
Every subject on the PAF Airman paper, timed, with answers.
Non-Verbal Intelligence Test for other services
PAF Airman non verbal intelligence test: common questions
What is in the PAF Airman non verbal intelligence test?
Figure series, pattern completion, figure analogies, odd figure out, mirror images, water images and figure rotation. The non-verbal intelligence test is made of figures instead of words. Shapes turn, move round a box, gain or lose parts and change their shading from one figure to the next, and each question asks which figure follows the rule, completes the pattern or breaks it.
When is the PAF Airman intelligence test taken?
The PAF airman initial test includes intelligence tests, verbal and non-verbal, alongside the academic test for your trade group, at a PAF selection centre.
Is there also a verbal intelligence test for PAF Airman?
Yes. The PAF Airman intelligence test has a verbal part and a non-verbal part, and candidates sit both. Each has its own free practice test on TestUstad.
How long is this PAF Airman non verbal intelligence practice test?
30 questions in 20 minutes, drawn fresh on every attempt and scored with harder questions counting more. The boards do not publish their papers, so these are original questions of the same types, at the same pace.
Is the PAF Airman non verbal intelligence practice free?
Yes. There is no fee, no sign-up and no limit on attempts. Every question is explained when you finish.