IQ Test – Mensa-Style Visual Logic Puzzle #5

Disclaimer: This content is inspired by Mensa-style IQ tests and is an unofficial practice puzzle.

It is not affiliated with or endorsed by Mensa International Ltd.
All visual designs and explanations are original creations by the author.

7.Difficulty level: 2 out of 5

This puzzle represents a medium-level question (around the #20 range)
commonly found in online Mensa-style IQ tests.
Pay close attention to the visual pattern variations.

8.Difficulty level: 3 out of 5

This puzzle represents a medium-level question (around the #30 range)
commonly found in online Mensa-style IQ tests.
Pay close attention to the visual pattern variations.

9.Difficulty level: 2 out of 5

This puzzle represents a medium-level question (around the #20 range)
commonly found in online Mensa-style IQ tests.
Pay close attention to the visual pattern variations.

Explanation #7 (click to expand)

The small one-cell black square moves horizontally to the right, and every time it meets a diagonal line, it drops down by one cell.

Since it moves downward only when it encounters a diagonal line, you must clearly understand the movement pattern of the diagonals.

Therefore, the correct answer is number 3.

Explanation #8 (click to expand)

Each straight-line segment is a single piece, and three to four of these pieces come together to form one complete shape.

Therefore, the correct answer is number 1.

Explanation #9 (click to expand)

The leftmost column represents addition, the second column represents subtraction, and the third column represents multiplication.

Therefore, the correct answer is number 4.

Mensa-Style IQ Test Guide

In the mid-section of Mensa-style IQ tests, problems often involve shape-interaction rules where one figure transforms when it meets another. The 30th question in the online Norway Mensa-style test is a good example of this. To solve such problems efficiently, pay close attention to how each shape changes upon contact with another.

Mensa-style IQ tests tend to feature relatively intuitive questions up to the late 20s, but starting from the 30s, problems that require calculation and logical reasoning begin to appear. As the test moves into the 40s, the questions often involve more complex and mixed rules, and this stage becomes the key point for time management during the actual exam.

To solve these mid-to-late questions efficiently, it’s important to familiarize yourself with a wide variety of pattern and logic puzzles in advance. In particular, focusing on problems in the mid-30s to 40s range of online Mensa-style tests is very effective for developing real test intuition.

According to testimonies from successful Mensa members, the exact passing criteria or number of correct answers has not been publicly disclosed, but it’s generally said that those who make only one to three mistakes tend to pass. Therefore, rather than simply solving quickly, it’s far more important to prioritize accuracy and careful reasoning.

Link to Other Puzzle Types #1

Link to Other Puzzle Types #2

Link to Other Puzzle Types #3

Link to Other Puzzle Types #4

In early and mid-level puzzles, the patterns usually rely on a single, uncomplicated rule.
Making a mistake on one of these early questions can be more damaging than getting two or more questions wrong at the very end.

It is important to solve the initial problems quickly to save time for the more complex ones later, but you should also double-check whether the rule you inferred is truly solid or somewhat vague.

This is just my personal experience, but when I once took an online Mensa-style test, I ran out of time and left the last two questions unanswered. Even so, I received a result indicating the top 0.3% intelligence level.

Meanwhile, many others in an online community who took the same test reported scores in the 130 range, whereas mine was 143(This scoring scale applies only to that specific online puzzle website, so a score of 150 is not the maximum. As far as I remember, the highest possible score on that site was 145.). 

My guess is that they probably made mistakes somewhere around questions 20–30, which can be critical in these types of tests.

Of course, this is only my opinion. I don’t know the exact scoring algorithm, and each test format uses its own scoring system. However, according to someone who recently took an official Mensa exam, most people who got more than two questions wrong did not pass.
This may vary depending on the test version and the country.

🧠 How to Improve Your Mensa-Style Puzzle Solving Skills

Train Pattern Recognition
Practice identifying repeating rules across different shapes, colors, and directions.
Focus on noticing symmetry, rotation, reflection, overlap, and sequence progression — these five appear in over 80% of Mensa visual problems.

Think Like a Coder, Not an Artist
Try to “describe” each figure as a set of simple logical rules — for example, if A overlaps B, remove the edge, or rotate +90°.
The goal is to translate what you see into structured logic rather than rely on aesthetic intuition.

Use Dual Comparison Strategy
Don’t just compare horizontally (row-wise); always check columns as well.
Many puzzles hide their main rule diagonally, so practice scanning in multiple directions.

Slow Down at the Beginning
The first 10–15 seconds you spend decoding the pattern usually save more time later.
Rushing early often leads to misinterpretation of rules, especially when multiple transformations overlap.

Strengthen Visual Memory
Practice with short-term visual recall games — for example, memorize a 3×3 or 4×4 grid of colors for a few seconds,
then recreate it mentally. This helps you retain intermediate shapes and patterns without re-examining the puzzle every time.

Learn Common Rule Archetypes
Most Mensa-style puzzles are built on a few core transformation rules:

• Addition / Subtraction of shapes (parts appear or vanish when combined)

• Rotation + Reflection hybrids (mirror + turn effects)

• Alternating color dominance (color inversion or cyclic order)

• Positional shifts (movement along x/y or diagonal axes)

• Logical “XOR” patterns — shapes overlap only when one is filled and the other is empty.
  Knowing these archetypes helps you predict the rule type almost instantly.

Review Your Mistakes Intentionally
When you miss a question, don’t just look at the solution — reconstruct the logic yourself until the transformation feels intuitive.
This reflective step trains your mind to detect subtle rule combinations and prevents repeating the same error in future puzzles.

Maintain Calm Focus
Mensa tests measure not just reasoning but also emotional control under pressure.
A relaxed mind perceives spatial relationships faster and more accurately.
Practicing slow breathing or brief visualization before starting the test can noticeably improve clarity and consistency.