Raven’s Progressive Matrices
Raven’s Progressive Matrices is a family of nonverbal assessments designed to measure observation, abstract reasoning, pattern recognition, and clear-thinking ability. Instead of relying heavily on vocabulary or learned academic knowledge, Raven’s questions use visual patterns and designs.
A typical question shows a visual pattern or matrix with a missing piece. The student examines how the figures relate to one another and chooses the answer that correctly completes the pattern.
Because the questions are primarily visual, Raven’s can reduce the influence of language skills when compared with heavily verbal assessments. However, it should not be described as completely “culture-free.” Pearson notes that the tests can be useful when assessing culturally diverse populations and when language proficiency varies.
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Types of Raven’s Progressive Matrices
Several versions of Raven’s are available for different ages and ability levels.
Raven’s Coloured Progressive Matrices (CPM)
The CPM is designed for children ages 5–11, as well as some older individuals who may benefit from a less difficult version of the assessment.
It contains 36 items divided into three sets of 12. Students identify the missing piece that completes each visual pattern. The test is untimed and typically takes 15–30 minutes.
Raven’s Standard Progressive Matrices (SPM)
The SPM is appropriate for ages 6–16 and adults. It contains 60 items divided into five sets (A–E) of 12 questions each.
Items become increasingly challenging and require students to recognize relationships, identify patterns, and apply logical reasoning. The SPM is untimed and typically takes 20–45 minutes.
Pearson also offers SPM Plus, which maintains the 60-item, five-set structure but includes more challenging items.
Raven’s Advanced Progressive Matrices (APM)
The APM is designed for adolescents and adults with above-average intellectual ability. Pearson lists the age range as 12–16 and adults ages 17+.
The APM measures higher-level observation, abstract reasoning, and clear-thinking skills. It can also be used for gifted identification. Untimed administration typically takes 40–60 minutes.
What Is Raven’s 2?
Raven’s 2 (Raven’s Progressive Matrices Second Edition) is a newer version of the Raven’s assessment for individuals ages 4–90.
Unlike the classic versions, Raven’s 2 can be administered digitally through Pearson’s Q-global platform or with paper-and-pencil materials. It continues the Raven’s tradition of using nonverbal visual problems to assess observation and reasoning abilities.
What Skills Does Raven’s Measure?
Raven’s Progressive Matrices primarily evaluates a student’s ability to:
- Recognize visual patterns
- Identify relationships among shapes and figures
- Apply logical rules
- Complete sequences and matrices
- Analyze increasingly complex visual information
- Solve unfamiliar nonverbal problems
The assessment measures reasoning rather than school-taught reading, vocabulary, or mathematics skills.
What Does the Raven’s Test Look Like?
Students are shown visual designs with a missing piece. They must determine the rule governing the pattern and select the answer that completes it.
For example, a student might need to notice:
- How shapes change from one box to another
- Whether objects rotate or move
- How figures are added or removed
- Changes in size, shading, number, or position
- Two or more rules operating simultaneously
Questions generally become more difficult as students progress through a set.
How Is Raven’s Scored?
For the classic SPM and SPM Plus, Pearson reports a raw score and percentile rank. The percentile compares performance with an appropriate norm group.
A percentile rank is not the same as the percentage of questions answered correctly. For example, a percentile indicates how a student’s performance compares with others in the applicable normative group.
Parents should also remember that Raven’s measures a particular set of reasoning abilities. A single Raven’s score does not provide a complete picture of a child’s intelligence, academic achievement, creativity, motivation, or potential.
How Can My Child Prepare for Raven’s?
Preparation should focus on helping children become comfortable with visual reasoning and pattern-solving activities, rather than memorizing particular test questions.
Useful activities include:
- Matrix reasoning problems
- Pattern completion
- Visual analogies
- Shape sequences
- Logic puzzles
- Classification activities
- Spatial reasoning games
Practicing these skills can help children understand how to approach unfamiliar visual problems and become more comfortable with this type of assessment.
TestingMom offers Raven’s-style practice questions that help children become familiar with visual matrices and nonverbal reasoning activities.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Raven’s Progressive Matrices?
Raven’s Progressive Matrices is a family of nonverbal assessments that measures observation, pattern recognition, abstract reasoning, and clear-thinking ability.
Is Raven’s an IQ test?
Raven’s is commonly used as a nonverbal measure of abstract reasoning or fluid reasoning ability. However, it focuses primarily on nonverbal reasoning and should not be interpreted as measuring every aspect of intelligence.
Is Raven’s used for gifted testing?
It may be. Raven’s assessments are used in educational, research, clinical, and other settings. Pearson specifically identifies gifted identification as one application of the Advanced Progressive Matrices. Individual schools and districts determine which assessments they use and how scores factor into eligibility decisions.
How long does Raven’s take?
Timing depends on the version:
- CPM: approximately 15–30 minutes
- SPM/SPM Plus: approximately 20–45 minutes
- APM: approximately 40–60 minutes
These versions may be administered individually or in groups.
Is Raven’s timed?
The classic CPM and SPM can be administered untimed. The APM can also be administered untimed, although Pearson notes that timed administration may be used when assessing intellectual efficiency.
What if my child doesn’t score as expected?
One test score should not define your child’s abilities. Raven’s primarily measures nonverbal reasoning and pattern-solving abilities. Academic achievement, memory, creativity, motivation, executive-function skills, and many other factors also contribute to a child’s school performance.
If Raven’s is being used for gifted-program eligibility or another school decision, check with your school or district to learn how the score is used and whether other measures are considered.
See if TestingMom.com supports your child’s test by your school district. If you don't see your child's school district listed, check with us! We have practice for other tests as well.
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9 Responses
How to convert scores to IQ? What would 57/60 be? What would 60/60 be?
Can u please tell about the latest or revised edition of Raven’s test.
Where do you have Raven Matrices tested in a clinical setting? Are there psychologists that do this virtuallly?
may i have the answer of the raven’s test?
Need practice test for 5th grade going 6th