The Raven’s Progressive Matrices Test & the Science Behind It

Raven’s Progressive Matrices is undoubtedly the most recognizable IQ test, featuring a familiar 3x3 grid format instantly associated with intelligence testing. It’s also considered the most unbiased of the three commonly administered IQ tests, as it has no verbal tasks whatsoever.

To help you understand how Raven’s Progressive Matrices works, we’ve consulted our IQ experts and found out precisely what the test measures, how it’s structured, and whether it’s as fair as it’s widely considered to be.

Here is what they have told us.

Key Takeaways

• Raven’s Progressive Matrices is a popular IQ test that uses exclusively non-verbal tasks to measure cognitive development, focusing particularly on fluid intelligence.
• Raven’s Progressive Matrices also measure working memory, analytical skills, and pattern recognition.
• This test comes in three versions: Raven’s Standard Progressive Matrices, Raven’s Colored Progressive Matrices, and Raven’s Advanced Progressive Matrices.
• The test is considered highly reliable, valid, and culture-fair, as its non-verbal elements can be understood regardless of the test taker’s cultural background.

What Is the Raven’s Progressive Matrices Test?

The Raven’s Progressive Matrices Test is a popular IQ test developed by John C. Raven in 1936, making it one of the oldest tests currently in use, second only to the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale.

Its format is a familiar one for most people: the test consists of 3x3 matrices containing items that change according to a specific pattern. However, the last field is empty, and it’s the test taker’s job to determine which of the available symbols completes the matrix.

Raven’s Progressive Matrices have a scoring system that differs from other IQ tests.

Namely, you are given one point each time you answer correctly, while an incorrect answer doesn’t get you any. Upon completion, all your points are tallied, with the highest achievable score being 60. Then, that score is transformed into the intelligence quotient by comparing your performance to that of your peers.

Originally, the Raven’s Progressive Matrices test was used for research purposes only, but its use expanded with time; nowadays, it’s one of the three most popular tools for measuring the IQs of prospective job candidates or potential students before admitting them into school.

Raven’s Progressive Matrices Age Range

The Raven’s Progressive Matrices test comes in several versions that cover a wide range of ages and capabilities. According to the experts, the test is suitable for everyone aged between four and 90.

That’s not to say people over 90 can’t measure their intelligence using this test. However, since it hasn’t been standardized for them, the results might not be as accurate as for other age groups.

What Does the Raven Test Measure?

A women writing Raven's progressive matrices on a chalk board

The Raven test measures the development of your cognitive abilities, with a specific focus on fluid intelligence, pattern recognition, analytical skills, and working memory.

Let’s explore each of these in more detail:

• Fluid intelligence. Fluid intelligence, one of the two crucial components of general intelligence, is your ability to think, reason, solve problems, and make decisions. As such, it’s vital for everyday functioning.
• Pattern recognition. This cognitive skill allows you to recognize patterns in your surroundings and use them to make predictions and estimates. Patterns are also a prominent part of the RPM test, as you must pick up on them to figure out which item solves the task.
• Analytical skills. Analytical skills are crucial for solving the RPM test since you must analyze each item and formulate a rule that governs the changes occurring from one to the next.
• Working memory. Your working memory gets activated as you progress through the test, storing information for as long as it takes for your brain to process it and formulate conclusions and solutions.

Raven’s Matrices: Breakdown

While Raven’s Progressive Matrices may seem simple compared to a more comprehensive test like the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale or the Bender-Gestalt Test, it still comes in three different versions administered according to the test taker’s ability.

Below, we explore these versions in more detail.

#1. Raven’s Standard Progressive Matrices (SPM)

Raven’s Standard Progressive Matrices (SPM) is the original test, which comes in the form of a booklet containing five sets of matrices (from A to E), each of which has 12 items. At first, these matrices aren’t too complicated to solve, but their difficulty steadily increases as you progress.

The original test presents items in black ink on a white background—simple and to the point. This form of Raven’s matrices is what most people usually picture when they think of an IQ test.

#2. Raven’s Colored Progressive Matrices (CPM)

As its name suggests, Raven’s Colored Progressive Matrices (CPM) has a colored background, which makes the test more interesting and visually stimulating. This is important because CPM’s target demographic consists of children between the ages of five and 11 and adults with mental or physical disabilities.

Considering that the test is a simplified version of SPM—instead of five, it consists of only two sets (A and B) with 12 items.

However, the final items in set B serve to establish whether the test taker can exceed expectations and upgrade to Raven’s Standard Progressive Matrices. As a result, they are presented in black ink on a simple white background.

#3. Raven’s Advanced Progressive Matrices (APM)

Finally, particularly advanced adults and adolescents should take Raven’s Advanced Progressive Matrices (APM), which is designed with them in mind. This test is more complex than SPM, and final matrices can only be solved by someone with an exceptional IQ.

Raven’s Advanced Progressive Matrices consists of two sets, the first of which has 12 items, while the second has 36. As with SPM, all items are presented in black ink on a white background.

The Flynn Effect & Raven’s Matrices

The Flynn Effect & Raven’s Matrices

The Flynn effect is a steady increase in average IQ scores in the general population, first observed in the 1980s. James Flynn, an intelligence researcher, first noticed and measured this trend, showing that IQ scores rose by 3.3 points every decade.

Since Raven’s Progressive Matrices test is generally considered culture-fair and unbiased towards any group, it makes an excellent tool for observing the Flynn effect in action. That’s particularly true because the test focuses on fluid intelligence, which is the most affected by this phenomenon.

Moreover, RPM is likely one of the major contributors to the Flynn effect, too. Namely, the more familiar test takers are with an IQ test, the more likely they are to perform well, and there’s hardly a test as well-known as Raven’s Progressive Matrices.

The Raven’s Matrices Test: Validity and Fairness

The Raven’s Progressive Matrices test has existed for nearly a century, yet it’s still one of the most popular IQ tests in the world. In other words, it undeniably stood the test of time and proved its validity and reliability time and time again.

Furthermore, several studies measured RPM’s test-retest reliability to check its consistency over time and found that the test was highly valid and the scores didn’t drastically oscillate for a single participant.

In addition to its validity, the Raven’s Progressive Matrices test is also known as a culture-fair measure of intelligence. That’s because it uses exclusively non-verbal questions, which can be understood by test takers across the globe.

However, it’s important to note that no IQ test is entirely culturally unbiased, as such a feat is likely impossible to achieve.

After all, test-takers with formal Western education will be more familiar with the problem-solving approach required to complete any IQ test than those from cultures where formal education doesn’t exist.

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How to Prepare for the Raven’s Progressive Matrices Test

Preparing for the Raven’s Progressive Matrices test isn’t too difficult, considering how widespread its different versions are online. As long as you practice consistently and remember the rules for solving the test, you should achieve a good result.

Here are four rules for solving the Raven’s Progressive Matrices test, online or otherwise:

• Constant in a row. Identify an element that remains constant in a row but changes down a column to deduce what it will look like in the final figure. This rule is often applied when determining the orientation of a bar or an arrow.
• Quantitative progression. Pay attention to how the number of elements increases or decreases from one item in a row or a column to another. For instance, the first figure may have one colored tile, the second two, and so on until the final figure.
• Figure addition or subtraction. Sometimes, two figures can be added or subtracted to produce the third. If this is the case in your matrix, it shouldn’t be hard to determine what the final item should look like.
• Distribution of three values. Keep an eye on the different shapes in your matrix. If you have a star, a diamond, and a square in the first row, these elements must appear in all three rows.

Final Thoughts

The format of Raven’s Progressive Matrices is fairly simple compared to other IQ tests, but it’s effective nonetheless. As tasks progressively become more difficult, they truly challenge your cognition and measure its capability.

Most importantly, unlike the tests that contain a verbal component, Raven’s Progressive Matrices can be used to measure intelligence regardless of the test taker’s culture. That can provide us with a more comprehensive picture of human intelligence as a whole.

As a result, this test is frequently used for scientific research, which often involves various countries and cultures.