Advanced Progressive Matrices (APM) Test
The Advanced Progressive Matrices (APM) is the hardest version of Raven's Progressive Matrices, designed for higher-ability adolescents and adults. This page provides a free APM-structured practice set with an introductory set and a harder main set.
Disclaimer
This test is for educational and self-reflection purposes only. It is not a diagnostic tool. If you are experiencing mental health concerns, please consult a qualified healthcare professional.
How the practice set is organised
| Set | Items |
|---|---|
| Set I | 12 |
| Set II | 36 |
The published APM is organised as an introductory set and a longer, harder set. The practice bank on this page follows that two-part structure.
What Is the Advanced Progressive Matrices (APM) Test?
The Advanced Progressive Matrices (APM) is the hardest version of Raven's Progressive Matrices. It was designed for adolescents and adults of higher ability, and it is common in research samples and in selection settings where the Standard version would not distinguish well at the top of the range.
The item format is the same kind of puzzle as the rest of the family: a matrix of abstract figures with one piece missing, and a set of options from which you choose the one that completes the pattern. What changes in the APM is how much has to be worked out at once.
The advanced items carry fewer surface cues. Where an easier item lets you see the rule, an advanced item often requires you to infer it, then apply it to a case you have not seen before.
Format: An Introductory Set and a Harder Set
The published APM is organised in two parts: a short introductory set used to make sure the instructions and format are understood, and a longer, harder set that carries the discriminating items. Some administrations use the introductory set alone for screening; others use both parts.
The practice set on this page follows that two-part structure — a shorter first set and a longer second set — with items generated locally from the same rule families used across this site's matrix practice.
Because the harder set is where most of the information sits, it is normal to find the first set comfortable and the second set demanding. That is the design, not a sign that something has gone wrong.
Who the APM Is Designed For
The APM is aimed at higher-ability adolescents and adults. It is used in research on reasoning and intelligence, and in selection contexts where candidates are expected to perform near the top of the general range.
If you are an adult of roughly average ability trying a matrix test for the first time, the Standard Progressive Matrices is usually the better starting point. The APM is a step up in difficulty rather than a different kind of test.
The same rules about interpretation apply as elsewhere in the family: a score is meaningful relative to a norm group, and this site's practice set does not produce one.
How the APM Is Scored
Scoring follows the same logic as the rest of the family: one point per item answered correctly, no penalty for wrong answers, and a percentile rank obtained by comparing the raw score against the appropriate norm group. Which norm group applies depends on the administration and on which parts of the test were used.
The published test does not print an IQ score. Full conversion tables belong to the professional manual and are not freely distributable, so any table published elsewhere is informal reference at best.
The practice set on this page reports accuracy and the number of items answered. It does not produce a percentile or an IQ-style score, and it should not be read as a test result.
APM vs SPM: Difficulty, Item Structure and Use Cases
The SPM is the general-purpose version, covering children through general adults with a wide difficulty range. The APM is the high-end version: fewer cues, more layered rules, and a sample that skews towards higher ability. Both are non-verbal and both use the same kind of matrix item.
In practice, the choice is about where you expect to land. If the Standard set feels comfortably easy across most items, the Advanced set gives you more room. If the Advanced items feel opaque rather than merely hard, stepping down to the Standard version will tell you more.
The Coloured Progressive Matrices is the third version, built for younger children and for test-takers who need a lower ceiling and a more visually supported format.
Raven Progressive Matrices (RPM) IQ Test
Standard Progressive Matrices (SPM)
Coloured Progressive Matrices (CPM)
References
- Raven, J. C. (1938). Standardization of progressive matrices, 1938. British Journal of Medical Psychology, 19(1), 137-150.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have another question? Let us know.
What is the APM test?
The Advanced Progressive Matrices is the hardest version of Raven's Progressive Matrices, designed for higher-ability adolescents and adults. Items use the same matrix-with-a-missing-piece format as the rest of the family, but with more layered rules and fewer surface cues. It is organised as an introductory set followed by a longer, harder set.
Who is the APM designed for?
Higher-ability adolescents and adults, plus research samples and selection contexts where the Standard version would not discriminate well at the top of the range. Adults of roughly average ability usually find the Standard Progressive Matrices a better starting point.
How many items are in the APM?
The published APM is organised as a short introductory set of 12 items followed by a longer, harder set of 36 items. Some administrations use the introductory set alone for screening; others use both parts, which is why item counts quoted for the APM sometimes differ.
How is the APM scored?
One point per item answered correctly, with no penalty for wrong answers, and a percentile rank obtained by comparing the raw score against the relevant age or ability norms. The published test does not print an IQ score. Because norm tables belong to the professional manual, they are not freely distributable.
What is the difference between the APM and the SPM?
Difficulty and intended sample. The Standard Progressive Matrices is the general-purpose version for children through adults, with a wide difficulty range. The Advanced Progressive Matrices is aimed at higher-ability adolescents and adults, with items that carry fewer cues and require more inference at once.
Can I take a free APM practice test?
Yes — this page provides a free APM-structured practice set, organised as an introductory set and a longer, harder set. It is a practice tool for the item format: it reports your accuracy and the number of items answered, and it cannot produce an official score. The published test is professionally licensed and scored against official norms.
