I might be able to help. Not much though, maybe.
I also had major difficulties with this game. I'd get half way through and find that the last of the selected options (in the circle) wasn't the right one and i'd up with a 'red'.
I was making the mistake of tackling the board from the top and moving along to the right, then on to the second row .. and moving across to the right - and so on.
I soon discoverered this wasn't the way to go.
So try this ..
Start with the rows which have the most squares filled in with symbols. .. you'll have a better chance of picking the right options and it also makes it more likely you'll have fewer choices to make later, as the box fills up.
It still takes a bit of time - but you just have to take that into account and get the 'easy' games ('sequences', the 'numbers' puzzle, and 'shapes' etc) over with as quickly as possible.
Unfortunately the last chapter (in my case anyway - don't know if its the same with everyone) both 'symbols' and 'round and round' are included. Which is why I've been repeating it over and over again for days now!!