Abstract Reasoning

Question Tutorial
Welcome to the UCAT Question Tutorial for
Abstract Reasoning (AR)
Introduction
This tutorial helps you to think about how to approach the Abstract Reasoning
section of the UCAT, and covers:

An overview of the Strategies for approaching

Abstract Reasoning the different questions,
subtest and its timings along with useful hints and
tips

Q An outline of the
different question types
with examples of each
for you to view and try
Abstract Reasoning Overview
• Abstract Reasoning assesses your ability to identify 12 minutes
patterns amongst abstract shapes where irrelevant and
distracting material may lead to incorrect conclusions
• It assesses your use of convergent and divergent 50 questions
thinking to infer relationships from information
• The test therefore measures your ability to change
track, critically evaluate and generate hypotheses and Associated with
sets of shapes
requires you to query judgements as you go along
Abstract Reasoning Overview
• When considering possible diagnoses, medical 12 minutes
practitioners may be presented with a set of symptoms
and/or results - some information may be more reliable,
more relevant and clearer than other information
50 questions
• They need to make judgements from this, identifying the
information which will help them reach conclusions
• Carrying out research involving data often involves Associated with
sets of shapes
identifying patterns in results in order to generate further
hypotheses
Abstract Reasoning Overview
• There are 4 different question types within this subtest 12 minutes

• Most questions are shown in sets of five, each connected

to the same sets of shapes
• However some questions are standalone 50 questions

• We will look at these question types first, and then

explore strategies for identifying the possible
Associated with
patterns or rules within these sets of abstract shapes sets of shapes
Abstract Reasoning Question Type 1
• For type 1 you will be presented with two sets of
shapes labelled ‘Set A’ and ‘Set B’
• You will then be given a series of 5 test shapes
and asked to decide whether each belongs to
Set A, Set B or Neither
• Here is an example of this question type
Set A Set B Test shape:

A. Set A
B. Set B
C. Neither

There is no link to the number of shapes in each

box or the order they are positioned. The shading
is only relevant to the shapes being mirror images.

Set A rule: Lower shapes are mirror images of

upper shapes.

Set B rule: Right shapes are mirror images of left

shapes.

Rationale: The correct answer is Set A as the

lower shapes mirror the upper shapes.
Abstract Reasoning Question Type 2
• For type 2 you will be presented with a series of
shapes and asked to select the next shape in the
series from the 4 answer options provided
• You need to identify what is changing between each
box in the series
• These are standalone questions, so try not to spend
too long on each one
• See an example of this question type
 Which figure completes the series?
A.

B.

C.
Rule: There is 1 square and 1 triangle. The square has a diagonal with a circle on
the end. The triangle has a circle on one side.
The circle and square move around the box by 90o each time. The square itself
turns by 90o each time.
The circle within the triangle moves in an anticlockwise direction and alternates D.
between black and white in each sequence.

Rationale: Figure A is correct. The circle attached to the square has to be on the
bottom right. The triangle must have a black circle on the right hand side.
Abstract Reasoning Question Type 3
• For type 3 you will be presented with a statement
involving a group of shapes relating to each other
• You will be asked to determine which test shape out
of the 4 options provided completes the statement
• You need to identify what has changed between the
two related boxes
• Again, these are standalone questions
• Here is an example of this question type
 Which figure completes the statement?
A.

is to

as B.

is to

C.

Rule: The right hand box has one more region in each of the four shapes as the
corresponding shape in the left hand box. D.

Rationale: The top two shapes need to have two regions. The bottom left shape
needs to have 4 regions. The bottom right shape needs to have 3 regions.
Therefore figure C is correct.
Abstract Reasoning Question Type 4

• For type 4 you will be presented with two sets of

shapes labelled ‘Set A’ and ‘Set B’
• You will be asked to decide which of the four test
shapes given belongs to either Set A or Set B
• You may have a number of questions associated
with each set of shapes
• See an example of this question type
 Set A Set B Which of the following test
shapes belongs in Set B?
A.

B.

C.

Set A Rule: All corners are white circles. An even number of lines leave each white circle.
Set B Rule: Either 2 or 4 corners have black circles. An odd number of lines leave each D.
black circle. An even number of lines leave each white circle.
Rationale: Figure D is correct. There are two black circles each with an odd number of
lines. There are 3 white circles each with an even number of lines.
Abstract Reasoning Strategies
• There are a lot of questions to get through, so it’s important to
keep your eye on the timer
• If you can’t see the pattern, don’t waste time; select an answer, flag
these questions and move on to the next set of shapes
• The more you practise, the quicker you will become at spotting the
patterns or rules within these sets of abstract shapes
• Some possible rules are given on the next few slides
Possible Rules or Patterns
• Could be simple, such as every box has 3 triangles or
Shape more complex such as every box has 3 shaded triangles
• Where in the box are the shapes positioned, e.g. always a
shape in the top left corner, or is one shape always
opposite to or adjacent to another?
Arrangement • Are arrows pointing in a certain direction?
• Consider symmetry in boxes and lines of symmetry
within the shapes

• Do the shapes follow a pattern e.g. from left to right, each

Rotation shape or arrow has been rotated 90o clockwise?
Possible Rules or Patterns
• Finite numbers of something, e.g. of shapes, sides,
angles, right angles, intersections, overlaps, shapes
touching the sides of the box
Number • Or use of odd or even numbers
• In sequences numbers may increase / decrease across
the series
Colour or • Do the shapes follow a shading pattern e.g. all squares
Shading are black, all the circles are white etc.?

Intersection • Does an arrow always intersect a straight line?

Possible Rules or Patterns
• E.g. are there always 3 lines touching the sides of the
box, or is there always a downwards arrow touching the
Touching side? 
Sides • Could be combined with another aspect, e.g. any line
with an intersecting arrow always touches the side of
the box
• Are there shapes within shapes e.g. there is always a
Enclosure shape with an even number of sides surrounding a
shape with an odd number of sides?
Abstract Reasoning Strategies
• If you are struggling, look at the simplest box as C COLOUR / SHADING

the pattern must be present in every box – the A ARRANGEMENT

fewer items in the box, the fewer rules to test N NUMBER

INTERSECTION
I
• Using an acronym for common rules may help SHAPE
S
you to remember them, jot these down in the 1 TOUCHING SIDES
T ENCLOSURE
minute introduction section
E ROTATION
R
YOU’VE FINISHED!
Thank you for completing the
Abstract Reasoning Question Tutorial

You can find lots more preparation resources,

including more tutorials, over a thousand
FREE practice questions and four FULLY TIMED
practice tests on the UCAT website
www.ucat.ac.uk