Abstract Reasoning Practice Subtest Instructions

There are 4 different question types in this section of the exam.

For type 1, you will be presented with two sets of shapes labelled “Set A” and “Set B”. You will be given a test shape and asked to decide whether the test shape belongs to Set A, Set B, or Neither.

For type 2, you will be presented with a series of shapes. You will be asked to select the next shape in series.

For type 3, you will be presented with a statement, involving a group of shapes. You will be asked to determine which shape completes the statement.

For type 4, you will be presented with two sets of shapes labelled “Set A” and “Set B”. You will be asked to select which of the four response options belongs to Set A or Set B.

It is in your best interest to answer all questions as there is no penalty for guessing. All unanswered questions will be scored as incorrect.

Click the Next (N) button to proceed.

Question 1.
  • 12
    72

    Explanation

    Set A – The hexagon in the top-right has the most sides.

    Pattern: In Set A, the element with the most sides is situated in a corner; in Set B, the element with the most sides is situated on an edge.

    Method: It should go without saying that Orientation, Colour and Size, and also simple Number, are unlikely to be relevant to the pattern. This leaves Position and Shape/Number. As it happens, the pattern concerns the position of shapes with a particular number of sides. The best way to spot this pattern is by focussing on the unusual shapes first – for instance, the cross only appears once, in a corner, in Set A, but twice, along an edge, in Set B. That said, the Sets are littered with red-herrings. Learning the hierarchy of these shapes by number of sides will help you spot similar patterns in the future.

    Post Comment
    Common sense Medicmind Tutor

    Sat, 18 Sep 2021 20:32:45

    That's not true for set A middle right element?

    Yopi Medicmind Tutor

    Mon, 20 Sep 2021 05:45:27

    It is correct though the shape in the corner has the most sides (the star)

    . Medicmind Tutor

    Wed, 22 Sep 2021 09:57:41

    trash pattern

    hi Medicmind Tutor

    Mon, 07 Mar 2022 15:04:15

    How are you supposed to get this in a few seconds

    syed saad Medicmind Tutor

    Fri, 17 Jun 2022 09:48:10

    stoopid

    David jones Medicmind Tutor

    Sun, 19 Jun 2022 19:43:51

    I do not understand your explanation and also how are you supposed to get this in a few seconds?

    Question 2.
  • 11
    5

    Explanation

    Set A – The cross in the bottom-left has the most sides.

    Pattern: In Set A, the element with the most sides is situated in a corner; in Set B, the element with the most sides is situated on an edge.

    Method: It should go without saying that Orientation, Colour and Size, and also simple Number, are unlikely to be relevant to the pattern. This leaves Position and Shape/Number. As it happens, the pattern concerns the position of shapes with a particular number of sides. The best way to spot this pattern is by focussing on the unusual shapes first – for instance, the cross only appears once, in a corner, in Set A, but twice, along an edge, in Set B. That said, the Sets are littered with red-herrings. Learning the hierarchy of these shapes by number of sides will help you spot similar patterns in the future.

    Post Comment

    Question 3.
  • 3
    7

    Explanation

    C – The most-sided shape is the octagonal star – but there are copies of it both in a corner and along edges.

    Pattern: In Set A, the element with the most sides is situated in a corner; in Set B, the element with the most sides is situated on an edge.

    Method: It should go without saying that Orientation, Colour and Size, and also simple Number, are unlikely to be relevant to the pattern. This leaves Position and Shape/Number. As it happens, the pattern concerns the position of shapes with a particular number of sides. The best way to spot this pattern is by focussing on the unusual shapes first – for instance, the cross only appears once, in a corner, in Set A, but twice, along an edge, in Set B. That said, the Sets are littered with red-herrings. Learning the hierarchy of these shapes by number of sides will help you spot similar patterns in the future.

    Post Comment

    Question 4.
  • 5
    9

    Explanation

    C – The most-sided shape is the octagonal star – but there are copies of it both in a corner and along an edge.

    Pattern: In Set A, the element with the most sides is situated in a corner; in Set B, the element with the most sides is situated on an edge.

    Method: It should go without saying that Orientation, Colour and Size, and also simple Number, are unlikely to be relevant to the pattern. This leaves Position and Shape/Number. As it happens, the pattern concerns the position of shapes with a particular number of sides. The best way to spot this pattern is by focussing on the unusual shapes first – for instance, the cross only appears once, in a corner, in Set A, but twice, along an edge, in Set B. That said, the Sets are littered with red-herrings. Learning the hierarchy of these shapes by number of sides will help you spot similar patterns in the future.

    Post Comment

    Question 5.
  • 2
    6

    Explanation

    C – The shape with the most sides is the ten-sided star in the central position.

    Pattern: In Set A, the element with the most sides is situated in a corner; in Set B, the element with the most sides is situated on an edge.

    Method: It should go without saying that Orientation, Colour and Size, and also simple Number, are unlikely to be relevant to the pattern. This leaves Position and Shape/Number. As it happens, the pattern concerns the position of shapes with a particular number of sides. The best way to spot this pattern is by focussing on the unusual shapes first – for instance, the cross only appears once, in a corner, in Set A, but twice, along an edge, in Set B. That said, the Sets are littered with red-herrings. Learning the hierarchy of these shapes by number of sides will help you spot similar patterns in the future.

    Post Comment

    Question 6.
  • 2
    23

    Explanation

    Set B – The circle in the bottom-left has a triangle immediately above it.

    Pattern: Members of Set A feature a triangle (either right-angled or isosceles) immediately below a circle. Members of Set B feature a triangle (either right-angled or isosceles) immediately above a circle.

    Method: Treat this pattern in a similar manner to the previous pattern, eliminating categories and then trying unusual shapes first. Crosses and ten- or eight-pointed stars appear randomly throughout both sets, whether centrally, along edges or in corners. Equally, arrows, hexagons, pentagons, hearts and crescents do not appear consistently enough to form a pattern. Nevertheless, each box happens to contain at least one triangle and one circle, which should help you towards the answer – the top-left member of each set can be used for helpful comparison, as highlighted in red.

    Post Comment
    Hello Medicmind Tutor

    Wed, 29 Jun 2022 07:19:38

    This was difficult

    Bye Medicmind Tutor

    Fri, 15 Jul 2022 16:04:06

    yes, this was way to difficult to spot

    hard Medicmind Tutor

    Sat, 30 Jul 2022 17:06:31

    too spot

    jess Medicmind Tutor

    Mon, 12 Sep 2022 18:51:58

    not every circle has a triangle above/below though

    c Medicmind Tutor

    Mon, 27 Mar 2023 13:18:14

    I some how got the pattern for B being a circle is next to a quadrilateral?

    Dominic A. Medicmind Tutor

    Mon, 24 Jul 2023 09:42:57

    Some of the in both sets have circles below and above. This doesn't make sense.

    Question 7.
  • 4
    3

    Explanation

    Set B – The circle in the bottom-right has a triangle immediately above it.

    Pattern: Members of Set A feature a triangle (either right-angled or isosceles) immediately below a circle. Members of Set B feature a triangle (either right-angled or isosceles) immediately above a circle.

    Method: Treat this pattern in a similar manner to the previous pattern, eliminating categories and then trying unusual shapes first. Crosses and ten- or eight-pointed stars appear randomly throughout both sets, whether centrally, along edges or in corners. Equally, arrows, hexagons, pentagons, hearts and crescents do not appear consistently enough to form a pattern. Nevertheless, each box happens to contain at least one triangle and one circle, which should help you towards the answer – the top-left member of each set can be used for helpful comparison, as highlighted in red.

    Post Comment

    Question 8.
  • 1
    0

    Explanation

    C – This box features a triangle with a circle immediately above it, but also the opposite.

    Pattern: Members of Set A feature a triangle (either right-angled or isosceles) immediately below a circle. Members of Set B feature a triangle (either right-angled or isosceles) immediately above a circle.

    Method: Treat this pattern in a similar manner to the previous pattern, eliminating categories and then trying unusual shapes first. Crosses and ten- or eight-pointed stars appear randomly throughout both sets, whether centrally, along edges or in corners. Equally, arrows, hexagons, pentagons, hearts and crescents do not appear consistently enough to form a pattern. Nevertheless, each box happens to contain at least one triangle and one circle, which should help you towards the answer – the top-left member of each set can be used for helpful comparison, as highlighted in red.

    Post Comment

    Question 9.
  • 0
    6

    Explanation

    Set A – The triangle in the bottom-left has a circle immediately above it.

    Pattern: Members of Set A feature a triangle (either right-angled or isosceles) immediately below a circle. Members of Set B feature a triangle (either right-angled or isosceles) immediately above a circle.

    Method: Treat this pattern in a similar manner to the previous pattern, eliminating categories and then trying unusual shapes first. Crosses and ten- or eight-pointed stars appear randomly throughout both sets, whether centrally, along edges or in corners. Equally, arrows, hexagons, pentagons, hearts and crescents do not appear consistently enough to form a pattern. Nevertheless, each box happens to contain at least one triangle and one circle, which should help you towards the answer – the top-left member of each set can be used for helpful comparison, as highlighted in red.

    Post Comment

    Question 10.
  • 0
    0

    Explanation

    Set B – The central triangle has a circle directly below it.

    Pattern: Members of Set A feature a triangle (either right-angled or isosceles) immediately below a circle. Members of Set B feature a triangle (either right-angled or isosceles) immediately above a circle.

    Method: Treat this pattern in a similar manner to the previous pattern, eliminating categories and then trying unusual shapes first. Crosses and ten- or eight-pointed stars appear randomly throughout both sets, whether centrally, along edges or in corners. Equally, arrows, hexagons, pentagons, hearts and crescents do not appear consistently enough to form a pattern. Nevertheless, each box happens to contain at least one triangle and one circle, which should help you towards the answer – the top-left member of each set can be used for helpful comparison, as highlighted in red.

    Post Comment
    ann Medicmind Tutor

    Sat, 05 Jun 2021 11:44:00

    I can't see the question ?

    Question 11.
  • 4
    15

    Explanation

    C – This features a circle in the top half and a circle in the bottom half.

    Pattern: Members of Set A feature at least one circle in the top half of the box; members of Set B feature at least one circle in the bottom half of the box.

    Method: Size ought to be your first thought. However, there is no consistent rule relating the largest shapes across each set to Shape, Position, Orientation or Colour. Thus, isolate the top two members of Set A and the middle-right of Set B for comparison. The mixture of black and white shapes is striking, but more so is the preponderance of circles. You can work out the pattern from these simpler cases and test it across the other members of each set.

    Post Comment

    Question 12.
  • 2
    1

    Explanation

    C – This contains no circles.

    Pattern: Members of Set A feature at least one circle in the top half of the box; members of Set B feature at least one circle in the bottom half of the box.

    Method: Size ought to be your first thought. However, there is no consistent rule relating the largest shapes across each set to Shape, Position, Orientation or Colour. Thus, isolate the top two members of Set A and the middle-right of Set B for comparison. The mixture of black and white shapes is striking, but more so is the preponderance of circles. You can work out the pattern from these simpler cases and test it across the other members of each set.

    Post Comment

    Question 13.
  • 3
    3

    Explanation

    Set A – This contains one circle, which is in the top half of the box.

    Pattern: Members of Set A feature at least one circle in the top half of the box; members of Set B feature at least one circle in the bottom half of the box.

    Method: Size ought to be your first thought. However, there is no consistent rule relating the largest shapes across each set to Shape, Position, Orientation or Colour. Thus, isolate the top two members of Set A and the middle-right of Set B for comparison. The mixture of black and white shapes is striking, but more so is the preponderance of circles. You can work out the pattern from these simpler cases and test it across the other members of each set.

    Post Comment

    Question 14.
  • 1
    1

    Explanation

    Set A – This contains one circle, which is in the top half of the box.

    Pattern: Members of Set A feature at least one circle in the top half of the box; members of Set B feature at least one circle in the bottom half of the box.

    Method: Size ought to be your first thought. However, there is no consistent rule relating the largest shapes across each set to Shape, Position, Orientation or Colour. Thus, isolate the top two members of Set A and the middle-right of Set B for comparison. The mixture of black and white shapes is striking, but more so is the preponderance of circles. You can work out the pattern from these simpler cases and test it across the other members of each set.

    Post Comment

    Question 15.
  • 1
    2

    Explanation

    C – This circle is equally distributed between the top and bottom halves.

    Pattern: Members of Set A feature at least one circle in the top half of the box; members of Set B feature at least one circle in the bottom half of the box.

    Method: Size ought to be your first thought. However, there is no consistent rule relating the largest shapes across each set to Shape, Position, Orientation or Colour. Thus, isolate the top two members of Set A and the middle-right of Set B for comparison. The mixture of black and white shapes is striking, but more so is the preponderance of circles. You can work out the pattern from these simpler cases and test it across the other members of each set.

    Post Comment

    Question 16.
  • 6
    7

    Explanation

    Set B – The arrow has seven sides to the hexagons’ six each, and is on the right-hand side of the box.

    Pattern: In Set A, the shape with the most sides is situated in the left half of the box, whereas in Set B, it is situated in the right half of the box.

    Method: The simplest cases, for comparison, are the bottom-left of Set A and the top-right of Set B. Both have a white crescent as their largest shape, situated mainly in the left-half of the box – clearly, Size is not a factor here, nor Colour. This pattern succumbs well to looking for unusual shapes across both sets, namely the ten-pointed star in the top-left and the cross in the middle-left of Set A, and the twelve-pointed star in the top-left of Set B. Focussing on the wide occurrence of stars should help you to notice the connection between Shape (Number of sides) and Position.

    Post Comment

    Question 17.
  • 5
    0

    Explanation

    Set B – The twelve-sided cross is on the right-hand side of the box.

    Pattern: In Set A, the shape with the most sides is situated in the left half of the box, whereas in Set B, it is situated in the right half of the box.

    Method: The simplest cases, for comparison, are the bottom-left of Set A and the top-right of Set B. Both have a white crescent as their largest shape, situated mainly in the left-half of the box – clearly, Size is not a factor here, nor Colour. This pattern succumbs well to looking for unusual shapes across both sets, namely the ten-pointed star in the top-left and the cross in the middle-left of Set A, and the twelve-pointed star in the top-left of Set B. Focussing on the wide occurrence of stars should help you to notice the connection between Shape (Number of sides) and Position.

    Post Comment

    Question 18.
  • 2
    0

    Explanation

    C – All shapes, regardless of side number, are evenly distributed.

    Pattern: In Set A, the shape with the most sides is situated in the left half of the box, whereas in Set B, it is situated in the right half of the box.

    Method: The simplest cases, for comparison, are the bottom-left of Set A and the top-right of Set B. Both have a white crescent as their largest shape, situated mainly in the left-half of the box – clearly, Size is not a factor here, nor Colour. This pattern succumbs well to looking for unusual shapes across both sets, namely the ten-pointed star in the top-left and the cross in the middle-left of Set A, and the twelve-pointed star in the top-left of Set B. Focussing on the wide occurrence of stars should help you to notice the connection between Shape (Number of sides) and Position.

    Post Comment

    Question 19.
  • 3
    2

    Explanation

    C – The squares have the most sides but there’s one in each half.

    Pattern: In Set A, the shape with the most sides is situated in the left half of the box, whereas in Set B, it is situated in the right half of the box.

    Method: The simplest cases, for comparison, are the bottom-left of Set A and the top-right of Set B. Both have a white crescent as their largest shape, situated mainly in the left-half of the box – clearly, Size is not a factor here, nor Colour. This pattern succumbs well to looking for unusual shapes across both sets, namely the ten-pointed star in the top-left and the cross in the middle-left of Set A, and the twelve-pointed star in the top-left of Set B. Focussing on the wide occurrence of stars should help you to notice the connection between Shape (Number of sides) and Position.

    Post Comment

    Question 20.
  • 2
    0

    Explanation

    Set A – The pentagon on the left has the most sides.

    Pattern: In Set A, the shape with the most sides is situated in the left half of the box, whereas in Set B, it is situated in the right half of the box.

    Method: The simplest cases, for comparison, are the bottom-left of Set A and the top-right of Set B. Both have a white crescent as their largest shape, situated mainly in the left-half of the box – clearly, Size is not a factor here, nor Colour. This pattern succumbs well to looking for unusual shapes across both sets, namely the ten-pointed star in the top-left and the cross in the middle-left of Set A, and the twelve-pointed star in the top-left of Set B. Focussing on the wide occurrence of stars should help you to notice the connection between Shape (Number of sides) and Position.

    Post Comment

    Question 21.
  • 1
    14

    Explanation

    Set A – This has three shapes in the bottom half.

    Pattern: Members of Set A have three shapes in the bottom half of the box, whilst those of Set B have two shapes in the bottom half of the box.

    Method: As usual, this Position-based pattern is not easy to spot. Nevertheless, isolating simpler cases remains a sound strategy, such as the top-left of Set A and the middle-right of Set B, both of which contain only white shapes. Here, each case contains four shapes, exactly two of which are the are, exactly one of which has an even number of sides, and where the shape with the most sides is in the top half of the box. However, the 1:3 vs. 2:2 split between top and bottom is striking, and should lead you to the pattern. It may also help you to notice the overall appearance of the members of each set, with their clear delineation between top and bottom halves.

    Post Comment
    M. Noble Medicmind Tutor

    Thu, 23 Sep 2021 13:48:50

    trash pattern

    b Medicmind Tutor

    Mon, 22 Nov 2021 01:00:18

    stoopid shit

    fck medicmind Medicmind Tutor

    Sat, 30 Jul 2022 17:26:58

    get medify its much better

    Question 22.
  • 0
    0

    Explanation

    C – There are four shapes in the bottom half.

    Pattern: Members of Set A have three shapes in the bottom half of the box, whilst those of Set B have two shapes in the bottom half of the box.

    Method: As usual, this Position-based pattern is not easy to spot. Nevertheless, isolating simpler cases remains a sound strategy, such as the top-left of Set A and the middle-right of Set B, both of which contain only white shapes. Here, each case contains four shapes, exactly two of which are the are, exactly one of which has an even number of sides, and where the shape with the most sides is in the top half of the box. However, the 1:3 vs. 2:2 split between top and bottom is striking, and should lead you to the pattern. It may also help you to notice the overall appearance of the members of each set, with their clear delineation between top and bottom halves.

    Post Comment

    Question 23.
  • 0
    0

    Explanation

    Set A – This has three shapes in the bottom half.

    Pattern: Members of Set A have three shapes in the bottom half of the box, whilst those of Set B have two shapes in the bottom half of the box.

    Method: As usual, this Position-based pattern is not easy to spot. Nevertheless, isolating simpler cases remains a sound strategy, such as the top-left of Set A and the middle-right of Set B, both of which contain only white shapes. Here, each case contains four shapes, exactly two of which are the are, exactly one of which has an even number of sides, and where the shape with the most sides is in the top half of the box. However, the 1:3 vs. 2:2 split between top and bottom is striking, and should lead you to the pattern. It may also help you to notice the overall appearance of the members of each set, with their clear delineation between top and bottom halves.

    Post Comment

    Question 24.
  • 0
    1

    Explanation

    Set B – This has two shapes in its bottom half.

    Pattern: Members of Set A have three shapes in the bottom half of the box, whilst those of Set B have two shapes in the bottom half of the box.

    Method: As usual, this Position-based pattern is not easy to spot. Nevertheless, isolating simpler cases remains a sound strategy, such as the top-left of Set A and the middle-right of Set B, both of which contain only white shapes. Here, each case contains four shapes, exactly two of which are the are, exactly one of which has an even number of sides, and where the shape with the most sides is in the top half of the box. However, the 1:3 vs. 2:2 split between top and bottom is striking, and should lead you to the pattern. It may also help you to notice the overall appearance of the members of each set, with their clear delineation between top and bottom halves.

    Post Comment

    Question 25.
  • 0
    1

    Explanation

    Set B – This has two shapes in its bottom half.

    Pattern: Members of Set A have three shapes in the bottom half of the box, whilst those of Set B have two shapes in the bottom half of the box.

    Method: As usual, this Position-based pattern is not easy to spot. Nevertheless, isolating simpler cases remains a sound strategy, such as the top-left of Set A and the middle-right of Set B, both of which contain only white shapes. Here, each case contains four shapes, exactly two of which are the are, exactly one of which has an even number of sides, and where the shape with the most sides is in the top half of the box. However, the 1:3 vs. 2:2 split between top and bottom is striking, and should lead you to the pattern. It may also help you to notice the overall appearance of the members of each set, with their clear delineation between top and bottom halves.

    Post Comment

    Position Patterns Review Screen

    Instructions

    Below is a summary of your answers. You can review your questions in three (3) different ways.

    The buttons in the lower right-hand corner correspond to these choices:

    1. Review all of your questions and answers.
    2. Review questions that are incomplete.
    3. Review questions that are flagged for review. (Click the 'flag' icon to change the flag for review status.)

    You may also click on a question number to link directly to its location in the exam.

    Position Patterns Section

    Final Answer Review Screen

    Instructions

    This review section allows you to view the answers you made and see whether they were correct or not. Each question accessed from this screen has an 'Explain Answer' button in the top left hand side. By clicking on this you will obtain an explanation as to the correct answer.

    At the bottom of this screen you can choose to 'Review All' answers, 'Review Incorrect' answers or 'Review Flagged' answers. Alternatively you can go to specific questions by opening up any of the sub-tests below.

    Position Patterns Section

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