UCAT Abstract Reasoning

Learn about the question types and common patterns in the Abstract Reasoning subtest. Can you find the pattern in less than 15 seconds?

The UCAT Abstract Reasoning Subtest

In this article, we’re going to give you the run-down on the UCAT Abstract Reasoning subtest.

What is it?

The Abstract Reasoning subtest measures your ability to recognise patterns, typically in diagrams involving geometric shapes. The patterns will follow logical rules that you must identify from the information in the question. Once the rules are identified, they can be used to answer the question.

Simpler questions will have one or two rules, whilst more complex questions will have several rules, with exceptions.

What is the structure?

The UCAT Abstract Reasoning subtest consists of 55 questions to be completed in 13 minutes.

No. of questions	55 questions
Time limit	13 minutes
Time per question	10-15 seconds
Time pressure score	10/10

What is the answer format?

In the Abstract Reasoning subtest, you will face two types of answer format:

Set A, Set B, neither: Three answer options – ‘set A’, ‘set B’, or neither, depending on which set the shape provided fits within.
Multiple choice: Four unique answer options where only one option is correct.

What are the question types?

Question type	Description	Answer format	No. of questions
Set A/Set B Identify	You will be presented with two sets of shapes (Set A and Set B) that follow different patterns. You will be shown a test shape and asked if it belongs to Set A, Set B or to neither set. Read our essential 5 step process for answering these questions, here.	Set A Set B Neither	9-10 sets of 5 questions (45-50 questions)
Set A/Set B Select	You will be presented with two sets of shapes (Set A and Set B) that follow different patterns. You will be asked to select a shape that belongs to Set A or Set B.	Multiple choice (unique)	0-1 sets of 5 questions (0-5 questions)
Sequence	You will be shown a sequence of four shapes that change according to a pattern and asked to select the shape that comes next in the sequence.	Multiple choice (unique)	2
Analogies	The question presents an incomplete statement with three images: A is to B as X is to what? You need to select the image that completes the statement.	Multiple choice (unique)	3
Total			55