Doc 2: Practice Questions for Abstract Reasoning | Abstract Reasoning for UCAT PDF Download

Abstract Reasoning assesses your ability to identify patterns amongst abstract shapes where irrelevant and distracting material may lead to incorrect conclusions. The test therefore measures your ability to change track, critically evaluate and generate hypotheses and requires you to query judgements as you go along.
You are presented with questions associated with sets of shapes. There are four different question types in this subtest.
Most questions are shown in sets of five, each connected to the same sets of shapes. There are some questions that are standalone. Each question has three or four answer options. You may only select one response. You may be asked to:

• decide whether an example shape belongs to Shape Set A, Shape Set B or Neither;
• select the next shape in a series;
•  determine which shape completes a statement;
• decide which shape belongs to a particular Shape Set.

Q.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.

Q.

(a) Set A
(b) Set B
(c) Neither

Correct Answer is Option (a)
In both sets, there is a shape with three or more sides.
Set A: There is always the same number of black circles and sides of the shape and there is always two fewer white circles than the number of sides of the shape.
Set B: There is always one more white circle than the number of sides of the shape and always one less black circle than the number of sides of the shape. There is never a mixture of both white and black circles in both of the sets.
Correct Response: A - This is because there are four black circles which is the same number of sides of the shape.

Q.2. 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.

 Q.

(a) Set A
(b) Set B
(c) Neither

Correct Answer is Option (c)

In both sets, there is a shape with three or more sides.

Set A: There is always the same number of black circles and sides of the shape and there is always two fewer white circles than the number of sides of the shape.

Set B: There is always one more white circle than the number of sides of the shape and always one less black circle than the number of sides of the shape. There is never a mixture of both white and black circles in both of the sets.

Correct Response: C - This is because there are three white circles and three sides to the shape which does not fit either of the rules.

Q.3. 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.
Q.

(a) Set A
(b) Set B
(c) Neither

Correct Answer is Option (a)

In both sets, there is a shape with three or more sides.

Set A: There is always the same number of black circles and sides of the shape and there is always two fewer white circles than the number of sides of the shape.

Set B: There is always one more white circle than the number of sides of the shape and always one less black circle than the number of sides of the shape. There is never a mixture of both white and black circles in both of the sets.

Correct Response: A - This is because there are two white circles which is two fewer than the number of sides of the shape. 

Q.4. 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.
Q.

(a) Set A
(b) Set B
(c) Neither

Correct Answer is Option (b)
In both sets, there is a shape with three or more sides.
Set A: There is always the same number of black circles and sides of the shape and there is always two fewer white circles than the number of sides of the shape.
Set B: There is always one more white circle than the number of sides of the shape and always one less black circle than the number of sides of the shape. There is never a mixture of both white and black circles in both of the sets.
Correct Response: B - This is because there are 5 black circles which is one fewer than the number of sides of the shape

Q.5. 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.
Q.

(a) Set A
(b) Set B
(c) Neither

Correct Answer is Option (b)
In both sets, there is a shape with three or more sides.
Set A: There is always the same number of black circles and sides of the shape and there is always two fewer white circles than the number of sides of the shape.
Set B: There is always one more white circle than the number of sides of the shape and always one less black circle than the number of sides of the shape. There is never a mixture of both white and black circles in both of the sets.
Correct Response: B - This is because there are three black circles which is one fewer than the number of sides of the shape.

Q.6. You will be presented with a series of shapes. You will be asked to select the next shape in series.

Q. Which figure completes the series?
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)

Correct Answer is Option (b)
Rule: All the arrows move one place clockwise. In each box, the white arrow turns 45 degrees clockwise, the black arrow turns 90 degrees clockwise and the striped arrow rotates 225 degrees clockwise.
Correct Response: B - B is correct because all the arrows have moved one place clockwise. The white arrow has turned 45 degrees clockwise, the black arrow has turned 90 degrees clockwise and the striped arrow has rotated 225 degrees clockwise.

Q.7. You will be presented with a series of shapes. You will be asked to select the next shape in series.

Q. Which figure completes the series?
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)

Correct Answer is Option (d)
Rule: In the series, each figure in position n is obtained when all the shapes in the previous figure shift n-1 places in the anti-clockwise direction. Additionally, a new shape is introduced in every alternate figure, starting with the second figure in the series.  
Correct Response: D - This is because all the shapes in the final figure in the sequence will shift four places in the anti-clockwise direction from where they were in the fourth figure, and no new shape is introduced. This is the figure in option D.

Q.8. You will be presented with a series of shapes. You will be asked to select the next shape in series.

Q. Which figure completes the series?
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)

Correct Answer is Option (c)
Rule: The basic figure is that of 6 squares arranged in a pyramid shape. In each figure of the series, a square from the original figure gets shaded and a mirror image of shaded squares (in the opposite direction) appears. In each figure, the square from the original figure that gets shaded is left of the square that got shaded in the previous figure, starting with the bottom row and moving up. But, in the mirror image, the shaded square appears to the right of the shaded square that appeared in the previous figure.
Correct Response: C - This is because in the final figure of the series, the next square to be shaded is the left square in the second row of the pyramid and the square that appears should be the right square in the second row from the bottom of the mirror image of the pyramid. This is the figure in option C.

Q.9. You will be presented with a series of shapes. You will be asked to select the next shape in series.

Q. Which figure completes the series?
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)

Correct Answer is Option (d)
Rule: In the series, the circle with the 4 different types of lines attached is rotated 45º anti-clockwise. If the resulting figure has two lines that are horizontal (or lie on a 180º line) the two lines extend over the circle and touch each other at the centre of the circle.
Correct Response: D - This is because in the final figure of the series the lines are horizontal and vertical. So, the next figure should have these same lines rotated 45º anti-clockwise in the same order. This is the figure in option D.

Q.10. 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.

Q. Which of the following test shapes belongs in Set A?
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)

Correct Answer is Option (b)
Set A: Each black triangle equals a curvy line that has a small circle at the end, touching the large oval or circle. Each white triangle equals a straight line that has a small circle at the end, away from the large oval or circle.
Set B: Each black triangle equals a straight line that has a small circle at the end, away from the large oval or circle. Each white triangle equals a curvy line that has a small circle on the end, away from the large oval or circle.
Correct Response: B - This is because there are two black triangles which equal two curvy lines that have a small circle at the end, touching the large circle and oval. There is also a white triangle which equals a straight line that has a small circle at the end, away from the large circle. This follows the rules for Set A.

Q.11. 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.

Q. Which of the following test shapes belongs in Set A?
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)

Correct Answer is Option (c)
Set A: Each black triangle equals a curvy line that has a small circle at the end, touching the large oval or circle. Each white triangle equals a straight line that has a small circle at the end, away from the large oval or circle.
Set B: Each black triangle equals a straight line that has a small circle at the end, away from the large oval or circle. Each white triangle equals a curvy line that has a small circle on the end, away from the large oval or circle.
Correct response: C - This is because there are two white triangles which equal a straight line that has a small circle at the end, away from the large circle and oval. This follows the rule for Set A.

Q.12. 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.

Q. Which of the following test shapes belongs in Set A?
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)

Correct Answer is Option (a)
Set A: Each black triangle equals a curvy line that has a small circle at the end, touching the large oval or circle. Each white triangle equals a straight line that has a small circle at the end, away from the large oval or circle.
Set B: Each black triangle equals a straight line that has a small circle at the end, away from the large oval or circle. Each white triangle equals a curvy line that has a small circle on the end, away from the large oval or circle.
Correct Response: A - This is because there are three black triangles which equal three curvy lines that has a small circle at the end, touching the large circle and oval. This follows the rules for Set A.

Q.13. 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.

Q. Which of the following test shapes belongs in Set B?
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)

Correct Answer is Option (a)
Set A: Each black triangle equals a curvy line that has a small circle at the end, touching the large oval or circle. Each white triangle equals a straight line that has a small circle at the end, away from the large oval or circle.
Set B: Each black triangle equals a straight line that has a small circle at the end, away from the large oval or circle. Each white triangle equals a curvy line that has a small circle on the end, away from the large oval or circle.
Correct Response: A - This is because there are two black triangles which equals two straight lines with a small circle at the end, away from the large circle. This follows the rules for Set B

Q.14. 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.

Q. Which of the following test shapes belongs in Set A?
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)

Correct Answer is Option (a)
Set A: Each black triangle equals a curvy line that has a small circle at the end, touching the large oval or circle. Each white triangle equals a straight line that has a small circle at the end, away from the large oval or circle.
Set B: Each black triangle equals a straight line that has a small circle at the end, away from the large oval or circle. Each white triangle equals a curvy line that has a small circle on the end, away from the large oval or circle.
Correct Response: A - This is because there are three white triangles which equal a straight line that has a small circle at the end, away from the large oval and circle. This follows the rules for Set A.

Q.15. You will be presented with a statement, involving a group of shapes. You will be asked to determine which shape completes the statement.

Q. Which figure completes the statement?
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)

Correct Answer is Option (c)
Rule: The whole figure is rotated 90° clockwise. A shape similar to the shape at the corner appears in the central shape on the same side and with the same shading as the shape at the corner. The shading of the shape at the corner is then reversed; shaded becomes unshaded and vice versa.
Correct Response: C - This is because the whole figure is rotated 90 degrees clockwise. Another square has appeared in the central shape with white shading. The square in the top corner has become shaded black.

Q.16. You will be presented with a statement, involving a group of shapes. You will be asked to determine which shape completes the statement.

Q. Which figure completes the statement?
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)

Correct Answer is Option (b)
Rule: The shapes in the same row and column as that of the shaded black shape get a dotted pattern. Additionally, the shapes on the same diagonal as that of the shaded black shape are shaded grey. The rest of the shapes are unshaded.
Correct Response: B- This is because the shaded black shape is at the bottom left so the first column and last row have a dotted pattern. The shapes on the diagonal to the black shaded shape are shaded grey. The rest of the squares are unshaded.

Q.17. You will be presented with a series of shapes. You will be asked to select the next shape in series.

Q. Which figure completes the series?
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)

Correct Answer is Option (b)
Rule: The figures in each box move in two groups.
The first group are the three figures in the 1^st column of the box. From top to bottom, the 1^st figure moves to the 3^rd position, the 2^nd figure moves to the 1^st position and the 3rd figure moves to the 2^nd position in the next box.
The second group are the 2^nd and 3^rd column in the box. Each figure within that group moves one place clockwise in the next box.
Correct Response: B - This is because the unshaded triangle in the 1^st column has moved to the 3^rd position, the unshaded square has moved to the 1^st position and the striped triangle has moved to the 2^nd position.
Additionally, each of the figures in the second and third column has moved one place clockwise within the group. 

Q.18. You will be presented with a series of shapes. You will be asked to select the next shape in series.

Q. Which figure completes the series?
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)

Correct Answer is Option (b)
Rule: The square at the top left of the box turns 90 degrees clockwise in each subsequent box.
The circle in the middle of the box turns 45 degrees clockwise in each subsequent box.
The thick line travels up the box, through the middle and then repeats the sequence of travel going down the box.
Correct response: B - This is because the square at the top left of the box has turned 90 degrees clockwise, and the circle has also turned 45 degrees clockwise.
The thick line is situated at the bottom of the box. 

Q.19. You will be presented with a statement, involving a group of shapes. You will be asked to determine which shape completes the statement.

Q. Which figure completes the statement?
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)

Correct Answer is Option (b)
Rule: The closed shape moves to the opposite segment and the open shape moves to the adjacent segment in a clockwise direction.
Correct response: B - This is because the closed shape, the star, has moved to the opposite segment. The open shape, the V, has moved to the adjacent segment in a clockwise direction.

Q.20. 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.

Q.

(a) Set A
(b) Set B
(c) Neither

Correct Answer is Option (c)
Set A: There are 2 pairs of shapes. If the shapes are unshaded then the pairs are in an ×. If one pair is shaded then the pairs are in a +.
Set B: There are 2 pairs of shapes. If the shapes are all shaded then the pairs are in a +. If one pair is shaded then the pairs are in an ×.
Correct response: C - 2 pairs of shapes, both pairs shaded, in an ×.