Questions: 65
Timing: 15 minutes + 1 minute to read instructions
Scoring: 300-900
The section is divided into 13 sets of A and B shapes followed by five shapes each. Candidates must determine whether new shapes belong to set A or B.
The Abstract Reasoning section assesses your ability to identify patterns amongst abstract shapes. This seems like an unusual type of question – but our teachers who have studied medicine all compare it to the first time they learnt to read an x-ray.
The patterns are designed to include unrelated or distracting elements – so it can be tricky to find the pattern in the time allowed. The patterns test your critical evaluation skills and ability to identify changes and generate ideas.
Pattern recognition is not a natural skill, but it can be improved through the training and strategies you’ll learn in a Kaplan class.
Initially, new medics will look at an x-ray and can pick out the lungs and the ribs -- and that's about all. With training, though, they can start to 'see' the fuller picture, and read the x-ray properly. Abstract Reasoning is much the same: you have to train your eyes to 'see' the patterns.