Abstract & Non-Verbal Reasoning Practice: Skills Guide for Selective Exams (2026)

Quick Answer: Abstract reasoning (also called non-verbal reasoning) is pattern-based, language-free thinking tested across Australian selective and scholarship exams. In the NSW Selective Thinking Skills section, candidates answer 40 questions in 40 minutes; HAST lists a dedicated Abstract Reasoning component at both Primary and Secondary level. Mastering matrices, series, analogies and spatial tasks transfers across OC, Selective, HAST and EduTest ability sections. Note that the ACER Scholarship Tests have no abstract reasoning paper.

What is abstract and non-verbal reasoning?

Abstract reasoning and non-verbal reasoning are the same family of skills: identifying relationships, patterns and rules in visual or symbolic information, then applying those rules to new situations, without relying on reading vocabulary or curriculum maths content.

Unlike reading or mathematics, abstract reasoning operates entirely without words or numbers. Instead, your child works with shapes, symbols, sequences and grids. Because the questions carry no reading load and no curriculum content, a child who has changed schools, or who speaks another language at home, is not disadvantaged by vocabulary in the way a comprehension paper can disadvantage them.

That is why these questions appear in selective testing at all: they show how a child handles an unfamiliar rule rather than how much they have already been taught. A child who can spot the hidden rule in a matrix of shapes, or mentally rotate a figure and predict its outcome, is showing the kind of thinking these tests are built to sample.

Abstract reasoning responds well to structured, systematic practice. A child who learns to identify transformation rules deliberately, rather than relying on intuition, generally improves in both accuracy and speed, provided they review their errors after each set.

Why Abstract Reasoning Matters for Selective School Exams

In Australian selective school exams, abstract reasoning questions appear primarily within the Thinking Skills component. In our marking, this is the section that moves slowest: it cannot be "crammed" through content knowledge alone. Improvement comes from repeated exposure to diverse question types and deliberate practice of pattern-finding strategies.

Families who underestimate abstract reasoning often prepare thoroughly for Reading and Mathematical Reasoning, then find the Thinking Skills score pulls the composite result down. Because all four components are weighted equally in the NSW Selective test, a weak abstract reasoning performance is costly. For the full picture, see our Selective School preparation hub and the detailed NSW Selective test format guide.

Which Australian exams test abstract reasoning?

Abstract and non-verbal reasoning questions appear across the major Australian selective school and gifted-education tests, but only HAST names a dedicated Abstract Reasoning component; the NSW Selective and OC tests carry the questions inside Thinking Skills, and the ACER Scholarship Tests have no abstract reasoning section at all. This table summarises where the skill sits, what each authority actually publishes, and what that means for your preparation.

Understanding how each exam uses abstract reasoning helps you prioritise appropriately. The sections below take each one in turn.

NSW Selective High School Placement Test

The Thinking Skills component of the NSW Selective test includes abstract and non-verbal reasoning questions alongside verbal reasoning and logical deduction tasks. Candidates sit 40 questions in 40 minutes (roughly 60 seconds per question), and Thinking Skills is weighted at 25% of the placement score, equal with Reading, Mathematical Reasoning and Writing. The placement test is computer-based, so your child needs to be comfortable working on screen. Official structure and sample materials are published by the NSW Department of Education; the HAST component list is published by ACER.

Abstract reasoning subtypes you can expect include:

• Pattern matrices — find the missing element in a 3×3 or 2×4 grid
• Figure series — identify the next image in a sequence of shapes
• Analogies — figure A is to figure B as figure C is to ?
• Odd one out — identify which figure does not share the common property
• Code patterns — decode a visual rule applied to symbols
• Spatial reasoning — mental rotation, folding, and reflection

NSW Opportunity Class (OC) Placement Test

The OC test, sat in Year 4 for entry into Year 5 opportunity classes, includes a Thinking Skills component with similar abstract reasoning content at an age-appropriate difficulty level. It runs 30 questions in 30 minutes and is worth a third of the placement score.

NSW publishes the shape of the component but not a breakdown of question types within it, so treat the following as our observation rather than published structure: across the OC practice papers we work through with Year 4 students, pattern sequences and matrix reasoning come up more often than the longer logical-deduction items that appear in the Year 6 Selective paper.

HAST (Higher Ability Selection Test)

HAST lists Abstract Reasoning as one of its components at both Primary and Secondary level, which makes this practice directly applicable for HAST candidates. ACER names the component but does not publish a description of what it contains, so we have not characterised the question style here.

ACER's participating-schools list covers 78 schools: 28 in NSW, 24 in Victoria, 11 in Queensland, 8 in South Australia, 6 in Western Australia, and one in Singapore. If you have seen HAST described as a three-state test, that is out of date. Check the participating-schools list for your target school before you plan around it.

ASET (Academic Selective Entrance Test)

Every child applying for a WA Gifted and Talented academic program sits ASET. The WA Department of Education publishes the application and testing calendar but does not publish the test's section structure, so we cannot tell you from an official source how much of ASET is abstract reasoning. Ability-style pattern questions are worth practising for it, but plan the bulk of your preparation around what WA does publish. See the ASET / GATE preparation hub for TSS scoring and sitting dates.

EduTest ability sections

EduTest’s Verbal and Numerical Reasoning sections are ability tests rather than a labelled “non-verbal” paper, but many scholarship families still need visual pattern fluency for Numerical Reasoning matrices and series. Pair this guide with the EduTest exam format page when a target school uses EduTest.

ACER Scholarship and related ACER papers

ACER products differ by programme, and this is the distinction most worth getting right. HAST names an Abstract Reasoning component; the ACER Scholarship Tests do not have one at any level. ACER lists Reading and Viewing, Mathematics and Writing for Level P (primary), and Written Expression, Humanities and Mathematics for Levels 1–3 (secondary).

So if your child is sitting an ACER scholarship paper, an abstract reasoning question bank is not the purchase to make first. Use this guide when a school’s pack includes visual pattern items, and confirm the registered level on the school page before buying anything.

What are the types of abstract reasoning questions?

Abstract reasoning questions fall into six main subtypes. Each requires a slightly different approach. Mastering all six is essential for a strong Thinking Skills result.

1. Pattern Matrices

A pattern matrix presents a grid, usually 3×3, where every cell contains a figure. One cell is missing, and you must identify which of four or five answer options correctly completes the grid.

The rules can operate across rows, columns, or both. Common rules include:

• Rotation: Each figure in a row is rotated by a fixed amount (e.g., 45°, 90°)
• Size progression: Figures increase or decrease in size left to right or top to bottom
• Number of elements: Each row adds or subtracts an element
• Shading: Shading alternates between black, grey, and white
• Combination rules: Rows combine two properties simultaneously (e.g., shape changes AND rotation)

Strategy: Analyse rows first, then columns. Identify what stays the same and what changes. State the rule explicitly before looking at the answer options.

2. Figure Series

A figure series presents four or five images in a horizontal sequence. You must identify the next image in the pattern.

Changes from one image to the next may involve:

• Rotation (clockwise or anticlockwise, by a fixed number of degrees)
• Reflection (horizontal, vertical, or diagonal flip)
• Addition or removal of elements
• Size changes (progressive scaling)
• Colour/shading changes (alternating or progressing)
• Movement of a small element around a larger shape

Strategy: Compare adjacent images systematically. Focus on one attribute at a time: first shape, then shading, then size, then the position of internal elements.

3. Analogies

An analogy question shows two figures that are related in some way (A is to B), then shows a third figure (C) and asks you to identify the fourth figure (D) that completes the same relationship.

For example: A striped circle becomes a solid circle. A striped square becomes... a solid square.

Common analogy relationships include:

• Removing internal detail (striped → solid, detailed → simple)
• Adding a reflection or rotation
• Changing the number of sides
• Inverting colours (black → white)
• Resizing with consistent proportions
• Moving an internal element from one position to another

Strategy: Describe the transformation from A to B in precise language: "The stripes are removed and the shape is rotated 90° clockwise." Then apply the identical transformation to C.

4. Odd One Out

An odd one out question presents five or six figures. All but one share a common property; you must identify the figure that does not belong.

Common properties that link the majority include:

• Same number of sides (e.g., all quadrilaterals except one triangle)
• Same shading type (e.g., all have hatching except one solid)
• Same orientation (e.g., all point upward except one)
• Same number of internal elements
• All symmetrical except one
• All contain a curved element except one

Strategy: Look for the most specific shared property, not the most obvious one. In the papers we mark, the figures that trip children up are the ones that share an obvious surface feature with the group (same shading, same size) while differing on the property that actually defines it.

5. Code Patterns

A code pattern question presents a set of figures, each paired with a letter or symbol code. You must decode the rule and then identify the correct code for a new figure.

For example:

• A large striped triangle = AX
• A small striped triangle = BX
• A large solid circle = AY
• A small solid square = B?

Here, the first letter encodes size (A = large, B = small) and the second letter encodes shading (X = striped, Y = solid). A small solid square would be BY.

Strategy: Treat each code position independently. Identify which attribute each code position represents by finding figures that are identical except for one attribute and noting which code letter changes.

6. Spatial Reasoning

Spatial reasoning questions require you to mentally manipulate shapes. Common formats include:

• Mental rotation: A shape is shown, then displayed at a different rotation — is it the same shape or a mirror image?
• Paper folding: A square of paper is shown being folded and punched with a hole — where does the hole appear when unfolded?
• Cube nets: A flat net is shown — which 3D cube does it fold into?
• Hidden figures: A complex pattern contains a smaller shape — identify it
• Block counting: How many blocks make up a 3D arrangement?

Strategy: For rotation tasks, fix a reference point (a corner, an asymmetric detail) and mentally move only that point. For paper folding, track each fold in sequence rather than trying to visualise the final result in one step.

What do abstract reasoning practice questions look like?

An abstract reasoning practice question shows a small set of figures governed by a hidden rule, and asks your child to find that rule and apply it — as a matrix, a series, an analogy, an odd-one-out, a code pattern or a spatial task. The 17 worked examples below cover all six subtypes, each with the answer and the rule that produces it. Work through each question before reading the answer; the difficulty level increases progressively.

Question 1 — Figure Series (Easy)

A sequence shows four figures. Each figure is a regular polygon: triangle (3 sides), square (4 sides), pentagon (5 sides), hexagon (6 sides). What comes next?

Answer: A heptagon (7 sides).

Explanation: The number of sides increases by 1 each time. The rule is: sides = 3, 4, 5, 6, 7...

Question 2 — Pattern Matrix (Easy)

A 3×3 matrix:

• Row 1: 1 dot, 2 dots, 3 dots
• Row 2: 2 dots, 4 dots, 6 dots
• Row 3: 3 dots, 6 dots, ?

Answer: 9 dots.

Explanation: Each row multiplies the number from row 1 by the row number. Alternatively, each column multiplies the column position by the row position.

Question 3 — Analogy (Easy)

A solid black circle relates to a circle with a white interior and black border in the same way that a solid black triangle relates to...?

Answer: A triangle with a white interior and black border (outline only).

Explanation: The transformation removes the fill from the shape, leaving only the outline. Apply the same transformation to the triangle.

Question 4 — Odd One Out (Easy)

Five shapes: circle, oval, square, rectangle, hexagon. Which is the odd one out?

Answer: Hexagon.

Explanation: Count the straight sides. The circle and oval have none, the square and rectangle have four each, and the hexagon has six. Every other figure has four sides or fewer, so the hexagon is the only one with more than four. That is the rule, and it is the kind of rule to look for first: one countable property that separates exactly one figure from the rest.

Question 5 — Code Pattern (Easy)

• Large striped square = AS
• Small striped square = BS
• Large solid triangle = AT
• Small solid circle = ?

Answer: BC

Explanation: The first letter encodes size: A = large, B = small. The second letter encodes shape: S = square, T = triangle, C = circle. A small solid circle is B (small) + C (circle) = BC.

Question 6 — Figure Series (Moderate)

In a sequence of four figures, a single black dot inside a square moves clockwise from the top-left corner to the top-right corner, then to the bottom-right corner, then to the bottom-left corner. Where is the dot in the fifth figure?

Answer: Back at the top-left corner.

Explanation: The dot cycles through four positions clockwise. After bottom-left (4th position), it returns to top-left (1st position), completing the cycle.

Question 7 — Pattern Matrix (Moderate)

A 3×3 matrix where:

• Each row contains a circle, square, and triangle (in different orders)
• Each shape appears once per row and once per column (like a Sudoku)
• Shading alternates: the first row is solid, diagonal-striped, and hollow; the pattern means each shading type appears once per row and once per column

The top-right cell is missing. Row 1 shows: solid circle, striped square, ? Row 2 shows: hollow triangle, solid circle, striped square. Row 3 shows: striped square, hollow triangle, solid circle.

Answer: Hollow triangle.

Explanation: In column 3, solid and striped already appear. Hollow must appear. In row 1, triangle hasn't appeared yet. The missing cell must be a hollow triangle.

Question 8 — Analogy (Moderate)

A 3×3 grid of small dots (all filled) relates to a 3×3 grid where only the border dots are filled (the centre dot is empty) in the same way that a 4×4 grid of filled dots relates to...?

Answer: A 4×4 grid where only the border dots are filled (12 dots filled, the inner 2×2 removed).

Explanation: The transformation removes the interior dots, keeping only the outer border. Applied to a 4×4 grid: remove the inner 2×2 (4 dots), leaving 12 border dots.

Question 9 — Spatial Reasoning (Moderate)

A square piece of paper is folded in half from left to right (the right half folds onto the left), then folded in half from top to bottom (the bottom half folds onto the top). A hole is punched in the top-right corner of the resulting folded square. When unfolded, how many holes appear, and where?

Answer: 4 holes, one in each corner of the original square.

Explanation: Each fold doubles the number of layers. Two folds = four layers. The single punch creates four holes. Because the folds were made symmetrically (left-right, then top-bottom), the holes appear at all four corners of the original paper.

Question 10 — Odd One Out (Moderate)

Six figures: a square with a circle inside, a triangle with a circle inside, a pentagon with a circle inside, a hexagon with a circle inside, a rectangle with a circle inside, and a circle with a triangle inside.

Answer: The circle with a triangle inside.

Explanation: In all other figures, the inner shape is a circle. Only the last figure reverses this: the outer shape is a circle and the inner shape is a triangle. The defining property of the group is "circle on the inside", and the odd one out breaks it.

Question 11 — Figure Series (Moderate)

In a sequence of five shapes, the shape has: 4 sides in figure 1, 3 sides in figure 2, 5 sides in figure 3, 3 sides in figure 4, 6 sides in figure 5. How many sides does figure 6 have?

Answer: 3 sides (a triangle).

Explanation: The pattern alternates: even-positioned figures are always triangles (3 sides), while odd-positioned figures follow the sequence 4, 5, 6... (increasing by 1). Figure 6 is even-positioned, so it is a triangle.

Question 12 — Code Pattern (Challenging)

Figures and their codes:

• Large black circle moving right = TXR
• Small black circle moving right = SXR
• Large white square moving left = TYL
• Large black triangle moving up = TXU
• Small white circle moving down = ?

Answer: SYD

Explanation: The three-letter code encodes three attributes independently: Position 1 = size (T = large, S = small); Position 2 = fill (X = black, Y = white); Position 3 = direction (R = right, L = left, U = up, D = down). A small white circle moving down = S (small) + Y (white) + D (down) = SYD.

Question 13 — Pattern Matrix (Challenging)

A 3×3 matrix where each row contains three shapes. The rule is: the third shape in each row is made by combining the first two shapes (overlapping and keeping only the outline parts that appear in one shape but NOT the other, like an XOR operation).

Row 1: Shape A = circle, Shape B = square, Shape C = a circle with a square overlapping (only the non-overlapping parts are filled).

What is the third shape if Row 2 has Shape A = large circle, Shape B = small circle (centred inside), and the rule is the same?

Answer: A ring (annulus): the large circle outline with the small circle removed from the centre.

Explanation: The XOR rule keeps the parts that appear in one shape but not both. The large circle and small circle overlap (the small circle is entirely inside the large one). The non-overlapping part of the large circle is the ring between the two circles. The small circle itself has no unique area. The result is a ring shape.

Question 14 — Spatial Reasoning (Challenging)

A cube has different symbols on each face: star (top), circle (bottom, opposite star), triangle (front), square (back, opposite triangle), cross (left), heart (right, opposite cross). If you rotate the cube 90° to the right (the right face comes to the top), what symbol is now on top?

Answer: Heart.

Explanation: Rotating 90° to the right brings the right face to the top. The right face has a heart, so heart is now on top.

Question 15 — Analogy (Challenging)

A 2×2 grid of four cells relates to a 2×2 grid where the contents of each cell have been rotated 90° clockwise around the centre of the grid (so the top-left square moves to the top-right position, top-right to bottom-right, bottom-right to bottom-left, and bottom-left to top-left).

Now apply this transformation to a 2×2 grid where: top-left = striped square, top-right = solid circle, bottom-left = hollow triangle, bottom-right = dotted pentagon.

Answer: Top-left = hollow triangle, top-right = striped square, bottom-right = solid circle, bottom-left = dotted pentagon.

Explanation: Each element rotates 90° clockwise around the grid centre: top-left → top-right, top-right → bottom-right, bottom-right → bottom-left, bottom-left → top-left. So: top-left (striped square) moves to top-right; top-right (solid circle) moves to bottom-right; bottom-right (dotted pentagon) moves to bottom-left; bottom-left (hollow triangle) moves to top-left.

Question 16 — Figure Series (Challenging)

A sequence shows figures where the number of dots inside a shape follows this pattern across five images: 1, 2, 4, 7, 11. How many dots are in the sixth figure?

Answer: 16 dots.

Explanation: The differences between consecutive terms are 1, 2, 3, 4, increasing by 1 each time. The next difference is 5, so 11 + 5 = 16.

Question 17 — Odd One Out (Challenging)

Five figures, each showing a 3×3 grid of shapes. In Figure A, all shapes in the diagonal (top-left to bottom-right) are circles. In Figures B, C, and D, the same is true. In Figure E, the diagonal contains a mix of circles and squares. Which is the odd one out?

Answer: Figure E.

Explanation: The unifying rule is that the top-left to bottom-right diagonal contains only circles. Figure E breaks this rule by including a square on the diagonal.

How do you prepare for an abstract reasoning test?

Improving abstract reasoning scores takes a different approach from preparing for content-based subjects. Here is what we see work in our Thinking Skills coaching. These steps sit within our broader NSW Selective test preparation strategies, and you can benchmark your child's current reasoning level with a free Year 5 sample paper.

Start Well Before the Exam

Abstract reasoning is the component that responds most slowly to practice. Unlike Mathematical Reasoning, where a child can learn a new formula and apply it the same afternoon, this ability builds gradually through exposure and reflection, so a long, light run-up suits it better than a short intense one.

Aim for three to four targeted practice sessions per week, each 20–30 minutes long. Shorter, regular sessions work better than occasional marathon sessions. Keep the total inside our recommended weekly preparation caps: up to 5–6 hours a week across all subjects for a Year 5 or Year 6 child preparing for OC or Selective, class time included, and less if sleep or family time starts to suffer. Those caps are our coaching guidance, not a guarantee of any result.

Build a Question-Type Library

The six question types described above are stable across Australian exams. For each type, your child should:

• Understand the rules — what transformations are possible?
• Practise recognition — how do you spot which type it is quickly?
• Apply strategies — what is the most efficient approach for each type?
• Review errors — why did you get it wrong, and what would catch the error next time?

Keep a dedicated notebook or digital document with worked examples of each type.

Practise Systematic Thinking, Not Guessing

The habit that helps most is refusing to guess without first identifying the rule. Even if you cannot find the rule, articulate what you have checked: "I've ruled out size, rotation, and shading. The remaining variable is the number of elements." This systematic elimination approach prevents the careless errors that cost marks on easy questions.

Use Activities That Build Spatial Reasoning

Beyond formal test practice, these activities develop the underlying spatial and pattern-recognition abilities:

• Puzzles: Jigsaw puzzles, tangrams, Rubik's cubes
• Construction: Lego, origami, building kits
• Strategy games: Chess, draughts, strategy video games
• Visual arts: Drawing, geometric design, tessellations
• Coding: Block-based and text-based coding (develops pattern thinking)

They are worth doing on their own terms, and children who enjoy them tend to arrive at formal practice already comfortable with rotating and comparing shapes in their head.

Simulate Exam Conditions

Once foundational skills are established, shift to timed practice under exam conditions. Your child needs to practise:

• The 60-second-per-question pace of the NSW Selective test
• Moving on when stuck rather than spending 3 minutes on one question
• Managing cognitive fatigue across a 40-question sitting
• Reading questions carefully on screen (not paper)

Use official practice materials first, then third-party mock tests that match the question style of the target exam.

Analyse Every Error

After each practice session, review every incorrect answer. For each error, determine:

• Did you misidentify the question type?
• Did you find the wrong rule?
• Did you apply the correct rule but make a careless error?
• Did time pressure cause you to guess?

Each error category requires a different remedy. Group your errors by category to find the weakness they share.

Structured coaching option

Plenty of families prepare well on their own, and the 17 questions above are there to be used that way. What a coach adds, if you want one, is:

• Diagnosis of specific weaknesses across question types
• Question variations your child would not run into on their own
• Immediate feedback on the reasoning, not just the right or wrong answer
• A structured, progressive programme that keeps the work moving

At Braintree Coaching Australia, our Selective preparation courses include dedicated Thinking Skills modules covering abstract and non-verbal reasoning.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can abstract reasoning be improved with practice?

Yes. Abstract reasoning has a cognitive component that reflects natural ability, but targeted practice on the six question types in this guide reliably improves performance when sessions are timed and every error is reviewed. The gains come from strategy and error analysis, not from volume alone.

How much time should we spend on abstract reasoning each week?

For a child preparing for the NSW Selective or OC test, Braintree Coaching Australia recommends three to four sessions of 20 to 30 minutes per week dedicated specifically to abstract and non-verbal reasoning. That sits inside our recommended weekly preparation caps, and it is in addition to practice for Reading, Mathematical Reasoning and Writing.

At what age should children start abstract reasoning practice?

For OC test preparation (Year 4), abstract reasoning practice is appropriate from Year 3. For Selective test preparation (Year 6), Year 5 is ideal for starting systematic work. Casual exposure through puzzles and spatial activities is beneficial at any age.

Is the abstract reasoning component the same in all Australian exams?

No. The core question types are consistent across the NSW Selective, OC, HAST and ASET exams, but difficulty levels and question distributions vary, and the ACER Scholarship Tests have no abstract reasoning section at all. HAST does have a dedicated Abstract Reasoning component, which makes this practice particularly high-value for HAST candidates.

What is the difference between abstract reasoning and logical reasoning?

Abstract reasoning refers to pattern-based, visual or non-verbal tasks such as matrices, series and shape analogies. Logical reasoning involves language-based deduction such as syllogisms and conditional statements. The Thinking Skills component of the NSW Selective test includes both. This guide covers the abstract and non-verbal side; our NSW Selective Thinking Skills test guide covers the full component, logical deduction included.

Are there free abstract reasoning practice resources?

Yes. This guide contains 17 worked abstract reasoning questions with full explanations, and Braintree Coaching Australia's Free Practice Tests section includes free Thinking Skills practice tests.

How is abstract reasoning tested on computer versus paper?

The question types are identical, but computer-based delivery requires working comfortably on screen: tracking patterns in digital images, using a mouse or trackpad to select answers, and navigating between questions with on-screen controls. Computer-based practice is essential for the NSW Selective Placement Test, which is computer-based.

Related Reading:

• NSW Selective Thinking Skills test — format, mistake patterns and a 2027 prep plan
• NSW Selective School Test Components: Complete 2026 Guide
• OC exam format — Thinking Skills in the Opportunity Class paper
• HAST exam preparation — Abstract Reasoning as a dedicated HAST component
• EduTest selective and scholarship exam
• ACER Scholarship Test preparation
• Victoria SEHS preparation hub