Can anyone help with these abstract patterns?

TheCenturion · 28 Aug 2011 at 20:49

Hi, I've got a medical admissions test coming up in a few days

eek

, and this section is killing me.

The idea is that you have two sets, A and B. You have to determine the rules that govern whether a particular box is part of set A, set B or neither set.

Here's an example:

http://www.ukcat.ac.uk/images/Abstract_Reasoning_Subtest.jpg

Quite clearly, in that example, set A contains shapes only with curved edges, and set B contains shapes only with straight edges.

These are two that I just cannot figure out:

Here's the kicker - in the exam you have about 1 minute per 5 items, so you need to figure out the pattern and answer 5 questions in that minute.

Thanks everyone

Cybermyk · 28 Aug 2011 at 21:04

As I see it, in your sample, the question is what does the box in the right hand answer section best fit. Your two other samples don't have the questions or the example which could be related to anything or nothing in either A or B.

I wouldn't get worked up about it.

TheCenturion · 28 Aug 2011 at 21:06

Cybermyk said:
As I see it, in your sample, the question is what does the box in the right hand answer section best fit. Your two other samples don't have the questions or the example which could be related to anything or nothing in either A or B.

I wouldn't get worked up about it.

Yeah, I haven't included the questions, but it's not necessary because in order to answer them, you have to 'solve' the sets first anyway

I've been informed that the answer to the first one is that in Set A, there must be one big shape and in set B, there must be a black triangle.

Now just need to work out the second one.

Helios1234 · 28 Aug 2011 at 21:10

Wooo I noticed the fact that set two had the black triangles. What do I win?

For the second one, it could be that in set A, within each box, the shapes have to have different fills i.e. no two shapes in the same box can have the same pattern. Not sure about set B.

Cybermyk · 28 Aug 2011 at 21:20

I'd say A the biggest shape is striped and B the smallest.

TheCenturion · 28 Aug 2011 at 21:21

Cybermyk said:
I'd say A the biggest shape is striped and B the smallest.

Thank you so much! That was really bugging me. I think that's it, because all the questions fit in with the answers

bhavv · 28 Aug 2011 at 21:48

What the hell am I meant to be looking for in those pictures???? :x

I did really well on these kinds of tests in year 9, enough to get me put into top set for Science, and second set for maths, but after GCSEs I became a dunce.

tres · 28 Aug 2011 at 22:37

I'm glad I'm not the only one hating abstract reasoning!

TheCenturion · 28 Aug 2011 at 22:38

tres said:
I'm glad I'm not the only one hating abstract reasoning!

Are you applying for this year? Have you taken your test yet?

meghatronic · 28 Aug 2011 at 22:39

AR on the UKCAT is absolute ******* ********. It made me want to **** **** and ***** the *****.

I got 590 in that section.

tres · 28 Aug 2011 at 22:41

TheCenturion said:
Are you applying for this year? Have you taken your test yet?

Test booked for the 19th September, and applying for 11/12 also

Good luck buddy

meghatronic · 28 Aug 2011 at 22:42

PS. I hope you're practicing on the 600Q book!

tres · 28 Aug 2011 at 22:44

I am indeed!

TheCenturion · 28 Aug 2011 at 22:46

tres said:
Test booked for the 19th September, and applying for 11/12 also

Good luck buddy

Good luck to you too! I've considered rescheduling mine to september, it's on wednesday. But then again I might as well get it out of the way. What to do, what to do...

meghatronic said:
PS. I hope you're practicing on the 600Q book!

Of course!

But the maths is ridiculously hard in that book, and I'm really good at maths normally

Did you get a place?

meghatronic · 28 Aug 2011 at 22:47

tres said:
I am indeed!

My personal advice is do the mock timed the morning/evening before your actual exam. It really eased me into it and I aced the QR and DA sections on my exams.

I found my VR too ambiguous (i.e., I could argue false or can't tell) and AR was ridiculous, as always.

TheCenturion · 28 Aug 2011 at 22:49

meghatronic said:
My personal advice is do the mock timed the morning/evening before your actual exam. It really eased me into it and I aced the QR and DA sections on my exams.

I found my VR too ambiguous (i.e., I could argue false or can't tell) and AR was ridiculous, as always.

I thought I was really good at Verbal. did a kaplan mock today and got 32/44. Not bad.

But did really badly on Decision, even though it's really really really easy

meghatronic · 28 Aug 2011 at 22:52

TheCenturion said:
I thought I was really good at Verbal. did a kaplan mock today and got 32/44. Not bad.

But did really badly on Decision, even though it's really really really easy

That's the wrong attitude. The whole thing is easy, and difficult. That's the point of it. It isn't a measure of anything really, just an arbitrary cut off some medical/dental schools can use.

Practice, practice, practice really, really helps. Especially in AR/DA.

I got almost full marks in the practice VRs, but found the actual one harder, probably due to initial nerves (it's the first section).

Good luck!

Judgeneo · 28 Aug 2011 at 22:54

TheCenturion said:
I've been informed that the answer to the first one is that in Set A, there must be one big shape and in set B, there must be a black triangle.

I had figured that out, but didn't think it qualified as a pattern

meghatronic · 28 Aug 2011 at 22:54

TheCenturion said:
Of course!

But the maths is ridiculously hard in that book, and I'm really good at maths normally

Did you get a place?

Not applied yet! Took UKCAT last week. Graduate-entry medicine shindig.

The QR in the actual exam is more similar to the UKCAT practice SHORT test - so take a look at that if you have time.

Good luck!

TheCenturion · 28 Aug 2011 at 22:59

meghatronic said:
Not applied yet! Took UKCAT last week. Graduate-entry medicine shindig.

The QR in the actual exam is more similar to the UKCAT practice SHORT test - so take a look at that if you have time.

Good luck!

Nice. What was your overall score?

I can get most verbal things, I also sometimes get confused between false and can't tell.

The short test qr is easy for me thank god!

I don't know if I've practised enough. I've done all the 600q questions, most of them twice now. I've done the official practice tests, the kaplan practice test as well. The only thing left is the 600q mock. Yet I don't really feel prepared :\