Ecole nationale d’administration -ENA French National School of Administration
Preparation for European Institutions Open Competitions
The Abstract Reasoning Test
The Abstract Reasoning Test Assessed Competencies •
Assessing the ability to think flexibly and resolve new problems.
•
Assessing candidates'ability to draw inferences and understand the relationship between various concepts.
The Abstract Reasoning Test •
Symbols or shapes
•
Linear or planar geometric analogies
•
No spatial (3 dimensional) geometric reasoning
•
No word, no number
•
Possibility to appeal to number in the form of pictorial representation
The Abstract Reasoning Test
• Multiple-choice questions
• Only one correct answer among 4 to 6 proposals • Approximate duration: 20 minutes
The Abstract Reasoning Test Classic Questions •
Which figure completes the series ?
•
What is the odd one out ?
•
Which figure completes the statement :
A is to B as C is to D ?
The Abstract Reasoning Test Classic Questions
•
Which figure completes the series ?
Réponse : D
The Abstract Reasoning Test Classic Questions •
What is the odd one out ?
Réponse : D
The Abstract Reasoning Test Classic Questions
Which figure completes the statement : A is to B as C is to D ?
Réponse : C
Some advice on methodology
• Objective : to identify the rule Method:
• Observe • Identify the rule • Foresee the next result
General advices Similarly to all other logic tests : • Read the instructions carefully • Remain focused
• Manage your time A key word : Training!
Identify the characteristics
of the diagrams
Identify the elements of the diagrams
• Number of elements • Shapes: circle, squares, etc. • Colours of the shapes and/or alternation of colours • Relative dimension : « big square », « small square »,etc. • Meaningful symbols: arrows,etc.
• Direction of the movement : left to right, bottom-up, etc.
Identify specific structures of the diagrams
• Series of diagrams • Matrices : logical link between rows or colonnes of symbols • Analogy (A is to B as C is to D)
Identify the evolution of the elements of the diagrams
• Identical elements in every diagram
Réponse : C
Identify the evolution of the elements of the diagrams
• Progression : addition or removal of some elements from one diagram to the next.
Réponse : C
Some frequent rules
Some frequent rules
Rotations • Rotation of one or several elements from one diagram to another • Rotation of the same diagram Important : Pay attention to the direction
• Clock-wise • Or anti clock-wise
Some frequent rules
Rotations • Rotation of one or several elements from one diagram to another
Réponse : C
Some frequent rules
Rotations • Rotation of the same diagram.
Réponse : D
Some frequent rules
Symmetry • Symmetry to an axis • Symmetry to a point
Some frequent rules Dominos • Ascending sequences or descending sequences of the dominos For the top-halves, bottom-halves of the dominos.... :
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, blank, 1, 2.... 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, blank, 6, 5, 4, 3.. • Cross-referenced series • Sums, substraction, products of dominos,etc
Some frequent rules Dominos • Ascending sequences or descending sequences of the dominos
Réponse : C
Some frequent rules Dominos • Cross-referenced series
Réponse : C
Some frequent rules Dominos
• Observe the domino as a whole • Observe the top-half or the bottom-half of the domino
Some frequent rules Series of diagrams Linear series : diagram 1 (D1) is linked to D2, D2 is linked to D3, etc ...
Réponse : B
Example, source EPSO
Some frequent rules Series of diagrams •
Alternation: diagramme 1 (D1) is linked to D3, D2 is linked to D4, etc ... Example, source EPSO :
Réponse : C
Some frequent rules Series of diagrams Sequences: D1, D2 et D3 are in a sequence which is repeated in D4, D5 and D6. Example, source EPSO :
Réponse : D
Abstract reasoning : example of on-line test
Resources
• Documents provided during the training • www.psychometric-success.com: Abstract reasoning for all levels • Tests de logique aux concours des écoles de commerce. Sabine Duhamel,Marie-Lorène Giniès, Gérard Roudaut, William Seck, Hubert Silly.Studyrama 2009.
Thank you for your attention Anne-Catherine Gutknecht Preparation for European institutions’ open competitions Mail:
[email protected] https://www.facebook.com/Prepa.concours.UE
