PMA Entrance Exam SPMA Review: Verbal, Numerical and Pattern Reasoning
PMA Entrance Exam SPMA Review: Verbal, Numerical and Pattern Reasoning
PMA's entrance exam measures three areas: math, English and abstract reasoning, which PMA calls the SPMA. PMA describes the SPMA as verbal and numerical reasoning and pattern analysis. It doesn't publish how many items there are or how they're split, so practise all three.
Verbal reasoning
- Analogies — state the relationship between the first pair in a sentence ("a pilot flies a plane"), then test each option with the same sentence
- Classification — find the word that doesn't belong, using the most specific shared category
- Word meaning — synonyms, antonyms, and words that complete a relationship
- Logical statements — "all", "some", "none", and "if…then" statements; know that the contrapositive of a true statement is true, while the converse and inverse may not be
Numerical reasoning
- Number series — look at the differences between terms first; then try ratios, alternating patterns, squares and cubes
- Letter series — convert letters to their alphabet positions (A = 1 … Z = 26)
- Quick arithmetic and estimation — percentages, ratios and simple word problems done fast
- Number relationships — find the rule that links numbers in a grid or table
Pattern analysis
- Figure series — track one element at a time (position, rotation, shading, number of parts)
- Figure analogies — identify the change from the first figure to the second, then apply it
- Odd one out among figures
- Matrices — find the rule across rows and down columns
A four-week plan
| Week | Focus |
|---|---|
| 1 | Number and letter series |
| 2 | Verbal analogies, classification and logical statements |
| 3 | Figure series, figure analogies and matrices |
| 4 | Timed mixed SPMA sets; review every mistake |
Aim for speed as well as accuracy: once you've seen a pattern type many times, you'll recognise it in seconds.
Where Super Tutor fits
Super Tutor's PMAEE reviewer has abstract reasoning chapters — reasoning question types, spatial reasoning, and perceptual speed and accuracy — plus vocabulary and analogy chapters for the verbal side, each in 11 study formats with practice quizzes at three difficulty levels and an AI tutor. It doesn't have full PMAEE mock exams. Start free — 5-day trial, no card needed.
What to read next
The PMA entrance exam guide covers the full review. The other areas: Math and English.
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Super Tutor's PMAEE reviewer has every chapter in 11 study formats, practice quizzes at three difficulty levels, an AI tutor for the questions you get stuck on, and a study planner. Start with a 5-day free trial, no card needed.
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