UPCAT Abstract Reasoning Reviewer
11 Abstract Reasoning practice questions for the University of the Philippines College Admission Test, each with the correct answer and an explanation of why it's right.
Abstract Reasoning Practice Questions with Answers
- 1hard
What completes this list? sunflower, among, statuette, Sweden, enthusiasm, befriend, ____
- A.abbreviated
- B.Denmark
- C.hopelessness
- D.insatiable
Show answer & explanation
Answer: D. insatiable
Each word hides the next day of the week: SUNflower, aMONg, staTUEtte, sWEDen, enTHUsiasm, beFRIend. The next word must hide SAT: inSATiable.
- 2hard
What letter should replace the question mark?
N T P R G I K M F H ? L - A.I
- B.J
- C.K
- D.G
Show answer & explanation
Answer: B. J
In each box the four letters go up by two: N, P, R, T and G, I, K, M. The last box follows the same step: F, H, J, L, so the missing letter is J.
- 3hard
What value is FAIL?
WAVE = 13
TAXI = 8
HALT = 10
FAIL = ?
LINK = 9- A.4
- B.11
- C.7
- D.9
Show answer & explanation
Answer: D. 9
Each word's value is the number of straight lines needed to write its capital letters: WAVE = 4 + 3 + 2 + 4 = 13, TAXI = 2 + 3 + 2 + 1 = 8, HALT = 3 + 3 + 2 + 2 = 10, LINK = 2 + 1 + 3 + 3 = 9. FAIL = 3 + 3 + 1 + 2 = 9.
- 4hard
If 3829718 is to 87283 and 642735 is to 5346, then 6917 is to what?
- A.532
- B.4813
- C.76
- D.39
Show answer & explanation
Answer: C. 76
Reverse the digits and drop the highest and lowest digit: 3829718 → 8179283 → drop 9 and 1 → 87283; 642735 → 537246 → drop 7 and 2 → 5346. So 6917 → 7196 → drop 9 and 1 → 76.
- 5hard
ENEI = 78
URON = 41
NESE = 97
???? = 86Which set of letters gives 86?
- A.EISI
- B.BUTH
- C.HTSI
- D.SONM
Show answer & explanation
Answer: C. HTSI
Each code is the last two letters of the first number word plus the first two letters of the second: seVEN + EIght = ENEI (78), foUR + ONe = URON (41), niNE + SEven = NESE (97). So 86 = eigHT + SIx = HTSI.
- 6hard
Which of the following words is the odd one out? Racecar, Dresser, Grammar, Potato, Revive, Uneven
- A.Racecar
- B.Grammar
- C.Potato
- D.Revive
Show answer & explanation
Answer: A. Racecar
Remove the first letter of each word: Dresser → resser, Grammar → rammar, Potato → otato, Revive → evive, Uneven → neven — all palindromes. Racecar → acecar is not (Racecar is itself a palindrome), so it is the odd one out.
- 7medium
Pattern Recognition: Identify the next number in the sequence.
3.5, 7, 10.5, 14, ?
- A.18
- B.18.5
- C.17.5
- D.17
- E.None of the above
Show answer & explanation
Answer: C. 17.5
This is an arithmetic sequence where each number increases by 3.5. Starting from 3.5, adding 3.5 gives 7, then 10.5, then 14, so the next number is 14 + 3.5 = 17.5.
- 8medium
Pattern Recognition: Identify the next number in the sequence.
32, 58, 92, 134, ?
- A.180
- B.182
- C.186
- D.184
- E.None of the above
Show answer & explanation
Answer: D. 184
The differences between consecutive numbers form a pattern: 58-32=26, 92-58=34, 134-92=42. The differences increase by 8 each time (26, 34, 42), so the next difference is 50, making the answer 134+50=184.
- 9medium
Pattern Recognition: Identify the next number in the sequence.
24, 60, 120, 210, ?
- A.420
- B.226
- C.336
- D.366
- E.None of the above
Show answer & explanation
Answer: C. 336
Each number in the sequence is the product of three consecutive integers: 24 = 2×3×4, 60 = 3×4×5, 120 = 4×5×6, 210 = 5×6×7. Following this pattern, the next number is 6×7×8 = 336.
- 10medium
Pattern Recognition: Identify the next number in the sequence.
2, 3.5, 5, 6.5, 8, ?
- A.9.2
- B.9.3
- C.9.4
- D.9.5
- E.None of the above
Show answer & explanation
Answer: D. 9.5
The sequence increases by 1.5 each time: 2 + 1.5 = 3.5, 3.5 + 1.5 = 5, 5 + 1.5 = 6.5, 6.5 + 1.5 = 8, and 8 + 1.5 = 9.5. This is an arithmetic sequence with a constant difference of 1.5.
- 11medium
Pattern Recognition: Identify the next number in the sequence.
8, 16, 28, 44, ?
- A.62
- B.64
- C.66
- D.72
- E.None of the above
Show answer & explanation
Answer: B. 64
The sequence increases by consecutive even numbers: 8→16 (+8), 16→28 (+12), 28→44 (+16). The differences form the pattern 8, 12, 16, which increase by 4 each time. Therefore, the next difference is 20, making the answer 44 + 20 = 64.
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