Speed Techniques for AR

With 55 questions in 13 minutes, Abstract Reasoning demands speed that can only come from deliberate strategy. Raw pattern-recognition ability is not enough — you need efficient processes that minimise wasted time. This lesson covers the most effective speed techniques used by high-scoring UCAT candidates.

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The Time Budget

Let us start with a clear understanding of the time pressure:

Metric	Value
Total questions	55
Total time	13 minutes (780 seconds)
Average time per question	~14.2 seconds
Time for Type 1 cluster (5 questions)	~71 seconds
Realistic "find the rule" time	15–25 seconds
Realistic "answer each test shape" time	5–10 seconds each

This means for a Type 1 cluster, you can afford about 20 seconds to find both rules and about 10 seconds per test shape. That is tight but achievable with practice.

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The 5-Second Rule

This is the single most important speed technique for AR.