Abstract Reasoning

The Abstract Reasoning Was Formerly A Part of The Differential Aptitude Tests Next Generation (DAT NextGen) And Is New As of 2027.

Help your organization think ahead, solve faster, and adapt with confidence.

The Abstract Reasoning assessment (formerly a core module of the Differential Aptitude Tests™ – Next Generation) is a rapid, online cognitive test designed to measure an individual’s general mental ability, problem-solving skills, and learning agility. Taking approximately 11 minutes to complete, this 15-item test uses advanced computer-adaptive testing technology to adjust the difficulty of questions based on the user’s performance. Instead of relying on a person’s prior academic knowledge, it uses abstract geometric shapes and patterns to evaluate how quickly they can spot relationships, solve unfamiliar challenges, and adapt to changing data frameworks.

In today’s fast-changing world of work, success depends on more than knowledge. It depends on how people think—how they recognize patterns, solve unfamiliar problems, and adapt in the moment.

Trusted since 1947 to predict performance the Differential Aptitude Tests (DAT)™, now Abstract Reasoning, helps you uncover these essential capabilities. Using computer adaptive testing, it provides a clearer, more precise view of how individuals process information and respond to complexity—so you can identify potential early and make confident talent decisions.

Primary Use: Selection and Development
Assessment Type: Cognitive: General Mental Ability (GMA) through the measurement of abstract reasoning
Job Level: Entry level through to managerial job roles
Job Type: Any role requiring individuals to have strong reasoning skills
Number of Items: 15
Estimated Time: 11 minutes (untimed)
Administration Format: Unproctored
Norms: General population, Education-level norms, Role‑ and industry‑based norms (where available)

Available Languages

• English (US & UK)
• French
• Dutch
• Spanish (Castilian & Latin American)
• Portuguese
• Italian
• German
• Turkish
• Arabic Chinese

What does the Abstract Reasoning measure?

1. Pattern Recognition – Identifying relationships, sequences, and structures within abstract shapes and data.
2. Logical Reasoning – Applying structured thinking to determine rules, connections, and outcomes.
3. Problem Solving – in ufamiliar Situations Working through new challenges without relying on prior knowledge or experience.
4. Learning Agility – Quickly understanding new concepts and adapting thinking as complexity increases.
5. Information Processing – Interpreting and organizing visual information to make accurate decisions.
6. Cognitive Flexibility – Shifting perspective and approach when patterns or rules change.

Benefits

• Short – Approximately 10–15 minutes (15 adaptive items)
• Measures critical thinking skills that predict success across roles
• Reliable, predictive scores based on proven cognitive science
• Adaptive testing technology delivers more precise results
• Engaging experience aligned to individual ability level
• Enables confident hiring and development decisions

What It’s Best Used For

• Pre-employment talent selection: Vetting candidates from entry-level positions up to managerial roles to ensure they have the fluid intelligence to grasp new concepts quickly.
• Unproctored remote screening: Deploying secure online pre-screens for remote applicants, using a randomized question pool that prevents cheating without needing a physical test supervisor.
• Predicting employee training success: Evaluating a candidate’s mental processing speed and learning agility before investing corporate time and money into specialized technical onboarding.
• Fair international and diverse appraisals: Utilizing non-verbal, shape-based visual logic to evaluate raw mental capacity fairly across diverse talent pools, bypassing native language barriers.
• Targeting talent development tracks: Identifying active employees who possess strong cognitive flexibility to build custom corporate growth or promotion tracks.

See The Other Differential Aptitude Tests™ – Next Generation Replacement Titles

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