Mastering ADF Abstract Reasoning: Pattern Rules & Sequences (With Exercises)
Abstract reasoning is one of three sections in the ADF Job Opportunities Assessment (JOA), alongside verbal reasoning and numerical reasoning. Of the three, it's the one that surprises candidates most — not because the logic is complicated, but because most people haven't been trained to think in shapes and patterns the way the JOA requires. Watch the breakdown below, then read the full guide.
What the JOA Abstract Reasoning Section Measures
Abstract reasoning in the ADF Job Opportunities Assessment tests how quickly you can identify relationships and rules between shapes and figures — without any words or numbers involved. It measures non-verbal problem solving: your ability to spot what's changing, what's staying the same, and what rule is governing a sequence.
It's particularly important for candidates applying for officer, aviation, and technical pathways, where fast non-verbal reasoning is directly relevant to the role. But every ADF applicant sits it, and every applicant's Job Opportunities Report is affected by their score across all three sections.
The JOA is 51 questions in 20 minutes. Abstract reasoning makes up 17 of those questions, which means you have roughly the same time pressure here as across the rest of the test — under 24 seconds per question on average. The rule you're looking for either clicks quickly, or you move on.
What JOA Abstract Reasoning Questions Look Like
Abstract reasoning questions in the JOA present a series of shapes or figures and ask you to identify the pattern or rule that connects them. Common formats include:
Odd one out — You are shown a set of figures and must identify which one doesn't follow the same rule as the others. Sometimes you need to select two.
Next in sequence — You are shown a progression of shapes and must identify which option comes next, based on the rule governing the sequence.
Matrices — You are shown a grid of figures with one missing and must select the figure that completes the pattern based on what's happening across both rows and columns.
All questions are multiple choice. Some require selecting two correct answers, which will be stated in the question — so read the instruction before looking at the figures.
The Rule Checklist: What to Look For
The fastest way to solve JOA abstract reasoning questions is to work through a consistent checklist rather than staring at the figures and waiting for something to jump out. Train yourself to look for these in order:
Number of features — Count the elements in each figure: sides, shapes, dots, lines. Is the number increasing, decreasing, or alternating?
Pairs and symmetry — Are elements appearing in pairs? Is there a mirroring pattern between figures?
Transformations — Is something rotating (often 90° or 180°), reflecting, or moving position across the sequence?
Progressions — Is the number of elements going up or down by a consistent amount at each step?
Shading and fill — Is shading alternating between figures? Is it cumulative — filling in one more section at each step?
Arithmetic on features — In some questions, the rule is about the total number of edges, sides, or shaded squares across the figures, not what any single figure looks like in isolation.
The key is to check these systematically, not randomly. Candidates who stare at a question and wait for the rule to become obvious lose time. Candidates who work through a checklist find the rule faster and move on.
Rapid Tactics for the JOA Abstract Reasoning Section
Eliminate first — Before you identify the correct answer, rule out the options that obviously violate the pattern. Eliminating two or three wrong answers immediately narrows your decision and reduces the chance of a costly mistake.
Look for two rules working together — Some JOA abstract reasoning questions use a combination of rules, for example rotation plus a shading change happening simultaneously. If your checklist identifies one rule but the answer still isn't clear, look for a second rule operating at the same time.
Don't fixate on the wrong feature — A common error is counting shapes when the rule is actually about edges, or watching rotation when the rule is about position. If your first reading of the pattern doesn't lead to a clear answer, step back and check whether you're looking at the right feature.
Sketch if it helps — A quick arrow drawn on scratch paper can confirm a rotation sequence in seconds. If the rotation direction or angle isn't obvious from looking, a small sketch resolves it faster than staring.
Set a hard time limit — If the rule hasn't clicked within 20 to 30 seconds, mark your best answer and move on. No single abstract reasoning question is worth sacrificing time across the rest of the JOA.
Common Mistakes on JOA Abstract Reasoning
Counting the wrong element is the most frequent error — for example, tracking the number of shapes in each figure when the rule is actually about the number of sides. Always confirm what you're counting before committing to an answer.
Ignoring position is another common trap. A shape can rotate and change position at the same time, and candidates focused on the rotation miss the positional shift entirely. Check both.
Overlooking a second rule catches candidates who find one pattern, assume they've solved it, and select the first option that fits — only to find there was a second constraint they missed. If two answer options both seem to fit your rule, there's likely a second rule narrowing it further.
Practice Routine for JOA Abstract Reasoning
Abstract reasoning improves faster than most candidates expect when the practice is structured correctly.
Start with untimed sets to learn how to identify each rule type. The goal here is not speed — it's building pattern recognition so that when you see a rotation sequence or a shading progression, you recognise it immediately rather than working it out from scratch.
Once you're consistently identifying rules correctly, switch to timed blocks that replicate the pace of the JOA. This is where speed builds. Pressure forces you to commit to your checklist and stop second-guessing.
Finish your preparation with full mixed practice tests that include all three sections — verbal, numerical, and abstract — in a single sitting. This is the only way to build the stamina and pacing discipline the real JOA requires.
Our free JOA Breakdown Course covers the abstract reasoning section in detail before you start any timed practice. Our timed JOA practice tests then replicate the full assessment format with instant results so you can see exactly where to focus.
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