AD5 Reasoning Tests Are 3 Weeks Away: What's Your Preparation Plan?

Your objective: Understand the tests and build a solid foundation.

With three weeks remaining, the best approach is to focus on the essentials first. Before working on speed, make sure you understand how each reasoning test works and how to approach its different question types.

Step 1 — Get familiar with the three reasoning tests (Week 43)

• Understand what verbal, numerical and abstract reasoning assess.
• Familiarise yourself with the different question types and the logic behind them.
• Explore our online preparation courses (available in EN, FR & IT) to learn the methods and strategies needed for each test.

Step 2 — Practise without a timer (Week 43 and the beginning of Week 44)

• Work through practice questions at your own pace.
• Focus on understanding the reasoning behind each answer, including why incorrect options are wrong.
• Use online courses, free sample questions and preparation books to consolidate your knowledge.
• If you struggle with a particular question type, practise similar questions until you feel more comfortable with the method.

Step 3 — Introduce timed practice (Weeks 44 and 45)

• Start completing online tests under timed conditions.
• Practise managing your time while maintaining accuracy.
• Familiarise yourself with the tools available in the testing environment, such as the online calculator and notepad, where applicable.
• Review your results to identify your weakest areas and focus your remaining practice accordingly.

Key takeaway: Don't try to master everything at once. Build your understanding first, then gradually work on speed and accuracy. Every question you practise helps make

Your objective: Strengthen your skills, address weaknesses and improve your performance under time pressure.

You've already made a start, so now is the time to make your preparation more targeted. Rather than simply completing as many questions as possible, use your results to determine where your efforts will have the greatest impact.

Step 1 — Identify your strengths and weaknesses (Week 43)

• Review your recent practice results for verbal, numerical and abstract reasoning.
• Identify the question types that take you the longest to solve or cause you the most difficulty.
• Look for recurring mistakes, such as misinterpreting information, choosing an inefficient method or spending too much time on a single question.
• Keep a simple record of your mistakes and the lessons you learn from them.

Step 2 — Consolidate your methods and develop your reflexes (Week 43)

• Practise targeted questions without a timer whenever you need to reinforce a method or clarify a concept.
• Repeat similar question types until you can recognise the underlying logic more quickly.
• Review both correct and incorrect answers to make sure you understand the reasoning behind your choices.
• Focus on correcting recurring mistakes rather than repeatedly practising question types you have already mastered.

Step 3 — Practise under timed conditions (Weeks 44 and 45)

• Complete full online tests to simulate the time pressure of the actual assessment.
• Work on pacing: learn when to move on from a difficult question (choose an answer and mark it first) rather than spending too long on it.
• Review the explanations for your mistakes after each test and identify what you can improve in the next attempt.
• Track your results over time to monitor your progress in both accuracy and time management.

Key takeaway: Don't just practise more. Practise strategically. Identify what is holding you back, work on it deliberately and use each practice session to improve your next one.

Your objective: Consolidate your experience, address any remaining weaknesses and prepare for the official assessment.

If you've already worked through verbal, numerical and abstract reasoning practice tests, your priority is no longer to discover the basics. It's to refine your approach, maintain your skills and make sure you're ready for the testing experience itself.

Step 1 — Review your practice experience (Week 43)

• Reflect on the reasoning test or question types you found most challenging.
• Identify any difficulties with time management, interpreting information or applying the right method.
• Review recurring mistakes and determine what you can do differently next time.
• Take stock of your progress so you know which areas still deserve attention.

Step 2 — Keep your skills sharp (Weeks 43, 44 and 45)

• Continue practising selected questions to maintain your reasoning skills.
• Revisit question types where your accuracy or speed is still inconsistent.
• Alternate between targeted practice and full timed tests to maintain both precision and pace.
• Avoid spending too much time repeating exercises you have already mastered.
• Monitor your progress without becoming overly focused on individual scores.

Key takeaway: At this stage, preparation is about more than answering questions correctly. It's about being familiar with the testing process, reducing avoidable surprises and ensuring you can focus your attention on the questions when it matters most.