What Section 3 involves
Section 3 of HPAT-Ireland, Non-Verbal Reasoning, uses abstract shapes and figures instead of words. Questions show patterns or sequences, and you identify the rule that governs them, then use it, for example to find the figure that comes next or the one that completes a pattern.
Because there is no text to lean on, this section tests pure pattern recognition and logical thinking, which is why it can feel very different from the rest of the paper.
Section 3 has 30 questions in 40 minutes, which is 80 seconds per question, and it makes up 20% of your overall score.
Rules to look for
- Movement: shapes rotating, reflecting or moving position step by step.
- Number: the count of shapes, sides, lines or dots increasing or decreasing.
- Shading and colour: fills that alternate or shift in a set order.
- Size and position: elements growing, shrinking or changing place.
- Combinations: two or more of these changing at the same time.
How to prepare
- Check one feature at a time. Look at movement, then number, then shading, rather than trying to see everything at once.
- Test the rule on every step. A rule that fits two figures but not the third is not the rule.
- Work backwards from the options. Comparing the answer choices can show which feature actually varies.
- Practise for speed. Pattern recognition gets much faster with repetition: this is the section where practice shows most clearly.
- Move on when stuck. With no negative marking, choose your best answer and come back if time allows.
Facts on this page are taken from the official HPAT-Ireland website and the ACER Test Taker Information Booklet for the 2026 test, checked in October 2026. Always confirm dates and rules at hpat-ireland.acer.org before you register.