Psychometric Test (PET)
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ExploreAbout this exam
The Psychometric Entrance Test (PET) is a standardized, multiple-choice battery used in admissions to assess general reasoning rather than subject knowledge. It is aimed at candidates applying to selective academic programs who need to demonstrate verbal, quantitative, and figural reasoning ability, plus English proficiency. The exam is organized into four domains: Verbal Reasoning (30%), Quantitative Reasoning (30%), Figural Reasoning (30%), and English Proficiency (10%). Verbal items test vocabulary in context, analogy and relationship logic, and reading comprehension. Quantitative items cover arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data interpretation under time pressure. Figural items ask you to detect rules in sequences, analogies, and matrices of abstract shapes. English items test grammar, sentence completion, and reading. Preparation is best treated as skill-building, not memorization: work through timed practice sets by domain, keep an error log noting why each wrong answer failed, and drill your weakest domain until accuracy stabilizes before adding speed. Confirm current administration details, including dates and the official published figures for length and scoring, with the administering body's official website, since these change between cycles. This page is independent study material and is not affiliated with any testing authority.
What you'll study
About Psychometric Test (PET) preparation
What is the format of the PET?
It is a multiple-choice test with four scored domains: Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Figural Reasoning, and English Proficiency. Every question has one correct answer, and no essay or oral component is involved. The administering body publishes the current number of sections and questions; check its official site rather than relying on older prep material.
How difficult is the PET?
Individual questions are rarely advanced mathematics or obscure vocabulary. Difficulty comes from pacing, unfamiliar figural rules, and distractors that look plausible. Most candidates find figural and quantitative sections the most demanding at first. Expect steady gains over several weeks of timed practice rather than overnight improvement.
Can I retake the test?
Retake rules, allowed attempts, and waiting periods are set by the administering body and can change between cycles. Look up the current retake policy on its official website before planning a second attempt. If a retake is allowed, treat the first score report as diagnostic and rebuild your study plan around your weakest domain.
How is the exam timed, and how should I manage time?
The official body publishes the current time limits per section. In practice, each question is brief, so a missed item costs you the next one. Practice with a timer from the start, learn to abandon a question after roughly a minute, and never leave blanks if there is no penalty for guessing.
In what order should I study the domains?
Start with a full timed diagnostic to find your baseline, then spend most time on your weakest domain while keeping the others warm with short weekly sets. Verbal and English overlap in reading skill, so study them together. Leave two weeks at the end for full-length timed simulations.
What are the most common failure modes?
Running out of time because of perfectionism on one hard question, misreading the question stem, and guessing on figural items without writing down the rule you found. Another frequent error is practicing untimed, which inflates accuracy. Review every wrong answer and name the specific mistake before moving on.
Does the PET test subject knowledge?
No. It measures general reasoning: verbal relationships and comprehension, numerical and algebraic reasoning, pattern detection in figures, and English usage. You do not need advanced coursework. You do need fluent arithmetic, careful reading, and the discipline to work quickly and accurately under time pressure.
Where do I find official dates, fees, and scoring information?
Those details are published by the administering body and change between cycles, so this page does not state them. Check the official website for registration windows, current fees, score reporting, and validity. Use independent practice material only for skill-building, and verify every administrative fact at the source.