Abstract Reasoning vs Logical Reasoning: The Difference

6 min read · IQ Tester

Abstract reasoning vs logical reasoning comes down to one idea: abstract reasoning is about finding a rule you haven't been told, and logical reasoning is about following rules you have been told to reach a conclusion that must be true. Abstract reasoning usually uses shapes and patterns (inductive thinking). Logical reasoning usually uses statements and "if this, then that" steps (deductive thinking). They overlap, and good reasoners use both.

If you're not sure which of the two trips you up, IQ Tester tells pattern spotting apart from logic chains in about two minutes: Find my weak spots.

The short answer

Are abstract reasoning and logical reasoning the same? No, but they're close cousins.

A quick way to remember it: abstract asks "what's the rule?" Logical asks "given the rules, what follows?"

Abstract reasoning: finding the rule

Abstract reasoning is working out a pattern from examples when no one tells you the rule. You look at several cases, notice what they share, and generalize.

Examples of what abstract reasoning tests use:

• A row of shapes that changes step by step. What comes next?
• A 3×3 grid with one cell missing.
• Five figures where one breaks the group's rule.

Because the answer is a "best fit," abstract reasoning always involves a bit of judgment. You're choosing the simplest rule that explains everything you see.

That's inductive reasoning in action: going from specific examples to a general rule. For the method on shape-based tests, see how to answer abstract reasoning tests.

Logical reasoning: following the rule

Logical reasoning starts with the rules already stated and asks what has to be true. There's no guessing the pattern; the facts are on the page. The challenge is to follow them precisely without adding your own assumptions.

Common logical reasoning questions:

• Syllogisms: "All A are B. Some B are C. Which must be true?"
• Ordering puzzles: "Maya is taller than Leo. Leo is taller than Sam. Who is shortest?"
• Seating arrangements: "Five friends sit in a row..."
• Argument questions: "Which statement weakens this argument?"

This is deductive reasoning: if the rules are true and you follow them correctly, the answer must be true. No best fit, no judgment.

Example of each

Try both before reading the answers.

Abstract reasoning example

A series of boxes:

• Box 1: one dot in the top-left corner
• Box 2: two dots, the newest in the top-right corner
• Box 3: three dots, the newest in the bottom-right corner
• Box 4: ?

Answer: four dots, the newest in the bottom-left corner.

How you got there: nobody told you the rule. You saw that dots increase by one and the new dot moves clockwise, then extended it. That's finding the rule.

Logical reasoning example

Read these statements:

1. Everyone in the chess club plays on Fridays.
2. Jordan doesn't play on Fridays.

Which must be true?

• (a) Jordan is in the chess club.
• (b) Jordan is not in the chess club.
• (c) Jordan doesn't like chess.

Answer: (b).

How you got there: you didn't need to find a pattern. The rule was given: chess club means Fridays. Jordan doesn't do Fridays, so Jordan can't be in the club. Option (c) is a common trap. It might feel likely, but nothing in the statements says it.

A harder logical reasoning example

"All of the students who passed studied. Some students who studied were tired. Therefore some students who passed were tired."

Is that conclusion certain? No. The tired students who studied might all be ones who didn't pass. Logical reasoning is about what must follow, and this only might.

Here's what's tricky when you practice alone: if you miss a question like that, was it because you lost track of the steps, or because you jumped to an answer that "felt" right? From the inside, those feel the same. IQ Tester checks logic chains, rushing and putting reasoning into words as separate weak spots, and gives you a daily drill for the one that's actually yours. Find my weak spots

Where they overlap

Abstract thinking vs logical thinking isn't a clean split. Most real problems need both.

• In a matrix puzzle, you find the rule (abstract), then apply it carefully to predict the missing cell (logical).
• In a logic puzzle, you sometimes spot a shortcut pattern (abstract) before working through the steps (logical).
• In math, you notice a pattern in examples (abstract), then prove it always holds (logical).

How they compare with other reasoning types

• Abstract reasoning vs deductive reasoning: deductive is the core of logical reasoning. Abstract leans inductive.
• Abstract reasoning vs critical thinking: critical thinking is broader. It includes judging evidence, spotting bias and weighing arguments, and it uses logical reasoning heavily.
• Abstract reasoning vs spatial reasoning: spatial reasoning is about picturing and moving shapes in space, like rotating a 3D object in your head. Abstract reasoning uses shapes too, but it's about the rule, not the space.
• Abstract reasoning vs verbal reasoning: verbal reasoning uses words and meaning; abstract reasoning avoids language.

How to train both

Because they're different skills, train them a bit differently.

To train abstract reasoning

1. Do a few series or grid puzzles each day.
2. Describe what changes before you guess the rule.
3. Test your rule on every step, not just the last one.
4. Move from one-rule puzzles to layered ones.

There's a full set of habits in how to improve abstract reasoning.

To train logical reasoning

1. Do short word puzzles: ordering, seating and "which must be true."
2. Draw it. A quick diagram or list turns a wordy puzzle into something you can see.
3. Underline words like all, some, none, only and unless. They decide the answer.
4. For each answer, ask: "Does this have to be true, or just could be?"
5. Say each step out loud. Chains of logic break when you skip a link.

A combined weekly plan

• Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 10 minutes of abstract puzzles.
• Tuesday, Thursday: 10 minutes of logic puzzles.
• Weekend: review misses from both, and note which type you miss more.

Know which kind of reasoning you need to work on

Now you know the difference between abstract reasoning vs logical reasoning: one finds rules, the other follows them. IQ Tester shows which side your slips are on in about two minutes, with a reasoning tier and a list of weak spots such as pattern spotting or logic chains. Then you get one tip and one 10-minute drill a day across pattern, number, verbal and logic problems, weighted toward those spots.

Find my weak spots

FAQ

Is abstract reasoning and logical reasoning the same?

No. Abstract reasoning is about discovering a rule from examples, usually shapes or patterns. Logical reasoning is about applying rules that are already given to reach a conclusion that must be true. They often work together, but they're tested and trained differently.

What is the difference between abstract thinking and logical thinking?

Abstract thinking looks past specific details to find general ideas, patterns and relationships. Logical thinking follows clear steps from facts to conclusions without adding assumptions. Abstract thinking asks "what's the pattern here?" and logical thinking asks "what must follow?"

Is abstract reasoning inductive or deductive?

Abstract reasoning tests are mostly inductive: you go from specific examples to a general rule. Logical reasoning tests are mostly deductive: you go from general rules to a specific conclusion. Many real problems use both.

Which is harder, abstract reasoning or logical reasoning?

It depends on the person. Some people spot visual patterns easily but lose track in long logic chains; others are the opposite. Trying a few of each type and noting which you miss more is the best way to find out.

How is abstract reasoning different from spatial reasoning?

Spatial reasoning is about picturing shapes in space, like rotating or folding objects in your head. Abstract reasoning is about finding the rule that links shapes, whether or not they move. Some test items need both, but they're separate skills.