The rule
Each letter may appear only once in each row and once in each column, and only the letters offered as answer options may appear. You decide which letter belongs in the cell with the question mark.
The fastest method
- Check the direct case first. If the row and the column of the question mark already contain four different letters between them, the missing fifth letter is the answer.
- Otherwise fix one neighbouring cell. Find a cell whose value is forced, fill it in mentally, and carry that result back to the question mark.
- Work with the fullest row or column first, because it has the fewest possibilities.
Common mistakes
- Trying to solve the whole grid. You only need the one cell.
- Forgetting that only the answer-option letters can appear.
- Losing track without notes. Practise in your head, because no notes are allowed in the exam.
The app generates unlimited Latin Square items with step by step explanations, and Mock Test 1 is free.
A worked example
Take a 5x5 grid that uses the letters A, B, C, D and E. The cell with the question mark sits in row 3 and column 2.
- Row 3 already contains A and C.
- Column 2 already contains B and D.
Between the row and the column, four different letters are already used: A, C, B and D. Only one letter of the five is left, so the answer is E. No other cell needs to be solved. That is the direct case, and it is the one to check first every single time.
When the direct case does not apply, for example when the row and column share a repeated letter and only three different letters are used, fix a neighbouring cell instead: find another empty cell in the same row whose value is forced by its own column, fill it mentally, and the question mark usually becomes a direct case.
Common questions
What is a Latin Square in the dMAT?
A 5x5 grid where each letter appears once per row and once per column. You choose the letter for the cell marked with a question mark.
How long do I get for Latin Squares?
The official materials state 25 minutes for 20 items.