Reasoning mock tests
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Logical Reasoning & General Intelligence – Complete Guide
Logical Reasoning (also called General Intelligence or Mental Ability) is a mandatory and high-scoring section in SSC, Railway, Police, and most state government exams. Unlike Maths, there are no formulas to memorise — success comes from recognising patterns and practising question types until they become automatic. Most exam toppers score 22–25 out of 25 in Reasoning after 30–40 days of systematic preparation.
Key Topics Covered
- Analogy (word, number, letter)
- Classification / Odd One Out
- Series completion (number, letter, mixed)
- Coding-Decoding
- Blood Relations
- Direction & Distance
- Order & Ranking
- Seating Arrangement (linear and circular)
- Puzzles (box, floor, scheduling)
- Syllogism (Venn diagram method)
- Inequality / Mathematical Operations
- Mirror & Water Image
- Paper Folding & Cutting
- Embedded Figures / Completion of Figure
- Venn Diagrams
- Statement & Conclusion / Assumption / Inference (for SSC Tier-2 and CSAT)
Preparation Tips
- Start with Analogy, Series, and Coding-Decoding — these three alone cover 30–40% of Reasoning marks in SSC/Railway.
- For Blood Relations: always draw a family tree on paper; never try to solve it purely in your head.
- Direction sense: always fix North at the top and draw a rough map for any problem with more than 3 turns.
- Syllogism: master the Venn diagram method in 2–3 days; it handles 100% of exam-level questions.
- For puzzle and seating arrangement: write grid/table on rough paper first, then fill information systematically.
- In the exam, skip non-verbal (paper cutting/mirror image) questions if they take more than 60 seconds each.
- Solve at least one full mock test per week to track your speed — aim for 20 Reasoning questions in 12 minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Reasoning the same as General Intelligence in SSC exams?
- Yes. SSC calls it "General Intelligence and Reasoning." The section covers both verbal reasoning (analogy, classification, coding) and non-verbal reasoning (figures, images, patterns).
- How many questions come from Reasoning in Railway Group D?
- RRB Group D CBT has 30 questions from General Intelligence & Reasoning out of 100 total. This is the highest single-section weight, making it critical for cut-off.
- What is the best way to improve Coding-Decoding speed?
- Write the alphabet with both forward (A=1, B=2…) and backward (A=26, Z=1) numbering on your rough paper at the start of the exam. Then for each question, identify whether the shift is +n, −n, or mirror-based. With practice this takes under 20 seconds per question.
- Are Puzzles and Seating Arrangement important for SSC exams?
- For SSC Tier-1 they appear in simpler forms (1–2 clue arrangements). For SSC Tier-2 and banking (IBPS/SBI) they are much harder and can have 5–7 variable puzzles. Practise progressively based on which exam you are targeting.