Reasoning: Patterns, Logic and Speed
What you must know
Reasoning tests your ability to spot patterns and apply rules quickly. The recurring types are:
- Series: number and letter series, where differences, ratios or alternating patterns drive the next term.
- Analogies and classification: find the relationship, then apply it; in classification, find the odd item out.
- Coding-decoding: letter shifts, reversals and symbol substitution.
- Blood relations: draw a small family tree rather than holding it in your head.
- Direction sense: sketch the path on paper; track net displacement.
- Syllogism: test conclusions against the given statements only - never against real-world knowledge.
- Non-verbal reasoning: figure series, mirror images, paper folding and embedded figures.
- Seating arrangement and ranking: start from the most fixed clue.
Traps to watch
- Assuming real-world truth in syllogism questions instead of the stated premises.
- Skipping the alternating pattern in a series that mixes two rules.
- Direction questions that ask for final facing direction rather than position.
- Ranking puzzles where "from the left" and "from the right" are swapped.
Rule of thumb
Always draw or write. A ten-second sketch prevents a wrong answer. Eliminate options that clearly violate the rule before computing the exact answer.
Worked example: In a series 3, 6, 12, 24, ?, the pattern is doubling, so the next term is 48.