Reasoning and General Awareness
What you must understand
This domain mixes logical reasoning with general awareness. Reasoning covers series (number, letter, figure), analogies, coding-decoding, blood relations, direction sense, syllogisms, ranking and seating, and non-verbal patterns. General awareness covers static facts about India - polity, geography, history, science, sports and awards.
Traps to expect
- Letter series with alternating patterns: check differences between consecutive terms before assuming a single rule.
- Blood relations described in chains ("my father's sister's son") - draw a family tree rather than solve mentally.
- Direction sense: track net displacement, not total distance walked; use a rough sketch.
- Syllogisms: answer only what is definitely true; "some" statements do not guarantee existence in the other direction.
- Static GK confusion between similar names (e.g. two national parks, two dances of one state).
Rule of thumb
In reasoning, always convert words to a diagram or table. A sketch costs ten seconds and prevents most errors.
Worked example
A man walks 5 km north, turns right and walks 3 km, then turns right and walks 5 km. After the first two legs he is 3 km east of start. Walking 5 km south cancels the northward 5 km, leaving him 3 km east of the starting point.
Practice habit
Revise one static-GK topic (polity or geography) each day alongside 15 reasoning questions.