Aptitude: Verbal, Numerical, and Abstract Reasoning
The aptitude test measures reasoning under time pressure rather than syllabus content. It typically includes verbal analogies and logic, number series and arithmetic reasoning, spatial/abstract patterns, and data interpretation. The winning skill is recognising the rule type quickly.
Verbal and logical reasoning
- Analogies: establish the precise relationship (part–whole, cause–effect, degree, function) before choosing.
- Syllogisms: use 'all/some/no' carefully. 'All A are B' does not imply 'all B are A'. 'Some A are B' does not imply 'some A are not B'.
- Coding–decoding and blood relations: draw a small table or family tree; do not hold it in your head.
Numerical reasoning
- Number series: check differences, ratios, alternating operations, squares/cubes, and two interleaved sequences.
- Percentages: percentage change = (new − old)/old × 100. Percentage points and percentages are different.
- Ratios: convert to a common unit before comparing.
Abstract and spatial reasoning
- Track rotation (90°, 180°), reflection (mirror vs rotation), number of sides, shading, and position of a dot.
- For paper folding, reverse the fold mentally; for cube nets, identify opposite faces.
Worked example
Find the next term: 2, 6, 12, 20, 30, __. First differences: 4, 6, 8, 10 - an arithmetic sequence increasing by 2. The next difference is 12, so the next term is 30 + 12 = 42. Equivalently, the terms are n(n+1) for n = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, so the sixth is 6 × 7 = 42. The reasoning is the second difference, not a guess.
Traps
- Assuming a series is arithmetic when the differences themselves change.
- Adding information to a syllogism that is not in the premises.
- Rotating a figure when the rule is reflection - mirror images are not rotations.
- Mixing percentage increase with percentage of the original.
- Spending too long on one item; aptitude scoring rewards answered items across the section.