Reasoning and Mental Ability
Reasoning is scored on method rather than memory: series, analogy, coding–decoding, blood relations, direction sense, ranking and seating, syllogism, clocks and calendars, and figure-based problems.
Core techniques
- Alphabet positions: learn A=1 to Z=26 and the EJOTY anchors (E=5, J=10, O=15, T=20, Y=25). Reverse position = 27 − forward position.
- Coding–decoding: test letter shifts (+1, −2, alternating), then letter-position codes, then reversal.
- Blood relations: draw a family tree, marking male and female symbols and using horizontal lines for siblings and marriage.
- Direction sense: sketch the path; turning right while facing south means facing west.
- Syllogism: draw Venn diagrams; a conclusion is valid only if it holds in every possible diagram.
- Ranking: total = rank from left + rank from right − 1.
Worked example
If CAT is coded 3120, how is DOG coded? Each letter is replaced by its alphabet position in order: C=3, A=1, T=20, giving 3-1-20. So D=4, O=15, G=7, giving 4157. The reasoning is to identify the rule from the given example, verify it letter by letter, then apply it without disturbing the order of letters.
Traps
Using 26 instead of 27 for reverse rank; missing that a code uses letter positions rather than shifts; reading "some A are B" as "some B are not A"; and forgetting that in seating arrangements, rows facing north and south reverse left and right.