General Intelligence & Reasoning
General Intelligence & Reasoning
This domain tests pattern detection and rule application rather than advanced mathematics. Expect series, analogies, coding-decoding, syllogism, blood relations, direction sense, seating arrangement, classification, and non-verbal items such as mirror images and embedded figures.
Core rules
- Number series: test differences first, then ratios, squares/cubes, alternating operations, and prime-based patterns. Write the operation above each gap.
- Letter series: convert letters to positions (A=1 ... Z=26); check forward/backward shifts and reverse pairs (A-Z, B-Y).
- Coding-decoding: identify the shift per letter; if inconsistent, test position reversal or word reversal.
- Syllogism: draw minimal Venn diagrams. 'All A are B' does not imply 'All B are A'; 'Some A are B' does not imply 'Some A are not B'.
- Blood relations: build a family tree with gender marks; do not infer gender from a name.
- Direction: sketch the path and use Pythagoras for net displacement.
Worked example
If MOBILE is coded as NPCJMF, each letter moves one step forward: M to N, O to P, B to C, I to J, L to M, E to F. For PHONE, apply the same +1 shift: P to Q, H to I, O to P, N to O, E to F, giving QIPOF. The rule is consistent, so no need to test reversal.
Traps
In syllogism, adding information not in the statements; in seating, mixing left/right when people face centre versus outside; in series, stopping at the first pattern that fits two terms; and in coding, assuming the shift is always +1 when the question uses alternating shifts.