Section A: General Intelligence & Reasoning
General Intelligence & Reasoning in DSSSB PGT measures pattern detection, logical deduction, and speed under accuracy pressure. The section is usually verbal and non-verbal: series, analogies, coding-decoding, blood relations, directions, syllogisms, Venn diagrams, seating, classification, and figure-based reasoning.
Core rules and concepts
- Number and letter series: check differences, ratios, squares/cubes, alternating patterns, and alphabet positions.
- Coding-decoding: map letters to positions or apply a consistent shift; test the rule on the whole given word before using it.
- Blood relations: draw a family tree; use gender-specific symbols; do not assume marital status.
- Direction sense: fix north and track left/right turns; use Pythagoras for shortest distance.
- Syllogisms: draw Venn diagrams; a conclusion is valid only if true in every possible diagram.
- Non-verbal: count sides, rotations, mirror/water images, embedded figures, and paper folds.
Worked example
If CAT is coded as 3120, how is DOG coded? Reasoning: use alphabet positions A=1, B=2, ..., Z=26. C=3, A=1, T=20, so CAT becomes 3-1-20 = 3120. Then D=4, O=15, G=7, giving 4157. The trap is writing G as 07; the pattern does not add leading zeros unless the question shows two-digit blocks. Answer: 4157.
Traps
- Applying a coding rule that fits one letter but not the whole word.
- Assuming 'all A are B' implies 'all B are A'.
- Ignoring 'only a few' or 'no' statements in syllogisms.
- Losing direction after a U-turn or a left-right reversal.
- Counting a figure's visible sides but missing embedded or overlapping shapes.