Reasoning Ability
Reasoning Ability in EPFO SSA tests analogy, classification, series, coding-decoding, blood relations, direction sense, syllogism, seating arrangement, puzzles and non-verbal reasoning. Most questions are pattern-based, so write down relationships instead of solving in your head.
Core rules
- Series: check differences, then ratios, then squares/cubes and alternating patterns.
- Coding-decoding: compare the same letter's position in the word and code; note forward/backward shifts.
- Blood relations: draw a family tree; use + for male and - for female if helpful.
- Direction sense: fix north and track net displacement; final distance uses Pythagoras if the path turns at right angles.
- Syllogism: accept only conclusions that follow in every possible Venn diagram.
- Seating: for circular arrangement, fix one person and note left/right as clockwise/anticlockwise.
Worked example
A is B's sister. C is B's mother. D is C's father. How is A related to D? C is B's mother, so C is also A's mother. D is C's father, so D is A's maternal grandfather. Therefore A is D's granddaughter.
Traps
- 'Only son' and 'only daughter' restrict the family tree sharply.
- In direction questions, facing south reverses left and right.
- In syllogism, a 'some' premise cannot prove an 'all' conclusion.
- In puzzles, do not assume extra conditions; use only what is stated.