Reasoning and Mental Ability
Reasoning tests pattern recognition and logical deduction: series, coding-decoding, analogies, classification, blood relations, direction sense, syllogism, seating arrangement, calendars, clocks, and non-verbal figures.
Core approaches
- Series: check differences, then ratios, then alternating patterns.
- Coding-decoding: write the alphabet with positions 1–26 and test shifts.
- Blood relations: draw a family tree; use + for male and − for female.
- Direction sense: sketch the path and use Pythagoras for net displacement.
- Syllogism: a valid conclusion must hold in every possible diagram.
- Calendar: ordinary year shifts one day; a leap year shifts two.
- Clock: the minute hand gains 5.5° per minute on the hour hand.
Worked example
If MOUSE is coded as NPVTF, how is TIGER coded? Compare letters: M→N, O→P, U→V, S→T, E→F, so each letter moves one step forward. Apply the same rule: T→U, I→J, G→H, E→F, R→S. The code is UJHFS. Checking one pair is not enough; verify at least two shifts, including a letter near the end of the alphabet.
Traps
- In blood relations, my father's only son is the speaker if the speaker is male.
- Some A are B does not imply all A are B, or that some B are not A.
- In direction questions, turning left or right depends on the current facing direction, not on the page.
- In seating, fix one person and arrange others relative to that position.