General Intelligence and Reasoning
General Intelligence and Reasoning tests logical speed rather than mathematics. Recurring areas are analogy, classification (odd one out), number and letter series, coding–decoding, blood relations, direction sense, syllogism, seating arrangement, ranking, statement–conclusion, and non-verbal items such as mirror image, water image, paper folding and embedded figures. With negative marking, skip anything that will not fall in about forty-five seconds.
Core rules
- Alphabet positions: A = 1 … Z = 26; reverse position = 27 − n. The EJOTY and CFILORUX groupings fix the common positions quickly.
- Series: test differences first, then ratios, then squares and cubes; alternate series often hide two interleaved patterns.
- Coding: check a constant shift, then reversal, then positional arithmetic, and confirm the rule holds for every letter.
- Syllogism: draw Venn diagrams for all, some and no; a conclusion is valid only if it holds in every possible diagram.
- Direction: sketch the path; net displacement uses Pythagoras when the turns are 90°.
Worked example
If ROSE is coded as TQUG, how is LILY coded? Compare letter by letter: R→T (+2), O→Q (+2), S→U (+2), E→G (+2). The rule is a constant forward shift of two places. Applying it to LILY gives L→N, I→K, L→N, and Y→A after wrapping past Z. Answer: NKNA.
Traps
- Forcing a familiar relationship onto a blood-relations item instead of drawing the family tree.
- Using outside knowledge in syllogism; only the stated premises count.
- Forgetting wrap-around in coding and alphabet series.
- Accepting a pattern that fits one term but not the rest of the series.