General Intelligence and Reasoning
What this domain tests
General Intelligence and Reasoning checks pattern recognition, logical deduction and speed under exam pressure. Topics include series (number, letter, figure), analogies, coding–decoding, blood relations, direction sense, syllogisms, seating arrangement, ranking, and mirror/water images.
Core rules
- Number series: test differences, ratios, squares/cubes, and alternating patterns. A series like 3, 7, 15, 31 follows ×2 + 1, so the next term is 63.
- Coding–decoding: identify whether letters are shifted, reversed, or converted to position values. Write the alphabet with positions 1–26 when needed.
- Blood relations: draw a family tree; use + for male and − for female if it helps, and never assume gender from a relation word.
- Direction sense: fix north and track left/right turns on paper. A left turn after facing north means west.
- Syllogism: use Venn diagrams; “some A are B” does not imply “some B are not A”.
- Ranking: total = rank from top + rank from bottom − 1.
Worked example
If PEN is coded as 35, how is CAP coded using the same rule? Reasoning: letter positions: P = 16, E = 5, N = 14; sum = 35. So the rule is the sum of alphabet positions. C = 3, A = 1, P = 16; sum = 20. Answer: 20. Check the rule on the given word before applying it.
Traps that cost marks
Assuming a pattern from only one term; forgetting that alphabet positions restart at A = 1; misreading “left/right” after a turn; and treating “some” as “all” in syllogisms. For non-verbal questions, check rotation, reflection and number of elements separately.