Reasoning
Reasoning tests pattern recognition and logical deduction rather than medical knowledge: series, coding–decoding, blood relations, directions, syllogism, seating and ranking. Speed comes from recognising the type of pattern quickly.
Core rules
- Number series: check differences, then ratios, then squares and cubes, then alternating patterns.
- Coding: compare the given word and code position by position; note shifts, reversal or letter sums.
- Blood relations: draw a family tree; mark male and female and use horizontal lines for siblings, vertical for parent–child.
- Syllogism: draw Venn diagrams; a conclusion is valid only if true in every possible diagram.
- Directions: fix north at the top and track turns; final displacement may need Pythagoras.
Worked example
Series: 2, 6, 12, 20, 30, ? Differences: 4, 6, 8, 10-an increase of 2 each time. The next difference is 12, so the next term is 30 + 12 = 42. Check with n(n+1): 1×2=2, 2×3=6, 3×4=12, 4×5=20, 5×6=30, 6×7=42. The rule holds.
Traps
Do not assume a series is arithmetic before checking two difference levels. In syllogism, 'some A are B' does not by itself imply 'some B are A'. In seating puzzles, negative information such as 'C is not next to D' is as important as positive information.