Reasoning and Mental Ability
Reasoning and Mental Ability tests pattern recognition, coding, relations, directions, syllogisms, and seating. Most marks come from disciplined step-by-step elimination.
Core types
- Series: check differences, ratios, squares, cubes, and alternating patterns.
- Coding-decoding: compare letters position by position; note shifts, reversals, and number-letter mappings.
- Blood relations: draw a family tree; use gender markers carefully.
- Direction sense: fix north and track turns; use Pythagoras for shortest distance.
- Syllogism: test conclusions against all possible Venn diagrams.
Worked example
Question: “If PEN is coded as QFO, how is INK coded?” Reasoning: P→Q (+1), E→F (+1), N→O (+1). Apply the same shift to I, N, K: I→J, N→O, K→L. Answer: JOL.
Traps
- Assuming a coding rule from one letter instead of all three.
- In blood relations, forgetting that “brother of my father” is an uncle, not a father.
- In syllogism, accepting a conclusion that is only possibly true as definitely true.
- In directions, confusing left and right after a turn.