Reasoning and General Intelligence
Reasoning and General Intelligence tests pattern recognition and logical deduction through series, coding-decoding, blood relations, direction sense, syllogism, seating arrangement, clocks and calendars, and non-verbal figures. Speed comes from identifying the rule before calculating.
Core rules
- Number series: check differences, ratios, squares/cubes, primes and alternating patterns.
- Coding-decoding: compare letter positions; note shifts of +1, −1, +2 and reversals.
- Blood relations: draw a family tree; use vertical links for generations and horizontal for siblings/spouses.
- Direction: fix north and track net displacement; use Pythagoras for shortest distance.
- Syllogism: test conclusions against all possible Venn diagrams, not one favourable diagram.
Worked example
Find the next term: 2, 6, 12, 20, 30, ?. First differences are 4, 6, 8, 10. These increase by 2, so the next difference is 12. Therefore the next term is 30 + 12 = 42. Alternatively, the terms are 1×2, 2×3, 3×4, 4×5, 5×6, so the next is 6×7 = 42. Both rules agree, which confirms the answer.
Traps
- Assuming a constant difference when the differences themselves form a series.
- Forgetting that in blood relations a maternal uncle is on the mother's side.
- Counting a turn of 90 degrees as a direction change without redrawing the axis.
- Accepting a syllogism conclusion that is only a possibility.