Logical and Analytical Reasoning
The Logical and Analytical Reasoning domain tests structured thinking: syllogisms, seating and ordering arrangements, blood relations, direction sense, coding–decoding, assumptions and conclusions. The exam rewards validity - what must follow from the stated premises - not what is true in the real world.
Core rules
- Syllogisms: draw minimal Venn diagrams. “All A are B” does not convert to “All B are A.” “Some A are B” converts to “Some B are A.”
- Arrangements: fix the most constrained person or position first; use a line or circle sketch.
- Blood relations: draw a family tree and mark gender only when stated.
- Direction: track turns with arrows; net displacement is not the same as total distance walked.
- Assumptions: an assumption is necessary to the argument, not merely plausible.
Worked example
All clerks are employees. Some employees are drivers. Which follows? (A) Some clerks are drivers. (B) Some drivers are employees. (C) All drivers are employees.
Only (B) follows. “Some employees are drivers” converts to “Some drivers are employees.” (A) is not forced because the drivers may lie outside the clerk group. (C) overstates “some” as “all.”
Traps
- Reversing “all” statements.
- Treating “some” as “some but not all.”
- Adding real-world facts that were not given.
- Ignoring words such as only, unless, at least and cannot.
- Choosing a conclusion that is possible but not necessary.