Quantitative Aptitude and Logical Reasoning
Quantitative Aptitude and Logical Reasoning tests speed and accuracy with school-level arithmetic, data interpretation and non-verbal or verbal logic.
Core areas
- Percentages, ratios, averages, profit and loss, simple and compound interest.
- Time, speed and distance; work and rates.
- Data interpretation: tables, bar charts, line graphs; read units and axes first.
- Logical reasoning: series, analogies, syllogisms, coding-decoding, seating and blood relations.
- Averages: distinguish simple from weighted averages; mixtures need alligation or weighted logic.
- Number series: check differences, ratios, squares and alternating patterns.
Worked example
A district's caseload rises by 20% and then falls by 10%. What is the net change? Reasoning: use multiplying factors, not addition. 1.20 × 0.90 = 1.08. Net change = +8%. A common wrong answer is +10% (20 − 10), which ignores the new base.
Traps
- Adding percentage changes instead of multiplying.
- Confusing percentage points with percent.
- Using the wrong base after a change.
- Reading a graph without checking whether it starts at zero.
- In syllogisms, importing real-world knowledge instead of testing the stated premises.
- Rounding early and carrying the error forward.