Intelligence and Verbal / Non-Verbal Reasoning
What this section really tests
Reasoning items measure pattern-spotting speed and accuracy, not general knowledge. Expect number series, letter series, analogies (verbal and figural), odd-one-out, coding-decoding, blood relations, direction sense, ranking/ordering, syllogisms, and - in the non-verbal half - figure series, matrices, mirror and water images, embedded figures, paper folding and rotation.
Core techniques
For a series, test in a fixed order: simple differences, then second differences, then ratios, then alternating or interleaved patterns (two sequences running side by side), then squares/cubes ± a constant. For analogies, state the relationship in a sentence ("A is the tool used by B", "A is the young of B") before choosing. For coding-decoding, write the alphabet with positions 1–26 and check shifts, reversals and position sums. For blood relations, draw a small family tree with gender symbols rather than holding it in your head. For direction questions, sketch the path and remember that turning left twice from north leaves you facing south.
Traps candidates fall into
Assuming the first pattern you find is the only one; ignoring a second interleaved series; confusing mirror image (left-right reversal) with water image (top-bottom reversal); treating "some A are B" as implying "some A are not B" (it does not); and forgetting that syllogism conclusions must follow from all statements together.
Worked example
Series: 3, 6, 11, 18, 27, ?. First differences: 3, 5, 7, 9 - odd numbers rising by 2. Next difference is 11, so the answer is 27 + 11 = 38.
Rule of thumb
Take 20–30 seconds per item, write nothing you can sketch faster, and if two options both seem plausible, re-read the question for a word like except or cannot.