The SSC CGL Reasoning section is one of the trickiest parts of the exam. It tests logical thinking, pattern recognition, and problem-solving abilities. To excel, you must familiarize yourself with the most common question types and practice solving them efficiently. In this blog, we’ll explore the key reasoning topics with difficult examples to sharpen your skills.
1. Number and Alphabet Series
Questions in this category involve identifying patterns in a given sequence of numbers or letters.
Example:
Find the missing number in the series: 2, 9, 28, 65, 126, ?
Solution:
Each term follows the pattern: n³ + 1
- 1³ + 1 = 2
- 2³ + 1 = 9
- 3³ + 1 = 28
- 4³ + 1 = 65
- 5³ + 1 = 126
- 6³ + 1 = 217
2. Coding-Decoding
This topic involves converting words or phrases using a certain rule.
Example:
If COLD is written as XLMW, how is WARM written?
Solution:
Each letter is shifted by +23 in the alphabet:
- C → X (shifted forward by 23 places)
- O → L
- L → M
- D → W
Similarly, applying the same shift to WARM:
- W → T
- A → X
- R → O
- M → N
Answer: TXON
3. Blood Relations
These questions require establishing relationships between family members based on given statements.
Example:
A man introduces a woman as, “She is the daughter of my grandfather’s only son’s wife.” How is the woman related to the man?
Solution:
- “Grandfather’s only son” = Father
- “Father’s wife” = Mother
- “Daughter of Mother” = Sister
4. Syllogisms
Syllogisms test your ability to derive logical conclusions from given premises.
Example:
Statements:
- All pens are books.
- Some books are papers.
Conclusions:
- Some pens are papers.
- Some papers are books.
Solution:
- The first conclusion does not follow because there is no direct relationship between pens and papers.
- The second conclusion does follow because “Some books are papers” is explicitly stated.
Answer: Only Conclusion 2 follows
5. Direction Sense Test
These questions test spatial orientation and movement-based logic.
Example:
A person moves 7 km north, then turns right and walks 4 km. He then turns right again and walks 8 km. Finally, he turns left and walks 2 km. How far is he from his starting point?
Solution:
- Moves 7 km north
- Moves 4 km east
- Moves 8 km south (crossing the starting point by 1 km south)
- Moves 2 km east
Using the Pythagorean theorem: Distance = √(4² + 1²) = √17 km
6. Seating Arrangement
This involves arranging people in a sequence based on given conditions.
Example:
Six friends – A, B, C, D, E, and F – are sitting in a row.
- A is to the left of B but to the right of C.
- D is to the right of B but to the left of E.
- F is not at the extreme end.
Find the correct arrangement.
Solution:
The correct order is C A B D E F
Final Thoughts!
Mastering SSC CGL reasoning requires practice, especially with tricky problems. Focus on identifying patterns, visualizing relationships, and applying logical rules. The more you practice, the faster you’ll solve questions with accuracy!
Want more challenging reasoning questions? Download the NetPractice App for expert-curated quizzes and smart solutions!
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