Questions on reasoning are now an inevitable part in almost all the banking and government job exams. It is one among the three or four different sections of these exams. Most often each section of the exam will be timed separately. They are one of the easiest sections but time consuming one. With practice, you can easily score well in this section. Here are some of the types of reasoning questions for competitive.
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9 Types of Reasoning Questions Asked in Competitive Exams
Type 1: Coding decoding
These types of questions will contain a string of alphabets coded by some logic and based on this logic you will have to encrypt the given word or you may have to decode the word after deciphering the encryption method from an encrypted word.
Example
In a certain code ‘RATIONAL’ is written as ‘TARNOILA’. How would ‘BRUTAL’ be written in that code?
Option a) UBRATL Option b) URBTAL Option c) URBLAT Option d) UBRTAL
Answer: In this question, the word ‘RATIONAL’ is divided into groups of three and they are reversed.
RAT – TAR
ION – NIO
AL – LA
So, if you apply the same technique to the word BRUTAL,
BRU – URB
TAL – LAT
So, the answer is option c) URBLAT
Type 2: Seating Arrangement
This is one of the most important and frequently asked question. In this type of questions, points are given to form an idea about the seating arrangement of each person and the question will be to identify the position of a certain person. The seating arrangement could be circular, linear, parallel, rectangular or square.
Example:
Five students A, B, C, D, E are sitting on a bench. E and B are sitting together, E and C are sitting together, A is on the extreme left, B is second from extreme right. Who is sitting between A and B?
Option a) A & B Option B) B & C Option C) D&E Option D) C&E
Answer: As per the question, the seating arrangement would be, A C E B D. Hence the answer is Option D) C&E
Type 3: Alphanumeric Series
These kinds of questions comprise of alphabets and numbers in the form of an alphanumeric series. The question will be to find the missing number or alphabet from the series. To work out these kinds of questions, the key is to find the logic behind the series and apply it to find the missing link. These types of questions are very popular in most of the exams.
Example:
Given below is an alphanumeric series. Find out the 5th term to the right of the 16th term from the right end in reverse order.
4 P + S r 9 B # A 3 ? 7 c > Z % 6 d & Q @ 1
Option a) P Option b) Z Option c) ? Option d) @
Answer: The reverse order of this series will be 1 @ Q & d 6 % Z > c 7 ? 3 A # B 9 r S + P 4. The 16th term from the right end is % and the fifth term to the right of % is ?. Hence, option c) ? is the right answer.
Type 4: Puzzle test
They are yet another important type of question. In these questions, a continuous diagram or symbols will be given and the task is to find the irrelevant or the odd one. The different types of questions that come under this category is those based on floor, box, month and date.
Example
Eight people Arun, Manu, Ram, Sibin, Joshy, Tom, Alan and Hari like eight different fruits – Papaya, Grapes, Mango, Pomegranate, Guava, Banana, Cherry and Watermelon but not necessarily in same order. They also like different cars namely Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Honda, Swift, Maruti, Ertiga and Xylo but not necessarily in the same order.
Ram doesn’t like Xylo car but likes Banana. Arun and Joshy don’t like Mercedes car. Arun doesn’t like Papaya. Yogesh doesn’t like Watermelon, but likes Honda car. Manu’s favourite car is Ertiga. Tom likes Pomegranate. Sibin likes Mango and his favourite car is Maruti. The one who likes Grapes has Mercedes. The one who has swift likes Papaya. The one who like Guava likes Audi car.
Which person likes BMW?
Option A) Manu Option B) Sibin Option C) Hari Option D) Ram
On reading the question, it can be deciphered that
| Arun | Guava | Audi |
| Manu | Watermelon | Ertiga |
| Ram | Banana | BMW |
| Sibin | Mango | Maruti |
| Joshy | Papaya | Swift |
| Tom | Pomegranate | Xylo |
| Alan | Grapes | Mercedes |
| Hari | Cherry | Honda |
Answer: Option D) Ram
Type 5: Logical Reasoning Questions
In these questions, you will be provided with a set of logical variables, codes, pictures and you will have to find the answer that suits the logic.
Example:
What number will come next in the series: 12,11,13,12,14, ____
Option a) 10 Option b)13 Option c)12 Option d)9
Answer: Option B) 13
Second term = First term – 1
Third term = Second term + 2
Type 6: Blood Relation Questions
These types of questions contain tricky hints regarding the relationship between couple of people. The job is to find the relationship between any two people mentioned in the question. The best method if to relate it with your own family or draw a family tree.
Example:
Pointing to a photograph of a boy Mr.Ram said, “He is the son of the only son of my mother.” How is Mr Ram related to that boy?
Option a)Brother Option b)Uncle Option c)Cousin Option d)Father
Answer: Option d) Father
The boy in the photograph is the only son of the son of Ram’s mother.
Type 7: Ranking/Direction Test
The question contains instructions regarding the direction in which a person is moving and you have to find the final location or the distance between initial and final point. These questions are too easy to score. All you got to do is draw the direction as per the question.
Example:
Ajay walks 24 km towards East and turns to right hand side and takes a drive of another 10 km. He then turning to his right (drives towards West) another 10 km. He then turns to his left & walks another 8 km. After that, he turns to his right & travels 14 km. How far is he from his initial point & in which direction?
Option a) 20 km East Option b)18 km south Option c) 16 km West
Option d) 10 km South Option e) None of these
Answer: Draw the directions as per the questions. Option b) 18km south
Type 8: Data Sufficiency Questions
In Data Sufficiency questions, a paragraph will be provided along with the required data and the candidates have to answer the questions based on the paragraph. These questions are often asked in the main examination. Often, the data provided might not be sufficient enough to answer in which case, you will have to choose the option ‘Insufficient data’.
Example:
Is the integer n odd?
Statement 1: n is divisible by 3
Statement 2: n is divisible by 5
Option a) Statement 1 alone is sufficient
Option b) Statement 2 alone is sufficient
Option c) Both statements together are sufficient
Option d) Each statement alone is sufficient
Option e) Both statements together are not enough
Answer: Option e
Type 9: Syllogism Questions
These questions contain statements and conclusions based on the statements. Based on the statements, the candidates have to choose the possible conclusions given in the options. The easiest way to solve is to draw Venn diagram.
Example:
In each of the questions below are given three statements, followed by conclusions: I, II, III, IV. You have to take the given statements to be true even if they seem to be at variance from commonly known facts. Read the conclusions and then decide which of the given conclusions logically follows from the given statements disregarding commonly known facts.
Statements: Some Cats are Rats. All bats are tables. All Rats are Bats
Conclusion:
- Some Cats are bats II. All bats are rats III. All tables are cats
- All bats are cats
Option a) Only 1&2 follows Option b) Only 2 follows
Option c) Only 1 & 4 follows Option d) None of these
Answer: Option d) None of these.
Given here are the nine types of reasoning questions that can appear in the competitive exams. Prepare as much as you can and practice more to improve your speed and accuracy. Good luck!
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