In this guide
For many SSC GD candidates, reasoning becomes the section where they score the most. The reason is simple. The question types are few, and they repeat. Once you have solved a type a hundred times, the next one takes seconds, and you stop making mistakes on it.
Reasoning also needs very little memory. There are no dates, no formulas beyond a few alphabet positions, and no long chapters. What it needs is practice and a few fixed habits. This plan gives you both in four weeks.
Weightage and time
- General Intelligence and Reasoning: 20 questions, 40 marks, out of 80 questions and 160 marks in the whole paper.
- Time: 60 minutes for all four sections together, with no separate time limit for each section (as reported).
- Marking: 2 marks per right answer, 0.25 deducted per wrong answer.
A strong target is to finish reasoning in about 12 to 15 minutes. That leaves more time for maths.
Question types
| Group | Types | What it tests |
|---|---|---|
| Words and letters | Analogy, odd one out, alphabet series, coding–decoding, dictionary order, word formation | Alphabet positions, meaning, patterns |
| Numbers | Number series, number analogy, missing numbers | Squares, cubes, differences, tables |
| Logic | Blood relations, directions, ranking, Venn diagrams, syllogism | Drawing a clear diagram |
| Calendar and clock | Days of the week, angles between hands | A few fixed rules |
| Non-verbal | Mirror and water images, embedded figures, paper folding and cutting, figure series, counting figures | Careful visual checking |
A four-week plan
| Week | Topics | Target by the end of the week |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Analogy, odd one out, number series, alphabet series | 25 questions a day, 90% accuracy |
| 2 | Coding–decoding, missing numbers, dictionary order, word formation | Solve each in under 40 seconds |
| 3 | Blood relations, directions, ranking, Venn diagrams, syllogism | Draw every diagram without being told |
| 4 | Mirror images, paper folding, embedded figures, counting figures, calendar and clock; mixed sets | Mixed 20-question set in 15 minutes |
Start with analogy, series and odd one out because they build the number and alphabet sense that every other type uses. The guides on analogy and series are the place to begin.
A daily routine (40 minutes)
- 25 minutes: 25–30 questions on the week's topics.
- 10 minutes: 10 mixed questions from earlier weeks, so older topics stay fresh.
- 5 minutes: look at each wrong answer and write one line on why it went wrong.
Speed habits
- Write the alphabet with numbers (A = 1 to Z = 26) on your rough sheet at the start of the exam.
- Remember EJOTY: E = 5, J = 10, O = 15, T = 20, Y = 25. Any letter is one or two steps from these.
- Opposite letters add to 27: A–Z, B–Y, C–X, and so on.
- Draw: a family tree for blood relations, arrows and a compass for directions, circles for Venn diagrams.
- Test the options in series, analogy and coding questions when the pattern is not clear.
Solved examples
Example 1 (number series). 3, 6, 11, 18, 27, ?
- Differences: 3, 5, 7, 9 (odd numbers).
- Next difference: 11.
- Answer: 27 + 11 = 38.
Example 2 (coding). If GOLD is written as HPME, how is SILK written?
- Each letter moves one step forward: G → H, O → P, L → M, D → E.
- S → T, I → J, L → M, K → L.
- Answer: TJML.
Example 3 (directions). A candidate walks 5 km north, turns right and walks 3 km, then turns right again and walks 9 km. How far and in which direction is the candidate from the start?
- After 5 km north, a right turn faces east. 3 km east.
- Another right turn faces south. 9 km south, which is 4 km past the starting line.
- The candidate is 3 km east and 4 km south of the start.
- Distance = √(3² + 4²) = √25 = 5 km, towards the south-east.
Example 4 (blood relation). P is the mother of Q. Q is the brother of R. How is P related to R?
- Q and R are siblings, so they share a parent.
- P is Q's mother, so P is R's mother too.
- Answer: P is R's mother. The question does not tell you R's gender, so do not assume it.
Example 5 (odd one out). 8, 27, 64, 100, 125
- 8 = 2³, 27 = 3³, 64 = 4³, 125 = 5³.
- 100 is a square (10²), not a cube.
- Answer: 100.
Example 6 (alphabet). Which letter is 7th to the right of the 10th letter from the left?
- The 10th letter is J.
- 10 + 7 = 17. The 17th letter is Q.
Common traps
| Trap | Fix |
|---|---|
| A pattern that fits only two numbers | Check it against every term |
| Guessing gender from a name | Use only words like brother, mother, he or she in the question |
| Turning left or right the wrong way | Draw the arrow and the new facing direction each time |
| Confusing mirror and water images | Mirror: left and right swap. Water: top and bottom swap |
| Counting letters with the wrong start | "7th to the right of J" means add 7 to J's position |
Practice set
- Next number: 2, 4, 8, 16, ?
- Odd one out: 121, 144, 169, 190
- If CAT is written as DBU, how is BAT written?
- What is the position of M in the alphabet?
- Next number: 5, 11, 23, 47, ?
- A student faces north, turns 90° clockwise, and then turns 180°. Which way does the student face now?
- Next letter: A, C, F, J, O, ?
- Which letter is opposite to D (A pairs with Z, B with Y, and so on)?
Answers:
- Each term doubles: 32.
- 121, 144, 169 are 11², 12², 13². 190 is not a square.
- Each letter +1: CBU.
- EJOTY: O = 15, so M = 13.
- Each term × 2 + 1: 47 × 2 + 1 = 95.
- North → east → west.
- Positions 1, 3, 6, 10, 15; gaps 2, 3, 4, 5, so add 6: 21 = U.
- D = 4; 27 − 4 = 23 = W.
A self-check after four weeks
- I can solve analogy and series questions in under 30 seconds.
- I draw a diagram for every blood relation and direction question.
- I know the position of every letter without counting from A.
- My accuracy in mixed 20-question sets is above 90%.
- I finish a mixed set of 20 in 15 minutes or less.
- My mistake log shows no type that I get wrong more than once a week.
A note on dates and numbers. Exam patterns, vacancies and schedules change from year to year. Always confirm the current details in the latest notification on the Staff Selection Commission website .
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