SSC CGL Preparation – Day 14

Reasoning: Analytical Reasoning

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📘 What is Analytical Reasoning?

Analytical Reasoning tests your logical thinking and ability to analyze complex situations or patterns. It involves understanding relationships, deducing outcomes, and solving problems logically using a structured and critical thinking approach.

🔍 It’s common in SSC CGL Tier 1 & 2 exams, often disguised in puzzles, seating arrangements, and direction-based scenarios.

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📌 Types of Questions in Analytical Reasoning

1. Seating Arrangements (Linear & Circular)
2. Ranking and Order
3. Direction-Based Puzzles
4. Age-Based Problems
5. Comparison Puzzles
6. Blood Relation-based Puzzles
7. Conditional/Selection-based Reasoning
8. Binary Logic / Truth-Tellers and Liars

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1. Seating Arrangement

a) Linear Seating Arrangement

People are sitting in a row facing same or opposite directions.

➡️ Trick:

• Mark left-right based on direction.
• Use variables and draw lines.
• Fill fixed positions first.

🧩 Example:
A, B, C, D, and E are sitting in a row. C is between A and E. D is at one end. Who is sitting at the other end?

✅ Solution: Try placing C between A & E → D at one end → answer is B at other end.

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b) Circular Seating Arrangement

People sit in a circle, facing inward or outward.

➡️ Trick:

• If facing center, left is clockwise.
• If facing outward, left is counterclockwise.
• Use arrows and sketch all possibilities.

🧩 Example:
6 people sit around a circle facing center. A is second to the left of B. C is opposite A. Who is to the immediate right of C?

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2. Ranking & Order

🧠 These questions involve finding the position of a person/item in a sequence based on certain clues.

➡️ Common Formula:
Total = Left Rank + Right Rank – 1

🧩 Example:
In a class of 50, Raju is 12th from the top. What is his rank from the bottom?

✅ Ans: 50 – 12 + 1 = 39th from the bottom

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3. Age-Based Reasoning

These involve comparing people’s ages using statements like:
“A is older than B but younger than C.”

➡️ Trick:

• Use arrows or numbers
• Convert clues to inequality chains

🧩 Example:
Ravi is older than Raju but younger than Suraj. Kiran is younger than Raju. Who is oldest?

✅ Ans: Suraj

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4. Direction Sense (Analytical)

Combine movement + direction turns.

➡️ Key Angles:

• Right turn = 90° clockwise
• Left turn = 90° counterclockwise
• Opposite = 180°
• Always draw a map!

🧩 Example:
A walks 5 km North, then turns right and walks 3 km. Then turns right again and walks 5 km. Where is he from starting point?

✅ Ans: 3 km East of starting point.

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5. Comparison Puzzles

Involve comparing height, weight, marks, speed, etc.

🧩 Example:
A is taller than B. C is shorter than A but taller than B. Who is tallest?

✅ Ans: A

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6. Blood Relation-based Puzzles

🧠 Combination of family tree + logical deduction.

🧩 Example:
A is mother of B. B is sister of C. C is father of D. How is A related to D?

✅ Ans: Grandmother

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7. Conditional Selection (Logical Eligibility)

These involve selecting people/items based on multiple conditions.

🧩 Example:
A team of 3 is to be selected from 5 people: A, B, C, D, and E. But if A is selected, B cannot be. C and D must be together. Which teams are possible?

✅ Ans: Use elimination + grouping.

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8. Binary Logic / Truth-Teller-Liar Problems

Some statements made by people are true or false.

🧩 Example:
A says, “B always lies.” B says, “A and I are friends.” Who is lying?

✅ Ans: Use logical contradiction to find liar.

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📋 SSC CGL-Level Practice Question

Q1. Six friends A, B, C, D, E, and F are sitting in a circle. A is to the left of B, who is opposite F. D is between A and C. Who is sitting to the right of E?

Q2. In a row of 35 students, Ramesh is 8th from the left and Suresh is 10th from the right. How many students are there between them?

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🧠 Tips to Crack Analytical Reasoning

• Sketch quickly – don’t solve in your mind
• Eliminate impossible options
• Use notations: < for shorter, > for taller, ↔ for siblings, etc.
• Read clues carefully – word order matters
• Practice puzzles daily – builds pattern recognition

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📝 Daily Practice Challenge

1. Solve 2 linear and 2 circular seating puzzles
2. Practice 3 ranking/order problems
3. Practice 3 age or comparison puzzles
4. Review 1 previous year SSC CGL analytical puzzle