SSC CGL Preparation – Day 19

Reasoning – Puzzle Test

📘 Advanced reasoning topic requiring logical sequencing and deduction.

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🔍 What is a Puzzle Test?

Puzzle Test questions present you with a set of statements or data about a group of people, objects, or events. Your job is to arrange, match, or analyze them based on the clues provided.

These questions test your ability to interpret complex data and make logical deductions step-by-step.

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🎯 Why Puzzle Tests Matter in SSC CGL?

• Commonly seen in Tier 1 (1–2 questions) and Tier 2 (up to 5–8 questions)
• Can be high-scoring if approached methodically
• Time-consuming without practice, but accuracy is high with right techniques

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🧠 Types of Puzzle Tests

Type	Description
1. Linear Arrangement	People/items in a line (left–right or north–south)
2. Circular Arrangement	Sitting around a circle (facing center or outward)
3. Floor-Based Puzzle	Items/people on different floors of a building
4. Scheduling Puzzle	Events on different days/months/time slots
5. Comparison Puzzle	Heights, weights, ranks, etc. comparisons
6. Box Puzzle	Objects stacked in boxes (top to bottom)
7. Attribute Matching	Match name, city, profession, etc. together

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📘 1. Linear Arrangement Puzzle

People are seated in a row (facing North or South).

🧪 Example:

Five friends – A, B, C, D, and E – are sitting in a row.

• B is to the right of A.
• C is at one end.
• E is not next to B.

✅ Approach:

• Draw lines for positions
• Fill definite clues first
• Use elimination and placement

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📘 2. Circular Arrangement Puzzle

People sit in a circle. If facing the center, left/right is different than when facing outside.

🧠 Tips:

• Always fix one person’s position
• Note direction facing (important!)
• Visualize left/right accordingly

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📘 3. Floor Puzzle

People live on different floors of a building (usually 5–10 floors).

🧪 Example:

There are 5 floors, and 5 people live on different floors.
Clues tell who lives above or below whom.

✅ Approach:

• Draw floor numbers (top to bottom)
• Use statements like “A lives above B”
• Match clues to floors

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📘 4. Day/Month/Event Scheduling Puzzle

Events (exams/interviews/birthdays) happen on different days/weeks/months.

✅ Tips:

• Prepare a table (name vs day)
• Use definite statements first
• Eliminate incompatible options step-by-step

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📘 5. Comparison Puzzle

Compare heights, weights, ranks, ages, etc.

🧪 Example:

Five people – A, B, C, D, and E.

• A is taller than B but shorter than D.
• C is not the shortest.
• E is the tallest.

✅ Answer: E > D > A > B > C

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📘 6. Box Puzzle

Items are kept in stacked boxes (top to bottom). Each box contains a unique object.

✅ Approach:

• Number the boxes from 1 (top) to N (bottom)
• Create slots and fill based on conditions
• Remember: “above” = lower number; “below” = higher

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📘 7. Attribute Matching Puzzle

Match multiple attributes like Name, Profession, City, Pet, etc.

✅ Tips:

• Use a table format (rows = people; columns = attributes)
• Apply elimination, direct matches
• Cross-check contradictory clues

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🧠 Common Keywords & Their Meaning

Keyword	Meaning
“To the right of”	Directional (only in linear/circular)
“Immediately next to”	Adjacent only
“Not”	Elimination clue
“Exactly between”	There is someone in the middle
“Third to the left”	Count 3 places to the left
“Lives on an even-numbered floor”	Floors like 2, 4, 6, etc.

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🔑 Puzzle Solving Strategy (for SSC CGL)

Step	Action
1️⃣	Read entire question carefully once
2️⃣	Categorize the puzzle type
3️⃣	Note clues and visualize structure
4️⃣	Start with direct clues
5️⃣	Use elimination and partial placement
6️⃣	Don’t assume anything not stated
7️⃣	Practice drawing neat tables or grids

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⚠️ Common Mistakes

Mistake	Avoid by
Misreading left/right	Fix one direction always
Assuming unstated info	Stick only to clues
Ignoring negations	Pay attention to “not”, “except”
Mixing clue types	Group related clues together