The role of Reasoning in Tier I
General Intelligence and Reasoning has 25 questions worth 50 marks and its own 15-minute timer in CGL Tier I. It is the section in which preparation converts to marks most predictably, because the same families of questions recur and each has a standard method. A candidate who has seen hundreds of coding-decoding and series questions recognises the pattern in seconds, and that frees minutes for the harder items. Many candidates aim to finish Reasoning in 11 to 13 minutes with high accuracy, using the remaining minutes to check.
Question families
| Family | Typical task | Method |
|---|---|---|
| Analogy and classification | Find the pair or the odd one out | Identify the relation; test each option |
| Series (number, letter, mixed) | Find the next term | Check differences, ratios, squares; separate alternating terms |
| Coding-decoding | Decode a word or number code | Compare letters of the example; find the shift or mapping |
| Blood relations | Work out a relation from clues | Draw a family tree |
| Direction and distance | Final position or direction | Use coordinates or a sketch |
| Ranking and order | Position in a line | Draw a line with positions; use total = left + right − 1 |
| Venn diagrams and syllogisms | Relationship among sets; valid conclusions | Draw the diagram; test conclusions |
| Non-verbal | Mirror and water images, paper folding, embedded figures, series of figures | Observation and elimination |
Worked examples
Series. 3, 7, 15, 31, ? The differences are 4, 8, 16, so the next difference is 32 and the answer is 63.
Coding. If COLD is coded as DPME, how is WARM coded? Each letter moves one place forward (C→D, O→P, L→M, D→E), so WARM becomes XBSN.
Blood relation. A is B's brother, and B is C's mother. How is A related to C? A is C's maternal uncle (mother's brother).
Direction. A person walks 4 km north and then 3 km east. How far is she from her starting point? √(4² + 3²) = 5 km.
Ranking. In a row, Ravi is 12th from the left and 9th from the right. How many people are in the row? 12 + 9 − 1 = 20.
Syllogism. All pens are books. Some books are bags. Which conclusion follows: some pens are bags? It does not necessarily follow, because the books that are bags may not include any pens.
Each takes 15 to 40 seconds when you know the method.
Verbal versus non-verbal
Verbal questions (series, coding, relations, directions, syllogisms) are mostly solved on paper with a method. Non-verbal questions (figure series, mirror images, paper folding) are solved by observation and elimination. Many candidates skip non-verbal questions as a habit; they are often quick to eliminate options in, so skip them only if they are consistently slow for you.
Time management for 15 minutes
| Stage | Time | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| First pass | About 10 minutes | Answer questions where you recognise the family; mark puzzles that look long |
| Second pass | About 3 minutes | Return to marked questions in order of ease |
| Check | About 2 minutes | Re-verify answers that depend on a diagram |
Take the families you are fastest at first, because they bank marks. See section-wise time management for how to set the budget from your own data.
Negative marking in Reasoning
With +2 and −0.50 and mostly options that can be tested, informed guesses are often worth making, especially in non-verbal questions where elimination is easy. For puzzles with a long set of conditions, an uninformed guess is usually not worth the time. Track net marks from guesses by family. See our negative marking guide.
How to practise
- Family drills (10 to 15 questions): one family a day in the early phase, with a method card for each.
- Mixed sets (20 questions): to practise recognising the family.
- 15-minute sectionals: two or three a week in the middle phase.
- Full papers: weekly in the last two months.
Our topic pages provide drills: number series, coding-decoding, blood relations, direction sense and syllogisms. For puzzle-style questions, see how to solve logical reasoning puzzles step by step.
Analysing your Reasoning result
| Pattern | Probable cause | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Errors in one family | Method not mastered | Family drill; write a method card |
| Non-verbal questions skipped or wrong | Lack of practice | Daily five non-verbal questions |
| Right method, wrong answer | Misreading | Re-read the question before marking |
| Cannot finish in 15 minutes | Slow recognition | Timed mixed sets; skip long puzzles |
| Guessed answers losing marks | Guessing without elimination | Compute net marks by family |
Common mistakes in Reasoning preparation
- Practising untimed.
- Skipping non-verbal questions altogether.
- Solving mentally instead of drawing, which causes errors in relations and directions.
- Learning solved examples without practising the recognition of the family.
- Ignoring accuracy while chasing speed.
Related pages
See the SSC CGL hub, the exam pattern and the mock test strategy. Other sections: Quantitative Aptitude, English and General Awareness. For a worked review see how to use mock tests for SSC CGL. Reasoning tests published by institutes appear below.
Note: the section structure above reflects the Tier I scheme published on ssc.gov.in; confirm the current pattern in the notice for your year.