Reasoning Ability - Complete Guide
đ§ Reasoning Ability - Complete Preparation Guide
Master all Reasoning Ability topics for IBPS PO, Clerk, SO, and RRB exams. This section tests your logical thinking, analytical skills, and problem-solving abilities.
đ¯ Section Overview
Reasoning Ability is a scoring section in all IBPS banking exams:
- IBPS PO: 35 questions (35 marks) - Prelims & Mains
- IBPS Clerk: 35 questions (35 marks) - Prelims & Mains
- IBPS SO: 50 questions (50 marks)
- IBPS RRB: 40 questions (40 marks)
Time Allocation: 20-25 minutes (high accuracy expected)
đ Complete Topic List
đĨ High Weightage Topics (Must Master)
𧊠Puzzles & Seating Arrangement đĨ
Linear, circular, box-based, floor-based puzzles
Difficulty: âââ Advanced
Weightage: 10-15 questions ⥠HIGHEST
Subtopics:
- Linear Seating (Single/Double Row)
- Circular Seating (Inward/Outward facing)
- Box/Stack-based Puzzles
- Floor-based Puzzles
- Schedule-based Puzzles
đ Syllogism đĨ
Logical deduction from statements
Difficulty: ââ Intermediate
Weightage: 5 questions
Methods:
- Venn Diagram Method
- Possibility Method
- Complementary Pairs
- Either-Or Cases
đ Data Sufficiency
Determine if given data is sufficient
Difficulty: âââ Advanced
Weightage: 5 questions
Types:
- Quantitative Data Sufficiency
- Logical Data Sufficiency
- Statement-based Problems
â Inequality
A > B âĨ C = D < E type problems
Difficulty: ââ Intermediate
Weightage: 5 questions
Topics:
- Direct Inequality
- Coded Inequality
- Either-Or Conclusions
ââ Medium Weightage Topics
đ¨âđŠâđ§ Blood Relations
Family tree problems, generation-based
Difficulty: ââ Intermediate
Weightage: 2-3 questions
đ§ Direction Sense
Distance and direction calculation
Difficulty: â Basic
Weightage: 2-3 questions
đ¤ Coding-Decoding
Letter, number, symbol coding patterns
Difficulty: ââ Intermediate
Weightage: 3-5 questions
Types:
- Letter Coding
- Number/Symbol Coding
- Substitution Coding
- Conditional Coding
đĸ Alphanumeric Series
Number/letter combinations, missing terms
Difficulty: ââ Intermediate
Weightage: 5 questions
đ Input-Output
Step-by-step rearrangement logic
Difficulty: âââ Advanced
Weightage: 5 questions
đ Order & Ranking
Position from top/bottom, overlapping
Difficulty: â Basic
Weightage: 1-2 questions
đ Calendar & Clock
Day/date calculation, angle problems
Difficulty: ââ Intermediate
Weightage: 1-2 questions
đ Statement & Conclusions
Logical deductions from passages
Difficulty: ââ Intermediate
Weightage: 3-5 questions
đ¯ Preparation Strategy
For Beginners (2-3 months):
- Week 1-2: Master basic topics (Direction Sense, Order & Ranking, Blood Relations)
- Week 3-4: Syllogism + Inequality (daily practice 20-30 questions)
- Week 5-8: Puzzles & Seating Arrangement (start with easy, progress to hard)
- Week 9-10: Input-Output, Coding-Decoding, Data Sufficiency
- Week 11-12: Mixed practice + Full-length mocks
For Advanced Students (1 month):
- Week 1: Puzzle practice (50-60 sets)
- Week 2: Syllogism, Inequality revision + new patterns
- Week 3: Input-Output + Coding patterns
- Week 4: Mock tests daily + time management
đ Topic-wise Weightage
| Topic | Questions | Time Required | Difficulty | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Puzzles & Seating | 10-15 | 15-18 min | High | đĨđĨđĨ Critical |
| Syllogism | 5 | 3-4 min | Medium | đĨđĨđĨ Critical |
| Inequality | 5 | 2-3 min | Easy-Medium | đĨđĨ High |
| Data Sufficiency | 5 | 4-5 min | High | đĨđĨ High |
| Alphanumeric Series | 5 | 3-4 min | Medium | đĨđĨ High |
| Input-Output | 5 | 4-5 min | High | đĨ Medium |
| Coding-Decoding | 3-5 | 2-3 min | Medium | đĨ Medium |
| Blood Relations | 2-3 | 1-2 min | Easy | đĨ Medium |
| Direction Sense | 2-3 | 1-2 min | Easy | đĨ Medium |
| Others | 5 | 3-4 min | Mixed | đĨ Medium |
đĄ Pro Tips for High Scores
1. Puzzle Mastery is Key
- Practice 3-5 puzzles daily
- Start with linear seating, then circular, then complex
- Don’t spend more than 7-8 minutes per puzzle set
- Learn to identify solvable vs time-consuming puzzles
2. Syllogism Speed
- Master Venn diagram method for speed
- Learn all 7 possible conclusions
- Practice 20 questions daily for accuracy
3. Inequality Shortcuts
- Memorize conclusion patterns
- Practice coded inequalities separately
- Should take <30 seconds per question
4. Time Management
- Attempt Inequality + Syllogism first (easy, scoring)
- Then Puzzles (choose wisely - attempt only 2-3 sets)
- Leave Input-Output if time is less
5. Avoid Common Mistakes
- Don’t spend >7 mins on a single puzzle
- Skip if unable to crack in 2 minutes
- Double-check “All”, “Some”, “No” in Syllogism
- Read direction carefully in puzzles
đ Quick Links
đ Study Resources
- Reasoning Study Plan (Coming Soon)
- Puzzle Solving Techniques (Coming Soon)
- Syllogism Complete Guide (Coming Soon)
- Previous Year Puzzles (Coming Soon)
đ¯ Practice More
đ Other Sections
- Quantitative Aptitude
- English Language (Coming Soon)
- General Awareness (Coming Soon)
đ Expected Questions Distribution
IBPS PO Prelims:
- Puzzles: 12-15 questions
- Syllogism: 5 questions
- Inequality: 5 questions
- Coding-Decoding: 5 questions
- Miscellaneous: 5-8 questions
IBPS PO Mains:
- Puzzles: 15-18 questions
- Input-Output: 5 questions
- Data Sufficiency: 5 questions
- Syllogism: 4-5 questions
- Others: 2-3 questions
đ¯ Continue Your Learning Journey
đ¯ Start Your Preparation
Choose a topic based on your current level:
- Beginner? Start with Direction Sense â Blood Relations â Syllogism
- Intermediate? Focus on Puzzles â Inequality â Input-Output
- Advanced? Master complex Puzzles â Data Sufficiency â Mock Tests
Remember: Reasoning is about practice, not theory. Solve 50-60 questions daily for best results!
BETA
