SSC CGL – GENERAL INTELLIGENCE
& REASONING — Complete Guide
All Topic Types | Solved Examples | 50 Practice Questions
Section Topic Page
1 Analogy & Classification 2
2 Series (Number, Alphabet, Mixed) 3
3 Coding-Decoding 4
4 Blood Relations & Direction Sense 5
5 Syllogisms & Venn Diagrams 6
6 Non-Verbal Reasoning 7
7 Puzzles & Seating Arrangement 8
8 Miscellaneous Topics 9
9 50 Practice Questions 10
1. Analogy & Classification
Analogy tests ability to identify relationships. Classification tests ability to find the odd one out based on a
common property.
Type Example Logic
Number Analogy 4:16 :: 5:? Squares → 25
Letter Analogy ACE:BDF :: GIK:? Each letter +1 → HJL
Word Analogy Doctor:Hospital :: Teacher:? Place of work → School
Mixed Analogy 36:6 :: 49:? Square root → 7
Odd One Out (Number) 4,9,16,20,25 20 (not a perfect square)
Odd One Out (Letter) AZ, BY, CX, DW, EF EF (not mirror pair)
Odd One Out (Word) Dog,Cat,Cow,Sparrow Sparrow (not mammal)
Relationship Types in Analogy
Relationship Examples
Part-Whole Page:Book; Leaf:Tree; Finger:Hand
Tool-Use Needle:Sewing; Brush:Painting
Cause-Effect Fire:Smoke; Study:Knowledge
Product-Source Milk:Cow; Wool:Sheep; Silk:Silkworm
Degree Warm:Hot; Cold:Freezing; Good:Excellent
Antonyms Day:Night; Love:Hate; Fast:Slow
Worker-Tool Carpenter:Saw; Farmer:Plough
2. Number, Alphabet & Mixed Series
Series questions require identifying the pattern and finding the missing term. Always check: +n, ×n, n², n³,
alternating patterns, or two interleaved series.
Pattern Type Example Series Answer Logic
Arithmetic +n 2, 5, 8, 11, __ 14 +3 each time
Geometric ×n 3, 6, 12, 24, __ 48 ×2 each time
Squares 1, 4, 9, 16, __ 25 n² series
Cubes 1, 8, 27, 64, __ 125 n³ series
Fibonacci type 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, __ 8 Previous two added
Alternating 2, 8, 4, 16, 8, __ 32 Alt ×4 and ×2
Mixed (+,×) 2, 3, 6, 7, 14, 15, __ 30 Alt +1 and ×2
Prime numbers 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, __ 13 Next prime
Letter series A, C, E, G, __ I Skip one letter
Number-Letter A1, C4, E9, G16, __ I25 Squares + skip letter
Alpha-Numeric Positions (Must Memorise)
A=1 B=2 C=3 D=4 E=5 F=6 G=7
H=8 I=9 J=10 K=11 L=12 M=13 N=14
O=15 P=16 Q=17 R=18 S=19 T=20 U=21
V=22 W=23 X=24 Y=25 Z=26
Z=1 (rev) Y=2 X=3 W=4 V=5 U=6 T=7
3. Coding-Decoding – All Types
Type Example Decoding Method
Letter Shift CAT → DBS Each letter +1
Reverse Coding CAT → ZAG A→Z, B→Y etc. (26−position+1)
Number Coding CAT → 3120 A=1,B=2...
Symbol Coding CAT → #@! Direct substitution from table
Word Coding PENCIL is coded as NCIREP Reverse the word
Substitution "sky" is called "sea" Use the given substituted word
Matrix Coding Row/column numbers give code Read matrix carefully
4. Blood Relations & Direction Sense
Term Relation
Father's father Grandfather (Paternal)
Mother's father Grandfather (Maternal)
Father's brother Uncle (Paternal)
Mother's sister Aunt (Maternal)
Brother's wife Sister-in-law
Wife's brother Brother-in-law
Son's wife Daughter-in-law
Daughter's husband Son-in-law
Father's only son's father The person himself (father)
Pointing to a girl: "She is the only daughter of my grandfather's son" She is the sister of the speaker
Direction Sense – Key Rules
Starting Direction Turn Left Turn Right
North West East
East North South
South East West
West South North
TRICK: Always draw a compass on rough paper: N at top, S below, E right, W left. Then follow turns step by step.
5. Syllogisms & Venn Diagrams
Statement Type Form Example
Universal Affirmative (A) All S are P All cats are animals
Universal Negative (E) No S is P No cat is a dog
Particular Affirmative (I) Some S are P Some cats are white
Particular Negative (O) Some S are not P Some cats are not white
Combination Valid Conclusion
All A are B + All B are C All A are C
All A are B + No B is C No A is C
Some A are B + All B are C Some A are C
Some A are B + No B is C Some A are not C
No A is B + All C are B No C is A (conversion possible)
All + Some (reversed) Only possibility = Some conclusion
6. Non-Verbal Reasoning Guide
Topic What to Look For Solving Approach
Pattern Completion Complete missing part of figure Check rows, columns, diagonals for transformation rule
Mirror Image Reflection about vertical axis Left-right reverse; up-down unchanged
Water Image Reflection about horizontal axis Up-down reverse; left-right unchanged
Paper Folding Result after folding & punching Unfold mentally; holes appear symmetric
Figure Series Next figure in sequence Track rotation, addition, subtraction of elements
Counting Figures Count triangles/squares in figure Use formula: n(n+2)(2n+1)/8 for triangles
Embedded Figures Find smaller figure hidden in larger Rotate and overlay options mentally
Cube & Dice Opposite faces & unfolded cube Opposite faces sum to 7 in standard dice
Standard Dice Rule: In a standard die, 1 is opposite 6, 2 is opposite 5, 3 is opposite 4. Total of opposite faces
always = 7.
7. Puzzles & Seating Arrangement Tips
Seating arrangement is a high-value topic in SSC CGL Tier II reasoning. Follow these structured steps:
Step Action
Step 1 Read all clues once to understand the type (linear/circular/double row)
Step 2 Identify definite clues first (exact position given)
Step 3 Use relative clues to fill remaining positions
Step 4 Check all clues against your final arrangement
Step 5 Draw a clear diagram on rough paper — never attempt mentally
9. 40 Practice Questions – Reasoning
[Link]. Question Answer
Q1 Analogy: 4:16 :: 7:? 49
Q2 Odd one out: 4,9,16,20,25 20
Q3 Series: 2,4,8,16,__ 32
Q4 Series: A,C,E,G,__ I
Q5 Coding: CAT=3120, DOG=? 4157
Q6 Blood: A is B's brother, B is C's father, C is A's? Niece/Nephew
Q7 Direction: Start N, turn right, then left — facing? North
Q8 Syllogism: All A=B, All B=C, conclusion? All A are C
Q9 Mirror image of "REASONING" (left-right) GNINOSEAR (reversed)
Q10 Dice: 1 opposite to? 6
Q11 Number analogy: 36:6 :: 49:? 7 (square roots)
Q12 Letter series: AZ,BY,CX,DW,__ EV
Q13 Series: 1,4,9,16,25,__ 36
Q14 Coding: if PENCIL=NCIREP, then ERASER=? RESARE (reversed)
Q15 Blood: "She is my father's only son's sister" means? His sister
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