Reasoning Topics Asked in SSC CGL Exam Last Year

The Staff Selection Commission has scheduled the SSC CGL Tier 1 exam to be conducted from the 9th to the 26th of September 2024. To prepare for the upcoming exam, the candidates should be aware of the various topics based upon which questions were asked in the SSC CGL Exam held last year. Out of the four sections of the Tier 1 paper, General Intelligence & Reasoning carries the potential to maximize the candidates’ overall scores. In this article, let us look at the various topics that were asked in this section of the SSC CGL Exam last year.

Reasoning Topics Asked in the SSC CGL Exam Last Year

The General Intelligence & Reasoning section contains 25 questions worth 50 marks. The questions asked in this section are based on various topics as mentioned in the detailed notification. The topics can be divided into verbal and non-verbal reasoning. The questions asked in this section last year were, on an average, were of the easy to moderate level.

In the table below the distribution of the questions asked from different topics in the SSC CGL Exam last year is provided for reference for the candidates. Going through this detail will provide them a sense of which topics carry the most weightage according to which they can make their preparation strategies.

Topics asked in the Reasoning Section

The Reasoning section can play a crucial role in increasing the overall scores of the candidates. The questions asked in this section are a combination of the concepts that the candidates learn while preparing for the Quantitative Aptitude, English Comprehension and General Awareness sections. The questions test the candidate’s ability to apply these concepts along with their reasoning abilities.

Series

Questions asked under this topic require the candidates to predict the next or missing term in an alphabetical, numeric, or alphanumeric series by recognizing and implementing the pattern followed in the series.

• UV, OY, IB, EE, ?
• 8, 15, 26, ? , 56, 75
• 11, ?,20,29,41,56
• PQST, TOVS, ?, BKBQ, FIEP
• 11, 36, ?, 121, 185, 266
• ADZ, GJF, MPL, SVR, ?

Analogy

These questions provide the candidates with a set of terms following a particular logic and ask the candidates to figure out the missing term. Some of the questions asked under this topic are listed below.

Select the option that best represents a similar relationship to the one expressed in the pair of words given below.

• Energy: Joule
• X-Ray: Radiologist:: Skin:?
• 3125 : 25 :: 1600 : 20 :: 675 : ?
• 16 : 144:: 22:? :: 14: 112
• 169: 14::? : 16:: 289: 18
• 98 : 7 :: 162 : 9 :: 242 : ?

Odd One Out

Questions asked in this section present the candidates with a set of terms among which one term does not follow the logic like the rest of the terms. These sets of terms can be numbers, text, alphanumeric, words, etc.

Pick the odd one out.

• DGJM, NQTW, TWZC, HIJK
• (7, 252), (6, 216), (8, 392), (5, 80)
• EHV, BEY, JMP, GJT
• (1. 15 : 34), (2. 1 : 6), (3. 7 : 18), (4. 18 : 42)

Dice & Cube

The candidates are provided with a series of different looks to the sides of a cube or dice. Then they are asked to predict the next position of the dice or cube. These questions come under the non-verbal reasoning category.

Coding

Some of the questions asked in the Reasoning section are under the topic of coding and decoding. In these questions, every term of a particular set is converted into a new term by applying a particular logic or set of logic. The candidates have to follow the same logic and arrive at the answer.

• MAGNET : AMNGTE :: FAMILY : AFIMYL :: BLOCKS : ?
• GIST: FEHGRQSR :: DUCK: CBTSBAJI :: LOPE: ?
• MAP: NZK ::HOZ:SLA :: WQK:?

Mathematical Operation

These questions test the candidates’ basic numeracy skills by testing them on a basic simplification problem. The candidates also have to be careful about the calculation speed and accuracy.

• 76 * 4 * 26 * 13 * 9 * 62 (which are the suitable signs that should come in place of *)
• 1000 – 448 + 14 ÷ 15 × 2 = 998 (interchange of signs)
• 15 ÷ 80 – 34 + 10 × 8 = 102 (interchange of signs and terms)
• 4 + 2 ÷ 7 + 8 × 9 = 25 (interchange of signs and terms)
• 50 – 25 ÷ 5 × 3 + 6 = 59 (interchange of signs)

Embedded Figure & Mirror Image

These topics also come under the non-verbal reasoning category and test the candidate’s ability to mentally visualize the various 2D and 3D images. The correct answers can also be arrived at by eliminating incorrect options provided along with the question.

Relationship & Venn Diagram

These questions follow simple logic and examine the candidates’ ability to follow the data provided in accordance with common sense and logical reasoning. The options are also a great help in figuring out the logic.

Dictionary

Questions asked under this topic are provided in the paper to test the candidates’ knowledge of the English language coupled with their ability to identify and follow a theme/logic.

Select the option that represents the correct order of the given words as they would appear in an English dictionary.

• Strategy, Strength, Stranger, Stretch, Struggle, Strange
• Circulate, Circuit, Citrus, Cinnamon, Circular, Citizen
• Dither, Defiance, Dramatic, Dedicated, Differentiate, Diabolical

Tips to Prepare for the Reasoning Section of the SSC CGL Exam 2024

The Staff Selection Commission has announced the dates for the SSC CGL Tier 1 Exam for 2024 and there is less than a month left for the candidates to give final touch to their preparations. Provided here are some points that they can adapt to maximize their marks in the Reasoning section of the Tier 1 Exam.

• The candidates should increase their daily share of revision of the Reasoning concepts learned. It will help them recall these concepts while solving the questions in the examination hall.
• They can also attempt more sectional and full-length mock tests in order to get accustomed to the latest exam pattern. It will also help them practice better time management and decrease the negative marks in the actual exam.
• The candidates should solve as many previous year Reasoning sets asked in the SSC CGL Exam as possible. Even after the changes in the exam pattern, the syllabus and level of questions asked have remained almost the same over the years. So, going through the maximum number of PYQs is extremely useful.