Reasoning has generally remained one of the more manageable sections in the early SSC CGL 2026 shifts, although the exact difficulty varies by shift. Focus on series, coding-decoding, analogy, classification, non-verbal reasoning, syllogism and miscellaneous reasoning questions.
Use this page for a quick revision before your exam. Every topic below is followed by a quiz question so that you can test the concept immediately.
1. Number Series
Look for:
- Addition / subtraction
- Multiplication / division
- Squares / cubes
- Alternate patterns
- Difference of differences
Example
2, 6, 12, 20, 30, ?
Differences: 4, 6, 8, 10 → next difference = 12 → Answer = 42
Find the next number: 2, 6, 12, 20, 30, ?
Find the odd one out: 16, 25, 36, 48
2. Alphabet Series
Remember: A = 1, B = 2 ... Z = 26. In reverse order: A = 26, B = 25 ... Z = 1. This is useful for coding-decoding and alphabet-based questions.
Quick Tip
A letter's forward position + its reverse position = 27. Remember the anchors E = 5, J = 10, O = 15, T = 20, Y = 25 to find any position quickly.
What is the position of the letter K from the right end of the English alphabet?
3. Coding-Decoding
Check whether the code uses:
- Letter shifting
- Reverse alphabet
- Position values
- Word reversal
- Alternating patterns
Do not assume a complicated pattern when a simple shift works.
If CAT is coded as DBU, then DOG is coded as:
SSC CGL General Awareness Revision – Short Notes, PDF & Quiz
Revise Polity, History, Geography, Science, Economy and Static GK before your exam.
4. Analogy
Identify the relationship between the first pair, then apply it to the second pair.
Example
Book : Author :: Painting : ? → Artist. The relationship is Object → Creator.
Book : Author :: Painting : ?
5. Classification
Find the item that does not follow the common property.
Example
Apple, Mango, Banana, Carrot → Carrot. The first three are fruits.
Which is different? Square, Rectangle, Triangle, Cube
6. Syllogism
- All A are B does not mean all B are A.
- Some A are B means at least one overlap exists.
- No A is B means there is no overlap.
Use Venn diagrams when necessary.
Statements: All pens are books. All books are pencils. Conclusions: I. All pens are pencils. II. All pencils are pens.
7. Blood Relations
Draw a small family tree instead of solving mentally when the question becomes lengthy. Useful relations:
| Relation | Term |
|---|---|
| Father's brother | Uncle |
| Mother's sister | Aunt |
| Brother's son | Nephew |
| Sister's daughter | Niece |
A is the brother of B. B is the sister of C. How is A related to C?
8. Direction Sense
Use coordinates:
Vertical
North = +Y
South = −Y
Horizontal
East = +X
West = −X
For opposite directions, add distances only when the movement is along the same straight line.
A person is facing North. He turns right and then right again. Which direction is he facing?
9. Non-Verbal Reasoning
Revise:
- Mirror images
- Water images
- Paper folding
- Figure completion
- Embedded figures
- Figure series
- Counting figures
Remember
Mirror image: Left ↔ Right.
Water image: Top ↔ Bottom.
Mirror image questions reverse:
10. Ranking
If a person is 7th from the left and 9th from the right, then:
Formula
Total = Rank from left + Rank from right − 1
7 + 9 − 1 = 15
If a person is 8th from the left and 12th from the right, how many people are there in total?
Final Revision Order
Series → Coding-Decoding → Analogy → Classification → Syllogism → Blood Relations → Direction → Ranking → Non-Verbal
Also revise the SSC CGL English revision notes to complete your last-minute preparation.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How should I revise Reasoning for SSC CGL Tier 1 just before the exam?
Revise the common patterns for number series, alphabet series and coding-decoding, then quickly go through analogy, classification, syllogism, blood relations, direction sense, non-verbal reasoning and ranking. Solve a few mixed questions instead of starting new topics.
How many Reasoning questions come in SSC CGL Tier 1?
The General Intelligence and Reasoning section has 25 questions worth 50 marks in Tier 1, with a negative marking of 0.50 marks for each wrong answer.
Which Reasoning topics are most important for SSC CGL?
Series, coding-decoding, analogy, classification, non-verbal reasoning, syllogism, blood relations, direction sense, ranking and miscellaneous reasoning questions are the main areas to revise.
How do I solve number series questions quickly?
Check differences first, then look for multiplication or division patterns, squares or cubes, alternate patterns and the difference of differences. For example, in 2, 6, 12, 20, 30 the differences are 4, 6, 8, 10, so the next number is 42.
How do I solve syllogism questions?
Remember that All A are B does not mean All B are A, Some A are B means at least one overlap exists, and No A is B means there is no overlap. Use Venn diagrams when the statements are confusing.
How do I solve non-verbal reasoning questions faster?
Learn the basic rules: a mirror image swaps left and right, while a water image swaps top and bottom. Practise paper folding, figure completion, embedded figures and counting figures with a timer.