Introduction
The General Intelligence & Reasoning section of the SSC Combined Graduate Level Exam (CGLE) tests a candidates analytical ability, problemsolving skills and logical thinking. The 2012 paper contained a mixture of verbal and nonverbal items, each designed to assess quick mental processing. This page presents a curated set of solved practice questions that reflect the difficulty and style of the original exam. Working through these examples will help aspirants understand the underlying concepts, develop timesaving strategies, and improve accuracy.
Types of Questions Covered
- Analogies
- Series (numeric, alphabetic, figure)
- Logical deductions (syllogisms, statements & conclusions)
- Codingdecoding
- Blood relations and family trees
- Direction & distance problems
- Seating arrangements
- Clock & calendar based puzzles
Sample Questions with Detailed Solutions
Q1. Analogy
Hand is to Glove as Foot is to
Solution: A glove covers a hand, just as a sock covers a foot. Hence the answer is **Sock**.
Q2. Number Series
2, 6, 12, 20, 30, ?
Observe the pattern: difference between consecutive terms = 4, 6, 8, 10 increasing by 2 each time. Next difference = 12, so 30+12=**42**.
Q3. Logical Sequence (Figures)
Figure1 shows a triangle pointing upwards. Figure2 shows the same triangle rotated 90 clockwise. Figure3 is obtained by rotating Figure2 another 90 clockwise. What will be Figure4?
Four successive 90 clockwise rotations bring the shape back to its original orientation after four steps. Hence Figure4 will again be a triangle pointing upwards (same as Figure1).
Q4. Syllogism
Statements:
- All engineers are logical.
- No mathematician is a poet.
- Some poets are engineers.
Conclusions:
- All poets are logical.
- Some engineers are not mathematicians.
- No logical person is a mathematician.
From the statements we know:
- All engineers logical.
- Some poets are engineers those poets are also logical.
- We have no direct link between mathematicians and engineers, nor between poets and mathematicians beyond No mathematician is a poet.
Evaluation of conclusions:
- (A) All poets are logical Not true, because only the subset of poets that are engineers is guaranteed to be logical.
- (B) Some engineers are not mathematicians True. Since some poets are engineers and no poet is a mathematician, those engineers (who are also poets) cannot be mathematicians.
- (C) No logical person is a mathematician Not provable; a logical person could be a mathematician who is not a poet.
Thus only conclusion **B** follows.
Q5. CodingDecoding
If APPLE is coded as BQQMF, what is the code for ORANGE?
Observe the shift: AB (+1), PQ (+1), PQ (+1), LM (+1), EF (+1). Each letter is shifted forward by one. Applying the same to ORANGE:
OP, RS, AB, NO, GH, EF **PSBOHF**.
Q6. Blood Relations
In a certain family, R is the son of S. S is the daughter of T. If Rs mother is also the sister of U, how is U related to T?
Lets map the relations:
- S is the daughter of T T is Ss parent.
- Rs mother = S (since R is son of S).
- S is sister of U U is Ss sibling.
Therefore U is also a child of T, i.e., U is another son/daughter of T **U is the son/daughter (sibling) of S, hence child of T**.
Q7. Direction & Distance
A walks 5km north, then turns east and walks 12km. B starts from the same point and walks directly to As final position. What is the distance covered by B?
The displacement forms a rightangled triangle with sides 5km (vertical) and 12km (horizontal). Distance = (5+12) = (25+144) = 169 = **13km**.
Q8. Seating Arrangement
Eight people P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W sit around a circular table. P sits opposite Q. R sits to the immediate right of S. T sits two seats clockwise from V. U sits directly between W and Q. Who sits to the immediate left of P?
Place P at the 12oclock position; Q will be opposite at 6oclock.
U must be between W and Q, so the order clockwise could be WUQ . The only free seat beside Q clockwise is occupied by U; the other side (counterclockwise) will be W.
Since T is two seats clockwise from V, we can position V and T accordingly without breaking other conditions.
R is immediate right of S, so they occupy consecutive seats.
After trying the feasible arrangement, the seat immediate left of P is occupied by **S**.
Preparation Tips for the Reasoning Section
- Practice daily. Short, timed drills improve speed.
- Identify patterns quickly. Look for arithmetic progressions, geometric progressions, symmetrical transformations, and common logical connectors.
- Eliminate wrong options. In multiplechoice items, discarding two alternatives raises the probability of a correct guess.
- Use shortcuts. For series problems, write the differences first; for coding, note the shift or substitution rule.
- Maintain accuracy. A single mistake can cost 23 marks; doublechecking answers in the last minute is worthwhile.
Suggested Study Plan (4Week Cycle)
- Week1 Fundamentals: Cover basic analogies, number series and simple coding. Solve 3040 problems each day.
- Week2 Advanced Logic: Focus on syllogisms, seating arrangements and directiondistance. Attempt 25 problems under timed conditions.
- Week3 Mixed Mock Tests: Take two fulllength mock exams. Review every mistake and note the underlying concept.
- Week4 Revision & SpeedBuilding: Redo the solved question set, aim to cut down perquestion time by 1015seconds, and finish with a final mock.
Conclusion
The 2012 SSC CGLE General Intelligence & Reasoning paper tests a wide spectrum of logical abilities. By studying solved examples such as the ones presented above, candidates can develop a clear thoughtprocess, recognise recurring patterns, and apply efficient solving strategies. Consistent practice, combined with the structured plan outlined, will significantly boost both speed and accuracy, paving the way for a high score in the actual examination.
For further practice, explore additional question banks, join online forums for discussion, and consider timed quizzes to simulate realtest pressure.
