Reasoning Puzzles Exam Survival Guide

Window: CAT/Bank PO/Placement Aptitude/OLQs/Logic Games
Components: Arrangements • Sequencing • Grids/Matrix • Sets/Venn • Constraints/Conditionals • Number/Letter & Misc. puzzles

Must-do topics (80/20)

• Linear/Circular arrangements: neighbors, positions, left/right, opposite.
• Sequencing/Ranking: partial orders, before/after, tallest/fastest.
• Grids/Matrix (who–what–when): binary clues, exactly/at least one.
• Set/Venn & Inclusion–Exclusion: 2-set & 3-set counts.
• Conditionals & Truth/Lie: ⇒, ⇔, contrapositive; exactly one truth.
• Counting variants: seatings with restrictions, distributions, matchings.
• Pattern & misc.: series (number/letter), cubes/dice, clocks/calendars, river-crossings.

Top traps (avoid)

• Solving in your head; no base diagram.
• Ignoring “exactly one” vs “at least one”.
• Missing direction (left/right) relative to whom.
• Mixing absolute and relative positions.
• Not marking impossible slots; late contradictions.
• Overcounting arrangements; assuming independence.

Time split

• Harvest (30%): 1–2 sets that look clean (arrangement/grid).
• Commit (60%): finish those sets end-to-end.
• Revisit (10%): one marked Q per leftover set.

Last-48h checklist

• 2 linear + 1 circular arrangement sets (draw clean templates).
• 2 grid/matrix sets (practice ✓/✗/? propagation).
• 1 Venn (3-set) + 1 constraint logic (truth/liar).
• Build a symbol key: A→BA\to BA→B, ¬A\neg A¬A, A⊕BA\oplus BA⊕B (exactly one), A∧BA\land BA∧B (both), A∨BA\lor BA∨B (at least one).

Quick frames & mini-toolkit

• Diagram first: table/slots/circle; label directions.
• Anchor early: place extremes (first/last), fixed seats, unique attributes.
• Propagation rule: every new ✓ creates new ✗ in that row/col; update immediately.
• If/only if:
  • If A→BA\to BA→B then ¬B→¬A\neg B \to \neg A¬B→¬A (contrapositive).
  • Exactly one of A,B: (A∨B)∧¬(A∧B)(A\lor B)\land \neg(A\land B)(A∨B)∧¬(A∧B).
• Venn 3-set order: start from center (all three), then pairwise, then singles.
• Counting with restrictions: build then subtract invalids (or use complement).
• Check loads: left of X = immediate neighbor or anywhere left? clarify.

Speed tactics

• One clean base diagram, then clone for branches.
• Write the constraint next to the slots you affect.
• When stuck: switch view (line ↔ grid ↔ circle), or flip to contrapositive.
• Kill greed: if a branch makes 2 contradictions quickly, prune it.
• Arithmetic light: prefer ratios/differences to heavy calc on DI-flavored puzzles.

Exam-day mini-plan

• 2-min skim → star 2 friendliest sets.
• Build full template before answering any question.
• Answer in batches (finish a set, then move).
• Final 5–7 min: revisit one marked Q; re-scan constraints for a missed “exactly/at most”.