Air University Entry Test Analytical Reasoning Syllabus

Analytical Reasoning syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Analytical Reasoning in Air University Entry Test, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Logical Deduction

   4 topics

   • Syllogisms
   • Statement and conclusion
   • Statement and assumption
   • Cause and effect
2. 2

   Scenario-Based Reasoning

   4 topics

   • Seating arrangements
   • Ranking and ordering
   • Grouping and selection
   • Conditional scenarios
3. 3

   Verbal Logic

   4 topics

   • Blood relations
   • Direction sense
   • Coding and decoding
   • Logical analogies
4. 4

   Pattern and Series

   3 topics

   • Number series
   • Letter and symbol series
   • Figure series
5. 5

   Critical Reasoning

   3 topics

   • Strengthening and weakening arguments
   • Drawing inferences
   • Identifying flaws

Analytical Reasoning flashcards for Air University Entry Test

20 of 52 cards from the Analytical Reasoning deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. What is a syllogism in logical reasoning?

   A form of deductive reasoning where a conclusion is drawn from two given premises (statements). The conclusion must logically follow only from the information stated in the premises.

2. In syllogisms, what is the difference between a 'definite' conclusion and a 'possible' conclusion?

   A definite conclusion necessarily follows from the premises in all cases; a possible conclusion may or may not follow. Only definitely-true conclusions are accepted as valid.

3. In syllogism Venn diagrams, what does the statement 'All A are B' mean?

   Circle A lies entirely inside circle B. Every A is a B, but some B may not be A.

4. In syllogisms, what does 'Some A are B' imply about 'Some A are not B'?

   'Some A are B' does NOT guarantee 'Some A are not B'. The two are possibilities, not certainties, so neither can be definitely concluded from the other alone.

5. What is the rule about a conclusion from two particular (Some) premises in syllogisms?

   No definite conclusion can be drawn from two particular premises (e.g., 'Some A are B' + 'Some B are C'). At least one universal premise is needed for a valid universal-type conclusion.

6. What is the rule about two negative premises in syllogisms?

   No definite conclusion can be drawn from two negative premises (e.g., 'No A are B' + 'No B are C').

7. In syllogisms, from 'All A are B' and 'All B are C', what definite conclusion follows?

   All A are C (and consequently Some C are A, Some A are C). Universal affirmative chains transitively.

8. What is a complementary pair (either-or) in syllogisms?

   When two conclusions individually are not definite but together exhaust all possibilities (e.g., 'Some A are B' and 'Some A are not B'), the 'Either I or II follows' rule applies.

9. In 'Statement and Conclusion' questions, what is the core task?

   To decide whether a given conclusion logically and necessarily follows from the information in the statement, using only that statement and no outside knowledge.

10. In 'Statement and Conclusion', why must a valid conclusion not contain extra/new information?

    A conclusion must be directly derivable from the statement. If it introduces information not implied by the statement, it does not follow.

11. What distinguishes a 'conclusion' from an 'inference' in logical reasoning?

    A conclusion is a fact that directly and necessarily follows from the statement; an inference is a probable judgment drawn from given facts that goes a step beyond what is explicitly stated.

12. What is an 'assumption' in 'Statement and Assumption' questions?

    Something the speaker/writer takes for granted but does not state explicitly; an unstated premise that must be true for the statement to make sense.

13. What is the key test to decide if an assumption is implicit in a statement?

    Ask whether the statement would still hold if the assumption were removed/false. If the statement collapses without it, the assumption is implicit (valid).

14. In 'Statement and Assumption', why are assumptions that are too obvious, universally known, or already stated usually invalid?

    An implicit assumption must be unstated and specifically presupposed by the statement; universally known facts or restatements of the statement are not hidden assumptions.

15. In assumption questions, why is a negative/contradicting idea generally NOT an implicit assumption?

    An assumption supports and underlies the statement. An idea that contradicts or opposes the statement cannot be something the speaker took for granted.

16. What is the definition of a cause-and-effect relationship?

    A relationship where one event (the cause) directly produces or brings about another event (the effect); the cause precedes the effect in time.

17. In Cause and Effect questions, what does it mean if 'both statements are effects of a common cause'?

    Neither statement causes the other; instead, a third, independent factor produces both observed events.

18. In Cause and Effect, how do you identify which event is the cause and which is the effect?

    The cause occurs first (the trigger/reason); the effect occurs later as the result. The effect cannot precede its cause.

19. What is the difference between an 'immediate cause' and a 'principal/remote cause'?

    An immediate cause is the direct, nearest trigger of an effect; a principal or remote cause is the underlying root reason that operates through intermediate steps.

20. In a linear seating arrangement, what extra information is essential to fix absolute positions?

    The direction the people face (all facing the same way, e.g., north) and a reference point (such as an end or a specific person's seat), since left/right depend on facing direction.

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