CMAT Logical Reasoning Syllabus

Logical Reasoning syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Logical Reasoning in CMAT, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Analytical Reasoning

   5 topics

   • Seating Arrangements
     • Linear arrangements
     • Circular and rectangular arrangements
   • Puzzles & Distributions
     • Floor and box puzzles
     • Scheduling and matrix puzzles
   • Blood Relations
     • Family tree problems
     • Coded relations
   • Direction Sense
     • Distance and displacement
     • Turning and shadow-based questions
   • Ranking & Ordering
     • Comparative ranking
     • Order of merit problems
2. 2

   Verbal & Critical Reasoning

   5 topics

   • Statement & Conclusion
     • Validity of conclusions
     • Course of action
   • Statement & Assumption
     • Identifying implicit assumptions
   • Syllogisms
     • Categorical syllogisms with Venn diagrams
     • Possibility cases
   • Cause & Effect / Strong-Weak Arguments
     • Distinguishing cause from effect
     • Argument strength evaluation
   • Inference & Logical Deduction
     • Drawing inferences from passages
3. 3

   Logical Sequences & Pattern Reasoning

   4 topics

   • Number & Alphabet Series
     • Missing and wrong-term series
     • Alphanumeric series
   • Coding-Decoding
     • Letter and number coding
     • Substitution and symbol coding
   • Analogy & Classification
     • Verbal and numeric analogies
     • Odd-one-out
   • Symbol-based Operations
     • Inequalities and coded operations
4. 4

   Non-Verbal & Miscellaneous Reasoning

   4 topics

   • Visual Reasoning
     • Figure series and pattern completion
     • Mirror and water images
   • Clocks & Calendars
     • Angle between hands
     • Odd days and day calculation
   • Cubes & Dice
     • Dice positions
     • Cube cutting and painting
   • Input-Output & Machine Logic
     • Step-based reordering

Logical Reasoning flashcards for CMAT

19 of 50 cards from the Logical Reasoning deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. In a linear seating row where all members face north, which compass direction is each person's left and right?

   Facing north, a person's left is towards the west and their right is towards the east.

2. For N people seated in a single line, how do you convert a position from one end into the position from the other end?

   Position from the other end = N - (position from the given end) + 1. E.g. 5th from left in a row of 12 is 12 - 5 + 1 = 8th from the right.

3. In two parallel rows facing each other, how are the left/right directions of the two rows related?

   The rows face opposite ways, so they are mirror images: the left of one row aligns with the right of the facing row. People who sit opposite each other directly face one another.

4. In a circular arrangement, how do 'clockwise' and a person's left/right depend on whether they face the centre or face outward?

   Facing the centre: right = anti-clockwise, left = clockwise. Facing outward: it reverses, so right = clockwise, left = anti-clockwise.

5. What is the first practical step to solve a complex puzzle/distribution problem with many variables (people, items, days)?

   Identify direct/definite clues first and build a base grid or table, then apply the conditional clues to eliminate possibilities; track multiple cases when a clue allows more than one option.

6. In blood relations, how is a 'maternal' relative distinguished from a 'paternal' one?

   Maternal relatives are connected through the mother's side (e.g. maternal uncle = mother's brother); paternal relatives are connected through the father's side (e.g. paternal uncle = father's brother).

7. What does the relation 'A is the son of B's father's only son' simplify to?

   B's father's only son is B himself (assuming B is male); so A is B's son. If B is female, B's father's only son is her brother, making A her nephew.

8. In coded blood-relation questions using +, -, x, ÷ for relationships, what is the recommended solving method?

   Decode the expression from right to left (or as the convention defines), drawing a family tree step by step, using symbols such as + for male, - for female, and connecting lines for each given relationship.

9. In direction sense, what is the order of the four cardinal and four ordinal directions going clockwise from North?

   Clockwise: North, North-East, East, South-East, South, South-West, West, North-West (then back to North).

10. If you face North and turn 90 degrees clockwise, 180 degrees, and 270 degrees clockwise, which directions do you end up facing?

    90 degrees clockwise = East; 180 degrees = South; 270 degrees clockwise = West.

11. Which formula gives the shortest (straight-line) distance between start and end points in a direction-sense problem forming a right angle?

    Pythagoras' theorem: shortest distance = square root of (horizontal displacement squared + vertical displacement squared).

12. At sunrise, if a person faces the rising sun, their shadow falls in which direction, and what are the directions to their left and right?

    Facing the rising sun (East) at sunrise, the shadow falls towards the West (behind them); their left is North and their right is South.

13. In ranking/ordering, when a person is described from both ends in a row of N, how do you find the total or the rank?

    Total N = (rank from top) + (rank from bottom) - 1. Conversely, rank from one end = N - (rank from the other end) + 1.

14. If positions from the top and bottom overlap so the two counts exceed N, what does that indicate?

    The same person is being counted from both ends, meaning the ranks share that person; subtract 1 to avoid double counting (overlap), giving the correct minimum total.

15. What is the structure of a Statement and Conclusion problem and the rule for a valid conclusion?

    Given statement(s) assumed true, decide which conclusion(s) logically follow. A conclusion is valid only if it must be true on the basis of the statement alone, without external knowledge or assumptions.

16. In Statement and Conclusion, why must conclusions never rely on real-world or general knowledge?

    Because the statements must be taken as given (even if factually false in reality); only what is directly derivable from those statements counts as 'following'.

17. What defines an 'assumption' in a Statement and Assumption question?

    An assumption is something the author takes for granted or supposes while making the statement; it is implicit, unstated, and necessary for the statement to hold true.

18. Which test helps decide whether a given assumption is 'implicit' in a statement?

    The negation test: negate the assumption; if the statement then falls apart or becomes meaningless, the assumption is implicit. Also, an assumption must not merely restate the statement or be over-general.

19. In syllogisms, what are the four standard categorical statement types (A, E, I, O)?

    A = universal affirmative (All S are P); E = universal negative (No S is P); I = particular affirmative (Some S are P); O = particular negative (Some S are not P).

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