COMSATS NTS-based 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 COMSATS NTS-based Test, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Scenario-Based Reasoning

   3 topics

   • Seating Arrangements
   • Ordering and Sequencing
   • Grouping and Selection
2. 2

   Statement-Based Reasoning

   4 topics

   • Logical Deductions
   • Assumptions and Conclusions
   • Cause and Effect
   • Strengthening and Weakening Arguments
3. 3

   Logical Connectives and Conditions

   3 topics

   • If-Then Statements
   • Necessary and Sufficient Conditions
   • Negation and Contrapositive
4. 4

   Coding-Decoding and Patterns

   3 topics

   • Letter and Number Coding
   • Series and Pattern Recognition
   • Blood Relations and Direction Sense

Analytical Reasoning flashcards for COMSATS NTS-based Test

20 of 50 cards from the Analytical Reasoning deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. In analytical reasoning, what is a 'linear (single-row) seating arrangement'?

   An arrangement where people or objects are placed in a single straight line/row, and positions are described by relative terms like 'immediate left/right', 'between', and fixed ends (first and last positions).

2. In a circular seating arrangement, when all persons face the CENTER, how do left and right directions compare to a person's actual hands?

   When facing the center, a person's right hand points to the clockwise neighbor's side and left to anti-clockwise; so 'to the right' means anti-clockwise around the circle and 'to the left' means clockwise (directions are reversed relative to an outside observer).

3. In a circular arrangement where everyone faces OUTWARD (away from center), how are left/right oriented relative to the clockwise direction?

   When facing outward, a person's right is clockwise and left is anti-clockwise — the opposite of facing inward. This reversal is a common trick in seating questions.

4. For N people seated around a circle, how many distinct gaps/positions exist between them, and why does this matter?

   There are exactly N gaps between N people in a circle. This matters because 'sitting between' and counting persons in clockwise vs anti-clockwise directions must account for the closed loop (the two directions sum to N).

5. What does the clue 'A sits exactly between B and C' tell you in a linear arrangement?

   A is in the middle of B and C with both adjacent to A (order B-A-C or C-A-B), meaning A has B on one immediate side and C on the other immediate side.

6. What is the difference between 'immediately to the left of' and 'somewhere to the left of' in seating clues?

   'Immediately to the left of' means directly adjacent in the next position; 'somewhere to the left of' means anywhere on the left side, with one or more gaps allowed between them.

7. What is a good first step when solving any seating arrangement puzzle?

   Identify the fixed/definite clues first (e.g., 'A sits at the end', 'B is 2nd from left'), place them, then add flexible clues, keeping multiple possibilities until contradictions eliminate them.

8. In ordering/ranking problems, if A is taller than B and B is taller than C, what property lets you conclude A is taller than C?

   Transitivity: for a consistent ordering relation, A > B and B > C implies A > C. Most ranking/ordering puzzles rely on this transitive property.

9. In a ranking puzzle, if a person is '5th from the top' and '3rd from the bottom', how do you find the total number of people?

   Total = (position from top) + (position from bottom) − 1 = 5 + 3 − 1 = 7. Subtract 1 because the person is counted in both directions.

10. What is the formula to find a person's position from the other end when you know their position from one end and the total count?

    Position from other end = (Total + 1) − (position from given end). E.g., 4th from left in a row of 10 = 11 − 4 = 7th from right.

11. In ordering puzzles, what is the difference between absolute and relative ordering clues?

    Absolute clues give an exact position (e.g., 'C is 3rd'); relative clues give order between items (e.g., 'C is before D'). Relative clues constrain sequence but not exact slots until combined.

12. What does 'A finished immediately before B' mean in a sequencing/race problem?

    A's position is exactly one rank ahead of B with no one in between (A then B consecutively in the finishing order).

13. In a grouping/selection problem, what is a 'conditional selection rule' and give a typical form?

    A rule making one selection depend on another, typically 'If X is selected, then Y must (or must not) be selected.' These constrain which combinations of members are valid groups.

14. In selection puzzles, how do you interpret 'either P or Q must be chosen, but not both'?

    Exactly one of P and Q appears in the group (exclusive or): you cannot pick both together and you cannot leave both out.

15. In a grouping puzzle, what does the constraint 'X and Y cannot be in the same group' require?

    X and Y must be separated into different groups; any valid arrangement that places them together is invalid (a mutual exclusion / incompatibility constraint).

16. What is the contrapositive of the selection rule 'If A is in the team, then B is in the team'?

    'If B is NOT in the team, then A is NOT in the team.' The contrapositive is logically equivalent and often the key to eliminating options.

17. In analytical reasoning, what is a 'logical deduction' based on syllogisms?

    A conclusion drawn necessarily from two given premises (statements) using categorical relationships (all, some, no), where the conclusion must be true if both premises are true.

18. What are the four standard categorical statement types (A, E, I, O) in syllogistic logic?

    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').

19. What does a valid 'immediate inference' by conversion look like for 'Some A are B'?

    'Some A are B' converts to 'Some B are A' (valid). I-type and E-type statements convert validly; conversion of 'All A are B' to 'All B are A' is NOT valid.

20. In syllogisms, can a definite conclusion ever follow from two particular ('Some') premises?

    No. Two particular premises (I/O types) cannot yield a valid definite conclusion; at least one premise must be universal for a valid conclusion.

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