CSIR NET Life Sciences Part A Syllabus

Part A syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Part A in CSIR NET Life Sciences, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Analytical Reasoning

   14 topics

   • Syllogisms
   • Analogies
   • Directions
   • Coding-Decoding
   • Classification
   • Alphabet Series
   • Symbols and Notations
   • Similarities and Differences
   • Number Series
   • Blood Relationships
   • Arrangements
   • Statements
   • Data Sufficiency
   • Non-verbal Reasoning
     • Visual Ability
     • Graphical Analysis
     • Data Analysis
2. 2

   Quantitative Aptitude

   13 topics

   • Simplifications
   • Number System
   • Average
   • Algebra
   • PercentageTime & Work
   • Simple & Compound Interest
   • Time & Speed
   • HCF, LCM Problems
   • Area
   • Profit & Loss
   • Bar Graph, Pictorial Graph, Pie Chart
   • Ratio & Proportion
   • Permutation & Combination
3. 3

   Data Interpretation & Graphical Analysis

   5 topics

   • Mean
   • Median
   • Mode
   • Measures of Dispersion
   • Graphical Analysis
     • Bar Graph
     • Line Graph
     • Pie-Chart
     • Tabulation

Part A flashcards for CSIR NET Life Sciences

24 of 50 cards from the Part A deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. In syllogisms, what does the conclusion 'Some A are B' logically imply about 'Some B are A'?

   It implies 'Some B are A' is also true. The 'Some' (particular affirmative, I-type) proposition is convertible, so subject and predicate can be interchanged.

2. In syllogistic reasoning, which type of statement can be converted to give a valid universal conclusion?

   The 'No A is B' (universal negative, E-type) statement. It converts to 'No B is A', which is also universally true.

3. What is the basic method to solve an analogy problem of the form 'A : B :: C : ?'

   Identify the relationship (logical, functional, or numerical) between A and B, then apply the exact same relationship to C to find the missing fourth term.

4. In direction-sense problems, if you face North and turn 90 degrees clockwise, which direction do you face?

   East. Clockwise from North goes North to East to South to West.

5. In a direction problem, a person walks 3 km North then 4 km East. What is the shortest (straight-line) distance from the start?

   5 km, found using the Pythagoras theorem: square root of (3 squared + 4 squared) = square root of 25 = 5.

6. In coding-decoding, if in a code each letter is replaced by the next letter, how is 'CAT' written?

   DBU. Each letter shifts forward by one: C to D, A to B, T to U.

7. What is the general approach to letter-coding decoding problems?

   Compare the code with the original word position by position to find the shift pattern (forward/backward steps in the alphabet), then apply that pattern.

8. In classification (odd-one-out) problems, what is the task?

   To identify the one item among a group that does not share the common property or category that all the others have.

9. In an alphabet series, what letter comes next: A, C, E, G, ?

   I. The series skips one letter each time (gap of 2), so after G comes I.

10. What positional value (from the left) does the letter 'M' hold in the English alphabet?

    13th. M is the middle, with 13 letters before and including it; the alphabet has 26 letters and N is the 14th.

11. In 'Symbols and Notations' problems, if '+' means 'divided by' and 'divided by' means '+', what is the value of 16 + 8 ?

    2. Substituting the redefined symbol, '+' means division: 16 divided by 8 = 2.

12. What does a problem on 'Similarities and Differences' primarily test?

    The ability to find common features (similarities) between items and distinguishing features (differences), often to group or contrast objects, words, or numbers.

13. In a number series, what comes next: 2, 4, 8, 16, ?

    32. Each term is multiplied by 2 (a geometric series with common ratio 2).

14. Identify the pattern and next term: 1, 4, 9, 16, ?

    25. These are perfect squares (1 squared, 2 squared, 3 squared, 4 squared, 5 squared).

15. In blood relations, who is your mother's brother's wife to you?

    Your aunt (maternal uncle's wife / mami).

16. In blood relation problems, what relation is 'the only son of my grandfather' to me (assuming my father is that son)?

    My father. The only son of one's grandfather is one's father.

17. In seating arrangement problems, what is the difference between a linear and a circular arrangement regarding 'left' and 'right'?

    In a linear arrangement directions are fixed; in a circular arrangement facing the centre reverses left/right relative to facing outward, so orientation must be carefully tracked.

18. In logical reasoning, what is a 'statement and assumptions' question asking you to determine?

    Whether a given assumption is something taken for granted or implicit in the statement, i.e., whether the statement would hold only if the assumption is true.

19. What is the goal of a 'Data Sufficiency' question?

    To determine whether the given statement(s) provide enough information to answer the question, not to actually compute the final numerical answer.

20. In data sufficiency, how do you treat each statement when both are given?

    Evaluate each statement independently first; only if neither alone suffices do you combine them to check if together they are sufficient.

21. What is 'non-verbal reasoning'?

    Reasoning based on visual/figural information (patterns, shapes, mirror images, figure series, embedded figures) rather than words or numbers.

22. In non-verbal reasoning, what is a mirror image of a figure?

    The reflection of the figure as seen in a mirror placed beside it, where left and right are reversed while top and bottom stay the same.

23. Using BODMAS, evaluate 6 + 2 x 5.

    16. Multiplication is done before addition: 2 x 5 = 10, then 6 + 10 = 16.

24. What does the order-of-operations rule BODMAS stand for?

    Brackets, Orders (powers/roots), Division, Multiplication, Addition, Subtraction - the sequence for simplifying expressions.

See more Part A flashcards →

Planning Part A for CSIR NET Life Sciences

Part A (CSIR NET Life Sciences) FAQ