IBPS SO Reasoning (High Level) Syllabus

In a floor/stack puzzle, if the lowest floor is numbered 1 and topmost is 7, what does "immediately above" mean numerically?

"Immediately above" means the next higher floor number (floor n+1); "immediately below" means floor n-1. The topmost floor has the highest number.

What is the best strategy for box-stack puzzles with "gap" clues like "three boxes between X and Y"?

"Three boxes between X and Y" means X and Y are 4 positions apart with two valid arrangements (X above Y or Y above X). Make both cases and eliminate using other constraints.

In scheduling puzzles involving months, how many days separate events given in the same year?

Count the exact days using each month's length (Jan 31, Feb 28/29, Mar 31, etc.). "Certain months" clues often hinge on whether a month has 30 or 31 days, so memorize month lengths.

In day-scheduling puzzles, what does "two days after Wednesday" give, and how is the week treated?

Two days after Wednesday is Friday. The week is treated as cyclic (Sunday follows Saturday), so counting wraps around after Saturday.

In comparison/ranking puzzles, how do you convert "A is taller than B" type clues into an ordering?

Translate each clue into inequalities (A > B), then chain them into a single sequence. The number of distinct ranks equals the number of persons; resolve gaps using "exactly N between" clues.

In ranking from both ends, if a person is 7th from top and 11th from bottom, how many people are there in total?

Total = (position from top) + (position from bottom) - 1 = 7 + 11 - 1 = 17 people.

What is the formula relating rank from top and rank from bottom in a row of N people?

Rank from bottom = N - (rank from top) + 1. Equivalently, rank from top + rank from bottom = N + 1.

In coding-decoding, what is "letter-position" coding and the key reference values?

Each letter is replaced by its position in the alphabet (A=1 ... Z=26). Useful reverse positions: A=26, Z=1; and the opposite letter via 27 - position (A↔Z, B↔Y, etc.).

What is the EJOTY rule in coding-decoding?

EJOTY gives quick alphabet positions at intervals of 5: E=5, J=10, O=15, T=20, Y=25, helping locate any letter's position fast.

In new-pattern coding-decoding (coded sentences), how do you find the code for a particular word?

Compare sentences sharing a common word; the code common to those sentences corresponds to the shared word. Cross-match across statements to isolate each word-code pair.

What is the opposite-letter (mirror) relationship used in coding, and how is it computed?

The mirror of a letter sums positions to 27: A(1)↔Z(26), B(2)↔Y(25), M(13)↔N(14). Formula: mirror position = 27 - original position.

In blood relations, what relation is "my father's sister's husband"?

He is your uncle (the husband of your paternal aunt / bua).

In blood relations coding (A + B means A is father of B), what does "A + B - C" usually represent?

With + meaning father-of and - meaning mother-of (per the given key), A + B - C means A is father of B and B is mother of C, so A is the grandfather of C. (Always apply the question's specific symbol key.)

In a family tree, how do you determine generations to count grandparent vs parent relations?

Each parent-child link is one generation down. Same generation = siblings/cousins/spouses; one up = parents/uncles/aunts; two up = grandparents. Draw the tree with generation levels to avoid errors.

In direction sense, starting facing north and turning right then right again, which direction do you face?

North → right turn → East → right turn → South. Two right turns (90 each) from north lands you facing South.

What formula gives the shortest distance between start and end after perpendicular displacements in direction problems?

Use the Pythagorean theorem: shortest distance = sqrt((net east-west)^2 + (net north-south)^2). Net displacements are found by signed addition along each axis.

In direction sense, if at sunrise your shadow falls to your left, which direction are you facing?

At sunrise the sun is in the east, casting shadows toward the west. If the shadow is to your left, west is on your left, so you face South.

In an alphanumeric series, how do you handle a question asking for the symbol/number two to the left of a given element?

Locate the reference element's position, then move two positions toward the start (left). For "to the right," move toward the end. Carefully recount including all symbols, letters, and digits.

In a symbol/number series like "how many digits are immediately followed by a symbol," what must you check?

Scan left to right; for each digit check the very next element to its right and count only those where that next element is a symbol (not another digit or letter).

What defines Data Sufficiency, and what are the typical answer options?

You judge whether the given statement(s) provide enough information to answer a question, not solve it. Standard options: (1) Statement I alone sufficient, (2) II alone sufficient, (3) either alone, (4) both together needed, (5) both together still insufficient.

In Data Sufficiency, why should you avoid actually computing the final answer?

Because the task is only to determine sufficiency. Spending time solving wastes effort; you only need to confirm a unique answer can be reached, saving time and avoiding the trap of assuming data not given.

In Input-Output (machine logic), what is the core skill needed to solve the puzzle?

Identifying the consistent rule/pattern (sorting, shifting, arithmetic operations, alternating word/number rearrangement) applied at each step, then projecting it forward to any requested step.

In Input-Output, how do you find the number of steps to reach the final arrangement?

The final step is when no further change occurs (output is fully sorted/arranged). Count the transformations from input to that stable state; one element is typically moved/processed per step.

In Input-Output, if words are arranged alphabetically from the left and numbers in increasing order from the right, how is each step formed?

In each step the next-eligible word moves to the leftmost remaining position and/or the next number to the rightmost remaining position, alternately, until all are placed.

In logical/analytical decision making, how is a candidate evaluated against given eligibility conditions?

Check the candidate against every stated criterion; if all are met, select; if one fails but a special exception condition is satisfied, refer to the designated authority; otherwise reject. Apply conditions strictly and in order.

In decision-making, what does it mean when a case is to be "referred to a higher authority"?

It means the candidate meets most criteria but one specific borderline condition (with a stated exception clause) is triggered, so a fixed rule routes the case upward rather than to direct selection/rejection.

In coded inequality, what symbols are typically defined and how do you decode them?

Symbols like @, #, $ are assigned meanings such as >, <, =, >=, <=. First translate every symbol into its real inequality, then evaluate the conclusion using the combined chain.

In direct/coded inequality, when is a combined conclusion "X > Z" definitely true from "X > Y" and "Y > Z"?

It is true when the inequalities share a common term and point the same way (X > Y > Z gives X > Z). A definite relation needs an unbroken same-direction chain; mixing > and < breaks it.

In inequalities, why can't you conclude a relation between X and Z from "X >= Y" and "Y <= Z"?

Because the chain has opposing directions (X is at least Y, Z is at least Y), so X and Z both exceed/equal Y but their mutual order is undetermined; no definite relation exists.

In inequalities, what is the Either-Or rule for two conclusions like "X >= Z" and "X < Z"?

When the derived relation gives X >= Z is uncertain but the two conclusions are complementary (together cover all cases: X = Z plus X > Z plus X < Z), and individually neither is definite, the answer is "Either follows."

In data and condition-based eligibility puzzles, what is the recommended order to apply multiple conditions?

Apply conditions sequentially: first the absolute disqualifiers (mandatory minimums like age, qualification), then preferential/relaxation conditions, then exception clauses. Eliminate failing candidates early to reduce workload before checking exceptions.