RBI Grade B Officer Reasoning Ability Syllabus

In scheduling/day-month puzzles, what is the first step after reading clues?

Set up the fixed sequence (days of week or months in order), place absolute clues first, then relative clues (before/after, gap of N), and iterate possibilities.

In a box/stack puzzle, what does "two boxes between P and Q" mean for their positions?

There is a gap of exactly two boxes; if P is at position 1, Q is at position 4 (or vice versa) — positions differ by 3.

In Order and Ranking, if a person is 7th from the top and 11th from the bottom in a row, what is the total number of people?

Total = (7 + 11) − 1 = 17. Subtract 1 because the person is counted in both ranks.

In ranking, if A is 5th from left and 9th from right, how many total people are in the row?

Total = 5 + 9 − 1 = 13.

What formula gives a person's rank from the other end if total and one rank are known?

Rank from other end = (Total + 1) − Rank from given end.

In Direction Sense, what is the shortest distance formula when someone moves to form a right angle (e.g., x east then y north)?

Shortest distance = sqrt(x^2 + y^2) (Pythagoras theorem), since the path forms two perpendicular legs.

In direction sense, if you face North and turn 90 degrees clockwise, then 90 degrees clockwise again, which direction do you face?

South. North to clockwise = East, East clockwise = South.

In direction problems, what is the rule for left and right turns relative to current facing?

A left turn rotates you 90 degrees anticlockwise; a right turn rotates 90 degrees clockwise. Track the new facing direction after each turn.

If a person walks 3 km North, 4 km East, what is the displacement and direction from start?

Displacement = sqrt(3^2 + 4^2) = 5 km, in the North-East direction.

What is Coding-Decoding in reasoning?

A process where words/letters/numbers are encrypted using a rule (shifting, substitution, position values); you must decode using the same hidden rule.

In letter coding, what is the position value of letters A and Z?

A = 1 and Z = 26 (forward); in reverse (opposite) position A = 26 and Z = 1. Sum of a letter's forward and reverse position is always 27.

What is the 'EJOTY' rule used for in coding-decoding?

EJOTY gives quick reference positions: E=5, J=10, O=15, T=20, Y=25 — used to rapidly find any letter's position.

In coding, if CAT is coded as DBU, what is the rule and code for DOG?

Each letter shifts +1 (C->D, A->B, T->U). So DOG becomes EPH.

What is the opposite/complementary letter of a given letter and how to find it?

The opposite letter sums to 27 with the original: opposite of letter at position n is at position (27 − n). E.g., opposite of C(3) is X(24).

What is "new-pattern" or sentence coding-decoding?

Each word in a sentence is given a code; by comparing multiple sentences with common words/codes, you deduce which code maps to which word.

What does an Input-Output (machine logic) question test?

It tests the ability to identify the step-by-step rule a machine applies to rearrange words/numbers, then predict any intermediate or final step.

What is the standard first step in solving an Input-Output problem?

Compare the Input with Step 1 to detect the operation (e.g., arrange words alphabetically, numbers ascending/descending, shifting one element per step) applied each step.

In input-output, what does it mean that only one element is processed per step?

Each step moves/sorts exactly one word or number to a fixed position (usually leftmost or rightmost), so the number of steps roughly equals the number of elements to arrange.

How do you find an intermediate step in input-output without writing all steps?

Identify the rule (e.g., largest number to the right each step), then apply it the required number of times from the input to reach the asked step directly.

In input-output, how can you find the input from a given output?

Generally you cannot uniquely determine the original input from a later step because the operation is not reversible; only forward steps are determinable.

What are the basic inequality symbols and their meanings in coded inequality reasoning?

> greater than, < less than, >= greater than or equal, <= less than or equal, = equal to. Coded symbols (e.g., @, #, $) are mapped to these before solving.

In inequalities, when can you combine A > B and B > C into a definite conclusion?

When the inequality signs point the same direction: A > B > C gives A > C (definite). The chain must be unbroken and consistent in direction.

Why does combining A > B and B < C give no definite relation between A and C?

Because the signs are opposite (a 'fork' at B); A and C are both greater than/related via B differently, so A vs C cannot be determined.

In coded inequalities, when is an "Either-Or" conclusion valid?

When two conclusions (e.g., A >= C and A < C, or A = C and A > C) together cover all possibilities for the same pair and individually neither is definite, the either-or holds.

From A >= B and B > C, what is the definite relation between A and C?

A > C, because A >= B and B > C combine to A > C (the strict inequality dominates).

From A > B and B >= C, what is the definite relation between A and C?

A > C, since A is strictly greater than B and B is at least C.

From A <= B and B <= C, what is the definite relation, and can A = C be true?

A <= C is definite. A = C is possible (when A = B = C), so neither A < C nor A = C alone is definite — together they form Either-Or A <= C.

What is Critical Reasoning's focus compared to logical reasoning?

Critical reasoning evaluates arguments — identifying premises, conclusions, assumptions, strengthening/weakening statements, and inference — rather than pattern-based puzzles.

In critical reasoning, how do you identify a statement that WEAKENS an argument?

Find the statement that attacks the assumption or provides evidence/an alternative cause that makes the conclusion less likely to be true.

In critical reasoning, what makes a statement an 'inference' versus a 'conclusion'?

An inference is something that must be true given the passage (logically derived/implied), while a conclusion is the main point the author is arguing toward; inferences go beyond what is explicitly stated but are necessarily true.