SBI PO Reasoning Ability Syllabus

Reasoning Ability syllabus — full chapter and topic list

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

1. 1

   Logical Reasoning

   3 topics

   • Syllogism
   • Assumptions
   • Conclusions
2. 2

   Puzzles and Seating Arrangement

   3 topics

   • Linear Arrangement
   • Circular Arrangement
   • Floor Puzzle
3. 3

   Miscellaneous

   3 topics

   • Blood Relations
   • Direction Sense
   • Order and Ranking

Reasoning Ability flashcards for SBI PO

22 of 51 cards from the Reasoning Ability deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. In syllogism, what does the conclusion 'All A are B' imply about the existence and overlap of A and B?

   Every member of set A is also a member of set B; A is fully contained within B, but B may have members outside A (so 'Some B are A' is also valid, but 'All B are A' is not necessarily).

2. What is the rule for drawing a definite conclusion in syllogism when both premises are particular (contain 'Some')?

   No definite conclusion can be drawn. At least one universal premise is required to reach a valid universal/definite conclusion.

3. In syllogism, if one premise is negative, what must the conclusion be?

   The conclusion must also be negative. From two affirmative premises only an affirmative conclusion follows.

4. What is a 'complementary pair' (either-or case) in syllogism, and when does it apply?

   When neither of two conclusions individually follows, but together they cover all possibilities (e.g., 'Some A are B' and 'Some A are not B'), the 'Either...or' option is valid. The two statements must have the same subject and predicate and be a possibility/contradiction pair.

5. From 'Some A are B' and 'All B are C', what definite conclusion follows?

   Some A are C (since the A's that are B are also C). Also 'Some C are A' follows by conversion.

6. In syllogism, what is the valid conversion of 'Some A are B'?

   'Some B are A' (Some...are converts to Some...are). Particular affirmative conversion keeps the 'Some' relationship both ways.

7. In syllogism, what is the valid conversion of 'All A are B'?

   'Some B are A' (a universal affirmative converts only to a particular affirmative, never to 'All B are A').

8. In a Statement-Assumption question, what is the definition of an 'assumption'?

   An assumption is something that is taken for granted or presupposed by the speaker/statement — it is unstated but necessary for the statement to hold true.

9. What is the key test to decide whether an assumption is implicit in a given statement?

   If the statement would not make sense or could not be made without the assumption being true, it is implicit. If the statement holds regardless, the assumption is not implicit. Obvious/universal truths and restatements are usually NOT valid assumptions.

10. In Statement-Conclusion questions, when does a conclusion 'follow'?

    A conclusion follows only if it can be logically and directly derived from the information in the statement alone, without adding outside knowledge or assumptions.

11. What distinguishes a valid 'conclusion' from an 'assumption'?

    An assumption is presupposed BEFORE/underlying the statement (unstated premise); a conclusion is inferred AFTER, as a logical result drawn from the statement.

12. In Cause and Effect questions, how is the 'cause' identified relative to the 'effect'?

    The cause is the event that occurs first and brings about the second event; the effect is the result that occurs later due to the cause. The cause must precede and produce the effect.

13. In Cause-Effect analysis, what does it mean when 'both statements are effects of a common/independent cause'?

    Neither statement causes the other; instead both are results produced by a separate third factor (the common cause).

14. In a 'Course of Action' question, what two conditions must a suggested action satisfy to be considered a valid course of action?

    (1) It must be feasible/practical, and (2) it must actually address or improve the problem stated. It should not be impractical, redundant, or worsen the situation.

15. What is the difference between a 'strong argument' and a 'weak argument' in reasoning?

    A strong argument is directly related to the question, practical, and significant. A weak argument is superficial, irrelevant, ambiguous, of minor importance, or based on personal/individual examples rather than the general issue.

16. In Statement-Argument questions, why is an argument that simply restates the question or is obvious considered weak?

    Because it does not add reasoning or address the merit of the issue; valid strong arguments must provide a substantial logical reason for or against the proposal.

17. What is the difference between an 'inference' and an 'assumption'?

    An inference is a logical conclusion drawn from given facts/observations (derived after); an assumption is something presupposed/taken for granted before the statement is made.

18. In Critical Reasoning, what does it mean to 'strengthen' vs 'weaken' an argument?

    To strengthen is to provide information that supports the conclusion or makes it more likely true; to weaken is to provide information that undermines the conclusion or its underlying assumption.

19. In decision-making questions, what are the typical categories used to classify candidate data (e.g., for selection criteria)?

    Selected, Not selected, Data inadequate (insufficient information), Refer to a higher authority (when a single criterion is narrowly missed), and Refer to a lower authority. The candidate is judged against all stated conditions plus exceptions.

20. In a single-row linear arrangement where all persons face NORTH, how do 'left' and 'right' map for the observer reading left to right?

    The person's right is towards the observer's right (and the row's right end), and the person's left is towards the observer's left. For a north-facing person, their right = the direction of increasing positions if positions are numbered left to right.

21. In linear seating, if a person faces SOUTH, how do their left and right reverse compared to a north-facing person?

    They are reversed: a south-facing person's right is towards your left, and their left is towards your right. Always orient left/right from the seated person's own perspective.

22. In a double-row (two parallel rows) arrangement, how are the facing directions typically set?

    One row faces NORTH and the opposite row faces SOUTH, so members sit facing each other in pairs. Person 1 of the north row faces person 1 of the south row, etc.

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