SSC CGL (Combined Graduate Level) General Intelligence and Reasoning Syllabus

General Intelligence and Reasoning syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for General Intelligence and Reasoning in SSC CGL (Combined Graduate Level), not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Verbal and Logical Reasoning

   6 topics

   • Analogy
     • Word-based and meaning-based analogy
     • Number and alphabet analogy
     • General knowledge based analogy
   • Classification (Odd One Out)
     • Word classification
     • Number and letter classification
   • Series
     • Number series and missing terms
     • Alphabet and alphanumeric series
   • Coding-Decoding
     • Letter-shifting and substitution coding
     • Number and symbol coding
     • Conditional and matrix coding
   • Blood Relations
     • Family tree problems
     • Coded relations
   • Direction and Distance Sense
     • Direction tracing
     • Shortest distance computation
2. 2

   Analytical and Critical Reasoning

   5 topics

   • Syllogism
     • Two and three statement syllogisms
     • Venn diagram method
     • Possibility cases
   • Statement and Conclusions
     • Statement and assumptions
     • Statement and course of action
     • Statement and inference
   • Seating Arrangement
     • Linear arrangement
     • Circular arrangement
   • Puzzles and Ordering
     • Ranking and ordering
     • Floor and scheduling puzzles
   • Logical Venn Diagrams
3. 3

   Non-Verbal Reasoning

   5 topics

   • Figure Series and Analogy
     • Pattern completion
     • Figure matrix
   • Mirror and Water Images
   • Paper Folding and Cutting
   • Embedded and Hidden Figures
     • Completion of incomplete pattern
     • Counting of figures
   • Cubes and Dice
     • Dice rotation and opposite faces
     • Cube cutting and painting
4. 4

   Semantic and Symbolic Operations

   5 topics

   • Mathematical Operations and BODMAS Substitution
   • Inequalities and Symbol Coding
   • Word Formation and Dictionary Order
   • Number, Ranking and Time Sequence Test
   • Decision Making and Data Sufficiency

General Intelligence and Reasoning flashcards for SSC CGL (Combined Graduate Level)

22 of 51 cards from the General Intelligence and Reasoning deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. In a verbal analogy of the form A : B :: C : ?, what is the basic method to find the missing term?

   Identify the exact relationship between the first pair (A and B), then apply that same relationship to the third term (C) to find the fourth term. The link in C : ? must mirror the link in A : B.

2. Identify the relationship type in the analogy: 'Author : Book :: Composer : ?' and give the answer.

   Relationship is 'creator : creation' (worker and product). Answer: Music (a composer creates music).

3. What relationship is shown in 'Hand : Glove :: Foot : Sock'?

   Object and its covering/wearable (a glove covers the hand as a sock covers the foot).

4. In number analogy '6 : 35 :: 8 : ?', what is the pattern and the answer?

   Pattern is n^2 - 1 (6^2-1=35). So 8^2-1 = 63. Answer: 63.

5. List five common bases (relationship types) used in analogy questions.

   Worker:tool, cause:effect, part:whole, synonym/antonym, object:function, individual:group/class, and quantity/degree relationships.

6. What is the core task in a Classification (Odd One Out) question?

   Four (or five) items share a common property; you must identify the one item that does NOT belong to the same group/class as the others.

7. In 'Rose, Lotus, Marigold, Mango', which is the odd one and why?

   Mango is odd. The others are flowers, while mango is a fruit.

8. How do you solve a number-classification odd-one-out like '4, 9, 16, 20, 25'?

   Check for a common mathematical property. Here 4, 9, 16, 25 are perfect squares; 20 is not, so 20 is the odd one out.

9. In letter classification, what feature is most commonly tested for odd one out?

   The pattern of gaps (skipped letters) between consecutive letters in each group, or vowel/consonant composition. The group with a different gap pattern is the odd one.

10. Find the odd one: 'AB, CD, EF, GI'. Which and why?

    GI is odd. AB, CD, EF are consecutive letter pairs (gap 0), but G and I have one letter (H) skipped between them.

11. What is a number series, and what is the first step to solve it?

    A number series is a sequence following a hidden rule. First step: find the difference (or ratio) between consecutive terms to detect addition, subtraction, multiplication, or other patterns.

12. Identify the rule and next term: 2, 6, 12, 20, 30, ?

    Differences are 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 (increasing by 2). Next difference 12 gives 30 + 12 = 42. (Also equals n(n+1).) Answer: 42.

13. What is the next term in the series 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, ?

    These are perfect squares (1², 2², 3², 4², 5²). Next is 6² = 36.

14. Find the next number: 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, ?

    Each term is multiplied by 2 (geometric progression, ratio 2). Next is 48 × 2 = 96.

15. What is the pattern type in 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, ...?

    Fibonacci series: each term is the sum of the two preceding terms (8 = 3 + 5, 13 = 5 + 8).

16. In an alphabet/letter series, how is the next letter typically found?

    Convert letters to position numbers (A=1...Z=26), find the numeric pattern of jumps, then convert back. Watch for forward/backward and increasing gaps.

17. What is Coding-Decoding in reasoning?

    A method where words/numbers are written in a coded form using a fixed rule; you must decode the rule from given examples and apply it to find a new code or original word.

18. In letter-shifting coding, if CAT is coded as DBU, what is the rule and how is DOG coded?

    Each letter is shifted +1 forward. DOG → EPH (D→E, O→P, G→H).

19. If in a code A=1, B=2, ..., what type of coding is this and how is 'BED' coded?

    Positional/number coding (letter = alphabet position). BED = 2-5-4.

20. What is substitution coding (in coding-decoding)?

    Real words are replaced by other agreed-upon words (e.g., 'sky is blue' = 'blue is green'); you answer questions using the substituted meanings, not real-world meaning.

21. How do you find a letter's code in a reverse/opposite (atbash) coding where A↔Z?

    Opposite letter = 27 minus the letter's position. So position of opposite = 27 - p (A=1↔Z=26, B↔Y, etc.). For any letter, pair sums to 27.

22. In Blood Relations, what does 'mother's brother' mean?

    Maternal uncle.

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