SSC MTS (Multi-Tasking Staff) Reasoning Ability and Problem Solving Syllabus

Reasoning Ability and Problem Solving 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 and Problem Solving in SSC MTS (Multi-Tasking Staff), not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Verbal and Analytical Reasoning

   4 topics

   • Analogies
     • Word and number analogies
     • Letter and meaning-based analogies
   • Classification (Odd One Out)
     • Word classification
     • Number and figure classification
   • Series Completion
     • Number series
     • Alphabet and letter series
   • Coding-Decoding
     • Letter and number coding
     • Substitution and symbol coding
2. 2

   Logical and Critical Reasoning

   4 topics

   • Syllogism
     • Statements and conclusions
     • Venn diagram representation
   • Statement and Argument
     • Course of action
     • Assumptions and inferences
   • Blood Relations
     • Family tree problems
     • Coded relations
   • Direction and Distance
     • Direction sense test
     • Shortest distance and displacement
3. 3

   Non-Verbal and Spatial Reasoning

   4 topics

   • Mirror and Water Images
     • Letter and figure mirror images
     • Water reflection of objects
   • Paper Folding and Cutting
     • Pattern after folding
     • Punched hole patterns
   • Embedded and Hidden Figures
     • Completion of incomplete pattern
     • Finding hidden figures
   • Figure Series and Matrix
     • Figure analogy and classification
     • Figure series completion
4. 4

   Arrangement and Puzzle Solving

   3 topics

   • Seating Arrangement
     • Linear arrangement
     • Circular arrangement
   • Order and Ranking
     • Position in a row
     • Comparison-based ordering
   • Alphabet and Word Logic
     • Dictionary order arrangement
     • Letter position and word formation
5. 5

   Symbolic and Mathematical Operations

   3 topics

   • Mathematical Operations
     • Symbol substitution
     • Balancing equations
   • Number, Ranking and Time Sequence
     • Counting and ranking problems
     • Calendar and clock basics
   • Venn Diagrams
     • Relationship between groups
     • Logical Venn problems

Reasoning Ability and Problem Solving flashcards for SSC MTS (Multi-Tasking Staff)

21 of 51 cards from the Reasoning Ability and Problem Solving deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. In verbal reasoning, what is an analogy?

   A relationship of similarity or correspondence between two pairs of words/objects. The task is to identify the logical relationship in the given pair and apply the same relationship to find the missing term (e.g., A : B :: C : ?).

2. In the analogy 'Doctor : Hospital :: Teacher : ?', what is the answer and the relationship type?

   School. The relationship is 'worker : workplace' — a person and the place where they work.

3. List five common types of relationships tested in analogy questions.

   Worker–workplace, tool–worker, cause–effect, synonym/antonym, part–whole, product–raw material, and degree/intensity relationships.

4. In the analogy 'Cobbler : Leather :: Carpenter : ?', what is the answer and relationship?

   Wood. The relationship is 'worker : raw material the worker uses'.

5. What is Classification (Odd One Out) in reasoning?

   A question type where four or five items share a common property except one; you must identify the item that does NOT belong to the group (the odd one).

6. In the set Rose, Lotus, Lily, Mango — which is the odd one out and why?

   Mango. Rose, Lotus and Lily are flowers, while Mango is a fruit.

7. What is the basic strategy to solve Odd-One-Out questions?

   Find the common characteristic shared by the majority of items (category, property, function, or pattern), then pick the one item that lacks that characteristic.

8. In number classification, why is 27 the odd one out among 8, 27, 64, 100?

   8 (2^3), 64 (4^3) and 100 (10^2)... correction: 8, 64, 100 — actually 8=2^3, 27=3^3, 64=4^3 are perfect cubes while 100=10^2 is a perfect square, so 100 is the odd one.

9. What is Series Completion in reasoning?

   A question type where a sequence of numbers, letters, or figures follows a hidden pattern/rule, and you must find the next term or the missing term by identifying that rule.

10. Find the next number: 2, 6, 12, 20, 30, ?

    42. The differences increase by 2 each time (4, 6, 8, 10, 12), so 30 + 12 = 42. (Pattern: n(n+1).)

11. Find the next term in the letter series: A, C, E, G, ?

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

12. What is the next number in the series 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, ?

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

13. What is Coding-Decoding in reasoning?

    A method where words/letters/numbers are encoded using a certain rule, and you must decode the rule to find the coded form of a new word or decode a given code.

14. If in a code FRIEND is written as GSJFOE, how is the code formed?

    Each letter is shifted forward by one position in the alphabet (+1): F→G, R→S, I→J, E→F, N→O, D→E.

15. In letter-coding, what numeric position values do the letters A, M, N, Z hold?

    A=1, M=13, N=14, Z=26. (Reverse/EJOTY: A=26 backward; positions counted from 1.)

16. What is the EJOTY trick used for in coding-decoding?

    It helps quickly find a letter's position: E=5, J=10, O=15, T=20, Y=25 are memorized as anchors so any letter's position can be calculated fast.

17. What is a Syllogism?

    A logical argument with two or more premises (statements) from which a conclusion is drawn. You must judge whether the conclusion 'definitely follows' from the given statements, regardless of real-world truth.

18. In syllogisms, what does the statement 'All A are B' tell you about A and B?

    Every member of A is contained within B (A is a subset of B), but not all B need be A. Some B may or may not be A.

19. What conclusion validly follows from 'All cats are animals' and 'All animals are living'?

    All cats are living. (A⊂B, B⊂C, therefore A⊂C.)

20. In syllogism, does 'Some A are B' imply 'Some B are A'?

    Yes. 'Some A are B' is convertible — 'Some' statements are symmetric, so 'Some B are A' also follows.

21. In syllogism, can a definite conclusion be drawn from two negative (No/Not) premises?

    No. Two negative premises yield no definite conclusion. At least one premise must be affirmative to draw a valid conclusion.

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