State PSC (e.g. BPSC / UPPSC / MPSC) CSAT, Reasoning and General Mental Ability Syllabus

CSAT, Reasoning and General Mental Ability syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for CSAT, Reasoning and General Mental Ability in State PSC (e.g. BPSC / UPPSC / MPSC), not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Quantitative Aptitude

   5 topics

   • Number System, HCF and LCM
   • Percentage, Profit-Loss, Ratio and Proportion
   • Time, Speed, Distance and Work
   • Averages, Simple and Compound Interest
   • Mensuration and Basic Geometry
2. 2

   Logical Reasoning and Analytical Ability

   4 topics

   • Syllogisms and Logical Deduction
   • Blood Relations, Direction and Ranking
   • Coding-Decoding and Series
   • Seating Arrangement and Puzzles
3. 3

   Data Interpretation and Sufficiency

   3 topics

   • Tables, Bar Graphs and Pie Charts
   • Line Graphs and Caselets
   • Data Sufficiency
4. 4

   Comprehension and Communication Skills

   3 topics

   • Reading Comprehension
   • Interpersonal and Communication Skills
   • Decision Making and Problem Solving

CSAT, Reasoning and General Mental Ability flashcards for State PSC (e.g. BPSC / UPPSC / MPSC)

23 of 51 cards from the CSAT, Reasoning and General Mental Ability deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. What is the relationship between two numbers, their HCF, and their LCM?

   Product of the two numbers = HCF x LCM. So if a x b = HCF x LCM.

2. How do you find the LCM and HCF of fractions?

   HCF of fractions = HCF of numerators / LCM of denominators. LCM of fractions = LCM of numerators / HCF of denominators.

3. What is the unit digit of 7^n governed by, and what is the cyclicity of 7?

   The unit digit of 7 has a cyclicity of 4: 7, 9, 3, 1 (for powers 1,2,3,4) and then repeats. Find the remainder of n divided by 4 to get the unit digit.

4. What is the divisibility rule for 11?

   A number is divisible by 11 if the difference between the sum of digits at odd places and the sum of digits at even places is 0 or a multiple of 11.

5. How do you find the number of trailing zeros in n! (factorial)?

   Count the powers of 5: [n/5] + [n/25] + [n/125] + ... (sum of integer quotients), since each pair of 2 and 5 makes a zero and 5s are fewer.

6. What is the formula to convert a fraction or x% increase into a percentage and vice versa for quick mental math (e.g., 1/8)?

   1/8 = 12.5%, 1/6 = 16.67%, 1/7 = 14.28%, 1/9 = 11.11%, 1/11 = 9.09%, 1/12 = 8.33%. Memorize these reciprocal-to-percentage equivalents.

7. If a quantity is increased by x% and then decreased by x%, what is the net effect?

   There is a net decrease of (x^2/100)%. For example, +20% then -20% gives a net 4% decrease.

8. What is the formula for Profit% and Loss% in terms of Cost Price (CP)?

   Profit% = (Profit/CP) x 100; Loss% = (Loss/CP) x 100. Profit or loss is always calculated on Cost Price unless stated otherwise.

9. How do you find Cost Price when Selling Price and Profit% are given?

   CP = SP x 100 / (100 + Profit%). If there is a loss, CP = SP x 100 / (100 - Loss%).

10. A shopkeeper marks goods up by m% and gives a discount of d%. What is the net profit/loss percentage?

    Net % = m - d - (m x d)/100. A positive result is profit, negative is loss.

11. If a dishonest dealer sells at cost price but uses a false weight, what is the gain%?

    Gain% = (Error / (True value - Error)) x 100 = (Error / Actual weight given) x 100.

12. In ratio and proportion, what is the relationship in a proportion a:b :: c:d?

    In a proportion a:b = c:d, the product of extremes equals the product of means: a x d = b x c.

13. How do you divide a sum of money in the ratio a:b:c?

    Each share = (its ratio term / sum of all ratio terms) x total amount. E.g., first share = a/(a+b+c) x total.

14. What is the basic relationship between Speed, Distance, and Time?

    Speed = Distance / Time; Distance = Speed x Time; Time = Distance / Speed.

15. How do you convert km/h to m/s and m/s to km/h?

    km/h to m/s: multiply by 5/18. m/s to km/h: multiply by 18/5.

16. What is the formula for average speed when equal distances are covered at speeds x and y?

    Average speed = 2xy / (x + y) — the harmonic mean. (Note: simple average only works when equal times, not equal distances.)

17. How much time does a train of length L take to cross a platform of length P at speed S?

    Time = (L + P) / S. To cross a stationary pole or point object, time = L / S (length of platform = 0).

18. For boats and streams, what are the downstream and upstream speeds?

    Downstream speed = boat speed (u) + stream speed (v); Upstream speed = u - v. Also u = (down+up)/2 and v = (down-up)/2.

19. In time and work, if A does a job in 'a' days and B in 'b' days, how long together?

    Together they take ab/(a+b) days. Combined one-day work = 1/a + 1/b.

20. State the work equivalence (man-days) formula relating workers, days, and hours.

    (M1 x D1 x H1) / W1 = (M2 x D2 x H2) / W2, where M = men, D = days, H = hours/day, W = work done.

21. What is the formula for the average of the first n natural numbers?

    Average of first n natural numbers = (n + 1) / 2. (Sum = n(n+1)/2.)

22. If the average of a group changes when one member is replaced, how do you find the new member's value?

    Change in total = (change in average) x (number of members). New value = old value + total change.

23. What is the formula for Simple Interest?

    SI = (P x R x T) / 100, where P = principal, R = rate% per annum, T = time in years. Amount = P + SI.

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