Last minute tips and Strategy for the Reasoning Section – IBPS PO 2024 (Prelim and Main)
We bring this article for your benefit, with a few handy inputs on how to prepare for and succeed in, the Reasoning section of the upcoming IBPS PO 2024 Prelim and Main examinations.
IBPS PO Prelim – Reasoning:
The IBPS PO Prelim paper comprises essentially three test areas namely, Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning Ability, and English Language.
The Reasoning section consists of 35 Qs that need to be attempted in 20 minutes.
There is a negative marking scheme, where 1/4th of the marks assigned for a question will be deducted for each wrongly marked response.
This section offers a good scope for score maximisation, as this is a relatively easier part of the tests.
The difficulty level of questions in this area in the Prelims is easy to moderate (as per feedback given by T.I.M.E. students who appeared for such exams in the past).
The following data presents the topic-wise break-up and analysis of the Prelim exam across the years [Feedback as given by T.I.M.E. students who appeared for similar exams in the past]
IBPS PO Prelim 2023: 23rd September 2023 Shift 1
S. No. | Topic | No. of questions | Level of Difficulty |
1 | Distribution (6 persons,3 Months and 2 Dates and distribution) | 5 | Moderate |
2 | Linear Arrangement (Unknown number of persons, facing north) | 3 | Easy |
3 | Square arrangement (persons at the corners are facing toward the centre, and persons at the middle of sides are facing away from the centre) | 5 | Easy |
4 | Distribution (9 persons, 3 cities) | 4 | Easy |
5 | Box arrangement (5 Boxes and distribution) | 5 | Easy |
6 | Syllogisms / Deductions (Only a few) | 3 | Easy |
7 | Inequalities | 4 | Easy |
8 | Direction Sense | 3 | Easy |
9 | Word Arrangement | 1 | Easy |
10 | Number Arrangement | 1 | Easy |
11 | Pair of letters | 1 | Easy |
Puzzles asked in other slots: Circular Seating Arrangement- 4 persons facing towards the centre and 3 persons facing away from the centre, Distributions - two-row arrangement with 4 persons each, Distribution- 6 persons, 6 months and 6 cities, Chinese Coding and Decoding, Box Arrangement (9 boxes) Linear arrangement with 9 persons, some facing North and some facing South, Two-row arrangement with seven persons each, Distributions with cities, 6 Persons Linear + Distribution, Linear Arrangement, Circular + Distribution,, Floor Arrangement with 9 persons.
IBPS PO Prelim 2022: 2nd Shift 15 October 2022
S. No. | Topic | No. of questions | Level of Difficulty |
1 | Symbols Notations (Inequalities) | 3 | Easy |
2 | Direction Sense | 3 | Easy |
3 | Syllogisms / Deductions (Only a few) | 3 | Moderate |
4 | Linear Arrangement (Unknown number of persons – 19 persons | 4 | Easy |
5 | Two Row Arrangements (Seven persons each) | 5 | Easy to Moderate |
6 | Distribution (Nine Persons; three countries) | 5 | Easy |
7 | Distribution (One after the other five persons; purchasing items) | 5 | Easy to Moderate |
8 | Floor Arrangement (Three floors; two flats; Distribution) | 5 | Moderate |
9 | Miscellaneous (Word Arrangement, Word Formation) | 2 | Easy |
Puzzles asked in other slots: Linear Arrangement (Unknown number of persons – 12 persons, Linear Arrangement (Unknown number of persons), Distribution (Designations based – five persons; five designations; five things), Distribution (Six Persons; three months; two dates; 6 cities), Distribution (9 Persons; 3 cities), Box Arrangement (9 boxes), Circular Arrangement (7 persons; Three persons facing towards the centre and four persons facing away from the centre), Comparisons.
The following areas are considered important for the Prelim exam:
1. Symbols and notations (Inequalities)
2. Blood relations
3. Direction sense
4. Coding-decoding
5. Syllogisms (Deductions)
6. Puzzles - Linear arrangements / Box arrangements / Floor arrangements / Circular arrangements / Distribution (days and months based) / Comparisons / Quant-based Reasoning
7. Miscellaneous (Word arrangements, Number arrangements, meaning full word, letter series etc….)
8. Data Sufficiency
9. Input Output
Though questions on Data Sufficiency are usually posed in the Main exam, candidates are advised not to get complacent and to be on their guard, as is clear by the precedent set with the appearance of such questions in the Previous year's Prelim exams.
Strategy for Prelim:
It is advisable to attempt questions on Deductions, Blood relations, Directions, Symbols and Notations, Word and Number arrangements and Input and Output before moving on to others.
Solving Puzzles must come next in this process. Here too, it is more time-saving to focus on comparisons before working out Seating arrangements and Distributions, which must be considered towards the end.
It is only very rarely that a few clues are given in a jumbled manner. Usually, from what we hear from our students, clues meant for solving puzzles are presented such that they help solve the given puzzle in the order in which the clues are given, thus obviating the need to move back and forth.
For the sake of time management, questions on Data Sufficiency should be worked out at the end.
IBPS PO Mains – Reasoning:
The IBPS PO Main paper presents four test areas: Reasoning and Computer Aptitude, Data analysis and interpretation, English Language, and General Economy and Banking Awareness.
The Reasoning and Computers part, even though named such, has presented no question related to Computers during the last few years.
The Reasoning and Computer section of the exam consists of 45 Qs that need to be attempted in 60 mins. Total number of marks allotted to this section is 60. The negative marking scheme put in place for this exam mandates the deduction of 1/4th of the marks assigned for a question, for every incorrect response.
A variable marking scheme MAY BE applicable in the Reasoning section of this exam.
The following data presents the topic-wise break-up and analysis of the Main exam [Feedback as given by T.I.M.E. students who appeared for such exams in the past]
IBPS PO Mains 2023:
S. No. | Topic | No. of questions | Level of Difficulty |
1 | Distribution- 12 persons, 5 floors and 4 flats | 5 | Moderate to Difficult |
2 | Circular arrangement- 8 persons (5 persons facing towards the centre and 3 persons facing away from the centre) | 1 | Easy |
3 | Input/Output | 4 | Moderate |
4 | Data Sufficiency- 2 Statements, | 3 | Easy to Moderate |
5 | Critical reasoning | 6 | Moderate to Difficult |
6 | Puzzle (4x4 Matrix) | 4 | Moderate to Difficult |
7 | Unknown number of persons (some are facing North, and some are facing south), Distribution | 4 | Moderate |
8 | Distribution- 10persons, 2 rectangles with some conditions | 5 | Moderate to Difficult |
9 | Blood relations + Distribution (8 persons, 8 years) | 4 | Moderate |
10 | Box arrangement (two stacks, a certain number of boxes | 4 | Moderate |
11 | Scheduling based puzzle | 4 | Moderate to Difficult |
12 | Miscellaneous | 1 | Easy |
IBPS PO Mains 2022:
S. No. | Topic | No. of questions | Level of Difficulty |
1 | Blood relation+ 2-row arrangement (10 persons, all the persons are related to A) | 5 | Moderate to Difficult |
2 | Distribution + QBR - 9 persons, 3 states, and age | 4 | Moderate to Difficult |
3 | Distribution- 21 persons, 3 designations, Conditions | 4 | Moderate to Difficult |
4 | Circular arrangement- 10 persons ( 5 persons facing towards the centre, 5 persons away facing from the centre, no alphabetical order) | 3 | Easy to Moderate |
5 | Distribution 9 persons, 9 floors, languages | 3 | Easy to Moderate |
6 | 9p, different months of the same year (more than one person may born in a month, no two persons whose names start with a consecutive letter of English alphabetical series were born one after the other) and distribution | 5 | Moderate to Difficult |
7 | Direction Sense- 2 buses with stoppages | 3 | Moderate |
8 | Blood relations- coded symbols | 3 | Easy |
9 | Symbols and Notations- coded symbols | 3 | Easy |
10 | Data Sufficiency- 2 Statements | 3 | Easy to Moderate |
11 | Coding and Decoding | 2 | Moderate |
12 | Critical reasoning | 7 | Moderate to Difficult |
The following areas are considered important for the Main exam:
1. Symbols and notations
2. Blood relations
3. Direction sense
4. Coding-decoding
5. Syllogisms
6. Puzzles - Linear arrangements / Box arrangements / Floor arrangements / Circular arrangements / Distribution (day and month and designation-based / Comparisons / Quant based Reasoning
7. Data sufficiency
8. Input and output
9. Miscellaneous (Word arrangements, Number arrangements, meaningful word, letter series etc.)
10. Critical Reasoning
Strategy for the Main exam:
Though everything in an exam seems important, it is essential to prioritise the order in which you handle questions. To maximise the score, we recommend the below-mentioned plan for attempting questions.
It is advisable to attempt questions on Deductions, Blood relations, Directions, Symbols and Notations and Input and Output before moving on to others.
Solving puzzles must come next in this process. In recent Main exams, it was observed that the clue pattern in puzzles was very lengthy and elaborative. If we follow the clues in the order in which they are presented in the puzzle, solving will become easier. So, these are a must-attempt ones.
New patterns in puzzles have also been observed in recent exams. A set of instructions is given, and the test-taker is expected to understand the given instructions and implement them properly.
It is only very rarely that a few clues are given in a jumbled manner. Usually, from what we hear from our students, clues meant for solving puzzles are presented such that they help solve the given puzzle in the order in which the clues are given, thus obviating the need to move back and forth.
For the sake of time management, questions on Data Sufficiency and Critical Reasoning should be worked out towards the end. Though Critical Reasoning sounds intimidating, its questions do not take much time to answer and can be easily worked out by elimination. However, the like