IBPS RRB PO (Scale 1) - 2025 – Preparation and Strategy for the Reasoning Section.

The following article gives you input on how to ace the Reasoning Ability section of the IBPS RRB PO (Scale I) Prelim and Main examinations. Going through the article in detail will help you perform better in these exams.

IBPS RRB PO (Scale 1) – Prelim Examination:

The Reasoning section of this exam comprises 40 questions that carry one mark each and must be attempted within 20 minutes.

There is a negative marking scheme, where 1/4th of the marks assigned for a question are deducted for each wrongly marked response. To qualify, candidates must score the minimum cut-off marks in both the tests (Reasoning and Quantitative Aptitude).

As this is a relatively easier-to-handle part of the test, it offers ample scope for score maximization. In the Prelims, the difficulty level of questions in this area ranges from very easy to easy (as per the feedback given by T.I.M.E. students who appeared for such exams in the past).

Prelim 2024: (3rd August 1st Slot)

S. No	Topic	No of questions given	Level of Difficulty
1	Symbols Notations (Inequalities)	3	Easy
2	Coding-Decoding (2 column)	5	Easy
3	Blood Relations	3	Easy
4	Deductions / Syllogisms (only a few and possibilities)	3	Easy to Moderate
5	Miscellaneous	4	Easy
6	Linear Arrangement (seven persons all facing North)	5	Easy
7	Two Row Arrangements (Fourteen persons; seven facing North and seven facing South)	5	Easy to Moderate
8	Month-based puzzle (nine persons and nine months)	5	Easy
9	Floor Arrangement (5 floors, and each floor with 2 flats)	5	Easy to Moderate
10	Comparisons (seven persons; heights)	2	Easy

Prelim 2023: (5th August 3rd slot)

S. No	Topic	No of questions given	Level of Difficulty
1	Coding-Decoding (2 column)	5	Easy
2	Syllogisms (Deductions)	5	Easy to Moderate
3	Direction Sense	3	Easy
4	Miscellaneous	3	Easy
5	Linear Arrangement (Ten persons, all facing North)	5	Easy
6	Month-based puzzle (Eight persons - four months – two dates)	5	Easy
7	Distribution (designations based)	5	Moderate
8	Circular Arrangement (Eight persons, four facing Centre, four facing away)	5	Moderate
9	Linear Arrangement (Unknown number of persons)	4	Easy

Puzzles: Questions on puzzles were based on – Linear Arrangement (unknown no. of persons, some persons facing north and south, 8 persons, etc.), Month & date-based, Age-based, Floor Arrangement, Distributions, Comparisons (Heights, Weights, etc.)

The following areas/topics are considered important for the Prelim exam:

• Symbols and notations (Inequalities)
• Blood relations
• Direction sense
• Coding-decoding
• Syllogisms
• Puzzles - Linear arrangements / Box arrangements / Floor arrangements / Circular arrangements / Distribution / Comparisons / Quant-based Reasoning
• Miscellaneous (Word arrangements, Number arrangements, meaningful words, letter series, etc.)

IBPS RRB PO (Scale 1) – Main Examination:

The Reasoning section of the exam consists of 40 questions with a total of 50 marks, and these need to be attempted in 30 minutes.

The negative marking scheme mandates that for every incorrect response, 1/4th of the marks assigned for that question be deducted.

Mains 2024:

S. No	Topic	No of questions given	Level of Difficulty
1	8 boxes distribution	5	Moderate
2	Linear arrangement - 2 row 4p each, QBR	5	Moderate
3	QBR (7 persons + 7 years + 7 countries)	5	Moderate
4	Linear arrangement (unknown no. of persons + colours)	5	Easy
5	Input Output	4	Moderate
6	Blood Relations	3	Easy
7	Data Sufficiency (2 statements)	3	Easy
8	Miscellaneous	2	Easy
9	Symbol and Notation (Inequalities)	3	Easy-Moderate
10	Critical Reasoning	5	Difficult

Mains 2023:

S. No	Topic	No of questions given	Level of Difficulty
1	Input and output	5	Easy
2	Distributions (Eight persons, three cities, eight hobbies)	5	Moderate
3	Square Arrangement + distribution	5	Moderate
4	Directions Sense	3	Easy
5	Linear Arrangement (Unknown number of persons)	1	Easy
6	Deductions (Syllogisms, 3 statements + 4 conclusions)	3	Easy
7	Distributions (8 persons, 8 months, two dates + variable)	5	Moderate
8	Blood Relation	1	Easy
9	Linear Arrangement (Eight Persons with QBR)	5	Moderate
10	Inequalities (definitely true/false)	2	Easy
11	Critical Reasoning	5	Moderate-difficult

The following areas are considered important for the Main exam:

• Symbols and notations
• Blood relations
• Direction sense
• Coding-decoding
• Syllogisms
• Puzzles - Linear / Box / Floor / Circular / Distribution / Comparisons / Quant-based Reasoning
• Data sufficiency
• Input and output
• Miscellaneous
• Critical Reasoning

Strategy:

Though every topic is important in an exam, it is essential to prioritise the order in which you solve questions. To maximise your score, we recommend:

• Attempt sequence, set of numbers/words, deductions, blood relations, directions, symbols and notations, word and number arrangements, input and output first
• Then move on to puzzles (Comparisons before Seating/Distributions)
• Data Sufficiency and Critical Reasoning should be attempted last

Some useful Tips:

• Go through Analyses of previous years’ papers
• Focus on time management, speed, and accuracy
• Practice daily
• Track performance regularly
• Follow a sequence to maximise attempts
• Take ample online tests and Mock Tests

All the Best!!