Kickstart your Reasoning preparation. Master the A to Z forward and reverse place values, learn the EJOTY trick, and understand the core types of Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning.
Reasoning Ability is the most scoring section in almost every competitive exam in India, including IBPS PO, SBI Clerk, SSC CGL, RRB NTPC, and RBI Assistant. Unlike Quantitative Aptitude, reasoning does not heavily rely on complex formulas. Instead, it tests your logical thinking, pattern recognition, and analytical skills.
To master reasoning, you must first understand its structure. Reasoning is broadly classified into three main categories:
The foundation of almost 30-40% of Verbal Reasoning (like Coding-Decoding, Alphabet Series, Analogy, and Odd One Out) relies on a single crucial concept: Alphabet Place Values. Let's master this first.
The English alphabet has 26 letters. To solve reasoning questions quickly, you must memorize the numerical position of each letter from left to right (A=1 to Z=26).
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 |
| N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
Rote memorization can be hard. Top rankers use these universal mnemonic tricks to recall place values instantly:
The word EJOTY is the golden key. These are multiples of 5:
How to use it: If you need the place value of 'L', you know 'J' is 10. K is 11, so L is 12. If you need 'S', you know 'T' is 20, so 'S' is 19.
This covers the multiples of 3 (a medication-sounding word "Cfilorux"):
C(3) - F(6) - I(9) - L(12) - O(15) - R(18) - U(21) - X(24)
In many Coding-Decoding questions, the logic is based on the reverse order of the alphabet (where Z=1, Y=2, ... A=26). Instead of memorizing a whole new table, use this master rule:
Two letters whose forward place values add up to 27 are called opposite pairs. For example, A(1) and Z(26) are opposites (1+26=27). Memorizing these pairs is incredibly useful for SSC exams. Use these fun phrases to remember them:
If a question codes "HAND" as "SZMW", you instantly know it's the Opposite Pair logic (H→S, A→Z, N→M, D→W).
Another fundamental concept in Verbal Reasoning is Direction Sense. Before solving complex shadow or degree problems, you must master the standard compass map.
Draw a plus sign (+) on your paper:
Students often get confused about which way is "Left" or "Right" when facing South or West. Use the Clockwise/Anticlockwise Rule:
Pro Tip: Imagine yourself standing at the center of a clock. Right turn means moving the way the hands of a clock move. Left turn means the opposite.
Now that you have the basic tools (Alphabet values and Directions), here is a brief overview of the major Verbal Reasoning topics you will encounter in exams:
A word is changed into a secret code using a specific pattern (+2 letters, opposite pairs, reverse string). You must find the pattern and apply it to a new word. Requires solid alphabet place value knowledge.
Problems involving family trees ("A is the son of B's sister"). The trick here is to draw a family tree using squares for males, circles for females, horizontal lines for siblings, and vertical lines for generations.
Based on statements like "Some Cats are Dogs. All Dogs are Rats." You have to deduce logical conclusions. Best solved using Venn Diagrams (or the 150-50 method).
Finding the position of a person in a queue from the left/right/top/bottom. Golden formula: Total = (Rank from Left) + (Rank from Right) - 1.
The heavyweight of Bank exams. Arranging people in circles, lines, or squares based on complex clues. It requires immense practice and the ability to process multiple conditions simultaneously.
In many Verbal Reasoning topics, especially Coding-Decoding and Odd One Out, the logic depends entirely on differentiating between vowels and consonants. Let's look at the foundational concepts you must memorize:
The place values of the vowels are critical:
Often, a coding pattern will treat vowels differently than consonants. For instance, the pattern might be: "Add +2 to all consonants, but keep vowels the same" or "Replace every vowel with the next vowel (A→E, E→I, I→O, O→U, U→A)".
The remaining 21 letters are consonants. In high-level questions (like IBPS PO Mains), the logic might involve counting the number of vowels and consonants in a word, or adding the place values of consonants and subtracting the place values of vowels.
Series completion is a staple of competitive exams. While Number Series leans slightly towards Quantitative Aptitude, Alphabet Series is pure Reasoning.
Most alphabet series operate on simple addition or subtraction of place values. Let's look at the most common patterns:
Always remember that the alphabet is cyclic. After Z(26), the sequence restarts at A(1). If you are at Y(25) and the pattern requires you to add +4, you calculate: 25 + 4 = 29. Since there are only 26 letters, 29 - 26 = 3, which is C. This cyclic concept is vital for high-speed calculation.
| Concept | Key Takeaway |
|---|---|
| EJOTY | 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 (Multiples of 5) |
| Reverse Place Value | 27 – Forward Place Value |
| Opposite Pairs | A-Z, B-Y, C-X, D-W, E-V (Sum is 27) |
| Directions (Right Turn) | Always Clockwise (90 degrees) |
| Directions (Left Turn) | Always Anticlockwise (90 degrees) |
Try answering these in your head within 5 seconds each. Answers are at the bottom.
Answers: 1. 17 (O=15, P=16, Q=17). 2. O (Love). 3. 20 (Forward G=7. Reverse = 27-7 = 20). 4. North (Clockwise from West). 5. 26 (D=4, O=15, G=7 → 4+15+7=26).
