Introduction to Reasoning

Reasoning Ability is one of the three sections in IBPS PO Preliminary Examination. It carries 35 questions for 35 marks and needs to be completed in 20 minutes. This section tests your logical thinking and problem solving ability under time pressure.

IBPS PO Prelims Exam Pattern:

Important Note:

• Each correct answer = 1 mark
• Each wrong answer = 0.25 marks deducted (negative marking)
• Unattempted questions = 0 marks

What is Reasoning Ability?

Reasoning Ability tests how logically and quickly you can think. Unlike General Awareness or English, reasoning does not require mugging up facts. It requires understanding patterns, relationships and logical connections.

In IBPS PO, reasoning questions are slightly trickier than SSC CGL because:

• Puzzles and Seating Arrangement carry maximum weightage
• Questions are in sets of 4 to 5 questions each
• One wrong approach can waste 4 to 5 questions at once

Topics Covered in IBPS PO Reasoning Ability:

High Weightage Topics (must prepare first):

• Puzzles and Seating Arrangement - 15 to 20 questions
• Inequality - 3 to 5 questions
• Syllogism - 3 to 5 questions
• Coding-Decoding - 3 to 5 questions
• Blood Relations - 2 to 3 questions

Medium Weightage Topics:

• Direction and Distance - 2 to 3 questions
• Ranking and Order - 1 to 2 questions
• Alphanumeric Series - 1 to 2 questions
• Input-Output - 3 to 5 questions

Difference Between SSC CGL and IBPS PO Reasoning:

How to Prepare for IBPS PO Reasoning:

Step 1 - Master Puzzles and Seating Arrangement first. These alone give 15 to 20 marks. 

Step 2 - Practice Inequality daily - it is the easiest high scoring topic. 

Step 3 - Learn Syllogism rules properly. 

Step 4 - Practice Coding-Decoding new pattern questions. 

Step 5 - Attempt full length mock tests weekly to improve speed.

Scoring Strategy for IBPS PO:

Target: Attempt 25 to 28 questions with 90% accuracy.

• Puzzles: Attempt all if easy, skip if too complex
• Inequality: Attempt all - very fast to solve
• Syllogism: Attempt all - 30 seconds per question
• Coding-Decoding: Attempt all
• Blood Relations: Attempt if straightforward

Important Tips:

• Never spend more than 3 minutes on one puzzle set
• If a puzzle seems complex - skip and come back later
• Inequality and Syllogism are your guaranteed marks - never skip these
• Practice at least 2 puzzle sets daily
• Accuracy is more important than speed in banking exams
• Sectional cutoff is applied - you must score minimum marks in each section