What Puzzles Questions Test
- Linear and circular seating arrangements
- Order and ranking puzzles
- Scheduling puzzles (days, months, time slots)
- Box and floor arrangements
Question bank coverage by sub-pattern
How Puzzles Appears in SSC CGL
Puzzles is part of the General Intelligence & Reasoning section (25% of the SSC CGL syllabus). See the full SSC CGL Tier-I breakdown.
Puzzles Solved Examples for SSC CGL
Exam-pattern questions from the practice bank, with full solutions.
Seven boxes are arranged one above the other. Only two boxes are kept between box A and box B. Box C is kept immediately above box B. Only three boxes are kept between box C and box D. Only one box is kept between box D and box E. Box F is kept above box E. Box G is kept immediately below box E. Which box is kept at the top?
- A.A
- B.FCorrect
- C.C
- D.D
Solution
1. Two boxes are between A and B: A _ _ B or B _ _ A. 2. C is immediately above B: A _ _ B C or B C _ _ A. 3. Three boxes are between C and D: A _ _ B C _ _ _ D or D _ _ _ B C _ _ A. 4. One box is between D and E: A _ _ B C _ _ _ D _ E or E _ D _ _ _ B C _ _ A or D _ _ _ B C _ _ A _ E. 5. F is above E, and G is immediately below E: F ... E G. Putting it all together: 6. Consider D _ _ _ B C _ _ A _ E: This requires 10 slots, which is impossible. 7. Consider E _ D _ _ _ B C _ _ A: This requires 10 slots, which is impossible. 8. Consider A _ _ B C _ _ _ D _ E: Here we have 7 boxes. A _ _ B C _ _ _ D _ E G, then F must be on top. So the arrangement is F A _ _ B C _ _ _ D _ E G. This reduces to F A _ _ B C _ D E G. Since two spaces are between A and B: F A _ B C. Three spaces between C and D: F A _ B C _ D. The last step: F A _ B C _ D E G. 9. The final arrangement is: F, A, _, B, C, _, D, E, G. Since there are only 7 boxes, the boxes can be arranged as follows: F A X B C Y D E G. Box F is at the top.
Six people - A, B, C, D, E, and F - were born in different months of the same year, namely January, March, April, August, October, and December. A was born in a month with 31 days. B was born immediately after A. Only two people were born between B and C. D was born before E. F was not born in December. Who was born in October?
- A.C
- B.E
- C.D
- D.Cannot be determinedCorrect
Solution
1. Months: Jan (31), Mar (31), Apr (30), Aug (31), Oct (31), Dec (31). 2. A was born in a month with 31 days. 3. B was born immediately after A. 4. Only two people were born between B and C. 5. D was born before E. 6. F was not born in December. 7. Case 1: A in Jan. B in Mar. _ _ C. This puts C in Aug. D and E can be Apr, Oct, Dec. F must be in Oct. D and E can be Oct and Dec, in order, or Apr and Oct, in order. Therefore, E can be in Oct, and D can be in Oct. C can be in Oct. Therefore, the answer is cannot be determined. 8. Case 2: A in Mar. B in Apr. _ _ C. This puts C in Oct. D and E can be Jan, Aug, Dec. This makes F in Jan, Aug, Dec. Therefore, it cannot be determined. 9. Case 3: A in Aug. B in Oct. _ _ C. This puts C in Dec. D and E can be Jan, Mar, Apr. Therefore, it cannot be determined. 10. Case 4: A in Oct. B in Dec. _ _ C. This requires 2 months after Dec, which is not possible.
Seven lectures are scheduled from Monday to Sunday. Physics is on Wednesday. There are two lectures between Physics and Chemistry. Biology is immediately before Maths. Three lectures are between Maths and English. Hindi is before Sanskrit. On which day is the English lecture scheduled?
- A.MondayCorrect
- B.Tuesday
- C.Friday
- D.Sunday
Solution
1. Physics is on Wednesday. 2. Two lectures between Physics and Chemistry. 3. Biology is immediately before Maths. 4. Three lectures between Maths and English. 5. Hindi is before Sanskrit. This means Chemistry can be on Saturday or Monday. If Chemistry is on Saturday, the lectures would be: Mon, Tue, Wed-Physics, Thu, Fri, Sat-Chemistry, Sun. The order of Biology and Maths along with the gap of 3 with English cannot fit. Therefore, Chemistry is on Monday, and the order is: Mon-Chemistry, Tue, Wed-Physics, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun. Now, Biology and Maths must be consecutive and 3 places before English. So, the arrangement is: Mon-Chemistry, Tue-English, Wed-Physics, Thu, Fri-Biology, Sat-Maths, Sun. Since Hindi is before Sanskrit, the final schedule is: Mon-Chemistry, Tue-English, Wed-Physics, Thu-Hindi, Fri-Biology, Sat-Maths, Sun-Sanskrit.
Puzzles — Frequently Asked Questions
What is the right order to use puzzle clues?
Definite placements first, then relative clues, and negative clues ("X is not next to Y") last for elimination. Re-reading clues in the given order wastes time — group them by strength.
Should I draw the arrangement?
Always. A five-second diagram prevents the re-reading loop that makes puzzle sets slow. For circular seating, fix one person first and place everyone relative to them.
How many Puzzles practice questions does Parikshala have for SSC CGL?
141 exam-pattern Puzzles questions for SSC CGL Reasoning, each with a step-by-step solution. Practice is free — no sign-up needed to start.