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 CPO
Puzzles is part of the General Intelligence & Reasoning section (25% of the SSC CPO syllabus).
Puzzles Solved Examples for SSC CPO
12 exam-pattern puzzles questions from the practice bank, each with a full solution.
Six people – A, B, C, D, E, and F – work in different departments – IT, HR, Finance, Marketing, Sales, and Operations and like different colors – Red, Blue, Green, Yellow, White, and Black. A works in IT and likes Red. B likes Blue. C works in Finance. D works in Marketing and likes Green. E likes Yellow. F works in Operations and likes White. If B works in HR, then which department does the person who likes Black work in?
- A.IT
- B.SalesCorrect
- C.Finance
- D.Operations
Solution
We have: A (IT, Red); B (HR, Blue); C (Finance); D (Marketing, Green); E (Yellow); F (Operations, White). Since each person works in a different department and likes a different color, the only department and color left for E are Sales and Black, respectively. Therefore, the person who likes Black (E) works in Sales.
Six people – P, Q, R, S, T, and U – are sitting in a row facing north. Each has a different age: 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, and 30. P is sitting to the immediate right of Q. The person aged 24 is sitting at one end. R is sitting three places to the left of T. U is sitting to the immediate right of the person aged 28. The person aged 22 is in the middle. If Q is 26 years old, what is the age of T?
- A.20Correct
- B.22
- C.24
- D.30
Solution
P is to the right of Q, so Q P. R is three places to the left of T, so R _ _ T. U is to the right of the person aged 28, so 28 U. The person aged 22 is in the middle. The person aged 24 is at one end. Since R _ _ T, and 22 is in the middle, we have R _ 22 _ T. Also, Q P and 28 U, so the order is R Q P 22 28 U or U 28 22 P Q R. The first gives 24 R Q P 22 28 U T. Since Q is 26, 24 R 26 P 22 28 U T. The only remaining age is 20, therefore T is 20.
Eight boxes P, Q, R, S, T, U, V and W are placed one above another. Four boxes are placed between P and Q. Three boxes are placed between R and S. R is placed above S. P is placed immediately above R. T is placed immediately above U. Two boxes are placed between V and W. W is placed below V. Box Q is not placed at the bottom. Only one box is placed between U and Q. Which box is placed at the top?
- A.P
- B.VCorrect
- C.T
- D.W
Solution
1. Four boxes between P and Q. 2. Three boxes between R and S, with R above S. 3. P is immediately above R. 4. T is immediately above U. 5. Two boxes between V and W, with W below V. 6. Q is not at the bottom. 7. Only one box between U and Q. Combining these constraints, the arrangement is: V, T, U, P, R, W, S, Q. Therefore, V is at the top.
In workshop batch #7, seven trainees attend laboratory practicals from Monday to Sunday, one on each day. Trainee Gaurav is scheduled to attend the practical session on Sunday. Question: On which day does trainee Gaurav attend the practical session?
- A.SundayCorrect
- B.Monday
- C.Tuesday
- D.Thursday
Solution
Detailed Puzzle Deduction: Based on the batch #7 schedule, trainee Gaurav attends on Sunday. Therefore, the correct choice is: 'Sunday'.
Six medical specialists consult patients in clinical suite #2 across six daily time slots. Specialist Dr. Bhavya is assigned the 10:30 AM appointment slot. Question: Which time slot is assigned to Dr. Bhavya?
- A.12:00 PM
- B.2:00 PM
- C.3:30 PM
- D.10:30 AMCorrect
Solution
Detailed Puzzle Deduction: From the clinic duty roster for suite #2, Dr. Bhavya is on duty at 10:30 AM. Therefore, the correct choice is: '10:30 AM'.
In workshop batch #3, seven trainees attend laboratory practicals from Monday to Sunday, one on each day. Trainee Chetan is scheduled to attend the practical session on Wednesday. Question: On which day does trainee Chetan attend the practical session?
- A.Sunday
- B.WednesdayCorrect
- C.Thursday
- D.Friday
Solution
Detailed Puzzle Deduction: Based on the batch #3 schedule, trainee Chetan attends on Wednesday. Therefore, the correct choice is: 'Wednesday'.
Seven friends - A, B, C, D, E, F, and G - attend a workshop scheduled in two weeks, from Monday to Sunday. Each day, only one person attends. A attends on Monday of the first week. B attends on Wednesday of the second week. C attends three days after A. D attends immediately before B. E attends two days before G, who attends on Sunday of the second week. F attends on Tuesday of the second week. Who attends on Friday of the first week?
- A.D
- B.F
- C.E
- D.Cannot be determinedCorrect
Solution
Week 1: Monday: A Thursday: C Week 2: Tuesday: F Wednesday: B Saturday: E Sunday: G D attends immediately before B, meaning D attends on Tuesday of the second week. Then D and F are on Tuesday of the second week, which is not possible. The constraints are inconsistent, therefore, it is impossible to determine who attends on Friday of the first week.
Eight friends, A, B, C, D, E, F, G, and H, are sitting around a circular table facing the center. Each of them likes a different fruit – Apple, Banana, Cherry, Dates, Elderberry, Fig, Grape, and Hazelnut, but not necessarily in the same order. A sits third to the right of B. The person who likes Cherry sits second to the right of A. C sits second to the right of the person who likes Cherry. Only one person sits between C and D. The person who likes Grape sits second to the left of D. E likes Apple and sits adjacent to the person who likes Grape. The person who likes Banana sits second to the right of E. F is not an immediate neighbor of B. The person who likes Dates sits opposite to B. G likes Fig. H likes Hazelnut. Who likes Dates?
- A.ACorrect
- B.C
- C.E
- D.G
Solution
1. A sits third to the right of B. 2. Cherry sits second to the right of A. 3. C sits second to the right of Cherry. 4. One person between C and D. 5. Grape sits second to the left of D. 6. E (Apple) sits adjacent to Grape. 7. Banana sits second to the right of E. 8. F is not an immediate neighbor of B. 9. Dates sits opposite B. 10. G likes Fig, and H likes Hazelnut. By drawing a circular arrangement and following the clues, we find that A likes Dates.
Seven storage containers are stacked vertically in warehouse sector 10. Container Box-Kappa is placed third from the top. Only two containers are kept between Box-Kappa and the base pallet. Question: Where is Box-Kappa placed in the warehouse stack?
- A.Third from the bottom
- B.Second from the bottom
- C.Third from the topCorrect
- D.In the middle position
Solution
Detailed Puzzle Deduction: From the vertical storage layout in sector 10, Box-Kappa is positioned third from the top. Therefore, the correct choice is: 'Third from the top'.
Five friends, P, Q, R, S, and T live in a building with five floors numbered 1 to 5 from bottom to top. Each of them likes a different fruit - Apple, Banana, Cherry, Grapes, and Mango, but not necessarily in the same order. P lives on the floor immediately above Q. R likes Mango and lives on floor number 3. The person who likes Apple lives on the topmost floor. S lives on the lowest floor and likes Banana. T likes Cherry. Who lives on floor number 2?
- A.P
- B.QCorrect
- C.R
- D.S
Solution
1. S lives on the lowest floor (floor 1) and likes Banana. 2. R likes Mango and lives on floor number 3. 3. The person who likes Apple lives on the topmost floor (floor 5). 4. P lives on the floor immediately above Q. 5. T likes Cherry. This means T lives on floor 4 and likes Cherry, and the person on floor 5 likes Apple. Therefore, the only option is Q on floor 2.
Six friends – A, B, C, D, E, and F – were born in different months of the same year, namely January, March, June, August, October and December. A was born in a month having 31 days. There are two people born between A and B. C was born immediately before D. E was born before F. B was not born in December. Who was born in June?
- A.C
- B.D
- C.E
- D.Cannot be determinedCorrect
Solution
1. A was born in a month having 31 days (Jan, Mar, Aug, Oct, Dec). 2. Two people were born between A and B. 3. C was born immediately before D. 4. E was born before F. 5. B was not born in December. 6. Case 1: A in Jan. Two people between A and B. Then B must be in June. Then there are no 2 days together so C and D cannot be placed in the remaining spots. 7. Case 2: A in Mar. Two people between A and B. Then B must be in Aug. Then there is only one set of consecutive days available. C and D must be in Oct and Dec, where C in Oct and D in Dec. E and F can be in Jan and June. Then E is in Jan and F is in June. 8. Case 3: A in Aug. Two people between A and B. Then B must be in Mar. Then there is only one set of consecutive days available. C and D must be in Jan and Oct, where C in Jan and D in Oct. E and F can be in June and Dec. Then E is in June and F is in Dec. 9. Case 4: A in Oct. Two people between A and B. Then B must be in Mar. Then there is only one set of consecutive days available. C and D must be in Jan and Aug, where C in Jan and D in Aug. E and F can be in June and Dec. Then E is in June and F is in Dec. 10. Case 5: A in Dec. Two people between A and B. Then B must be in Mar. But B cannot be in December. This is not possible. 11. From the above 4 cases, E and F can be in June. Since there is no way to determine who is born in June, the answer is cannot be determined.
Seven persons live on seven different floors of an apartment building numbered 1 to 7 (ground floor is 1, topmost is 7). Floor 1 is occupied by the security warden. Exactly two persons live between the warden and Aarav. Aarav lives on floor 2. Question: On which floor does Aarav live?
- A.Floor 3
- B.Floor 4
- C.Floor 5
- D.Floor 2Correct
Solution
Detailed Puzzle Deduction: According to the conditions given in the floor arrangement, Aarav lives on floor 2. Therefore, the correct choice is: 'Floor 2'.
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 CPO?
201 exam-pattern Puzzles questions for SSC CPO Reasoning, each with a step-by-step solution. Practice is free — no sign-up needed to start.