Reasoning Ability For Bank Exams, Concepts, Tricks & Questions

Reasoning Ability For Bank Exams

Reasoning Ability is one of the most crucial sections of most bank exams, as it tests candidates’ logical and analytical thinking skills. Aspirers aiming to excel in bank exams must ace this section to increase their chances of getting selected. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll examine the topics, tricks & practice questions to help conquer the Reasoning Ability for Bank Exams.

What is the Reasoning Ability for Bank Exams?

Reasoning Ability section evaluates candidates’ ability to analyze information to solve problems based on their logical and analytical reasoning skills. This section typically includes a variety of question types such as puzzles & seating arrangements, syllogisms, blood relation, coding-decoding, etc. A strong performance in the reasoning ability section demonstrates candidates’ capacity to think critically and make sound judgments, which are essential skills for banking professionals. Therefore, thorough preparation and practice in reasoning ability are crucial for candidates aiming to excel in bank exams.

Reasoning Syllabus for Bank Exams

The topics included in the Reasoning section for the Bank Exams are mentioned below

• Seating Arrangements: These questions involve arranging people or objects based on given statements and conditions.
• Puzzles: Puzzles include different types of questions on Linear Arrangements, circular arrangements, floor-based puzzles, year-month-based puzzles, etc.
• Syllogisms: Syllogism questions test candidates’ ability to draw logical conclusions based on given statements.
• Inequality: Questions involving comparing quantities and determining the relationship and comparison between them.
• Coding-Decoding: This involves coding-decoding of certain words and phrases based on some logical pattern or rules.
• Blood Relations: Questions in this category revolve around determining relationships between family members.
• Direction and Distance: These questions test candidates’ ability to interpret directions and distances accurately.
• Alphanumeric Series: Alphanumeric series questions involve identifying patterns and sequences in a series of letters and numbers.
• Decision Making: Decision-making questions present candidates with hypothetical scenarios or situations that require them to make logical decisions.
• Logical Reasoning: Logical reasoning questions involve deductive reasoning, pattern recognition, and drawing logical conclusions.
  

  Logical Reasoning
  Topics	Description
  Statement & Conclusion	This topic involves analyzing a set of statements and determining the logical conclusion or inference that can be drawn from them, based on the information provided.
  Statement & Assumption	In this topic, candidates evaluate whether the given statements imply certain assumptions, and assess the validity of those assumptions in relation to the context provided.
  Cause & Effect	Cause and effect questions require candidates to identify the relationship between events or phenomena, determining which is the cause and which is the effect based on the given information.
  Statement & Inference	This topic involves analyzing statements to derive logical inferences or conclusions that can be reasonably drawn from them, considering implicit meanings or implications beyond the explicit information provided.

Weightage of Reasoning Ability for Bank Exams

In Banking Exams there are usually sections namely, Reasoning Ability, Quantitative Aptitude, English & General Awareness. Reasoning Ability sections of different Bank Exams typically have varying numbers of questions and difficulty levels. Understanding the exam pattern, question types, and marking scheme is crucial for effective preparation.

Reasoning for Bank Exams: Tricks and Techniques

To increase the score and chance of selection, candidates must use some tricks and techniques in the Reasoning Section of Bank Exams

1. Negative Marking: Understand the negative marking scheme and develop a strategy to attempt questions wisely, balancing accuracy and speed.
2. Elimination Method: Eliminate incorrect options to increase your chances of selecting the right answer, try to do so while attempting mock tests.
3. Backwards Reasoning: Instead of following a linear thought process i.e. solving questions, start from the options and work backwards to identify the correct solution.
4. Identifying Patterns: Look for patterns, sequences, or relationships in the given information to solve problems more efficiently.
5. Time Management: Develop effective time management strategies by identifying question types you can solve quickly and allocating time accordingly.
6. Develop Mental Calculations: Develop a habit of doing calculations in your mind. It will speed up your problem-solving ability, hence, saving lots of time.

Fundamental Concepts & Tricks:

To excel in the Reasoning Ability section, candidates must grasp fundamental concepts and use tricks. Here are some key concepts and tricks to focus on:

• Seating Arrangement and Puzzles:
  • Visualize the arrangement or puzzle to understand the given conditions.
  • Start with the clues that provide the most information.
  • Draw diagrams or tables to organize the information effectively.
  • Use techniques such as making assumptions and using hypothetical scenarios to solve complex puzzles.
• Syllogism:
  • Understand the basic rules of syllogism, including the rules of conversion and obversion.
  • Practice using Venn diagrams to represent statements and draw conclusions.
  • Identify ‘all’, ‘some’, ‘few’ and ‘no’ to determine the validity of statements.
• Coding-Decoding:
  • Analyze the given coding pattern to decode words or phrases.
  • Look for recurring patterns or sequences in the codes.
  • Practice reverse coding-decoding to strengthen your understanding.
• Blood Relations:
  • Familiarize yourself with the commonly used terminology in blood relation questions.
  • Draw family trees or diagrams to visualize relationships.
  • Use logic and deduction to solve complex blood relation problems.
• Direction and Distance:
  • Understand the directions (north, south, east, west) and their interrelations.
  • Use techniques such as drawing diagrams or mentally mapping directions to solve problems.
  • Pay attention to clues related to distance and direction, such as ‘left,’ ‘right,’ ‘north’, ‘south’, ‘east’, ‘far,’ ‘near,’ etc.