Welcome to Banking Quest

Reasoning is more than just a section in your exam—it’s a powerful skill that shapes how you think, solve problems, and make decisions. Whether you're preparing for banking exams, SSC, Railways, MBA, insurance, or any government recruitment exam, the Reasoning Ability section plays a pivotal role in determining your success.

In this guide, we’ll help you understand why reasoning matters, how to approach it smartly, and what strategies can help you score with accuracy and speed.

Why Reasoning Is a Must-Have Skill

Unlike general knowledge or English vocabulary, reasoning doesn’t test what you know—it tests how you think. It assesses your:

✅ Ability to recognise patterns
✅ Skill in drawing logical conclusions
✅ Capacity to handle pressure and make decisions quickly
✅ Mental flexibility and accuracy

The best part? Reasoning is not dependent on your educational background. It’s a skill anyone can master with practice—regardless of whether you’re from arts, commerce, or science.

Section I: General Mental Ability

This section covers core reasoning topics and is common across almost all competitive exams.

1. Series Completion

Covers number, alphabet, and alphanumeric series.
👉 Tip: Look for consistent changes—addition, subtraction, multiplication, or letter positions. Patterns often repeat across exams.

2. Analogy

Tests your ability to understand relationships.
Example: Knife : Cut :: Pen : Write
👉 Tip: Think about the category or function—tools, professions, cause-effect, etc.

3. Classification (Odd One Out)

Identify the item that doesn’t belong to a group.
👉 Tip: Focus on common properties. If three are metals and one is a gas, the gas is the odd one.

4. Coding-Decoding

Translates words or numbers using logical patterns.
👉 Tip: Check for shifts in letters or numbers, reverse orders, or patterns. Don’t forget to practise Matrix and Jumbled Coding types.

5. Blood Relations

Tests understanding of family connections.
👉 Tip: Always draw a quick family tree to visualise the relationships clearly.

6. Puzzle Tests

Includes seating arrangements, comparisons, floor-based puzzles.
👉 Tip: Break it down into clues, create a table or diagram, and use the elimination method.

7. Direction Sense

Requires clear knowledge of directions.
👉 Tip: Draw rough compass sketches. Don’t try to solve it all mentally.

8. Alphabet Tests and Word Formation

Focuses on positions of letters and forming valid words.
👉 Tip: Learn letter positions (A=1, Z=26) by heart. It helps decode faster.

9. Ranking and Time Sequence Tests

Requires careful attention to clues related to position or order.
👉 Tip: Write down clues step by step—don't rush.

Section II: Logical Deduction

This section moves beyond basic logic to more conceptual thinking.

1. Statements and Arguments

Judge whether an argument is strong or weak.
👉 Tip: Be objective. Focus on logic—not personal opinion.

2. Statements and Assumptions

Test your ability to detect implicit assumptions.
👉 Tip: Ask yourself: Does this assumption need to be true for the statement to make sense?

3. Courses of Action

Evaluate possible actions in response to a situation.
👉 Tip: Choose responses that are logical, ethical, and practical.

4. Cause and Effect

Determine which event may have caused another.
👉 Tip: Look for direct, logical links—don’t overthink or assume extra information.

Section III: Non-Verbal Reasoning

This visual reasoning section is often enjoyable—but it still needs sharp focus.

1. Series and Analogies (Figures)

Identify patterns in shapes, size changes, rotations, etc.
👉 Tip: Visualise changes in your mind or sketch it out if needed.

2. Classification (Odd Figure Out)

Spot the image that doesn’t follow the same pattern.
👉 Tip: Look at shape, orientation, number of elements.

3. Mirror and Water Images

Visualise how the figure will look in a mirror or water reflection.
👉 Tip: Practise standard patterns—these are frequently repeated.

4. Paper Folding, Cutting, Cubes & Dice

Tests your spatial reasoning.
👉 Tip: Learn the basics of folding patterns, opposite faces on dice, and how figures unfold. It’s mostly predictable with practice.

Why Reasoning Is Your Secret Weapon

✅ Reasoning is a high-scoring section with clear right-or-wrong answers
✅ It is often the differentiator in tight competitions
✅ It sharpens your mental agility for real-life decision-making
✅ A strong reasoning mind shines in interviews, group discussions, and career problem-solving

Training Your Mind: How to Approach Reasoning Preparation

Here’s how to get the best results from your preparation:

👉 Start with the basics. Learn the rules and logic clearly.
👉 Practise a variety of question types. Exposure improves pattern recognition.
👉 Track your time. In exams, reasoning isn’t just about solving—it’s about solving fast.
👉 Review your mistakes. Don’t just check the answer—understand the why behind it.

Final Thoughts

Reasoning is like a muscle—the more you train it, the sharper it gets. It’s not about talent—it’s about technique and consistency.

In your upcoming sessions, our expert faculty will help you understand each concept in depth. Make the most of the opportunity by engaging fully, asking questions, and practising regularly.

With the right mindset, you will not only master Reasoning but unlock your full potential as a confident problem-solver.

Let the journey begin. Think smart, practise sharp—your success starts here!