SSC CGL 2025 PYQs

Concept: Each term should be 3 times the previous term.

1. 2 → 6 → 18 → 54 ✓
2. $54\times 3=162$, but the series shows 172 ✗
3. $162\times 3=486$ ✓, so 172 is the wrong number.

Trick: In a ×3 series every term after 2 is even and divisible by 3; $1+7+2=10$ is not divisible by 3, so 172 fails.

Answer: (D) 172

Concept: Rearrange the 11 letters into a real word, then count the letter's place.

1. Letters N I F O R T M I O N A → INFORMATION.
2. I(1) N(2) F(3) … ⇒ F is 3rd from the left.

Trick: Letters like -TION (T, I, O, N) usually go at the end; the rest forms the stem INFORMA.

Answer: (A) 3

Concept: Each term is the sum of the two terms just before it.

1. 5 = 2 + 3; 8 = 3 + 5; 13 = 5 + 8.
2. Next = 8 + 13 = 21.

Trick: If the differences (1, 2, 3, 5) repeat the series itself, it is Fibonacci-type.

Answer: (C) 21

Concept: Every letter is shifted two places backward (Z comes before A cyclically).

1. O→M, B→Z, A→Y, M→K, A→Y ✓
2. LINCOLN: L→J, I→G, N→L, C→A, O→M, L→J, N→L.
3. Code = JGLAMJL.

Trick: LINCOLN has L at positions 1 and 6 and N at 3 and 7 – the code must repeat letters at the same places (J…J, L…L); only (A) and (B) do, and O−2 = M picks (A).

Answer: (A) JGLAMJL

Concept: Treat the first and second letters as two separate series.

1. First letters L, M, N (+1) → O.
2. Second letters I, H, G (−1) → F.
3. Next pair = OF.

Trick: The two letters move in opposite directions, so their positions always add to the same total: L+I = 12+9 = 21, O+F = 15+6 = 21 ✓

Answer: (C) OF

Concept: Area = length $\times$ width, so use net change = $a+b+\frac{ab}{100}$.

1. $a=+20$, $b=-20$.
2. Net = $20-20+\frac{20\times (-20)}{100}=-4$.
3. So the area decreases by 4%.

Trick: Same % increase and decrease always gives a loss of $\frac{x^2}{100}\%=\frac{{20}^2}{100}=4\%$.

Answer: (A) −4%

Concept: Each letter is replaced by the next letter of the alphabet.

1. H→I, E→F, A→B, T→U ✓
2. COLD: C→D, O→P, L→M, D→E.
3. Code = DPME.

Trick: Check only the first two letters: C+1 = D, O+1 = P → only (A) starts with DP.

Answer: (A) DPME

Concept: To pass a pole a train covers only its own length; time = distance $÷$ speed.

1. 72 km/h = $72\times \frac{5}{18}=20$ m/s.
2. Time = $200÷20=10$ s.

Trick: km/h → m/s: multiply by $\frac{5}{18}$; 36 km/h = 10 m/s, so 72 km/h = 20 m/s instantly.

Answer: (C) 10 sec

Concept: Each letter moves one step forward (Z → A cyclically); apply the same rule to the code word.

1. N→O, P→Q, O→P, F→G, Z→A ✓
2. OQPGA: O→P, Q→R, P→Q, G→H, A→B.
3. Code = PRQHB.

Trick: Coding a code twice with +1 = shifting the original by +2: NPOFZ + 2 = PRQHB.

Answer: (A) PRQHB

Concept: Each letter is replaced by its opposite letter: positions add up to 27.

1. Check LION: L + O = 12 + 15, I + R = 9 + 18, N + M = 14 + 13 – all 27 ✓
2. BEAR: B → Y (2 + 25), E → V (5 + 22), A → Z (1 + 26), R → I (18 + 9) – each pair totals 27.
3. Code = YVZI.

Trick: Remember opposite pairs with 'AZ, BY, CX, DW, EV … MN'.

Answer: (A) YVZI

Concept: Each letter's code = its alphabet position multiplied by 5 ($Z=26\times 5=130$).

1. Positions: A = 1, C = 3, E = 5.
2. Multiply each by 5: $1\times 5=5$, $3\times 5=15$, $5\times 5=25$.
3. Code for ACE = 5, 15, 25.

Trick: A, C, E are odd positions 1, 3, 5, so the codes must jump by 10 each time (5, 15, 25). Only option (A) does this.

Answer: (A) 5, 15, 25

Concept: Compare each option part by part with the given address; a single changed word makes it different.

1. House no. 21-B, Rajendra Nagar, Indore and PIN 452001 are the same in all four options.
2. Only the state changes: (B) Maharashtra, (C) Gujarat, (D) Rajasthan.
3. Given state is Madhya Pradesh – found only in (A).

Trick: First find the part that varies among the options (here the state), then check only that part against the original.

Answer: (A) 21-B, Rajendra Nagar, Indore, Madhya Pradesh - 452001

Concept: 'Two days after' a date means add 2 to that date and find the matching event.

1. Nagpur seminar = 7 March.
2. 7 + 2 = 9 March.
3. Seminar on 9 March = Indore.

Trick: Ignore the jumbled list order; just do the date arithmetic and look up the date.

Answer: (B) Indore

Concept: Find the hidden rule from the given examples and apply it to the new pair.

1. Test $a-2b$: $14-8=6$ ✓; $17-12=5$ ✓.
2. Apply: $20-2\times 8=20-16=4$.

Trick: Plain subtraction gives 10 and 11, not 6 and 5 – so the second number must be doubled. Try simple multiples first.

Answer: (A) 4

Concept: The symbol % here simply stands for subtraction: a % b = a − b.

1. 9 − 4 = 5 ✓ and 8 − 3 = 5 ✓.
2. 7 % 2 = 7 − 2 = 5.

Trick: Always test the simplest operation (+, −, ×, ÷) first before trying squares or cubes.

Answer: (C) 5

Concept: Find one rule that fits all three examples: $a\#b=a^2-1$.

1. Since $b=a-1$ every time, the rule $(a-1)(a+1)$ works: $2\times 4=8$, $3\times 5=15$, $4\times 6=24$ ✓.
2. For $6\#5$: $(6-1)(6+1)=5\times 7=35$.

Trick: 8, 15, 24 are each one less than a perfect square (9, 16, 25) – the next is $36-1=35$. Also $6\times 5+5=35$ cross-checks.

Answer: (A) 35

Concept: Group the countries by continent; the one from a different continent is the odd one.

1. Argentina, Brazil, Chile – South America.
2. Japan – an island nation of East Asia.

Yaad rakhein: Chile is the long, narrow country along the Andes; Brazil is the largest country of South America.

Answer: (C) Japan

Concept: A daughter's daughter is a granddaughter.

1. R → daughter Q (one generation down).
2. Q → daughter P (two generations down).
3. P is female and two levels below R ⇒ granddaughter.

Trick: Count generation gaps: gap 2 downward + female = granddaughter. Niece/cousin need a sibling link, which is absent.

Answer: (A) Granddaughter

Concept: $392=49\times 8=7^2\times 8$, so the rule is $n^2\times (n+1)$.

1. Write as $n^3+n^2$: $343+49=392$ ✓ for $n=7$.
2. For $n=8$: $512+64=576$.

Trick: $n^2(n+1)=n^3+n^2$. Option 512 is only $8^3$ – a trap for those who forget the $n^2$ part.

Answer: (B) 576

Concept: All A are B + All B are C ⇒ All A are C; also 'All B are C' always gives 'Some C are B'.

1. Roses ⊂ Flowers ⊂ Plants ⇒ All roses are plants – I follows.
2. All flowers are plants ⇒ conversion gives Some plants are flowers – II follows.

Trick: An 'All' statement always allows a 'Some' conclusion in reverse (All X are Y ⇒ Some Y are X).

Answer: (C) Both I and II follow