SSC CGL 2025 PYQs

Concept: Each letter moves 13 places forward (wrapping after Z).

1. W(23) + 13 = 36 − 26 = 10 = J; R → E, O → B, N → A, G → T ✓
2. WRITE: W → J, R → E, I(9) → 22 = V, T(20) → 33 − 26 = 7 = G, E(5) → 18 = R.
3. Code = JEVGR.

Trick: +13 equals −13, so pairs are fixed: A↔N, B↔O … I↔V, T↔G, E↔R.

Answer: (A) JEVGR

Concept: The terms are squares of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.

1. $1^2,2^2,3^2=1,4,9$.
2. Missing: $4^2=16$; next $5^2=25$ ✓

Trick: Gaps 3, 5, 7, 9 (odd numbers) also give $9+7=16$.

Answer: (C) 16

Concept: In the regular groups, both the letter and the number rise by exactly 1 each step.

1. A: A,B,C with 7,8,9 ✓ B: X,Y,Z with 21,22,23 ✓ C: P,Q,R with 11,12,13 ✓
2. D: M → O skips N, and 10, 11, 13 skips 12.

Trick: Ignore the symbols – they are random; check only the letter and number steps.

Answer: (D) M10_ : O11@ : P13#

Concept: Number of diagonals = $\frac{n\times (n-3)}{2}$, where n = number of sides.

1. Octagon: $n=8$.
2. $\frac{8\times 5}{2}=\frac{40}{2}=20$.

Trick: Each vertex joins $(n-3)$ others by diagonals; halve because each diagonal is counted twice.

Answer: (A) 20

Concept: a @ b $=a^2+b$.

1. $4^2+1=16+1=17$ ✓; $5^2+2=25+2=27$ ✓
2. 6 @ 3 = $36+3=39$.

Trick: 17 and 27 are just above 16 and 25 – a hint that the first number is squared.

Answer: (D) 39

Concept: Each position has its own change; copy the same changes to the new word.

1. SPECTOR/HTWFZLI gives the rule: opposite letter (S/H), +4 (P/T), +18 (E/W), +3 (C/F), +6 (T/Z), −3 (O/L), opposite letter (R/I).
2. PHANTOM with the same rule: opposite of P is K; H+4 = L; A+18 = S; N+3 = Q; T+6 = Z; O−3 = L; opposite of M is N.
3. Code = KLSQZLN.

Trick: Opposite pairs add to 27 (S19 + H8, P16 + K11). Positions 5–6 (T→Z, O→L) are identical in both words, so the code must have ZL there – only A and C; N→Q picks C.

Answer: (C) KLSQZLN

Concept: Find the shift at each position and repeat it.

1. STONE/TUPMF: first three letters +1, 4th letter −1, 5th letter +1.
2. PEARL: P+1 = Q, E+1 = F, A+1 = B, R−1 = Q, L+1 = M.
3. Code = QFBQM.

Trick: Only the 4th letter goes back; R − 1 = Q, so the code has Q in 4th place – only B fits.

Answer: (B) QFBQM

Concept: Alcohol stays fixed; only water changes.

1. Alcohol = $\frac{4}{10}\times 50=20$ L; water = 30 L.
2. New ratio 4 : 9 with alcohol 20 L → water = $20\times \frac{9}{4}=45$ L.
3. Water to add = $45-30=15$ L.

Trick: Keep the alcohol term the same (4 in both ratios): water units 6 → 9, so add 3 units; 1 unit = $\frac{50}{10}=5$ L → 15 L.

Answer: (A) 15 L

Concept: a & b $=a^2+b^2$.

1. $16+9=25$ ✓; $4+25=29$ ✓
2. 3 & 6 = $9+36=45$.

Trick: $25=3^2+4^2$ is the famous 3-4-5 triple – a strong hint for squares.

Answer: (C) 45

Concept: Solve from the innermost phrase outward.

1. "My father's only son" = Ram himself.
2. "Only daughter of Ram" = Ram's daughter.

Trick: "My father's only son" (spoken by a male) always means the speaker.

Answer: (D) Daughter

Concept: A relation can be named only if the gender is known.

1. B is the father of C; C is the sister of D → D is also B's child.
2. D's gender is not stated, so D may be son or daughter.

Trick: "Sister of D" tells the gender of C, not of D – a common trap.

Answer: (D) Cannot be determined

Concept: Swap + with × and 3 with 5 in each option, then evaluate.

1. C: $(3+6)\times 5$ → $(5\times 6)+3=30+3=33$ ✓
2. A: $(5\times 4)+3=23\ne 17$; B: $(3\times 2)+5=11\ne 21$.
3. D: $(3\times 1)+5=8\ne 18$.

Trick: Only the left side changes; the result on the right stays as written.

Answer: (C) (3+6)×5=33

Concept: Replace letters with signs, then apply BODMAS.

1. 20 M 4 L 3 J 5 K 5 → $20÷4\times 3+5-5$.
2. $20÷4=5$; $5\times 3=15$.
3. $15+5-5=15$.

Trick: "+5 − 5" cancel out, so the answer is just $20÷4\times 3=15$.

Answer: (D) 15

Concept: Rewrite the expression with the new meanings and solve by BODMAS.

1. $15+5\times 6-2$ → $15÷5+6\times 2$.
2. $15÷5=3$; $6\times 2=12$.
3. $3+12=15$.

Trick: Change the signs one by one in pencil before calculating – avoids mixing old and new meanings.

Answer: (B) 15

Concept: Add first, then multiply.

1. $55+22=77$.
2. $77\times 5=385$.

Trick: $\times 5=\times 10÷2$: $770÷2=385$. Also, a multiple of 5 of an odd number ends in 5 – only 375 and 385 qualify.

Answer: (B) 385

Concept: The first word is a professional; the second is the thing he creates.

1. Chef → prepares Food (his output).
2. Architect → prepares a Design/plan of a building.
3. Cook and Recipe belong to the chef's world, not the architect's.

Trick: Frame a sentence: 'A ___ makes ___'. Only the word that fits both halves is right.

Answer: (D) Design

Concept: Each ethical school is paired with the yardstick it uses to judge an act.

1. Deontology (Kant): an act is right if it follows duty.
2. Utilitarianism (Bentham, Mill): an act is right if its result brings the greatest good — it judges by Consequence.
3. Pleasure/Benefit are goals, not the test; 'Consequence' is the technical term.

Yaad rakhein: Utilitarianism is also called 'consequentialism' — that name itself gives the answer.

Answer: (B) Consequence

Concept: Letters advance by a fixed step (skip one letter each time).

1. I(9) → K(11): step +2.
2. Blank 1: K + 2 = M; check M + 2 = O ✓.
3. Blank 2: Q + 2 = S; check S + 2 = U ✓.

Trick: Odd positions I=9, K=11, M=13, O=15… — the series is just odd numbers 9 to 23.

Answer: (B) M, S

Concept: Each term is the next block of three alphabet letters, wrapping from Z to A.

1. STU → VWX → YZ then A (after Z comes A).
2. Next three letters after A: B, C, D.
3. So the missing cluster is BCD.

Trick: First letters S, V, Y, B jump +3 each time (Y+3 wraps to B) — only one option starts with B and is consecutive.

Answer: (C) BCD

Concept: Every letter of a cluster moves 3 places back in the alphabet.

1. V→S→P→M: −3 each step, so next first letter M − 3 = J.
2. J→G→D→A: next is A − 3 = X (wrap-around).
3. T→Q→N→K: next is K − 3 = H.
4. Missing term = JXH.

Trick: Use reverse ranks: A−3 means go back past Z: A(1) − 3 → 24 = X.

Answer: (D) JXH