SSC CGL 2025 PYQs

Concept: Sort the letters, locate the asked positions, then count letters between them.

1. CAPTAIN sorted: A, A, C, I, N, P, T.
2. 1st from left = A; 4th from right = I.
3. Letters between A(1) and I(9) = 9 − 1 − 1 = 7.

Trick: Between two letters = difference of positions − 1.

Answer: (A) 7

Concept: Each letter shifts one step forward (Z wraps to A).

1. X→Y, Y→Z, Z→A: every letter +1.
2. N→O, P→Q, R→S → OQS.

Trick: Only option starting O and ending S with Q in middle – no need to check further.

Answer: (A) OQS

Concept: Convert both positions to the same end, then subtract.

1. Y from left = 60 − 20 + 1 = 41.
2. X is 15th from left.
3. Between = 41 − 15 − 1 = 25.

Trick: Between = Total − (left pos + right pos) = 60 − (15 + 20) = 25 (when they don't overlap).

Answer: (B) 25

Concept: Find which positions of the first word make the second word.

1. ALGEBRA = A1 L2 G3 E4 B5 R6 A7; LERABGA uses positions 2, 4, 6, 7, 5, 3, 1.
2. NUMERAL = N1 U2 M3 E4 R5 A6 L7.
3. Order 2,4,6,7,5,3,1 → U, E, A, L, R, M, N = UEALRMN.

Trick: Even positions first, then odd positions in reverse – check only the first 3 letters (U, E, A) to pick the option.

Answer: (D) UEALRMN

Concept: Three terms belong to one field; find the one from a different field.

1. DNA, RNA and ATP are molecules of living cells (biology).
2. CPU = Central Processing Unit – a computer component.
3. So CPU is odd.

Trick: Group by subject: biology vs computer.

Answer: (D) CPU

Concept: Father's brother is uncle.

1. B is son of C → C is B's father.
2. D is C's brother → D is the brother of B's father.
3. So D is B's uncle.

Trick: Draw a quick 2-level tree: C on top, D beside C, B below C.

Answer: (B) Uncle

Concept: Three numbers are cubes of consecutive odd numbers.

1. ${13}^3=2197$, ${15}^3=3375$, ${17}^3=4913$.
2. ${19}^3=6859$, not 6851.
3. So 6851 is not a cube – odd one.

Trick: Cube of a number ending in 9 ends in 9; 6851 ends in 1, so it cannot be ${19}^3$.

Answer: (C) 6851

Concept: Differences between terms are consecutive primes.

1. Correct series: 2 (+3) 5 (+5) 10 (+7) 17 (+11) 28 (+13) 41 (+17) 58.
2. The 5th term should be 28, but 27 is given.

Trick: Check from both ends: 41 and 58 fit (+17), so the error lies just before 41.

Answer: (C) 27

Concept: Each letter has a fixed digit; read them from given words.

1. HORSE = 45231 → H4, O5, R2, S3, E1.
2. CAT = 786 → C7, A8, T6.
3. STORE = S3 T6 O5 R2 E1 = 36521.

Trick: STORE ends with RE like HORSE → code must end in 21; only one option does.

Answer: (A) 36521

Concept: Find the hidden operation from the examples.

1. 8$3: 8² + 3² = 64 + 9 = 73 ✓
2. 7$2: 49 + 4 = 53 ✓
3. 6$1: 36 + 1 = 37

Trick: Results near the square of the first number hint at squares being added.

Answer: (A) 37

Concept: 'My mother's only daughter' is the speaker herself (Sita is female).

1. Sita's mother's only daughter = Sita.
2. The girl is the daughter of Sita.
3. So the girl is Sita's daughter.

Trick: 'Only daughter/only son' of my parent = me (if gender matches).

Answer: (A) Daughter

Concept: Son's sister is one's own daughter.

1. Man's son's sister = man's daughter.
2. She is also Priya's daughter.
3. Common daughter → Priya is the man's wife.

Trick: Two people with the same child (and different gender) = husband–wife.

Answer: (A) Wife

Concept: Sum ÷ total parts gives the value of one part.

1. Parts = $5+8=13$.
2. One part = $130÷13=10$.
3. Numbers = 50 and 80.

Trick: Check options: sum must be 130 and ratio 5:8 – 50:80 = 5:8 ✓.

Answer: (B) 50, 80

Concept: Substitute A and B into the defined operation.

1. $A=20+15=35$ and B = $\frac{1}{5}$.
2. A × B = 35 × $\frac{1}{5}$ = 7.
3. $A\%B=7-1=6$.

Trick: Multiplying by $\frac{1}{5}$ is just dividing by 5: $35÷5=7$, then subtract 1.

Answer: (C) 6

Concept: First add, then multiply (bracket first).

1. $35+25=60$.
2. $60\times 6=360$.

Trick: Distributive check: $35\times 6+25\times 6=210+150=360$.

Answer: (B) 360

Concept: The pair is unit : quantity it measures.

1. 1 pascal = 1 ${\text{N/m}}^2$, the SI unit of pressure.
2. Watt (= 1 joule per second) is the SI unit of power.
3. Joule → energy/work, Newton → force, ohm-metre → resistivity; none fits.

Trick: Read the pair as "X is the unit of Y" and test each option in the same sentence.

Answer: (A) Power

Concept: The pair links a river with the land where it rises.

1. Amazon rises in the Andes mountains of Peru.
2. Mekong rises on the Tibetan Plateau (China).
3. Brazil is where the Amazon flows/ends, not a Mekong link; Rome and 'Hungry' are unrelated.

Yaad rakhein: Mekong flows through 6 countries: China (Tibet) → Myanmar → Laos → Thailand → Cambodia → Vietnam.

Answer: (D) Tibet

Concept: Every position of the cluster jumps the same number of letters.

1. G→K→O→S→W: each first letter moves +4.
2. Each term = previous term's last two letters + one new letter (4 ahead).
3. SWA → drop S, keep WA, add A+4 = E → WAE.

Trick: Terms overlap like a sliding window: G K O S W A E — just keep writing letters 4 apart.

Answer: (B) WAE

Concept: Track each letter position separately.

1. 1st letters: N, O, P, Q → next R (+1).
2. 2nd letters: J, K, L, M → next N (+1).
3. 3rd letters: M, L, K, J → next I (−1).

Trick: Only options C and D start with RN; the third letter falling J→I picks D instantly.

Answer: (D) RNI

Concept: Separate the three columns and find each step.

1. 1st: E, H, K, N → Q (+3).
2. 2nd: U, X, A, D → G (+3, wraps after Z).
3. 3rd: H, J, L, N → P (+2).

Trick: Options A, B, D all begin QG; the last letter P (N+2) settles it.

Answer: (B) QGP