The SSC CGL Reasoning mock test on SarkariExam.Center gives you 25 questions worth 50 marks, exactly as the Staff Selection Commission sets in Tier 1. Each correct answer earns 2 marks. Each wrong answer deducts 0.50 marks. The test covers all reasoning topics SSC CGL tests: analogy, classification, coding-decoding, matrix, series, non-verbal reasoning, and more. Start free now.
SSC CGL Reasoning Section: Exact Exam Pattern
The SSC CGL Tier 1 exam has 4 sections of 25 questions each, and the reasoning section carries 50 marks out of a total 200. The full Tier 1 paper runs for 60 minutes with no individual sectional time limits, so time discipline across all 4 sections decides your score.
| Section | Questions | Marks | Marks Per Question | Negative Marking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Intelligence and Reasoning | 25 | 50 | 2 | 0.50 per wrong answer |
| General Awareness | 25 | 50 | 2 | 0.50 per wrong answer |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | 50 | 2 | 0.50 per wrong answer |
| English Comprehension | 25 | 50 | 2 | 0.50 per wrong answer |
| Total | 100 | 200 |
Negative Marking Rule for SSC CGL Reasoning Practice
- 2 marks for each correct answer
- 0.50 marks deducted for each wrong answer
- 4 wrong answers cancel exactly 1 correct answer
- No penalty for unattempted questions
- Skip questions where you cannot eliminate at least 2 options
SSC CGL Reasoning Mock Test: Topic-Wise Question Distribution
SSC CGL General Intelligence and Reasoning tests 2 broad categories: verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning. Non-verbal questions like mirror image, paper folding, and figure counting appear in every Tier 1 paper and account for 8 to 10 of the 25 questions.
| Topic | Questions (Per Paper) | Type | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Analogy (Word and Number) | 2 to 3 | Verbal | 4 to 6 |
| Classification (Odd One Out) | 2 to 3 | Verbal | 4 to 6 |
| Series Completion (Number and Alphabet) | 2 to 3 | Verbal | 4 to 6 |
| Coding-Decoding | 2 to 3 | Verbal | 4 to 6 |
| Direction and Distance | 1 to 2 | Verbal | 2 to 4 |
| Blood Relations | 1 to 2 | Verbal | 2 to 4 |
| Matrix and Word Formation | 1 to 2 | Verbal | 2 to 4 |
| Venn Diagram | 1 to 2 | Verbal | 2 to 4 |
| Mirror Image and Water Image | 2 to 3 | Non-Verbal | 4 to 6 |
| Paper Folding and Cutting | 1 to 2 | Non-Verbal | 2 to 4 |
| Embedded Figures and Figure Completion | 1 to 2 | Non-Verbal | 2 to 4 |
| Counting Figures (Triangles, Squares) | 1 to 2 | Non-Verbal | 2 to 4 |
SSC CGL General Intelligence and Reasoning: Topic-Wise Breakdown
Every topic in SSC CGL reasoning has a predictable question pattern that repeats across Tier 1 papers. Knowing what each topic tests helps you practice with the right question types.
Verbal Reasoning Topics (15 to 17 Questions)
Analogy and Classification (4 to 6 Questions)
Analogies test your ability to identify the relationship between pairs of words, numbers, or letters. Classification questions ask you to find the odd one out from a group of 4 items, such as identifying which word does not belong to a category like rivers, capitals, or professions.
- Word analogy: Doctor : Hospital :: Teacher : ?
- Number analogy: 4 : 16 :: 9 : ?
- Letter analogy: AC : FH :: BD : ?
- Classification: Identify which item does not share the same category as the others
Coding-Decoding (2 to 3 Questions)
SSC CGL uses 3 types of coding questions: letter coding, number coding, and symbol coding. The most common type assigns a number or letter shift to each alphabet character, like APPLE coded as 26161612 using reverse alphabetical values.
Series Completion (2 to 3 Questions)
Number series and alphabet series appear equally in SSC CGL Tier 1 reasoning. Number series tests arithmetic progressions, geometric progressions, and mixed patterns. Alphabet series tests positional shifts like skipping every 2nd or 3rd letter in a sequence.
Direction and Distance, Blood Relations (2 to 4 Questions)
Direction questions always start from North as the base direction. Draw a compass diagram before attempting. Blood relation questions use family tree notation and test relationships across 2 to 3 generations, such as grandfather, son, and grandson connections.
Venn Diagram and Matrix (2 to 4 Questions)
Venn diagram questions give 3 overlapping circles representing 3 categories, such as teachers, women, and Indians, then ask which region satisfies a given condition. Matrix questions give a 5×5 grid of letters and ask you to find the code for a word using the row-column position system.
Non-Verbal Reasoning Topics (8 to 10 Questions)
Mirror Image and Water Image (2 to 3 Questions)
Mirror image questions show a clock or object and ask what its reflection looks like on a vertical or horizontal surface. For clock mirror images, subtract the hour hand position from 11:60 to get the mirror time. For example, the mirror image of 4:00 is 8:00.
Paper Folding and Cutting (1 to 2 Questions)
A square paper gets folded 1 to 3 times, a hole is punched, and you identify where holes appear after unfolding. Each fold creates a mirror image of the hole position. Practice 20 to 30 paper folding questions before attempting the full SSC CGL reasoning mock test.
Embedded Figures and Figure Counting (2 to 4 Questions)
Embedded figure questions show a simple shape and ask which of the 4 options contains this shape hidden within a complex figure. Figure counting questions ask how many triangles or squares appear in a composite figure, including overlapping shapes.
How to Attempt the SSC CGL Reasoning Mock Test: Section Strategy
Reasoning is the fastest-scoring section in SSC CGL Tier 1 when attempted in the right order. Target 18 to 20 correct answers from 25 questions to score 36 to 40 marks.
Step 1: Attempt Verbal Reasoning First (8 to 10 Minutes)
Attempt analogy, classification, blood relations, direction, coding-decoding, and series questions first. These 15 to 17 questions give 30 to 34 marks if solved correctly and take the least time per question.
Step 2: Solve Non-Verbal Questions Next (5 to 7 Minutes)
Attempt mirror image, Venn diagram, and matrix questions after verbal reasoning. Mirror image and Venn diagrams are the fastest non-verbal question types. Paper folding and counting figures take the most time per question.
Step 3: Skip and Return for Difficult Questions (2 to 3 Minutes)
Skip any question that needs more than 60 seconds on the first pass. Return to skipped questions only after completing all easier ones. Apply the 0.50 negative marking filter: attempt only when you can eliminate at least 2 of 4 options.
Target Score Per Attempt
- 18 correct, 0 wrong: 36 marks (safe baseline score)
- 20 correct, 2 wrong: 39 marks (competitive score)
- 22 correct, 3 wrong: 42.50 marks (strong score for Tier 1 merit)
- 25 correct, 0 wrong: 50 marks (full marks, achievable with consistent mock test practice)
Types of SSC CGL Reasoning Practice Tests on SarkariExam.Center
Practice with the right test type at each stage to move from topic accuracy to full Tier 1 score improvement. Match your preparation stage to the correct test type below.
- Topic-wise chapter tests (15 to 20 questions each): Focused practice on single topics like analogy, coding-decoding, or mirror image before attempting the full section
- Verbal reasoning sectional tests (15 questions): Practice all verbal topics together under timed conditions
- Non-verbal reasoning sectional tests (10 questions): Mirror image, paper folding, embedded figures, and counting figures in a single timed set
- Full 25-question SSC CGL reasoning mock test: Complete General Intelligence and Reasoning section with 0.50 negative marking active and per-question time tracking
- Previous year question paper mode: Official SSC CGL Tier 1 reasoning sections from past exams in timed mode with full answer keys and step-by-step solutions
- Speed practice tests (25 questions in 12 minutes): Push your speed beyond comfortable limits to build scoring buffer for exam day
5 Mistakes That Drop Your SSC CGL Reasoning Score
These errors appear repeatedly in candidate analysis after SSC CGL Tier 1 results. Regular mock test practice with focused review removes all of them.
- Spending more than 90 seconds on any single question: One difficult question that takes 3 minutes costs you 4 to 5 easy questions you could have solved in that time
- Attempting all 25 questions blindly: Random guessing at 4 wrong attempts cancels 1 correct answer; selective skipping protects your score better than blind attempts
- Skipping non-verbal reasoning practice entirely: Non-verbal questions account for 8 to 10 of the 25 marks and have predictable patterns that become easy after 15 to 20 practice sets
- Not reviewing wrong answers after each mock test: Attempting 30 tests without analysing errors builds the same mistakes repeatedly; 20 minutes of review per test drives real improvement
- Practising reasoning in isolation from the full paper: No sectional time limit exists in SSC CGL Tier 1; practising only the reasoning section gives a false speed picture; full 100-question mock tests reveal your actual time allocation across all sections
SSC CGL Reasoning Practice Plan: 21 Days to Higher Accuracy
This plan moves your reasoning score from below 30 marks to above 40 marks in 3 weeks by building topic accuracy before full-test speed.
Week 1: Topic Accuracy (Days 1 to 7)
- Days 1 to 2: Analogy and classification chapter tests; target 80% accuracy before moving forward
- Days 3 to 4: Coding-decoding and series completion chapter tests with solutions review after each set
- Days 5 to 6: Non-verbal reasoning chapter tests: mirror image, paper folding, and embedded figures separately
- Day 7: Full 25-question SSC CGL reasoning mock test under a 15-minute timer; record score and per-topic error count
2 Week: Speed Building (Days 8 to 14)
- Days 8 to 10: Full 25-question reasoning mock tests daily; review every wrong answer with solution shortcuts
- Days 11 to 12: Speed practice sets (25 questions in 12 minutes) to build speed buffer for exam day
- Days 13 to 14: Previous year SSC CGL Tier 1 reasoning sections in timed mode; note repeating topic patterns
Week 3: Full Paper Integration (Days 15 to 21)
- Attempt 1 full SSC CGL Tier 1 mock test daily (100 questions, 60 minutes, all 4 sections)
- Track time used on reasoning section specifically; target under 14 minutes per paper to allow time for Quantitative Aptitude
- Target by Day 21: 20 correct answers with fewer than 3 wrong attempts per reasoning section
SSC CGL Reasoning Mock Test: Frequently Asked Questions
The SSC CGL Tier 1 General Intelligence and Reasoning section has 25 questions worth 50 marks. Each correct answer gives 2 marks and each wrong answer deducts 0.50 marks. The full Tier 1 paper runs for 60 minutes with no individual sectional time limit, so you manage your own time across all 4 sections.
SSC CGL reasoning covers 2 categories: verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning. Verbal topics include analogy, classification, series, coding-decoding, direction, blood relations, matrix, and Venn diagram. Non-verbal topics include mirror image, water image, paper folding, embedded figures, and figure counting. Non-verbal questions account for 8 to 10 of the 25 questions in every Tier 1 paper.
Target 12 to 15 minutes for the reasoning section in SSC CGL Tier 1. Verbal reasoning questions take 30 to 45 seconds each. Non-verbal questions take 45 to 90 seconds each. Finishing reasoning under 14 minutes leaves more time for Quantitative Aptitude, which typically demands the longest solving time per question.
A score of 40 to 45 marks out of 50 in reasoning is competitive for SSC CGL Tier 1 merit lists. This translates to 20 to 22 correct answers with minimal wrong attempts. Candidates scoring below 30 marks in reasoning typically fall short of Tier 2 cut-offs even with strong performance in other sections.
