Never use:
Common Sense
Personal Knowledge
Real-World Facts
Use only:
Given Statements
Everything in this sheet follows this rule.
1. SYLLOGISM
One of the most important logical reasoning topics.
Basic Terms
All
Statement:
All Cats are Animals.
Meaning:
Cats ⊂ Animals
Diagram:
Animals
(Cats)
Some
Statement:
Some Cats are Black.
Meaning:
At least one.
Not necessarily all.
No
Statement:
No Cats are Dogs.
Meaning:
Zero overlap.
Diagram:
(Cats) (Dogs)
Some Not
Statement:
Some Students are not Athletes.
Meaning:
At least one student lies outside the athlete group.
Statement Type 1
Statement:
All A are B.
Diagram:
B
(A)
Conclusions
All A are B ✓ True
Some A are B ✓ True
Some B are A ✓ True
All B are A ✗ False
Most Common Trap
Statement:
All Doctors are Humans.
Students assume:
All Humans are Doctors.
Wrong.
The reverse is not guaranteed.
Statement Type 2
Statement:
No A are B.
Diagram:
(A) (B)
Conclusions:
No B are A ✓ True
Some A are B ✗ False
Statement Type 3
Statement:
Some A are B.
Diagram:
(A ∩ B)
Conclusions:
Some B are A ✓ True
Nothing else is guaranteed.
Possibility Cases
Statement:
Some A are B.
Can we say:
All A are B.
Possible?
YES
Because nothing in the statement prevents it.
Possibility Shortcut
If the statement does not prohibit it,
Possibility = True.
Syllogism Master Rules
Rule 1
All + All
can create a new conclusion.
Example:
All A are B.
All B are C.
Conclusion:
All A are C.
True.
Rule 2
Some + Some
No definite conclusion.
Rule 3
No + All
Draw a Venn diagram.
Syllogism Exam Strategy
1. Draw circles.
2. Check conclusions one by one.
3. Avoid assumptions.
QUICK SYLLOGISM CHEAT SHEET
All A are B
Some A are B ✓
Some B are A ✓
All B are A ✗
No A are B
No B are A ✓
Some A are B ✗
Some A are B
Some B are A ✓
2. STATEMENTS & CONCLUSIONS
What is a Conclusion?
Something that logically follows from the statement.
Example
Statement:
The government increased road safety awareness.
Conclusion:
Road safety may improve.
Reasonable.
Follows.
Conclusion:
All accidents will stop.
Too extreme.
Does not follow.
Extreme Words Rule
Be careful when you see:
Always
Never
Only
Every
All
None
Usually incorrect unless explicitly stated.
Example
Statement:
Many students use laptops.
Conclusion:
All students use laptops.
Wrong.
Conclusion Test
Ask:
Is it 100% guaranteed?
If yes:
Follows.
If maybe:
Does not follow.
Common Conclusion Traps
Trap 1: Generalization
Statement:
Some people exercise.
Conclusion:
Everyone exercises.
Wrong.
Trap 2: Adding Information
Statement:
Cars are increasing.
Conclusion:
People prefer luxury cars.
Not given.
Wrong.
3. STATEMENTS & ASSUMPTIONS
What is an Assumption?
A hidden belief behind a statement.
Example
Statement:
Wear seat belts while driving.
Assumption:
Seat belts improve safety.
Without this belief, the statement loses meaning.
Assumption Finding Method
Ask:
What must be true
for this statement to make sense?
Example
Statement:
Buy this water purifier.
Assumption:
Water needs purification.
True.
Example
Statement:
Study hard to clear TCS NQT.
Assumption:
Studying improves your chances.
True.
Assumption Trap
Statement:
Use an umbrella in the rain.
Assumption:
Umbrella protects from rain.
Yes.
Assumption:
Rain is dangerous.
Not necessary.
4. DATA SUFFICIENCY
Very common in placement exams.
Goal
Do not solve completely.
Determine whether the information is sufficient.
Standard Options
A. Statement 1 alone is sufficient.
B. Statement 2 alone is sufficient.
C. Both together are sufficient.
D. Either statement alone is sufficient.
E. Data is not sufficient.
Example
Question:
What is x?
Statement 1:
x + 2 = 5
Enough.
Answer:
x = 3
Statement 1 is sufficient.
Example
Question:
What is x?
Statement 1:
x + y = 10
Not enough.
Statement 2:
y = 4
Together sufficient.
Answer:
Both statements are sufficient.
Data Sufficiency Strategy
Check Statement 1.
Check Statement 2.
Check Both Together.
Never solve fully unless necessary.
Common Trap
Students calculate everything.
Wrong approach.
Only verify sufficiency.
5. OBJECTIVE REASONING
Questions based on logical decision-making.
Example
All employees must submit ID.
Ravi is an employee.
Conclusion:
Ravi must submit ID.
Valid.
Common Forms
Conditional Logic
Decision Making
Logical Inference
Rule Application
Conditional Logic
If A → B
Meaning:
A leads to B.
Example:
If it rains,
the road becomes wet.
Given:
It rains.
Conclusion:
The road becomes wet.
Valid.
Common Trap
If Rain → Wet Road
Students conclude:
Wet Road → Rain
Wrong.
There may be another reason.
6. INFERRED MEANING
Tests hidden or contextual meaning.
Example
Sentence:
The company is tightening its belt.
Meaning:
Reducing expenses.
Not a literal belt.
Common Placement Examples
Break the Ice
Start a conversation.
Hit the Books
Study seriously.
Once in a Blue Moon
Very rarely.
Piece of Cake
Very easy.
Under the Weather
Feeling sick.
Inference Strategy
Ask:
Literal meaning?
Context meaning?
Choose the contextual meaning.
LOGICAL REASONING MASTER CHECKLIST
When solving any logical reasoning question:
1. Read slowly.
2. Ignore real-world knowledge.
3. Use only given information.
4. Avoid extreme conclusions.
5. Check assumptions.
6. Draw diagrams if needed.
7. Verify before answering.
2-MINUTE EXAM CHEAT SHEET
Syllogism
All A are B
Some A are B ✓
Some B are A ✓
All B are A ✗
Conclusions
100% guaranteed?
YES → Follows
NO → Does not follow
Assumptions
Hidden belief behind the statement.
Data Sufficiency
Check:
1 alone
2 alone
Both together
Conditional Logic
A → B
A true ⇒ B true
B true ⇒ A is NOT necessarily true
Inference
Meaning from context.
Not literal meaning.Premium Content
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