Puzzles Questions Placement

Last Updated: March 2026

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Introduction to Puzzles

Puzzles are the ultimate test of logical reasoning and form an integral part of placement exams and competitive examinations. They evaluate your ability to analyze information, identify patterns, and deduce conclusions from given constraints.

Why are Puzzles Important?

• High Frequency: 3-5 puzzle sets typically appear in every exam
• Multiple Questions per Set: One puzzle setup can yield 4-6 questions
• No Formula Required: Pure logic and reasoning
• High Accuracy: Once solved correctly, all related questions have high accuracy

Types of Puzzles

1. Seating Arrangement: Linear, Circular, Square/Rectangular
2. Scheduling Puzzles: Day/Date/Time based
3. Floor/Box Puzzles: Stacking arrangements
4. Blood Relations: Family trees
5. Comparison Puzzles: Height, weight, age comparisons

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Important Strategies and Shortcuts

General Puzzle-Solving Framework

STEP 1: Read all statements carefully
STEP 2: Identify fixed/absolute information first
STEP 3: Create a visual representation
STEP 4: Fill in direct deductions
STEP 5: Use elimination for uncertain positions
STEP 6: Cross-verify with all conditions

Quick Reference for Seating Arrangement

Comparison Notation

Use symbols for quick notation:

• A > B (A is taller/heavier/more than B)
• A < B (A is shorter/lighter/less than B)
• Chain: A > B > C implies A > C

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Practice Questions

Set 1: Linear Seating Arrangement

Directions (Q.1-5): Eight persons A, B, C, D, E, F, G, and H sit in a row facing north.

Given:

• A sits third to the left of D
• Only two persons sit between A and F
• G sits second to the right of F
• E sits at one of the extreme ends
• B sits to the immediate left of C
• C is not a neighbor of D
• H sits somewhere to the left of B

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Question 1 (Easy): Who sits at the extreme right end?

Solution: Working through the constraints:

• A _ _ D arrangement
• With two persons between A and F
• G positioned relative to F
• E at an extreme

After systematic elimination:

Final Arrangement: E(1), F(2), H(3), G(4), A(5), B(6), C(7), D(8)

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Question 2 (Easy): Who sits immediately to the left of A?

Solution: From the arrangement, G is at position 4 and A is at position 5.

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Question 3 (Medium): How many persons sit between F and C?

Solution: F is at position 2, C is at position 7. Positions between: 3, 4, 5, 6 (H, G, A, B)

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Question 4 (Medium): Four of the following five are alike in a certain way. Which one does not belong? a) A-D b) B-C c) F-G d) H-G e) G-A

Solution: Checking adjacency:

• A-D: positions 5 and 8 (not adjacent)
• B-C: positions 6 and 7 (adjacent)
• F-G: positions 2 and 4 (not adjacent)
• H-G: positions 3 and 4 (adjacent)
• G-A: positions 4 and 5 (adjacent)

A-D, F-G are not adjacent pairs. But F-G has one person between while A-D has two. Actually rechecking: B-C, H-G, G-A are adjacent (direct neighbors).

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Question 5 (Hard): If all persons are made to sit in alphabetical order from left to right, how many will remain in their original positions?

Solution: Original: E(1), F(2), H(3), G(4), A(5), B(6), C(7), D(8) Alphabetical: A(1), B(2), C(3), D(4), E(5), F(6), G(7), H(8)

Comparing positions - none match.

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Set 2: Circular Seating Arrangement

Directions (Q.6-10): Eight friends P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W sit around a circular table facing center.

Given:

• P sits third to the right of Q
• R sits second to the left of Q
• S is an immediate neighbor of both P and R
• T sits opposite to Q
• U sits second to the right of T
• V is not an immediate neighbor of Q
• W sits between U and V

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Question 6 (Medium): Who sits immediate left of P?

Solution: Setting Q at position 1:

• P is 3rd to right → P at position 4
• R is 2nd to left → R at position 7
• T is opposite Q → T at position 5
• S is neighbor of both P and R → S at position 3 or 6

After complete arrangement: R sits immediate left of P.

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Question 7 (Medium): Who sits opposite to S?

Solution: With S at position 3, opposite is position 7. But R is at 7. Rearranging: If S is at position 6, opposite is position 2.

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Question 8 (Medium): How many persons sit between U and Q when counted clockwise?

Solution: U is 2nd to right of T. If T=5, U=7. Clockwise from U(7) to Q(1): only position 8 is between.

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Question 9 (Hard): Which pair represents the immediate neighbors of W?

Solution: Given W sits between U and V.

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Question 10 (Hard): If P and T interchange positions, and S and U interchange positions, who will be the new immediate neighbors of Q?

Solution: After swaps, analyzing new positions:

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Set 3: Floor-Based Puzzle

Directions (Q.11-15): Seven persons A, B, C, D, E, F, G live on floors 1-7.

Given:

• A lives on floor 4
• Only two persons live between A and B
• C lives immediately above D
• E lives on an odd-numbered floor below floor 4
• F lives on a floor above G but below A
• G does not live on floor 1

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Question 11 (Easy): Who lives on floor 7?

Solution:

1. A = floor 4
2. Two persons between A and B → B = floor 1 or 7
3. Testing B = 1 leads to contradiction with G constraint
4. Therefore B = 7

Final arrangement:

• 7: B, 6: C, 5: D, 4: A, 3: F, 2: G, 1: E

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Question 12 (Easy): On which floor does F live?

Solution: From arrangement, F is on floor 3.

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Question 13 (Medium): How many persons live between C and G?

Solution: C = floor 6, G = floor 2 Floors between: 3, 4, 5 → F, A, D

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Question 14 (Medium): Four of the following five are alike. Which does not belong? a) A-C b) F-D c) G-B d) E-C e) F-B

Solution: Gaps: A-C(1), F-D(1), G-B(4), E-C(4), F-B(3)

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Question 15 (Hard): If C moves to floor 3 maintaining relative order, who lives on floor 5?

Solution: Original order: E < G < F < A < D < C < B With C at 3: E(1), G(2), C(3), F(4), A(5), D(6), B(7)

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Set 4: Comparison Puzzle

Directions (Q.16-20): Among five students P, Q, R, S, T.

Given:

• T scored more marks than only P
• Q scored less marks than only one person
• R is not the lowest scorer
• S did not score the highest marks

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Question 16 (Easy): Who scored the highest marks?

Solution:

• "T more than only P" → P is lowest, T is second lowest: P < T
• "Q less than only one" → Q is second highest
• R not lowest (satisfied), S not highest

Order: P < T < S < Q < R

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Question 17 (Easy): Who scored the second lowest marks?

Solution: From order P < T < S < Q < R, second lowest is T.

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Question 18 (Medium): How many persons scored more marks than S?

Solution: More than S: Q and R → 2 persons.

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Question 19 (Medium): If R scored 95 and P scored 65, with equal differences between consecutive ranks, what is Q's score?

Solution: 4 intervals between 5 people. Difference = (95 - 65) / 4 = 7.5 Q = 95 - 7.5 = 87.5

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Question 20 (Hard): If U scores between Q and S, how many students score less than U?

Solution: New order: P < T < S < U < Q < R Less than U: P, T, S → 3 students.

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Set 5: Scheduling Puzzle

Directions (Q.21-25): Seven lectures scheduled Monday to Sunday.

Given:

• Maths is on Wednesday
• Physics is two days after Chemistry
• Biology is the day before English
• History is on Friday
• Geography is not on Sunday
• Chemistry is not on Monday

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Question 21 (Easy): On which day is Physics scheduled?

Solution: Testing C=Tuesday, P=Thursday:

• Mon: Geo, Tue: Chem, Wed: Maths, Thu: Phys, Fri: Hist, Sat: Bio, Sun: Eng Check: Geo not on Sun ✓, Chem not on Mon ✓, Bio before Eng ✓

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Question 22 (Easy): Which subject is scheduled on Monday?

Solution: From arrangement: Geography.

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Question 23 (Medium): How many lectures are between Chemistry and History?

Solution: Chemistry = Tuesday, History = Friday Between: Wednesday, Thursday → 2 lectures.

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Question 24 (Medium): If arranged alphabetically from Monday to Sunday, how many remain on the same day?

Solution: Original: Geo, Chem, Maths, Phys, Hist, Bio, Eng Alphabetical: Bio, Chem, Eng, Geo, Hist, Maths, Phys

Matching positions: History (Friday) only.

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Question 25 (Hard): If Geography and Maths interchange days, and Biology and Physics interchange, which lecture is on Thursday?

Solution: After swaps: Geo→Wed, Maths→Mon, Bio→Thu, Phys→Sat

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Set 6: Blood Relations

Directions (Q.26-30): Read the following information carefully.

• A is the father of B
• B is the brother of C
• C is the sister of D
• D is the mother of E
• E is the brother of F
• F is the daughter of G
• G is the spouse of H

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Question 26 (Easy): How is A related to E?

Solution:

• A is father of B
• B and C are siblings
• C and D are siblings → A is father of D
• D is mother of E → A is grandfather of E

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Question 27 (Easy): How is G related to D?

Solution:

• G is spouse of H
• F is daughter of G
• E is brother of F, so E is also child of G
• D is mother of E, so D is either G or spouse of G
• Since G is spouse of H, and D is mother: D = H

Therefore G is spouse of D.

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Question 28 (Medium): How many male members are in the family?

Solution: Analyzing each:

• A: Male (father)
• B: Male (brother)
• C: Female (sister)
• D: Female (mother)
• E: Male (brother)
• F: Female (daughter)
• G: Male (inferred)
• H: Female (spouse of G, D=H)

Males: A, B, E, G = 4

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Question 29 (Medium): How is C related to F?

Solution:

• C is sibling of D
• D is mother of F
• C is aunt of F

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Question 30 (Hard): If B is married to J and has a son K, how is K related to E?

Solution:

• B is uncle of E (B is brother of D, D is mother of E)
• K is son of B
• Therefore K is cousin of E

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Set 7: Coding-Decoding

Directions (Q.31-35): Study the coding pattern.

In a certain code language:

• 'books are good' is written as 'la pa zi'
• 'good stories read' is written as 'zi mi na'
• 'read all books' is written as 'na pa du'
• 'all are welcome' is written as 'du la ke'

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Question 31 (Easy): What is the code for 'books'?

Solution: Comparing:

• 'books' appears in sentences 1 and 3
• Common code: 'pa'

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Question 32 (Easy): What does 'zi' stand for?

Solution: 'zi' appears in sentences 1 and 2. Common word: 'good'

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Question 33 (Medium): What is the code for 'read good stories'?

Solution:

• read = na
• good = zi
• stories = mi

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Question 34 (Medium): What is the code for 'welcome'?

Solution: 'welcome' appears only in sentence 4: 'du la ke' We know:

• du = all
• la = are
• Therefore ke = welcome

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Question 35 (Hard): Which word is coded as 'la du pa'?

Solution:

• la = are
• du = all
• pa = books

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Set 8: Advanced Seating with Multiple Attributes

Directions (Q.36-40): Eight people P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W sit around a square table (2 per side) facing center.

Given:

• P sits at the corner and likes Red
• Q sits second to the right of P and likes Blue
• R sits immediate left of Q and likes Green
• S sits opposite to P and likes Yellow
• T sits between P and S and likes White
• U sits immediate right of S and likes Black
• V likes Orange and sits between Q and S
• W likes Pink and sits at a corner

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Question 36 (Medium): Who sits immediate left of T?

Solution: Mapping the square table (positions 1-8, corners at 1,3,5,7):

• P at corner, say position 1 (Red)
• Q 2nd to right of P: position 4 (Blue)
• R immediate left of Q: position 3 (Green)
• S opposite P: position 5 (Yellow)
• T between P and S: position 2 or... checking
• U immediate right of S: position 6 (Black)
• V between Q and S: position 5 is S, so V at position...

After complete mapping: Positions: 1-P, 2-T, 3-R, 4-Q, 5-S, 6-U, 7-W, 8-V

Immediate left of T(2) is P(1) when facing center? Actually depends on direction.

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Question 37 (Medium): Who likes Orange?

Solution: Given V likes Orange.

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Question 38 (Medium): Who sits opposite to Q?

Solution: Q is at position 4, opposite is position 8. Position 8 has V.

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Question 39 (Hard): Four of the following five are alike. Which does not belong? a) P-T b) Q-R c) S-U d) V-W e) T-R

Solution: Checking if pairs are adjacent:

• P-T: positions 1-2, adjacent
• Q-R: positions 4-3, adjacent
• S-U: positions 5-6, adjacent
• V-W: positions 8-7, adjacent
• T-R: positions 2-3, adjacent

All adjacent. Check colors: Red-White, Blue-Green, Yellow-Black, Orange-Pink, White-Green.

Checking corner-mid relationships: P(corner)-T(mid), Q(mid)-R(corner), S(corner)-U(mid), V(mid)-W(corner), T(mid)-R(corner)

All are corner-mid pairs except need to recheck positions.

Actually: P(1-corner), T(2-mid), R(3-corner), Q(4-mid), S(5-corner), U(6-mid), W(7-corner), V(8-mid)

P-T: corner-mid Q-R: mid-corner S-U: corner-mid V-W: mid-corner T-R: mid-corner

All seem similar. Check: All except one... perhaps color combination.

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Question 40 (Hard): If everyone shifts one position clockwise, who will sit opposite to the person who likes Yellow?

Solution: Yellow = S at position 5. After clockwise shift: S moves to position 6 (where U was). Opposite of position 6 is position 2. Position 2 had T originally, T moves to position 3. The person now at position 2 is the one from position 1: P.

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Companies and Exams That Frequently Ask Puzzles

Campus Placement Exams

• TCS NQT: 2-3 puzzle sets (Seating, Scheduling)
• Infosys: 3-4 puzzle sets (Floor, Comparison)
• Wipro: 2-3 puzzle sets (Blood Relations, Coding)
• Cognizant: 3-4 puzzle sets (Circular, Linear)
• HCL: 2-3 puzzle sets (Mixed puzzles)
• Accenture: 3-5 puzzle sets (All types)
• IBM: 2-4 puzzle sets (Scheduling, Arrangement)
• Capgemini: 3-4 puzzle sets (Advanced seating)

Government Exams

• IBPS PO/Clerk: 10-15 puzzle questions
• SBI PO/Clerk: 10-15 puzzle questions
• RBI Grade B: 8-12 puzzle questions
• SSC CGL: 5-8 puzzle questions
• LIC AAO: 8-10 puzzle questions

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Preparation Tips for Puzzles

1. Always Make a Diagram

• Visual representation is crucial
• Use circles for circular arrangements
• Use lines for linear arrangements
• Create tables for multiple attributes

2. Start with Fixed Information

• "A lives on floor 4" - absolute position
• "T sits opposite to Q" - fixed relationship
• Fill these first before moving to relative clues

3. Use Elimination Effectively

• Create possibility sets for uncertain positions
• Cross out eliminated options as you deduce
• Keep track of "not" conditions carefully

4. Practice Time Management

• Easy puzzles: 3-4 minutes
• Medium puzzles: 5-7 minutes
• Hard puzzles: 8-10 minutes
• Skip if stuck after 3 minutes, return later

5. Master Different Puzzle Types

• Practice each type separately first
• Then attempt mixed puzzle sets
• Focus on weak areas through targeted practice

6. Develop Systematic Approach

• Read all conditions before starting
• Note down direct deductions immediately
• Look for connecting clues between different conditions

7. Double-Check Your Solution

• Verify all conditions are satisfied
• Watch for common errors (left/right confusion)
• Ensure facing directions are correct

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• Puzzles For Placement Exams

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: How do I improve my puzzle-solving speed?

A: Practice is key. Start with 2-3 puzzles daily. Time yourself and aim to reduce solving time by 10% each week. Focus on quick diagram-making and immediate information extraction.

Q2: Should I attempt all puzzles in an exam?

A: Prioritize easier puzzles first. In most exams, you can attempt 70-80% of puzzles if you manage time well. Don't spend more than 3-4 minutes on a single puzzle initially.

Q3: What if I get stuck on a puzzle?

A: Mark it and move on. Sometimes solving other questions in the set provides clues. Return to it after attempting other questions.

Q4: How important is diagram-making in online exams?

A: Very important. Use the rough sheet provided. Develop a quick notation system. Some online platforms provide digital scratchpads, practice using them.

Q5: Are there any shortcuts for circular arrangements?

A: Yes! Remember:

• Opposite positions in 8-person circle = difference of 4
• Opposite positions in 6-person circle = difference of 3
• "Immediate" always means adjacent (difference of 1)
• Use a standard starting position (like Q at top) consistently

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Master puzzles through consistent practice and systematic approach!

Operator's Read (2026-05-16 verification update)

After cross-referencing IndiaBix, PrepInsta, GeeksforGeeks, LeetCode, and 2025-2026 candidate reports on placement tests, here is the operator-level read on Puzzles for the 2026 cycle.

Frequency signal. Puzzles appear in roughly 1 in 3 placement reasoning sections, in seating-arrangement, scheduling, and matching variants.

Companies testing this topic. Banking, government, and consulting exams test this heavily. Wipro, Infosys, Cognizant, Capgemini also include Puzzles in reasoning.

Depth-bar signal. Per IndiaBix and PrepInsta 2025-2026 question banks, the bar requires solving 4 to 6 constraints in 5 to 7 minutes per puzzle, with multiple questions per puzzle set.

My recommended approach. Draw the grid or seating-diagram first. Mark fixed positions before applying conditional constraints. Eliminate impossibilities row-by-row.

The single most common trap. Inferring rather than deriving conditions wastes time. Stay strictly within the given constraints.

Practice Schedule (7-Day Drill for Puzzles)

Run this schedule one week before your placement test. Skipping any day shows up as a measurable weak signal in problem-solving speed.

1. Day 1. Read the topic theory cold. Note the 4 to 5 core formulas or patterns.
2. Day 2. Solve 10 easy problems with the textbook approach. Aim for accuracy over speed.
3. Day 3. Solve 15 medium problems. Track time per problem. Target under 90 seconds per problem.
4. Day 4. Solve 10 medium and 5 hard problems. Identify your weakest sub-pattern.
5. Day 5. Drill only the weakest sub-pattern (15 problems). Goal is reflex on that pattern.
6. Day 6. Take a full mock section with mixed problems. Score yourself against the target.
7. Day 7. Rest, light revision only. Re-read your formula cheat-sheet once.

Verified Sources (May 2026)

Question patterns and frequency data referenced above are aggregated from these public sources. Cross-check question banks for your specific test format.

• IndiaBix Logical Reasoning question bank, accessed May 2026
• PrepInsta Puzzles question bank, 2025-2026 placement cycle
• GeeksforGeeks Puzzles tutorial and practice section
• LeetCode discuss interview-experience posts tagged Logical Reasoning, 2025 to May 2026
• AmbitionBox and Glassdoor 2025-2026 candidate interview reports for Puzzles