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Order and ranking questions with answers

Order and ranking questions give you a set of people, a mix of comparative clues, and ask for exact positions. They look like the easiest family on the paper and produce more careless errors than any other, because 'A is above B' and 'A is immediately above B' differ by one word and by the entire answer. Every ordering below is verified to be the only one the clues admit.

Download the PDF — 12 questions with answers

Free, ungated, no email. This is the order and ranking questions with answers PDF — the same 12 questions as below, with every worked solution at the back, ready to print.

How to use this set

The 12 questions below are ordered the way an exam block is rather than easiest-first: two gentle openers, then a run of medium, and a hard one every sixth question — 2 of the 12 sit in the hard band. Every question is a order & ranking.

Work each question on paper before you open its solution. The walkthrough is the solver's own elimination order, step for step, so reading it first turns a practice set into a reading exercise and teaches nothing. If you are stuck on the method rather than on one question, the method guide is a better place to start than the next question: Order and ranking: strict versus loose clues.

12 order and ranking questions with answers

Every question below was generated by the same engine that mints the Deduce daily puzzle round, and machine-checked before it reached this page — a puzzle only ships once the solver has confirmed exactly one valid arrangement exists, so a clue set admitting two answers, or none, cannot reach you. The walkthrough is the engine's own.

Question 1

4 people are ranked in one order, from first to 4th, with no ties.

  1. Neha is 4th from the top.
  2. Arjun is ranked immediately above Nikhil.
  3. Arjun is 4th from the bottom.
  4. Tanvi is ranked higher than Neha.

Can you work out each person's exact position?

Show the worked solution
  1. Start: 24 possible rankings of 4 people.
  2. Clue 1 — "Neha is 4th from the top." ⇒ Neha → rank 4 (bottom) (6 possibilities left). Board (rank 1 → 4): _ · _ · _ · Neha
  3. Clue 3 — "Arjun is 4th from the bottom." ⇒ Arjun → rank 1 (top) (2 possibilities left). Board (rank 1 → 4): Arjun · _ · _ · Neha
  4. Clue 2 — "Arjun is ranked immediately above Nikhil." ⇒ Nikhil → rank 2 (2nd from top), Tanvi → rank 3 (3rd from top) (1 possibility left). Board (rank 1 → 4): Arjun · Nikhil · Tanvi · Neha
  5. Exactly one ranking survives every clue — that is the answer.

Question 2

4 people are ranked in one order, from first to 4th, with no ties.

  1. Exactly 1 person is ranked between Karan and Sanjay.
  2. Karan is 2nd from the top.
  3. Kiran is 3rd from the top.
  4. Imran is ranked higher than Karan.

Can you work out each person's exact position?

Show the worked solution
  1. Start: 24 possible rankings of 4 people.
  2. Clue 2 — "Karan is 2nd from the top." ⇒ Karan → rank 2 (2nd from top) (6 possibilities left). Board (rank 1 → 4): _ · Karan · _ · _
  3. Clue 3 — "Kiran is 3rd from the top." ⇒ Kiran → rank 3 (3rd from top) (2 possibilities left). Board (rank 1 → 4): _ · Karan · Kiran · _
  4. Clue 1 — "Exactly 1 person is ranked between Karan and Sanjay." ⇒ Sanjay → rank 4 (bottom), Imran → rank 1 (top) (1 possibility left). Board (rank 1 → 4): Imran · Karan · Kiran · Sanjay
  5. Exactly one ranking survives every clue — that is the answer.

Question 3

5 people are ranked in one order, from first to 5th, with no ties.

  1. Anjali is 5th from the top.
  2. Varun is ranked higher than Rohan.
  3. Jaya is 4th from the top.
  4. Exactly 2 people are ranked between Zoya and Jaya.

Can you work out each person's exact position?

Show the worked solution
  1. Start: 120 possible rankings of 5 people.
  2. Clue 1 — "Anjali is 5th from the top." ⇒ Anjali → rank 5 (bottom) (24 possibilities left). Board (rank 1 → 5): _ · _ · _ · _ · Anjali
  3. Clue 3 — "Jaya is 4th from the top." ⇒ Jaya → rank 4 (4th from top) (6 possibilities left). Board (rank 1 → 5): _ · _ · _ · Jaya · Anjali
  4. Clue 4 — "Exactly 2 people are ranked between Zoya and Jaya." ⇒ Zoya → rank 1 (top) (2 possibilities left). Board (rank 1 → 5): Zoya · _ · _ · Jaya · Anjali
  5. Clue 2 — "Varun is ranked higher than Rohan." ⇒ Varun → rank 2 (2nd from top), Rohan → rank 3 (3rd from top) (1 possibility left). Board (rank 1 → 5): Zoya · Varun · Rohan · Jaya · Anjali
  6. Exactly one ranking survives every clue — that is the answer.

Question 4

5 people are ranked in one order, from first to 5th, with no ties.

  1. Neha is ranked higher than Gauri.
  2. Arjun is ranked higher than Harsh.
  3. Exactly 1 person is ranked between Gauri and Neha.
  4. Harsh is ranked immediately below Bhavna.

Can you work out each person's exact position?

Show the worked solution
  1. Start: 120 possible rankings of 5 people.
  2. Clue 4 — "Harsh is ranked immediately below Bhavna." narrows it to 24 possibilities. Board (rank 1 → 5): _ · _ · _ · _ · _
  3. Clue 3 — "Exactly 1 person is ranked between Gauri and Neha." narrows it to 4 possibilities. Board (rank 1 → 5): _ · _ · _ · _ · _
  4. Clue 1 — "Neha is ranked higher than Gauri." narrows it to 2 possibilities. Board (rank 1 → 5): _ · _ · _ · _ · _
  5. Clue 2 — "Arjun is ranked higher than Harsh." ⇒ Gauri → rank 3 (3rd from top), Arjun → rank 2 (2nd from top), Neha → rank 1 (top), Bhavna → rank 4 (4th from top), Harsh → rank 5 (bottom) (1 possibility left). Board (rank 1 → 5): Neha · Arjun · Gauri · Bhavna · Harsh
  6. Exactly one ranking survives every clue — that is the answer.

Question 5

5 people are ranked in one order, from first to 5th, with no ties.

  1. Manish is 5th from the top.
  2. Zoya is ranked lower than Farhan.
  3. Zoya is ranked immediately above Uma.
  4. Exactly 1 person is ranked between Geeta and Uma.

Can you work out each person's exact position?

Show the worked solution
  1. Start: 120 possible rankings of 5 people.
  2. Clue 1 — "Manish is 5th from the top." ⇒ Manish → rank 5 (bottom) (24 possibilities left). Board (rank 1 → 5): _ · _ · _ · _ · Manish
  3. Clue 3 — "Zoya is ranked immediately above Uma." narrows it to 6 possibilities. Board (rank 1 → 5): _ · _ · _ · _ · Manish
  4. Clue 4 — "Exactly 1 person is ranked between Geeta and Uma." narrows it to 3 possibilities. Board (rank 1 → 5): _ · _ · _ · _ · Manish
  5. Clue 2 — "Zoya is ranked lower than Farhan." ⇒ Geeta → rank 2 (2nd from top), Uma → rank 4 (4th from top), Zoya → rank 3 (3rd from top), Farhan → rank 1 (top) (1 possibility left). Board (rank 1 → 5): Farhan · Geeta · Zoya · Uma · Manish
  6. Exactly one ranking survives every clue — that is the answer.

Question 6

6 people are ranked in one order, from first to 6th, with no ties.

  1. Esha and Meera are NOT ranked next to each other.
  2. Meera is ranked higher than Esha.
  3. Exactly 1 person is ranked between Karan and Lata.
  4. Exactly 3 people are ranked between Esha and Karan.
  5. Exactly 2 people are ranked between Esha and Gauri.
  6. Gauri is ranked higher than Arjun.

Can you work out each person's exact position?

Show the worked solution
  1. Start: 720 possible rankings of 6 people.
  2. Clue 3 — "Exactly 1 person is ranked between Karan and Lata." narrows it to 192 possibilities. Board (rank 1 → 6): _ · _ · _ · _ · _ · _
  3. Clue 4 — "Exactly 3 people are ranked between Esha and Karan." narrows it to 24 possibilities. Board (rank 1 → 6): _ · _ · _ · _ · _ · _
  4. Clue 5 — "Exactly 2 people are ranked between Esha and Gauri." narrows it to 8 possibilities. Board (rank 1 → 6): _ · _ · _ · _ · _ · _
  5. Clue 2 — "Meera is ranked higher than Esha." narrows it to 4 possibilities. Board (rank 1 → 6): _ · _ · _ · _ · _ · _
  6. Clue 6 — "Gauri is ranked higher than Arjun." narrows it to 2 possibilities. Board (rank 1 → 6): _ · _ · _ · _ · _ · _
  7. Clue 1 — "Esha and Meera are NOT ranked next to each other." ⇒ Esha → rank 6 (bottom), Meera → rank 1 (top), Arjun → rank 5 (5th from top), Karan → rank 2 (2nd from top), Lata → rank 4 (4th from top), Gauri → rank 3 (3rd from top) (1 possibility left). Board (rank 1 → 6): Meera · Karan · Gauri · Lata · Arjun · Esha
  8. Exactly one ranking survives every clue — that is the answer.

Question 7

4 people are ranked in one order, from first to 4th, with no ties.

  1. Lata is ranked immediately above Uma.
  2. Imran is ranked immediately above Lata.
  3. Uma is ranked higher than Rohan.

Can you work out each person's exact position?

Show the worked solution
  1. Start: 24 possible rankings of 4 people.
  2. Clue 1 — "Lata is ranked immediately above Uma." narrows it to 6 possibilities. Board (rank 1 → 4): _ · _ · _ · _
  3. Clue 2 — "Imran is ranked immediately above Lata." narrows it to 2 possibilities. Board (rank 1 → 4): _ · _ · _ · _
  4. Clue 3 — "Uma is ranked higher than Rohan." ⇒ Uma → rank 3 (3rd from top), Lata → rank 2 (2nd from top), Imran → rank 1 (top), Rohan → rank 4 (bottom) (1 possibility left). Board (rank 1 → 4): Imran · Lata · Uma · Rohan
  5. Exactly one ranking survives every clue — that is the answer.

Question 8

4 people are ranked in one order, from first to 4th, with no ties.

  1. Farhan is ranked higher than Sneha.
  2. Omkar is ranked LAST (lowest).
  3. Omkar is ranked immediately below Zoya.

Can you work out each person's exact position?

Show the worked solution
  1. Start: 24 possible rankings of 4 people.
  2. Clue 2 — "Omkar is ranked LAST (lowest)." ⇒ Omkar → rank 4 (bottom) (6 possibilities left). Board (rank 1 → 4): _ · _ · _ · Omkar
  3. Clue 3 — "Omkar is ranked immediately below Zoya." ⇒ Zoya → rank 3 (3rd from top) (2 possibilities left). Board (rank 1 → 4): _ · _ · Zoya · Omkar
  4. Clue 1 — "Farhan is ranked higher than Sneha." ⇒ Sneha → rank 2 (2nd from top), Farhan → rank 1 (top) (1 possibility left). Board (rank 1 → 4): Farhan · Sneha · Zoya · Omkar
  5. Exactly one ranking survives every clue — that is the answer.

Question 9

5 people are ranked in one order, from first to 5th, with no ties.

  1. Yash is 4th from the bottom.
  2. Neha is ranked higher than Karan.
  3. Lata is ranked higher than Tarun.
  4. Lata is 2nd from the bottom.

Can you work out each person's exact position?

Show the worked solution
  1. Start: 120 possible rankings of 5 people.
  2. Clue 1 — "Yash is 4th from the bottom." ⇒ Yash → rank 2 (2nd from top) (24 possibilities left). Board (rank 1 → 5): _ · Yash · _ · _ · _
  3. Clue 4 — "Lata is 2nd from the bottom." ⇒ Lata → rank 4 (4th from top) (6 possibilities left). Board (rank 1 → 5): _ · Yash · _ · Lata · _
  4. Clue 2 — "Neha is ranked higher than Karan." narrows it to 3 possibilities. Board (rank 1 → 5): _ · Yash · _ · Lata · _
  5. Clue 3 — "Lata is ranked higher than Tarun." ⇒ Neha → rank 1 (top), Tarun → rank 5 (bottom), Karan → rank 3 (3rd from top) (1 possibility left). Board (rank 1 → 5): Neha · Yash · Karan · Lata · Tarun
  6. Exactly one ranking survives every clue — that is the answer.

Question 10

5 people are ranked in one order, from first to 5th, with no ties.

  1. Anjali is ranked immediately above Nikhil.
  2. Aditi is 2nd from the top.
  3. Zoya is ranked immediately below Nikhil.
  4. Divya is ranked higher than Aditi.

Can you work out each person's exact position?

Show the worked solution
  1. Start: 120 possible rankings of 5 people.
  2. Clue 2 — "Aditi is 2nd from the top." ⇒ Aditi → rank 2 (2nd from top) (24 possibilities left). Board (rank 1 → 5): _ · Aditi · _ · _ · _
  3. Clue 1 — "Anjali is ranked immediately above Nikhil." narrows it to 4 possibilities. Board (rank 1 → 5): _ · Aditi · _ · _ · _
  4. Clue 3 — "Zoya is ranked immediately below Nikhil." ⇒ Divya → rank 1 (top), Zoya → rank 5 (bottom), Anjali → rank 3 (3rd from top), Nikhil → rank 4 (4th from top) (1 possibility left). Board (rank 1 → 5): Divya · Aditi · Anjali · Nikhil · Zoya
  5. Exactly one ranking survives every clue — that is the answer.

Question 11

5 people are ranked in one order, from first to 5th, with no ties.

  1. Karan is 2nd from the top.
  2. Esha is ranked higher than Rohan.
  3. Exactly 1 person is ranked between Rohan and Karan.
  4. Karan is ranked lower than Omkar.
  5. Omkar is ranked higher than Farhan.

Can you work out each person's exact position?

Show the worked solution
  1. Start: 120 possible rankings of 5 people.
  2. Clue 1 — "Karan is 2nd from the top." ⇒ Karan → rank 2 (2nd from top) (24 possibilities left). Board (rank 1 → 5): _ · Karan · _ · _ · _
  3. Clue 3 — "Exactly 1 person is ranked between Rohan and Karan." ⇒ Rohan → rank 4 (4th from top) (6 possibilities left). Board (rank 1 → 5): _ · Karan · _ · Rohan · _
  4. Clue 2 — "Esha is ranked higher than Rohan." narrows it to 4 possibilities. Board (rank 1 → 5): _ · Karan · _ · Rohan · _
  5. Clue 4 — "Karan is ranked lower than Omkar." ⇒ Farhan → rank 5 (bottom), Omkar → rank 1 (top), Esha → rank 3 (3rd from top) (1 possibility left). Board (rank 1 → 5): Omkar · Karan · Esha · Rohan · Farhan
  6. Exactly one ranking survives every clue — that is the answer.

Question 12

6 people are ranked in one order, from first to 6th, with no ties.

  1. Deepak and Neha are NOT ranked next to each other.
  2. Kiran is ranked immediately below Divya.
  3. Neha is ranked lower than Sanjay.
  4. Exactly 3 people are ranked between Deepak and Kiran.
  5. Kiran is ranked higher than Sanjay.
  6. Deepak is ranked lower than Omkar.

Can you work out each person's exact position?

Show the worked solution
  1. Start: 720 possible rankings of 6 people.
  2. Clue 2 — "Kiran is ranked immediately below Divya." narrows it to 120 possibilities. Board (rank 1 → 6): _ · _ · _ · _ · _ · _
  3. Clue 4 — "Exactly 3 people are ranked between Deepak and Kiran." narrows it to 18 possibilities. Board (rank 1 → 6): _ · _ · _ · _ · _ · _
  4. Clue 3 — "Neha is ranked lower than Sanjay." narrows it to 9 possibilities. Board (rank 1 → 6): _ · _ · _ · _ · _ · _
  5. Clue 5 — "Kiran is ranked higher than Sanjay." ⇒ Deepak → rank 6 (bottom), Divya → rank 1 (top), Kiran → rank 2 (2nd from top) (3 possibilities left). Board (rank 1 → 6): Divya · Kiran · _ · _ · _ · Deepak
  6. Clue 1 — "Deepak and Neha are NOT ranked next to each other." ⇒ Neha → rank 4 (4th from top), Omkar → rank 5 (5th from top), Sanjay → rank 3 (3rd from top) (1 possibility left). Board (rank 1 → 6): Divya · Kiran · Sanjay · Neha · Omkar · Deepak
  7. Exactly one ranking survives every clue — that is the answer.
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Where these questions come from

Most free practice for this topic is a scanned upload or a blog quiz, and neither can tell you a question has exactly one answer. That is the one thing this set can promise: it is minted, not typed. The engine behind it serves Deduce's daily puzzle round, so the questions here are the same shape as the ones a live round would give you — and there is an unlimited supply of them, which is why this page can be regenerated rather than padded.

If you want the method rather than more questions, Order and ranking: strict versus loose clues covers the approach, the traps and a worked table. This page and that one deliberately answer different questions: that one is how do I solve these, this one is give me order and ranking questions with the answers.

FAQ

What is the difference between rank from the top and from the bottom?

For n people, rank from top plus rank from bottom equals n plus one. The classic trap gives you both ranks and asks for the total, and the plus one is what candidates drop. Write the identity down before substituting; it takes two seconds and removes the error.

How should I handle 'at least' and 'at most' clues?

Convert them into a range of positions immediately and note the range beside the person. 'At least three people are taller than A' means A is fourth or lower. Carrying the phrase in its original wording is what makes it get read as 'exactly three' later on.

Can an order and ranking question have more than one answer?

A well-set one cannot, and every question in this set was checked. The engine counts how many orderings the clues admit and discards anything that is not exactly one — which is a guarantee no scanned practice PDF can make about its own contents.

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