Which reasoning topic should I study first for IBPS PO?

Start with seating arrangement and floor puzzles — they carry 15-20 marks out of 35 and build the core deduction skill every other reasoning topic depends on. After puzzles, move to syllogism (certainty) and inequality (speed), then coding-decoding and blood relations.

How many hours per day for reasoning prep?

30-45 minutes daily: 15 minutes for one timed puzzle (Deduce), 10 minutes for review, 10-20 minutes for one other topic. On mock-test days, skip the topic work and focus on full-section practice.

Should I do puzzles daily or in batches?

Daily. Reasoning is a skill that deteriorates without regular practice. One timed puzzle every day maintains your deduction speed. Batch practice (solving 5-10 puzzles in one sitting) is useful on weekends but cannot replace the daily habit.

How to Order Your Reasoning Prep for IBPS PO

Most aspirants jump between topics randomly — one day puzzles, next day syllogism, then back to puzzles. This scattered approach wastes time. Here is the optimal order, grounded in exam weight and skill dependency.

Phase 1: Foundation (Weeks 1-2)

Seating arrangement and floor puzzles first. They account for the highest weight (15-20 marks out of 35) and build the core skill — systematic deduction under constraints — that every other reasoning topic depends on.

Topic	Marks	Daily time
Linear seating + circular seating	10-15	15 min (1 puzzle)
Floor arrangement	5-8	Alternate days
Double-row seating	5	Weekend practice

Phase 2: Certainty Builders (Weeks 3-4)

Once you can solve puzzles in 3 minutes, add syllogism and inequality. These are faster topics — 30-60 seconds per question — and build confidence for the easier half of the reasoning section.

Topic	Marks	Typical time
Syllogism (3-statement)	5	45s per Q
Coded inequality	5	30s per Q
Direction sense	3	Weekend only

Phase 3: Pattern Topics (Weeks 5-6)

Coding-decoding, blood relations, and data sufficiency complete your reasoning coverage. These appear consistently in prelims and mains.

Topic	Marks	Priority
Coding-decoding	5	High — appears in every exam
Blood relations	3-5	Medium — quick to learn
Data sufficiency	5	Medium — logic-heavy
Number/letter series	3-5	Low — pattern recognition

The Daily Habit That Ties It Together

Your daily 30-minute reasoning slot: 15 minutes on Deduce's timed puzzle (tracks your speed and accuracy), 10 minutes reviewing the solution walkthrough, 5-10 minutes on the current phase's topic. On weekends, add one full-length reasoning section from a mock.

Also see: Speed Tips · Puzzle Questions by Exam · Data Sufficiency Tips