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.
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 |
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 |
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 |
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