Puzzle is an important part of the Reasoning section, and among puzzles, the floor-based puzzle is a common topic that is frequently asked in all government examinations. Floor-based puzzles can start at a very basic level but can also become quite difficult. Be it the Prelims or Phase 1 of the exam, or the Mains/Phase 2, one to two questions from floor-based puzzles are highly expected.
This type of question helps you work under pressure without getting overwhelmed by the situation. These questions also test your patience, attention to smaller details, and ability to stay focused. In this blog, we will provide formulas, short tricks, and tips to solve floor-based puzzles quickly and efficiently.
What Is Floor Based Puzzle in Reasoning?
A Floor Based Puzzle is a type of logical reasoning question where you must determine the correct position of individuals or items based on a set of clues, typically involving multiple floors in a building.
These puzzles test your ability to interpret and logically arrange information. Each person is placed on a different floor, and your task is to identify the floor number assigned to each person, often based on constraints like height, color, profession, etc.
Why is it asked in exams?
It evaluates logical deduction, sequencing, and elimination skills under time constraints, which are essential for decision-making in real-world job scenarios.
Skills required:
- Logical sequencing
- Visual arrangement
- Deductive reasoning
- Patience and attention to detail
Why Are Floor-Based Puzzle Questions Important for the Exam?
Floor-based puzzles are important for all exams, as in every phase of all types of examinations be it Banking or SSC 2 to 4 questions are highly expected. If you are able to solve the puzzle itself, all the related questions can be answered very easily.
The number of questions asked in various exams is as follows:
| Exam | No. of Questions | Difficulty |
| SSC CGL / CHSL | 1-2 | Easy |
| IBPS PO / SBI PO | 3-4 | Moderate |
| RRB NTPC / Group D | 1 | Easy |
| State PSC / Police | 1–2 | Moderate |
Floor puzzles appear consistently across reasoning sections due to their compact format and problem-solving challenge.
Terms Used in Floor Based Puzzle Questions
Various different types of terms are used in floor-based puzzles. The details of the terms provided in the questions are as follows:
| Concept | Meaning |
| Top Floor | The highest-numbered floor (e.g., 8 in an 8-floor building) |
| Bottom Floor | The lowest-numbered floor (e.g., 1 in an 8-floor building) |
| Immediate Above/Below | Directly one floor above/below the reference person |
| Not Adjacent | There should be at least one floor gap between two persons |
| Same Floor | Implies horizontal arrangements (if mentioned); rare in vertical puzzles |
| Clue Chain | Series of interlinked conditions leading to positioning |
Tips to Solve Floor Based Puzzle
While solving floor-based puzzles, aspirants must focus on the following terms, as these terms help in solving the questions easily and can be considered hidden answers within the questions. The details of the terms that candidates can used to solve the questions are as follows:
| Concept | Explanation |
| Top vs Bottom Logic | Know whether floor 1 is bottom or top in the given question |
| Direct Clues | Clues giving absolute placement (e.g., A lives on top floor) |
| Relative Clues | Clues like “B lives two floors above C” |
| Gap-Based Clues | Clues specifying number of floors between two people |
| Elimination Technique | Use tables/grids to rule out invalid placements |
| Anchor Person | Person with fixed placement—start solving from here |
What Are the Types of Floor Based Puzzle Questions in Reasoning?
Floor-based puzzles can be of various types. The details of the different types of questions asked in the exam are as follows:
- Direct – Based only on absolute clues, e.g., “A lives on the 4th floor.”
- Puzzle-based – Full logic puzzle with conditions and multiple entities.
- Coded (symbol-based) – Uses symbols to indicate relationships (asked in mains level).
- Mixed-concept reasoning – Combines with blood relations or professions.
Floor Based Puzzle Formulas for Reasoning
These aren’t numerical formulas but logical templates that are useful while solving floor-based puzzle questions. The details of the floor-based puzzles are as follows:
- Relative Position Formula:
If A is two floors above B, and B is on 4 → A is on 6 - Gap Rule:
If A and B have one person between them, then |FloorA – FloorB| = 2 - Anchor Rule:
Start solving from any person whose floor is fixed or deduced early
Floor Based Puzzle Tricks for SSC CGL and Other Exams
While solving floor-based questions, candidates must follow the tricks mentioned below to start solving the puzzle and proceed to solve the related questions. The details of the tricks to be followed are as follows:
- Draw a floor-wise vertical table from top to bottom.
- Mark fixed clues first (e.g., “X lives on 8th floor”).
- Use relative clues second mark potential positions.
- Check constraints like “not adjacent” carefully.
- Reverse-map indirect relations if stuck.
- Eliminate logically impossible placements.
- Use abbreviations for names to avoid clutter in tables.
- Cross-check your placements before final answer.
Solved Floor Based Puzzle Questions from 2024–25 Exams
Some of the solved questions that were previously asked in the exam area as follows:
Question 1: Asked in SSC CGL 2024 Tier 1 – Memory-Based
Q: Eight persons A to H live on eight different floors of a building. A lives on the 3rd floor. C lives immediately above D. Only one person lives between B and G. F lives on the top floor. Who lives on the floor just below F?
Answer: H
Explanation:
- Floor 8: F
- Floor 7: H
- Chain clues filled accordingly using logic and elimination.
Question 2: From IBPS PO Prelims 2024 – Memory-Based
Q: Six people live in a 6-floor building. T lives above U. Only two persons live between V and W. X lives on floor 2. No one lives above T.
Answer: T lives on floor 6
Explanation: T is at the top, and then using gaps and relative clues, other placements deduced step-by-step.
Floor Based Puzzle Concepts for Bank Exams
Banking exams like IBPS PO and SBI PO often mix floor puzzles with professions, colors, or preferences. You may need to match people to both a floor and an attribute.
Example:
“P lives above the one who likes Red. The one who likes Green lives on floor 1.”
Such puzzles need dual tables one for floor and one for matching traits. This makes them moderately difficult but manageable with systematic solving.
Common Mistakes to Avoid Solving Floor based Puzzle Reasoning Questions
While solving floor-based puzzle reasoning questions candidates must keep the below mentioned details in mind:
- Top-to-Bottom Confusion – Misinterpreting whether floor 1 is at the top or bottom; always read the question instructions carefully.
- Incorrect Gap Interpretation – “Two floors above” means a gap of two floor, not immediate adjacency.
- No Vertical Diagram – Solving without drawing floors leads to confusion; always use a floor-wise visual layout.
- Ignoring Keywords – Words like “not adjacent,” “only,” or “immediately” are often skipped, causing misplacements.
- Starting with Weak Clues – Jumping into relative clues first; instead, begin with fixed placements for clarity.
- Skipping Final Verification – Not checking all clues after solving can leave unnoticed errors in the arrangement.
- Assuming Without Logic – Guessing positions too early without clear deduction can lead to dead ends or rework.
What Are Related Topics I Should Revise Next?
Topics you should revise next are as follows:
- Questions based on Direction Sense
- Rules and Practice Questions of Coding-Decoding
- Shortcuts and Patterns of Syllogism
- Various types of Blood Relations Questions
- Tricks & Examples of Seating Arrangement
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Use grid diagrams, start with fixed clues, and eliminate placements logically.
Yes, usually in moderate to difficult puzzle sets, often combined with categories.
Yes. Use logic-based templates like:
Gap Rule: “Two persons between A and B” → |FloorA – FloorB| = 3
Anchor Rule: Start solving from the person whose floor is clearly fixed.
Rare variant where floors or relationships are represented by symbols.
Avoid assumptions without clues. If multiple possibilities exist, work with both but label them clearly. Always cross-check with all conditions after placement.
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