In competitive exams, reasoning ability tests include multiple question types to assess a candidate’s logical and analytical thinking. Among them, Order and Ranking questions are quite common and score-friendly. In this blog, we have provided all the details about the definition and types to short notes, tricks, formulas, and solved questions from 2024–25 exams.
What Is Order and Ranking in Reasoning?
Order and Ranking is a type of reasoning problem where candidates need to determine the position, order, or rank of a person/object based on a given set of conditions.
These questions typically involve:
- Positions in a row (left/right)
- Ranks in a class
- Heights, ages, weights, or scores
- Mixed orderings with constraints
These questions are frequently asked in exams to test your logical deduction, visualization, and position-based reasoning skills.
Why Is Order and Ranking Important in Competitive Exams?
Order and Ranking is one of the easiest and fastest-scoring topics in reasoning. It often requires only 30–40 seconds per question if the concept is clear.
| 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 Exams | 1–2 | Moderate |
Order and Ranking Reasoning Short Notes
To quickly understand and revise the topic, here is a table with important terms and concepts used in Order and Ranking reasoning questions:
| Term | Details |
| Left/Right Position | Relative position from the left or right end |
| Total Number of Persons | Sum of left and right positions minus 1 |
| Position from Top/Bottom | Used in height, age, or score-based ranking |
| Equal Ranks | When two or more people share the same position |
| Facing Direction | Critical in rows: facing North vs South changes direction logic |
Concepts of Order and Ranking
The concepts used in Order and Ranking questions are as follows:
| Concept | Details |
| Total number = (L + R – 1) | Use when both left and right ranks are known |
| From Left = Total – Right + 1 | Convert right rank to left rank |
| From Bottom = Total – Top + 1 | For vertical rankings |
| Equal ranks | Reduce total by (equal count – 1) |
| Facing North | Left-to-right direction is same as given |
| Facing South | Reverse the left-right direction |
What Are the Types of Order and Ranking Questions in Reasoning?
Order and Ranking questions can appear in multiple formats. The major types that are mostly asked in the exam are as follows:
- Direct Ranking – Simple questions asking position from left/right or top/bottom.
- Comparison-based Ranking – Questions involving comparative statements.
- Puzzle-based Ranking – Mixed statements involving ranks, positions, and other attributes.
- Coded/Symbol-based Ranking – In bank exams, these involve symbols and inequalities.
- Mixed Reasoning – Order and Ranking combined with Blood Relations or Direction Sense.
Order and Ranking Formulas for Reasoning
Order and Ranking questions can appear in multiple formats. The major types that are mostly asked in the exam are as follows:
- Total Persons = (Position from Left + Position from Right) – 1
- Position from Other End = Total – Given Position + 1
- Gap between two ranks = (Left Rank of A + Right Rank of B) – Total Persons – 1
- If A is 3rd from top and B is 5th from bottom in class of 20, Position Gap = (3 + 5) – 1 = 7
Order and Ranking Tricks for SSC CGL and Other Exams
Use the following practical strategies while solving these questions:
- Use tabular or line diagrams to represent positions clearly
- Start with definite information and fill gaps later
- For “from left/right” questions, use end conversion logic
- Reverse calculation works best when total number is given
- Eliminate options using odd-even patterns or inequalities
- Don’t ignore keywords like “only”, “at least”, “not more than”
Solved Order and Ranking Questions from 2024–25 Exams
Some of the memory-based questions from recent exams:
Q1. (Asked in SSC CGL 2024 Tier 1)
Ravi is 15th from the left end and 9th from the right end in a row. How many students are there in the row?
Answer: (15 + 9 – 1) = 23 students
Explanation: Use the formula Total = L + R – 1
Q2. (From IBPS PO Prelims 2024 – Memory Based)
In a class of 50 students, Aman is ranked 17th from the top. What is his rank from the bottom?
Answer: 50 – 17 + 1 = 34th from the bottom
Explanation: Position from Bottom = Total – Top + 1
Q3. (Based on RRB NTPC 2025 Mock – Memory Based)
If Ram is taller than Shyam but shorter than Raj, and Shyam is taller than Amit, who is the shortest?
Answer: Amit
Explanation: Use logical ranking: Raj > Ram > Shyam > Amit
Order and Ranking Concepts for Bank Exams
In IBPS, SBI, and insurance exams, the Order and Ranking topic often appears with twists — like coded inequalities or logic trees. Here’s a sample:
Example:
“A @ B” means A is taller than B
“A # B” means A is shorter than B
Statement: P # Q @ R. Who is tallest?
Solution:
Q > P and Q < R → R is the tallest.
Such symbol-based questions are common in Mains-level exams.
Common Mistakes to Avoid while Solving Order and Ranking
While solving Order and Ranking reasoning questions, candidates must keep the below-mentioned details in mind:
- Misinterpreting direction (left/right) – Always check the facing direction.
- Forgetting to subtract 1 in total calculation – Use (L + R – 1), not just L + R.
- Missing indirect clues – Especially in puzzle-based or coded questions.
- Ignoring the end conversion rule – “From right” = Total – “from left” + 1.
- Not verifying with given totals – Always cross-check calculated values with question data.
FAQs
Use diagrams and memorize key formulas like (L + R – 1). Start with fixed positions.
These involve logical symbols like >, <, @, # used in coded formats, especially in bank exams.
Decode the symbols into > or < relationships and create a logic tree.
Start with the most definite clue and eliminate impossible positions step by step.
Forgetting to subtract 1 while calculating the total from both ends.
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