Reasoning: Tips, Patterns, and Examples

Reasoning tasks compare two subjects using traits such as tall/short, strong/weak, or fast/slow. Mastering the language pattern and negations is key to answering quickly.

Core Pattern

The statement often follows: A is (not) [trait-er] than B. The question then asks who is more or less of the trait. Watch for negation and whether the question inverts the comparator.

Negation

When the statement includes not, flip the implied order before answering. For example, “A is not taller than B” implies B ≥ A in height.

Examples

Statement: Tom is not stronger than Bill
Question: Who is stronger?
Answer: Bill

Statement: Jane is faster than Mary
Question: Who is slower?
Answer: Mary

Practice Flow

• Identify trait and polarity (more/less).
• Apply or remove negation first.
• Answer the question’s comparator (may invert).