How to Solve Puzzles for IBPS and Other Banking Exams? Check Tips & Tricks

Puzzles are the most interesting and important topics that candidates have ever come across in the banking exams. It is tricky to solve puzzles however it is interesting. Candidates need to have their basics clear to solve different types of puzzles asked in banking exams. Read here how to solve puzzles in IBPS and other banking exams.

How to Solve Puzzles in IBPS and Other Bank Exams?

How to Solve Puzzles for IBPS and Other Banking Exams?: Puzzles are one of the most crucial parts of the Reasoning section in all banking exams including IBPS, SBI and others. In banking exams (both prelims and mains), maximum questions are asked from puzzles. Puzzles are the most interesting and important topics that candidates have ever come across in the banking exams. It is tricky to solve puzzles however candidates can easily solve them if their basics are clear. 

Also Read:
IBPS PO 2023 Admit Card Live

Puzzles are one of the important topics in the Reasoning section. Around 50 per cent to 60 per cent of questions in bankinhg exams are asked from puzzles. Questions on puzzles usually come from Seating Arrangement (Linear, Circular, Rectangular), Floor-based puzzles, Tabular puzzles, etc. Depending on the difficulty level of the puzzle, two to four variables are asked. Combination of Seating Arrangement and Blood Relations based questions are also asked frequently asked in the banking exams. Read this article below to know how to solve puzzles in IBPS and other bank exams. 

How Can I Solve Puzzle Fast in Bank Exam?

The best way to solve puzzles with 100 per cent accuracy is to each possible combination and keep canceling them out as candidates proceed. They should not ignore the important key points while reading the question. Two to three minutes are sufficient to solve easy puzzles. Candidates should not invest more than five minutes for solving moderate-level puzzles. Candidates must solve the difficult puzzles within 8 to 10 minutes. Candidates need to analyse and interpret all the direct statements given in the puzzle. They should jot down all the negative statements given in the puzzle. Write them down on a piece of paper in a simple form such that candidates are not required to look at the given puzzle again and again.

What is the fastest way to solve puzzle test in Reasoning?

Puzzles are the most interesting and important topics that candidates have ever come across in banking exams. The fastest way to solve puzzles are given below:

• Candidates need to clear their basics
• They need to learn the approach to solve puzzles
• Practice daily 20-30 puzzles
• Be careful while choosing the statement with which candidates will start the puzzle and it should be to the point
• Analyse and not down all the direct statements given in the puzzle in a simplified form so as to avoid confusion
• Never assume anything while drawing possibilities to obtain the solution
• The best way to deal with puzzles in bank exams is continuous practice

What comes under puzzles in reasoning?

Types of Puzzles Asked in Banking Exams

In banking exams, the difficulty level of the puzzles depends on the level of the exams. In IBPS Clerk or SBI Clerk, puzzles are relatively easier than what we find in IBPS PO or SBI PO or SBI SO. With that being said, we can categorize puzzles in the following types:

• Circular seating arrangement
• Square seating arrangement
• Triangular seating arrangement
• Linear seating arrangement
• Parallel row seating arrangement
• Sitting arrangement mixed with blood relation
• Floor based puzzles
• Box based puzzles
• Direction based puzzles

These are the common types of puzzles asked in banking exams. However, with changing trends and with an increased level of completion in all banking exams, we can see puzzles in exams that don’t follow any particular pattern. They provide some information and some information is hidden within it, candidates have to use their own logic and calculation to solve such questions. 

How Can I Master Puzzle for Bank PO?

The tips to ace the puzzle questions in Reasoning section are given below:

• Know its importance
• Draw to help visualize
• Learn all the terms
• Read the information carefully
• List out all the possibilities
• Solve previous years' question papers and practice different types of puzzles

Also Read:

• How to prepare for bank exams 2022: Tips by Toppers
• Bank exam preparation tips - Check strategies to crack PO, Clerk & SO exams
• IBPS Clerk 2022 Prelims Analysis All Shifts Live

What is Banking Exam Puzzles?

In all major banking exams such as IBPS PO, IBPS Clerk, IBPS SO, SBI PO, SBI Clerk, SBI SO, candidates would find several questions based on puzzles. Puzzles are nothing but a paragraph containing information for solving the question. There would be several clues and information hidden in the paragraph to find the answers to the puzzles. Basically, candidates have to find the missing link or the missing information with the help of the given information to reach the conclusion.

Also Read:

• IBPS exam: Smart strategy to crack by studying 18 hours a week
• Banking Exams 2022- IBPS, RRB, NABARD, SBI and other banking jobs in India
• What is Probability?

Tips to Solve Puzzles

The tips and tricks to solve different types of puzzles are given below:

Read the Paragraph and Questions at One Go

Before you start solving the puzzles, read the entire puzzle and the questions to understand the type and level of the puzzle. If you feel it is going to take a lot of time or it is beyond your ability, leave the question and proceed to the next one. If you want to attempt it, start reading it from the beginning again.

Start Drawing and Sequencing the Information

Draw the skeleton of the puzzle and put all the available information. Try to give it a basic structure and try with the information to fill the blanks. Another important point to bear in mind while solving puzzles is not to ignore the important key points while reading the question. 

Also Read:

• Upcoming Bank Exams 2022
• 10 best bank exams in India 

Make Assumptions

A very successful way to solve puzzles with accuracy is to make two to three possibilities and keep canceling them out as you proceed. Here candidates can make two or three parallel tables or diagrams and put the information in all possible ways. Once you proceed, you will be able to cancel the possibilities and will reach the final destination.

Be Mindful in Using Indirect Clues

Puzzles are basically designed to map one’s mental and logical ability and how fast someone can reach the conclusion. Hence, candidates must be in a sound mind while solving the puzzles, especially while using indirect clues. A wrong turn will lead in the wrong direction and you will end up losing time without gain.

Solving puzzles at home and during examination are completely different. At home, even tricky puzzles can be solved in no time, while the same puzzle may take a lot of time to be solved during the examination. Along with a lot of practice, keeping your head and mind calm is very important while solving puzzles. At home, one has no fear to run out of time or there won’t be any repercussions for failing to solve the puzzle. Conversely, at exams candidates are under a lot of pressure. Therefore, learning the art of solving puzzles will not be sufficient, candidates must learn to keep their mind calm during the exam if they want to ace this topic.

Bank Exams in India

Find below the list of bank exams in India: