Most Asked Logical Reasoning Interview Questions and Answers in 2024

Logical Reasoning: An Overview

Logical reasoning refers to questions and puzzles requiring significant critical thinking and reasoning skills. Hiring managers ask logical interview questions to assess candidates’ problem-solving and analytical skills. These questions include assumption-based problems, riddles, paradoxes, numerical problems, syllogisms and analogies.

Why Are Aptitude Tests and Logical Reasoning Important?

For hiring managers, aptitude tests and logical reasoning interview questions spell the difference between meritorious students and well-rounded candidates.

Logical thinking interview questions often don’t have a single correct answer. Hiring managers evaluate how the candidates deduce solutions to aptitude tests and justify their answers. How candidates approach problems displays their critical thinking skills and capacity to deal with problems under pressure.

How To Prepare for Logical Thinking Interview Questions

Do your Research

Look up interview questions online, and search for books and websites with questions, answers and tips for logical interview questions. Familiarise yourself with the different types of logical reasoning questions and the methods to solve them.

You may also search the web for aptitude tests and logical reasoning exams by companies you have applied to. Identify the common questions they ask in interviews and tailor your study plan accordingly.

Set up a study schedule

Instead of randomly cramming logical reasoning questions, schedule practice sessions for different question types on different days. It will ensure a balanced and hassle-free preparation. 

Practice, practice, practice

Dedicated practice is the key to cracking logical aptitude questions in interviews. Solve questions from question banks and online resources, or get a friend to ask you questions at random. Practice answering various questions, and tally them with the answer key once you are done.

Set up mock interviews or mock tests

Ask a friend or colleague to set a mock test paper for you to solve in a specified time. You can also set up mock interviews with your friends, who will ask you logical reasoning questions in an interview format.

Have a problem-solver mindset

When answering logical reasoning questions, think less about getting to the right answer and focus on breaking down and analysing the question. Having a problem-solver mindset will help you avoid falling for trick questions and choosing the most appropriate answer for the given question.

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Beginner-Level Logical Interview Questions for Freshers

Here are some easy, logical questions for interview with answers.

1. Find the next two consecutive elements in the series AEB, BEA, BEC, CEB ____, ____.

Answer: CED, DEC

The middle letter E remains constant throughout the series, so we should focus on each element’s first and third letters. The series consists of each element’s first and third letters paired alphabetically, with the letters reversed for every alternate element. 

For example, A is paired with B in the first element (AEB), with both letters exchanging places in the second element (BEA). In the third element, B and C are paired up (BEC), and their positions are reversed in the fourth element (CEB). Thus, the fifth element will pair C and D (CED), and the sixth element will be its reverse (DEC).

2. Complete the series – 2, 3, 8, ___, 112.

Answer: 27.

 The pattern is (No. in nth position) x n + n.

 For example, 2 is in the first position.

3. Which of the following is the odd one out?

A. Monitor
B. Keyboard
C. Mouse
D. Computer

Answer: Option D.

The remaining options are parts of a computer.

4. Five brothers, Rahul, Rakesh, Rajan, Rupam and Ratul, are all busy in a room on a winter afternoon. Rahul is reading, Rakesh is playing chess, Rupam is folding clothes, and Rajan is painting. What is Ratul doing?

Answer: Ratul is playing chess.

Chess is a two-player game. Since Rakesh cannot play chess alone, Ratul must be playing with him too.

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Intermediate-Level Logical Reasoning Interview Questions

The following logical thinking interview questions are of medium difficulty and may be asked of candidates with moderate work experience.

1. If,

1 1 1 1 = R,
2 2 2 2 = T,
3 3 3 3 = E,
What is 4 4 4 4 =?

Answer: N

2. Add the numbers in each row and write their sum in words. The last letter of the sum written in words is the answer.

For example,

1 + 1 + 1 + 1 = FOUR
2+2+2+2 = EIGHT
3+3+3+3 = TWELVE

Following this logic, 4+4+4+4 = SIXTEEN

Thus, the answer is N.

3. In the series 36, 34, 30, 28, 24,… which of the following comes next?

A. 22
B. 20
C. 23
D. 19

Answer: Option A

4. It is an alternating subtraction series. 2 and 4 are alternately subtracted from each element as we go down the series.

Following this logic, 

36 – 2 = 34;
34 – 4 = 30;
30 – 2 = 28;
28 – 4 = 24; and finally,
24 – 2 = 22, which is Option A.

5. EYE is to LIGHT as TONGUE is to..?

A. HEAT
B. NOISE
C. SALTINESS
D. PAIN

Answer: Option C.

The analogy shows sensory cells perceiving a sensation specific to a particular organ. The EYE specialised in perceiving LIGHT. The TONGUE specialised in perceiving taste. So, although TONGUE can also perceive the sensations of HEAT and PAIN, the correct answer is SALTINESS.

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Expert-Level Logical Reasoning Interview Questions With Answers

Experienced candidates may be asked more complex reasoning questions during their interviews. Here are some examples:

1. Avinash and Beena asked their new colleague Chitra when her birthday was. Instead of answering, she writes down a list of 10 dates on paper. “I will give you both clues to guess which one of these dates is my birthday,” she said. The dates given by Chitra were: 

May 15, May 16, May 19
June 17, June 18
July 14, July 16
August 14, August 15, August 17

Chitra then whispers the month’s name to Avinash and the day in Beena’s ear and forbids them from directly saying their clues to each other. After hearing the clues, Avinash and Beena had the following conversation:

Avinash: Both Beena and I don’t know when your birthday is.

Beena: I didn’t know either, but now I do.

Avinash: Really? Now I know, too!

When is Chitra’s birthday?

Answer: July 16th 

We can determine this answer by the process of elimination. Arrange the months and days in the following order.

First, Avinash says he and Beena don’t know Chitra’s birthday. This is possible only if the month has days that overlap with other months. Since the 18th and 19th are not common between any two months, Beena knows that Chitra’s birthday is not in May or June.

Beena says she did not know Chitra’s birthday but does now. Since she only knows the day, the days are not common between the two months. Following this logic, we eliminate July 14th and August 14th from the possibilities.

Avinash states that now he knows too. Since he knows the month, this is possible if only one day in the month has yet to be eliminated. Thus, July, with only the 16th as the possibility, is the answer.

3. Complete the series: A, D, H, M, ___, ___.

A. P, T
B. S, Z
C. R, Y
D. T, X

Answer: Option B.

D is three places after A. H is four places after D. M is five places after H. By this logic, S is six places away from M, and Z is seven places away from S. 

3. A certain group of people were born between 1965 and 1981. This group is notably independent and has a knack for risk management. Due to this trait, this group is a highly entrepreneurial one.

Select the statement that fits the above paragraph most appropriately.

A. They work harder than any other recent generation
B. They have this natural tendency to be self-employed and self-workers
C. Interested in making an impact on history
D. Works in the field of jobs that is always high in risk
E. Challenges the attitude of their boss and co-employees.

Answer: Option B.

The group has been described as ‘notably independent’ and ‘highly entrepreneurial’, which implies that they are more likely to be self-employed and self-motivated.

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Tips for Answering Logical Thinking Interview Questions

Still trying to figure out how to tackle tough logical interview questions? Here are some tips for answering them with ease.

• Analyse the options and justify why they might be correct or incorrect.
   
• Use only the information given to you in the question to make deductions, and do not make assumptions that are not based on the question.
   
• Be aware of words like ‘unless’, ‘only’, ‘same’, ‘similar’, ‘some’, ‘all’, ‘both’, ‘neither’ and ‘either’ as they provide clues to the possible answer and help you properly frame explanations for your reasoning.
   
• Ask your interviewer if you can ask questions to clarify the problem. This comes in handy in cases where the question seems open-ended, vague or incomplete.
   
• Once you are convinced of your answer, recheck to see if there are any other possible ways to solve the problem. Alternatively, there is also a possibility that the answer cannot be determined using the information given to you.

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Conclusion

Practising logical reasoning questions for interviews is a must for any job aspirant. Preparing critical thinking equips a candidate with problem-solving and decision-making skills. This allows them to navigate the professional sphere and create effective strategies to deal with real-world problems their clients face.

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