How the AMCAT Logical Ability module works
AMCAT’s syllabus describes this module as testing whether you can interpret things objectively, spot trends and analyse the assumptions behind a statement. In practice that means the standard puzzle types of Indian placement tests, split into two groups:
- Deductive: coding and decoding, data sufficiency, direction sense, logical word sequence, objective reasoning, selection decision tables and puzzles.
- Inductive: analogy, classification (the odd one out), coding patterns and number series.
One reliable method per type
With 12 questions there is no time to invent a method in the exam. Learn these before it:
- Coding and decoding: write each letter’s place in the alphabet (A is 1, Z is 26) under the word and its code, and look for the shift.
- Direction sense: draw the path on paper with north at the top, every time. Turning right from north faces east.
- Data sufficiency: test statement I alone, then statement II alone, and only then the two together. You are asked whether the question can be answered, not what the answer is.
- Decision tables: check the candidate against every condition in order before you look at the exceptions.
- Number series: write the differences between terms. If they are not constant, try the differences of the differences, then multiplying.
- Analogy and classification: name the relationship in a few words (tool and worker, part and whole) before you look at the options.
Worked examples
Coding. If PLANT is written as QMBOU, how is GREEN written? Options: HSFFO, HSFEO, FQDDM, HTFFO.
Every letter of PLANT moves one place forward: P to Q, L to M, A to B, N to O, T to U. Do the same to GREEN: G to H, R to S, E to F, E to F, N to O. The answer is HSFFO.
Direction sense. Ravi walks 5 km north, turns right and walks 3 km, then turns right again and walks 9 km. How far is he from his starting point? Options: 3 km, 4 km, 5 km, 17 km.
After the first two legs he is 5 km north and 3 km east. Turning right again faces south, and 9 km south leaves him 4 km south of the start and 3 km east. The distance is the third side of a 3, 4, 5 triangle: 5 km.
Data sufficiency. What is the value of x? I: x + y = 10. II: x is 4 more than y.
Statement I alone has two unknowns, so no. Statement II alone gives no number for either, so no. Together, x + (x − 4) = 10, so x = 7. The answer is that both statements together are needed.
Number series. What comes next: 2, 6, 12, 20, 30, ? The differences are 4, 6, 8 and 10, so the next difference is 12 and the answer is 42.
Tips for the real Logical Ability module
- Keep to 75 seconds a question. A puzzle with five people and six clues can take three minutes; if it is not falling into place, choose and move on.
- Always draw directions and seating puzzles. Most wrong answers in these types come from doing them in your head.
- On data sufficiency, do not solve the problem fully. Stop as soon as you know whether it can be solved.
- Answer every question: there is no negative marking.
- Take the first few questions slowly. The test is adaptive, so they decide how hard the rest will be.
Practise AMCAT Logical Ability on CogniPrep
Our version runs 12 questions on a 15-minute clock across coding and decoding, data sufficiency, direction sense, word sequence, syllogisms, decision tables, puzzles, analogy, classification and number series. Data sufficiency questions have five options and the rest four. There is no Back or skip, the questions adapt on a five-level scale, and any you do not reach count as wrong. Your result shows a percentile against other CogniPrep users, your accuracy by question type and the highest level you answered correctly.