This page covers IBPS RRB PO Data Sufficiency — Reasoning with complete concept notes, 16 graded practice MCQs, key points and exam-specific tips. Free to study.
Core ConceptRead this first — the foundation of the topic
Data Sufficiency is a unique question type where you don't solve the problem completely. Instead, you determine whether the given information is enough to answer the question. Think of it as being a detective - you need to check if the clues are sufficient to solve the case. In SSC CGL, data sufficiency questions typically provide a question followed by two statements (I and II). Your job is to decide which combination of statements can answer the question. The standard answer choices are:
A) Statement I alone is sufficient B) Statement II alone is sufficient
C) Both statements together are sufficient D) Neither statement is sufficient
E) Each statement alone is sufficient Key Rules: Never assume information not given. Don't make calculations unless necessary - just check if calculation is possible. Focus on 'Can I solve?' not 'What is the answer?'. Remember that 'sufficient' means you can find a unique answer, not multiple possibilities.
Exam PatternsWhat examiners ask — read before attempting PYQs
SSC CGL asks 2-3 data sufficiency questions per paper. Common topics include ages, profit-loss, time-work, geometry, and number problems. Questions often test logical thinking more than mathematical computation.
Powerful Shortcut: Use the SCAN method - S(can I solve with Statement I alone?), C(an I solve with Statement II alone?), A(re both needed together?), N(ot sufficient even together?). This systematic approach prevents confusion and saves time.
Worked ExampleSolve this step-by-step before moving on
1
Step 1
Check Statement I alone
Statement I gives us: Ram = Shyam + 5
This has two unknowns but only one equation. We cannot find Ram's exact age.
Statement I alone: NOT SUFFICIENT
2
Step 2
Check Statement II alone
Statement II gives us: Ram + 10 = 2 × (Shyam's current age)
Again, two unknowns, one equation. Cannot find exact ages.
Statement II alone: NOT SUFFICIENT
3
Step 3
Check both statements together
From I: Ram = Shyam + 5, so Shyam = Ram - 5
From II: Ram + 10 = 2 × Shyam
Substituting: Ram + 10 = 2(Ram - 5)
Ram + 10 = 2Ram - 10
20 = Ram
Both statements together give us Ram's age as 20 years.
Answer: C) Both statements together are sufficient
Exam TrapsCommon mistakes students make — avoid these
Students often try to solve the complete problem instead of just checking sufficiency. This wastes time and can lead to wrong conclusions. Another trap is assuming obvious information that isn't stated - stick strictly to what's given.
Remember: In data sufficiency, your goal is to be a judge, not a calculator.
Judge whether the evidence is enough to reach a verdict.
Key Points to Remember
Data sufficiency tests whether given information is enough to answer the question, not the actual answer
Standard format includes a question followed by two statements I and II
Five answer choices cover all combinations of statement sufficiency
Never assume information that is not explicitly provided in the statements
Focus on 'Can I solve?' rather than 'What is the solution?'
Use SCAN method: check Statement I alone, Statement II alone, both together, neither sufficient
Sufficient means you can find one unique answer, not multiple possibilities
Most common topics are ages, profit-loss, time-work, and basic geometry problems
Exam-Specific Tips
SSC CGL includes 2-3 data sufficiency questions per reasoning section
Standard answer choices are always A, B, C, D, E representing different statement combinations
Data sufficiency questions carry same marks as other logical reasoning questions
Age-related problems appear in 40% of data sufficiency questions in SSC exams
Time allocation should be maximum 2 minutes per data sufficiency question
Geometry-based data sufficiency questions often involve finding area or perimeter
Number theory problems frequently test concepts of even, odd, and prime numbers
Practice MCQs
Data Sufficiency — Reasoning — Practice Questions
16graded MCQs · easy to hard · full solution & trap analysis
Statements:
I. All doctors are professionals.
II. Some professionals are wealthy.
III. All wealthy people are happy.
Question: Which of the following must be true?
A) All doctors are happy.
B) Some doctors are happy.
C) Some doctors are wealthy.
D) Cannot be determined from the given statements.
Practice 2easy
Statements:
I. All teachers are educated.
II. Some educated people are not doctors.
Question: Is it possible that all teachers are doctors?
Which of the following is true?
A) Yes, it is definitely possible.
B) No, it is definitely not possible.
C) Cannot be determined from the given statements.
D) Yes, it is definitely true.
Practice 3easy
Statements:
I. Some flowers are red.
II. All red things are beautiful.
Question: Which of the following must be true?
A) All flowers are beautiful.
B) Some flowers are beautiful.
C) No flowers are beautiful.
D) Some flowers are not beautiful.
Practice 4easy
In a Data Sufficiency question, we need to determine: 'Is Rajesh taller than Priya?'
Statement I: Rajesh is taller than Amit, and Amit is taller than Priya.
Statement II: Priya is shorter than Rajesh.
Which statement(s) is/are sufficient to answer the question?
Practice 5easy
Statements:
I. All politicians are ambitious.
II. Some ambitious people are corrupt.
Question: Can we conclude that some politicians are corrupt?
A) Yes, definitely.
B) No, definitely not.
C) Cannot be determined from the given statements.
D) Yes, all politicians are corrupt.
Practice 6easy
Statements:
I. No student is lazy.
II. All hardworking people are successful.
Question: Which statement must be true?
A) All students are successful.
B) Some students are successful.
C) No student is successful.
D) Cannot be determined from the given statements.
Practice 7medium
In a company, employees are assigned to either Project A or Project B (or both). A total of 120 employees work on at least one project.
Statement I: 45 employees work on Project A only.
Statement II: The number of employees on Project B is 20 more than the number on Project A.
Practice 8medium
In a row of 12 students, Rajesh is 5th from the left. How many students are to the right of Rajesh?
Statement I: There are 3 students between Rajesh and the rightmost student.
Statement II: Rajesh is 8th from the right.
Practice 9medium
Priya, Qasim, and Ravi are three friends. Each has a different age.
Statement I: Priya is older than Qasim, and Qasim is older than Ravi.
Statement II: The sum of their ages is 60 years, and Priya's age is twice Ravi's age.
Practice 10medium
A train travels from City X to City Y. The distance between the cities is unknown.
Statement I: The train travels at 60 km/h for the first half of the distance and 80 km/h for the second half of the distance.
Statement II: The train takes a total of 7 hours to complete the journey.
Practice 11hard
A person travels from Town X to Town Y. Statement I: The person travels 40 km north, then 30 km east. Statement II: The person's final displacement from X is 50 km. Statement III: The person took exactly 2 hours for the entire journey. What is the person's average speed?
Practice 12hard
Six boxes are arranged in a circle, numbered 1 through 6. Statement I: Box 3 is directly opposite Box 6. Statement II: Box 1 is two positions clockwise from Box 4. Statement III: Box 2 is immediately counterclockwise from Box 5. Can we determine the exact circular arrangement?
Practice 13hard
A company has employees in three departments: Sales, IT, and HR. Statement I: 60% of employees are in Sales or IT. Statement II: The number of IT employees is 25% more than HR employees. Statement III: Sales employees are 50% of the total workforce. Can we determine the percentage of IT employees?
Practice 14hard
A person's age and their child's age are related. Statement I: The person is currently 3 times the child's age. Statement II: In 5 years, the person will be 2.5 times the child's age. Statement III: The child is currently less than 10 years old. Are Statements I and II sufficient to determine both current ages?
Practice 15hard
Five colleagues—Arun, Bhavna, Chitra, Deepak, and Esha—sit in a row facing North. Each earns a different salary from ₹30,000 to ₹70,000 (in ₹10,000 increments). Statement I: Arun sits to the left of Bhavna. Chitra earns ₹10,000 more than the person sitting immediately to her right. Statement II: Deepak sits at one end. Esha earns ₹20,000 less than Deepak. The person earning ₹50,000 sits between two people earning ₹40,000 and ₹60,000 respectively. Is Statement I alone sufficient to determine Esha's exact salary?
Practice 16hard
Five people—A, B, C, D, E—sit in a row. Statement I: A sits immediately to the left of C. Statement II: B sits exactly two seats to the right of D. Statement III: E is not at either end. Is Statement I alone sufficient to determine the exact seating arrangement?
60-Second Revision — Data Sufficiency — Reasoning
Remember: Judge sufficiency, don't calculate the actual answer unless necessary
Formula: Use SCAN method to systematically check each statement combination
Trap: Never assume information not explicitly stated in the problem
Strategy: If one statement alone works, don't waste time checking combinations
Focus: Look for unique answer possibility, not multiple solutions
Time tip: Spend maximum 2 minutes per question using elimination method