You are given information about positions, rankings, or arrangements. Your job is to determine the exact order or find specific positions of elements in that arrangement
💡Key Rules
Always work systematically from left to right or top to bottom. When multiple conditions are given, satisfy all conditions simultaneously. Pay attention to words like 'between', 'immediately', 'adjacent', 'next to', and 'opposite'
→Types of Questions
Linear arrangements (single row), circular arrangements, and ranking based on performance, height, weight, or age. SSC CGL frequently asks about finding positions, counting people between two positions, or determining who sits where
⚡Shortcut Technique 1
Use the 'Anchor Method'. Find the most restrictive condition first and use it as your starting point. This saves time and reduces errors.
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Worked Example
Solve this step-by-step before moving on
1
Step 1
D sits at one end. Let's place D at the left end: D _ _ _ _
2
Step 2
A sits two places to the left of E. This means there's exactly one person between A and E. Possible positions: A_E or positions 2 and 4.
3
Step 3
Since D is at position 1, A can be at position 2 and E at position 4: D A _ E _
4
Step 4
B sits immediately to the right of C. The remaining positions are 3 and 5. So C must be at position 3 and B at position 5.
Final arrangement: D A C E B
Verification: A is two places left of E ✓, B is immediately right of C ✓, D is at one end ✓
Shortcut Technique 2: Use the 'Elimination Method' for ranking questions. When given partial information about ranks, eliminate impossible positions systematically.
Common Mistakes: Students often confuse 'left' and 'right' directions. Always maintain consistent orientation. Another mistake is not checking if the final arrangement satisfies ALL given conditions. Many students also misinterpret 'between' (which excludes endpoints) and 'among' (which can include endpoints).
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Exam Patterns
What examiners ask — read before attempting PYQs
SSC CGL typically asks 1-2 questions on this topic. Questions usually involve 5-8 people or objects. Linear arrangements are more common than circular ones. The difficulty level is moderate, and these questions are scoring if approached systematically.
In a class of 40 students, Raj ranks 15th from the top. What is his rank from the bottom?
Practice 2easy
Seven friends A, B, C, D, E, F, and G are standing in a line. D is 4th from the left. E is 2nd from the right. How many people stand between D and E?
Practice 3easy
In a race of 50 runners, Priya finishes ahead of exactly 30 runners. What is Priya's rank?
Practice 4easy
In a queue of 12 people, Meera is 5th from the front. If 3 people leave from the front of the queue, what will be Meera's new position from the front?
Practice 5easy
In a class of 40 students, Rajesh's rank from the top is 12th. What is his rank from the bottom?
Practice 6medium
In a class of 45 students, when students are arranged in a line in descending order of their marks, Priya stands at position 12 from the left. If 3 students are removed from the class due to absence, what will be Priya's new position from the left when the remaining 42 students are arranged in the same descending order of marks?
Practice 7medium
In a class ranking, Priya is 12th from the top and 19th from the bottom. Arun is 5 ranks below Priya. What is Arun's position from the top?
Practice 8medium
Seven friends—A, B, C, D, E, F, G—stand in a line. D is 3rd from the left. E is 2 positions to the right of D. F is immediately to the left of E. How many people stand between F and G if G is at the rightmost end?
Practice 9medium
In a tournament, Team X scored more points than Team Y. Team Y scored more points than Team Z. Team W scored fewer points than Team Z. If Team V scored more points than Team W but fewer than Team Y, which team scored the second-highest points?
Practice 10medium
In a building with 8 floors, Apartment P is on the 5th floor. Apartment Q is 2 floors above P. Apartment R is 3 floors below Q. Apartment S is on a floor higher than R but lower than P. On which floor is Apartment S?
Practice 11medium
Five students—Raj, Sam, Tina, Uma, and Veer—are ranked by their test scores (highest to lowest). Tina scored higher than Sam. Raj scored higher than Uma. Veer scored lower than Sam. Uma scored higher than Tina. If Raj is ranked 1st, what is Sam's rank?
Practice 12hard
Seven employees—Anil, Bina, Chetan, Deepak, Esha, Faisal, and Gita—are ranked from 1 to 7 based on their annual performance scores (1 = highest, 7 = lowest). The following conditions must be satisfied:
1. Chetan's rank is exactly 2 positions higher than Anil's rank.
2. Esha's rank is lower than Bina's rank (higher number = lower position).
3. Deepak is ranked exactly in the middle (rank 4).
4. Faisal's rank is higher than Gita's rank.
5. Bina is not ranked 1st or 7th.
6. The sum of Anil's and Chetan's ranks equals 9.
If Gita is ranked 6th, what is Faisal's rank?
60-Second Revision — Ranking & Order
Remember: Draw the arrangement as you solve, don't rely on mental calculation
Formula: People between positions A and B = |A-B| - 1
Trap: 'Left of' and 'Right of' depend on your reference direction - stay consistent
Technique: Start with the most restrictive condition to save time
Check: Verify final arrangement satisfies ALL conditions before marking answer
Key Words: 'Immediately' means adjacent, 'between' excludes endpoints
Pattern: SSC prefers 5-7 people linear arrangements over complex circular ones