Study Material — 8 PYQs (2024–2024) · Concept Notes · Shortcuts
RRB NTPC Comparison Puzzle is a frequently tested subtopic — 8 previous year questions from 2024–2024 papers are included below with concept notes, key rules and shortcut tricks.
8 questions from actual RRB NTPC papers · all shown free · click option to reveal solution
Exam Q 12024Previous Year Pattern
Four people—Vikram, Wina, Xander, Yuki—have different ages. Vikram is older than Wina. Xander is younger than Yuki. Wina is older than Xander. Who is the youngest?
Exam Q 22024Previous Year Pattern
Five friends—Arun, Bhavna, Chetan, Deepa, and Esha—are sitting in a row facing North. Based on the following clues, who sits third from the left?
1. Arun sits immediately to the left of Bhavna.
2. Deepa sits immediately to the right of Chetan.
3. Esha sits at one of the ends.
4. Chetan does not sit at either end.
Who sits third from the left?
Exam Q 32024Previous Year Pattern
Five items—Apple, Banana, Cherry, Date, Elderberry—are arranged by price (lowest to highest). Apple costs less than Cherry. Banana costs less than Date. Cherry costs less than Elderberry. Date costs less than Elderberry. Which item is definitely more expensive than at least three other items?
Exam Q 42024Previous Year Pattern
Six boxes labeled A through F are stacked in three columns (left, middle, right), with two boxes per column. Box B is directly above Box C. Box D is in the middle column. Box E is not in the right column. Box A is above Box F. Box C is not in the middle column. In which column is Box E?
Exam Q 52024Previous Year Pattern
Five friends—Arun, Bhavna, Chitra, Deepak, and Esha—are sitting in a row facing North. Bhavna is immediately to the right of Arun. Chitra is not at either end. Deepak is to the left of Esha. Esha is not in the middle. The person in the leftmost position is Deepak. Who is sitting in the middle position?
Exam Q 62024Previous Year Pattern
Six items—P, Q, R, S, T, U—are arranged in a line. R is to the left of S. Q is not at either end. T is immediately to the right of P. U is at the right end. S is not immediately to the right of R. How many items are to the left of S?
Exam Q 72024Previous Year Pattern
Five students—Aman, Bhavesh, Chaya, Diya, and Eshan—scored different marks in a test. Aman scored more than Bhavesh. Chaya did not score the highest. Diya scored less than Eshan. Eshan did not score the lowest. The second-highest scorer is Bhavesh. Who scored the lowest?
Exam Q 82024Previous Year Pattern
Four people—Priya, Qasim, Ravi, and Sana—have different ages: 18, 25, 32, and 40 years. Priya is older than Qasim. Ravi is not the youngest. Sana is older than Ravi. The person aged 25 is younger than exactly two others. Who is 25 years old?
Concept Notes
Comparison Puzzle— Rules & Concept
Core ConceptRead this first — the foundation of the topic
Core Concept
Comparison puzzles work by giving you clues like 'A is taller than B' or 'C scored less than D'. You must use these clues to arrange all items in a line (ascending or descending order). Think of it like solving a chain where each link connects two items
Key Rules
Read all statements carefully before starting.
2
Use symbols to track relationships
> (greater), < (less), = (equal).
3. Combine individual statements to create a complete chain.
4. Check your final answer against all given statements.
5. Watch for indirect comparisons — sometimes you must link multiple statements together.
Formula BlockMemorise — at least one formula appears in every paper
If A > B and B > C, then A > C (Transitive Property). This is the backbone of all comparison puzzles.
Exam PatternsWhat examiners ask — read before attempting PYQs
SSC CGL typically asks:
- Who is the tallest/shortest/oldest/youngest?
- Arrange in increasing/decreasing order.
- Find positions of specific people in the arranged order.
- Handle 5-7 people with 4-6 comparative statements.
Shortcut/Trick:
Draw a simple line or arrow diagram. Write names and connect them with arrows showing the direction of comparison. This visual method solves 90% of puzzles faster than written logic.
Worked ExampleSolve this step-by-step before moving on
1
Step 1
Write statements using symbols.
Raj > Priya ... (1)
Anu > Raj ... (2)
Sita < Priya ... (3)
Mohan > Anu ... (4)
2
Step 2
Link the chain.
From (1): Raj > Priya
From (2): Anu > Raj, so Anu > Raj > Priya
From (4): Mohan > Anu, so Mohan > Anu > Raj > Priya
From (3): Sita < Priya, so Sita is even smaller
3
Step 3
Final order from tallest to shortest.
Mohan > Anu > Raj > Priya > Sita
Answer: Mohan is the tallest.
Exam TrapsCommon mistakes students make — avoid these
Students often ignore indirect relationships. If A > B and C > A, they sometimes forget that C > B as well. Always trace the complete chain before answering.
Also, don't assume anything not stated in the problem.
Key Points to Remember
Comparison puzzles require you to arrange items in order using given statements about relationships.
Use the transitive property: if A > B and B > C, then definitely A > C.
Always draw a visual line or arrow diagram to track relationships clearly.
Read every statement carefully; indirect comparisons are often hidden in the clues.
Check your final answer by verifying it satisfies all given statements.
Common properties compared in SSC CGL: age, height, weight, marks, salary, and speed.
Exam-Specific Tips
Comparison puzzles in SSC CGL typically involve 5-7 persons and 4-6 comparative statements.
The transitive property (if A > B and B > C, then A > C) is the mathematical foundation of all comparison puzzles.
Most SSC CGL comparison puzzles ask for the maximum or minimum person in a specific property.
Five friends—Aman, Bhavna, Chetan, Diya, and Esha—are sitting in a row facing North. Bhavna sits immediately to the right of Aman. Chetan sits to the right of Diya. Esha sits at one end. Diya is not at either end. Who sits second from the left?
Practice 2medium
Five friends — Arjun, Bhanu, Chetan, Deepak, and Eshan — have different heights. Arjun is taller than Bhanu but shorter than Chetan. Deepak is shorter than Bhanu. Eshan is taller than Chetan. Who is the second tallest among them?
60-Second Revision — Comparison Puzzle
Remember: Always create a visual chain or arrow diagram; it reduces mistakes and saves time.
Formula: Use transitive property A > B and B > C means A > C without exception.
Trap: Don't ignore indirect statements; link all clues together before concluding.
Method: Read statement → Convert to symbol → Link the chain → Verify answer against all statements.
Pattern: SSC asks 'who is tallest/shortest' or 'arrange in order' — both solved by the same chain method.
Common error: Assuming relationships not stated in the problem — stick only to given information.
Time saving: Solve in 60-90 seconds by drawing arrows instead of writing explanations.