Core ConceptRead this first — the foundation of the topic
CORE CONCEPT
A cause is the reason something happens. An effect is what happens because of that reason
Example
Rain (cause) makes the ground wet (effect)
KEY RULES
Cause always comes first in time. Effect comes after.
2. One event must directly lead to the other—there must be a real connection.
3. Correlation is NOT causation.
Just because two things happen together doesn't mean one caused the other.
4
Look for trigger words
because, since, caused by, due to, as a result, therefore, consequently, led to.
5. A single cause can have multiple effects. A single effect can have multiple causes.
Exam PatternsWhat examiners ask — read before attempting PYQs
SSC CGL asks cause-effect questions in two main ways:
- Find the cause of a given effect
- Identify what effect follows from a given cause
- Distinguish between real cause-effect and mere coincidence
- Spot faulty cause-effect reasoning
SHORTCUT/TRICK:
Use the "IF-THEN" test: If [cause happens], then [effect should happen]. If this sounds logical and the connection is direct, it's likely correct. If the connection feels forced or needs extra steps, it's probably wrong.
Worked ExampleSolve this step-by-step before moving on
1
Step 1
Identify the claimed cause—new machinery installation.
2
Step 2
Identify the claimed effect—40% productivity increase.
3
Step 3
Check if cause came before effect—YES, machinery installed first, then productivity increased.
4
Step 4
Check if there's a direct connection—The passage assumes machinery automatically increases productivity, but doesn't prove it. Workers might be working harder due to new job expectations, or the month itself could be naturally busy.
5
Step 5
Look for alternative causes—Training on machinery, worker motivation, seasonal demand, management changes.
Conclusion: The reasoning is WEAK. It shows correlation but not proven causation. Other factors could explain the effect.
Exam TrapsCommon mistakes students make — avoid these
Students assume that because Event A happened before Event B, A caused B. This is wrong. Sequence alone doesn't prove causation.
You need a logical, direct connection. Also, students miss alternative explanations. Always ask: "Could something else have caused this effect?"
Key Points to Remember
Cause is the reason something happens; effect is what happens as a result.
Cause must come BEFORE effect in time—this is essential.
Use trigger words (because, since, due to, therefore, as a result) to spot cause-effect statements.
Correlation ≠ Causation: Two things happening together doesn't prove one caused the other.
Apply the IF-THEN test: If [cause], then [effect] should logically follow.
Always look for alternative causes before accepting a cause-effect claim as proven.
Exam-Specific Tips
Cause-effect reasoning in SSC CGL focuses on identifying faulty logic and weak connections between events.
Trigger words for cause-effect: because, since, caused by, due to, as a result, therefore, consequently, led to.
Correlation means two things happen together; causation means one directly causes the other—they are NOT the same.
Valid cause-effect requires: (1) Cause occurs before effect in time, (2) Direct logical connection, (3) No better alternative explanation.
SSC CGL typically asks students to identify which statement represents a faulty cause-effect relationship in critical reasoning passages.
The IF-THEN test is a quick validation tool: If the claimed cause happens, does the claimed effect necessarily follow?
Multiple causes can produce one effect (overdetermined causation), and one cause can produce multiple effects (branching causation).
Temporal sequence alone (A before B) is insufficient to prove A caused B—you need evidence of direct connection.
Practice MCQs
Cause & Effect — Practice Questions
17graded MCQs · easy to hard · full solution & trap analysis
A student's exam performance declined sharply after he stopped attending coaching classes. Which of the following is the MOST LIKELY cause-and-effect relationship implied in this statement?
Practice 2easy
A factory's production output increased by 40% after installing new machinery. What is the EFFECT described in this statement?
Practice 3easy
A company's sales increased significantly after launching a new advertising campaign. However, the company also reduced product prices by 15% during the same period. Which of the following is a VALID conclusion about the cause of increased sales?
Practice 4easy
A student's marks decreased from 85 to 68 after she stopped attending extra coaching classes. Which of the following is the MOST LIKELY cause of the mark decrease?
Practice 5easy
Due to heavy rainfall last night, the cricket match scheduled for today was cancelled. Which statement correctly identifies the cause and effect?
Practice 6easy
A student's attendance dropped from 95% to 78% because she started working part-time. As a RESULT of the attendance drop, her grades fell from A to C. What is the PRIMARY CAUSE of the grade decline?
Practice 7medium
A bank reduced its customer service staff by 20% to cut costs. Subsequently, customer complaints increased by 40%, but the bank's profit margin decreased by 5% instead of increasing as expected. Which of the following best explains why the cost-cutting measure backfired?
Practice 8medium
Studies show that employees who attend professional development workshops have 25% higher productivity than those who don't. The HR department concluded that attending workshops directly causes increased productivity. Which of the following weakens this conclusion most significantly?
Practice 9medium
A bank noticed that branches with higher customer satisfaction scores also had higher loan default rates. The bank's management concluded that satisfied customers are more likely to default on loans. What is the most likely explanation for this counterintuitive finding?
Practice 10medium
A company implemented a strict attendance policy that resulted in a 30% increase in reported work hours. However, the company's output remained unchanged. Which of the following best explains this outcome?
Practice 11medium
A factory's production decreased by 20% last quarter because the machinery broke down for two weeks. However, even after the machinery was repaired, production remained 15% below the previous year's level. Which of the following best explains why production did not return to its original level after repairs?
Practice 12hard
A manufacturing plant's production output decreased by 40% after implementing a new automated system. However, the plant manager claims the system itself is not faulty. Which of the following, if true, would BEST explain this apparent contradiction?
Practice 13hard
A study found that employees who attended a mandatory 2-hour weekly wellness program showed 25% higher productivity than those who did not. The company's HR director concluded that the wellness program directly causes increased productivity. Which of the following, if true, would MOST weaken this conclusion?
Practice 14hard
A city implemented a strict noise pollution law in January. By June, the number of noise-related complaints to the municipal office decreased by 60%. The city council attributed this success to the effectiveness of the new law. However, a researcher noted that the same period saw a 55% increase in the number of people working from home due to a tech company's relocation to the city. Which statement best describes the relationship between these two facts?
Practice 15hard
A hospital implemented a new patient check-in system that reduced average check-in time from 15 minutes to 5 minutes. However, patient satisfaction scores decreased by 18% in the same quarter. The hospital administrator argues that the new system is efficient and the satisfaction decrease is unrelated. Which of the following, if true, would BEST support the administrator's argument?
Practice 16hard
A software company noticed that developers who used a new code-review tool completed projects 35% faster than those using the old method. However, the number of bugs found in production increased by 28% for projects using the new tool. The project manager concluded that the new tool trades quality for speed. Which of the following, if true, would MOST challenge this conclusion?
Practice 17hard
A manufacturing plant's production output decreased by 40% after implementing a new automated system. However, the plant manager claims that the automation itself did not cause the decline. Which of the following, if true, would most strongly support the manager's claim that automation was NOT the direct cause of the output decrease?
60-Second Revision — Cause & Effect
Remember: Cause comes FIRST in time, effect comes AFTER. Always check this order.
Trap: Just because X happened before Y doesn't mean X caused Y. Look for direct logical connection.
Formula: Valid Cause-Effect = Temporal Order + Direct Connection + No Better Alternative Explanation.
Spot trigger words instantly: because, since, due to, therefore, as a result, consequently.
Use IF-THEN test in 10 seconds: If [cause], does [effect] HAVE to happen? If yes, likely valid; if no, likely faulty.
Watch for: Alternative causes hiding in the passage. Always ask 'What else could explain this effect?'
Correlation ≠ Causation—this is the #1 trick used in SSC CGL critical reasoning to trap students.