Core ConceptRead this first — the foundation of the topic
Core Concept
In parallel row puzzles, you arrange people in two rows based on given conditions. The key challenge is tracking who sits where and their facing directions. Most commonly, people in Row 1 face south and people in Row 2 face north, so they look at each other
Key Rules
Always establish the facing direction first. If Row 1 faces south and Row 2 faces north, then left-right positions are opposite when viewed from each person's perspective. When someone in Row 1 looks at Row 2, their left corresponds to the right side of people in Row 2. Distance relationships work normally - adjacent means next to each other, and counting positions follows the established direction.
Exam PatternsWhat examiners ask — read before attempting PYQs
SSC CGL typically asks 3-5 questions from one parallel row puzzle. Questions focus on who sits opposite to whom, who sits at ends, counting positions from left or right, and identifying neighbors. The puzzle usually involves 6-10 people with 3-4 people in each row.
ShortcutsUse these to save 30–60 seconds per question
1
Draw two horizontal lines and mark positions as 1,2,3,4 in Row 1 and 1,2,3,4 in Row
2
When Row 1 faces Row 2, position 1 of Row 1 faces position 1 of Row 2 directly. Use arrows to show facing directions. This visual method prevents confusion about left-right orientations.
Worked ExampleSolve this step-by-step before moving on
1
Step 1
Draw two rows. Row 1 faces north, Row 2 faces south (given A faces north in Row 1).
2
Step 2
D sits at left end of Row 1, so D is at position 1.
3
Step 3
A sits second from left in Row 1, so A is at position 2.
4
Step 4
B sits opposite to A, so B is at position 2 in Row 2.
5
Step 5
C sits immediate right of B. Since Row 2 faces south, C's right means position 1 in Row 2.
6
Step 6
Who sits opposite to C? C is at position 1 in Row 2, so the person opposite is at position 1 in Row 1, which is D.
Answer: D sits opposite to C.
Exam TrapsCommon mistakes students make — avoid these
Students confuse left-right directions when people face different directions. Always remember that when two people face each other, their left-right sides are opposite. Draw diagrams with clear direction arrows to avoid this confusion.
Another mistake is not establishing the total number of positions in each row before placing people.
Key Points to Remember
Two parallel rows with people facing each other or same direction
Row 1 typically faces south, Row 2 faces north in standard setup
Left-right positions are opposite when people face each other
Always draw diagram with direction arrows to avoid confusion
Opposite positions have same number in both rows
Adjacent means immediately next to each other in same row
Distance counting follows the established facing direction
End positions are leftmost and rightmost in each row
Exam-Specific Tips
Standard setup has Row 1 facing south and Row 2 facing north
Parallel row puzzles typically contain 6-10 people total
Each row usually has 3-5 positions maximum
Opposite positions share the same numerical position across rows
Left end means position 1, right end means last position
Immediate neighbor means adjacent position with no gap
Second from left means position 2 in the row
Third from right means third position counting from rightmost end
Practice MCQs
Parallel Row Puzzle — Practice Questions
12graded MCQs · easy to hard · full solution & trap analysis
Six people — A, B, C, D, E, and F — sit in two parallel rows of three seats each. Row 1 faces Row 2. The seating follows these conditions:
1. A sits in Row 1, middle seat.
2. B sits directly behind A (in Row 2).
3. C sits to the left of A in Row 1.
4. D sits to the right of B in Row 2.
5. E and F occupy the remaining seats.
6. E is not in the middle seat of either row.
Who sits to the right of C in Row 1?
Practice 2easy
Six people—A, B, C, D, E, F—sit in two parallel rows of three seats each. Row 1 faces Row 2. A sits in Row 1, middle seat. B sits to the immediate left of A. C sits in Row 2, directly opposite to B. D sits to the immediate right of C. E sits in Row 1, to the right of A. F sits in Row 2, directly opposite to E. Who sits directly opposite to A?
Practice 3easy
Eight people sit in two parallel rows of four seats each, Row 1 and Row 2, facing each other. Row 1 has seats numbered 1–4 from left to right. Row 2 has seats numbered 1–4 from left to right. P sits in Row 1, seat 2. Q sits in Row 2, seat 3. R sits directly opposite P. S sits to the immediate left of R. T sits directly opposite Q. U sits to the immediate right of T. V sits in Row 1, seat 4. W sits in Row 2, seat 1. Which of the following is true?
Practice 4easy
Four people—M, N, O, P—sit in two parallel rows of two seats each. Row A (top) and Row B (bottom) face each other. M sits in Row A, left seat. N sits in Row B, right seat. O sits directly opposite M. P sits in Row A, right seat. Who sits directly opposite N?
Practice 5easy
Six people—A, B, C, D, E, F—sit in two parallel rows of three seats each. Row 1 and Row 2 face each other. A sits in Row 1, left seat. B sits in Row 2, middle seat. C sits directly opposite A. D sits to the immediate right of C. E sits in Row 1, right seat. F sits directly opposite E. Which of the following pairs sit in the same row?
Practice 6easy
Five people—X, Y, Z, W, V—sit in two parallel rows. Row 1 has three seats; Row 2 has two seats. Row 1 and Row 2 face each other. X sits in Row 1, left seat. Y sits in Row 1, middle seat. Z sits in Row 2, left seat. W sits directly opposite Y. V sits in Row 1, right seat. How many people sit in Row 2?
Practice 7hard
Six people—P, Q, R, S, T, U—sit in two parallel rows of 3 each. Row A faces East; Row B faces West (opposite direction). The following conditions apply:
1. P sits in Row A, Position 1 (leftmost when facing East).
2. Q sits directly opposite to P.
3. R sits to the immediate right of P in Row A.
4. S sits in Row B, Position 3 (rightmost when facing West).
5. T sits to the immediate left of S in Row B.
6. U is the only person left.
Who sits in Row A, Position 3?
Practice 8hard
Eight people—A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H—sit in two parallel rows of 4 each, facing North. Row 1 sits North-facing; Row 2 sits South-facing (opposite direction). The following conditions apply:
1. A sits in Row 1, Position 2.
2. B sits directly opposite to A (in Row 2, Position 2).
3. C sits to the immediate left of A in Row 1.
4. D sits to the immediate right of B in Row 2.
5. E sits in Row 1, Position 4 (rightmost).
6. F sits in Row 2, Position 1 (leftmost).
7. G sits to the immediate left of E in Row 1.
8. H is the only person left.
Who sits directly opposite to G?
Practice 9hard
Seven people—M, N, O, P, Q, R, S—sit in two parallel rows: Row 1 has 4 seats, Row 2 has 3 seats. Both rows face North. The following conditions apply:
1. M sits in Row 1, Position 2.
2. N sits in Row 1, Position 4 (rightmost).
3. O sits in Row 2, Position 2 (middle).
4. P sits immediately to the left of M in Row 1.
5. Q sits immediately to the right of O in Row 2.
6. R sits in Row 2, Position 1 (leftmost).
7. S is the only person left.
Which of the following statements is true?
Practice 10hard
Eight people—A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H—sit in two parallel rows of 4 each. Row 1 faces North; Row 2 faces South. The following conditions apply:
1. A sits in Row 1, Position 3.
2. B sits in Row 2, Position 2.
3. C sits immediately to the left of A in Row 1.
4. D sits immediately to the right of B in Row 2.
5. E sits in Row 1, Position 1 (leftmost).
6. F sits in Row 2, Position 4 (rightmost).
7. G sits immediately to the left of F in Row 2.
8. H is the only person left.
If we consider 'opposite' to mean the person directly across when both rows face each other, who sits opposite to C?
Practice 11hard
Eight people — A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H — sit in two parallel rows of 4 each, facing each other. Row 1 faces South; Row 2 faces North.
Clues:
1. A sits in Row 1, third position from the left.
2. B sits directly opposite to A (in Row 2).
3. C sits to the immediate left of A in Row 1.
4. D sits in Row 2, second position from the left.
5. E sits to the immediate right of D in Row 2.
6. F sits in Row 1, leftmost position.
7. G sits in Row 2, leftmost position.
8. H is the only person not yet placed.
Who sits immediately to the right of the person sitting directly opposite to C?
Practice 12hard
Nine people—A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I—sit in three parallel rows of 3 each. Row 1 faces North, Row 2 faces South, Row 3 faces North. The following conditions apply:
1. A sits in Row 1, Position 1.
2. B sits in Row 1, Position 2.
3. C sits in Row 1, Position 3.
4. D sits in Row 2, Position 1.
5. E sits in Row 2, Position 2.
6. F sits in Row 2, Position 3.
7. G sits in Row 3, Position 1.
8. H sits in Row 3, Position 2.
9. I sits in Row 3, Position 3.
Consider the following: Row 1 and Row 2 are directly opposite each other. Row 2 and Row 3 are directly opposite each other. If a person in Row 1 looks straight ahead (North), they see the person directly opposite in Row 2. If a person in Row 2 looks straight ahead (South), they see the person directly opposite in Row 1. Similarly, Row 2 and Row 3 are opposite. Given this, who does B see when looking straight ahead?
60-Second Revision — Parallel Row Puzzle
Remember: Draw two lines with direction arrows first
Formula: Opposite positions have same numbers across rows
Trap: Left-right confusion when people face each other
Key: Establish total positions in each row before solving
Trick: Use position numbers 1,2,3,4 instead of left-right terms
Pattern: SSC asks who sits opposite, at ends, and neighbors
Speed tip: Mark known positions first, then use given relationships