Study Material — 2 PYQs (2024–2024) · Concept Notes · Shortcuts
SBI PO Parallel Row Puzzle is a frequently tested subtopic — 2 previous year questions from 2024–2024 papers are included below with concept notes, key rules and shortcut tricks.
2 questions from actual SBI PO papers · all shown free · click option to reveal solution
Exam Q 12024Previous Year Pattern
Six people—P, Q, R, S, T, U—sit in two parallel rows of 3 each. Row A faces East; Row B faces West. The following are true:
1. P sits in Row A, position 1 (leftmost from Row A's perspective).
2. Q sits directly opposite P.
3. R sits immediately to the right of P in Row A.
4. S sits immediately to the right of Q in Row B.
5. T sits at the rightmost position of Row B.
Who sits in position 3 of Row A?
Exam Q 22024Previous Year Pattern
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. The following conditions apply:
1. A sits in Row 1, position 2.
2. B sits directly opposite to A.
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 at one end of Row 2.
6. F sits immediately to the right of E in Row 2.
Who sits in position 4 of Row 1?
Concept Notes
Parallel Row Puzzle— Rules & Concept
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
13graded MCQs · easy to hard · full solution & trap analysis
Seven people—M, N, O, P, Q, R, S—sit in two parallel rows. Row 1 has 4 people; Row 2 has 3 people. Both rows face the same direction (North). The following conditions hold:
1. M sits in Row 1, position 3.
2. N sits directly opposite M (in Row 2, position 3).
3. O sits immediately to the left of M in Row 1.
4. P sits immediately to the right of M in Row 1.
5. Q sits immediately to the left of N in Row 2.
6. R sits at the leftmost position of Row 1.
Who sits in position 1 of Row 2?
Practice 2easy
Five people—A, B, C, D, E—sit in two parallel rows. Row X has 3 people facing South; Row Y has 2 people facing North. The following are given:
1. A sits in Row X, position 2.
2. B sits directly opposite A in Row Y.
3. C sits immediately to the left of A in Row X.
4. D sits immediately to the right of A in Row X.
5. E sits at the leftmost position of Row Y.
Who sits in position 2 of Row Y?
Practice 3medium
Six people—A, B, C, D, E, F—sit in two parallel rows of three seats each, facing each other. Row 1 faces South; Row 2 faces North. (i) A sits in Row 1, middle seat. (ii) B sits immediately to the right of A (from A's perspective). (iii) C sits in Row 2, directly opposite to B. (iv) D sits to the left of C in Row 2. (v) E sits in Row 1, to the left of A. (vi) F sits in Row 2, to the right of C. Who sits directly opposite to E?
Practice 4medium
Eight people sit in two parallel rows of four seats each. Row 1 faces East; Row 2 faces West. Seats are numbered 1–4 from left to right in each row. (i) P sits in Row 1, Seat 2. (ii) Q sits in Row 2, Seat 3, and is directly opposite P. (iii) R sits in Row 1, Seat 4. (iv) S sits in Row 2, Seat 1. (v) T sits in Row 1, Seat 1. (vi) U sits in Row 2, Seat 2. (vii) V sits in Row 1, Seat 3. (viii) W sits in Row 2, Seat 4. Who sits to the immediate left of U (from U's perspective)?
Practice 5medium
Seven people—M, N, O, P, Q, R, S—sit in two parallel rows. Row A has 4 seats; Row B has 3 seats. Both rows face each other. (i) M sits in Row A, Seat 2. (ii) N sits in Row B, Seat 2, directly opposite M. (iii) O sits in Row A, Seat 1. (iv) P sits in Row A, Seat 3. (v) Q sits in Row A, Seat 4. (vi) R sits in Row B, Seat 1. (vii) S sits in Row B, Seat 3. How many people sit to the right of M in Row A (from M's perspective)?
Practice 6medium
Eight people sit in two parallel rows of four seats each. Row 1 faces South; Row 2 faces North. Seats are numbered 1–4 from left to right in each row. (i) X sits in Row 1, Seat 3. (ii) Y sits in Row 2, Seat 2, directly opposite the person in Row 1, Seat 2. (iii) Z sits in Row 1, Seat 1. (iv) W sits in Row 1, Seat 4. (v) V sits in Row 1, Seat 2. (vi) U sits in Row 2, Seat 1. (vii) T sits in Row 2, Seat 3. (viii) S sits in Row 2, Seat 4. How many people sit between X and W in Row 1 (from X's perspective)?
Practice 7medium
Six friends—Arun, Bhavna, Chitra, Deepak, Esha, and Farhan—sit in two parallel rows of three seats each. Row 1 faces Row 2. The following conditions apply:
1. Arun sits in Row 1, and Esha sits in Row 2.
2. Bhavna and Chitra sit in the same row.
3. Deepak sits immediately to the right of Arun in Row 1.
4. Farhan sits in Row 2, and he is directly opposite to Deepak.
5. Esha sits to the left of Farhan in Row 2.
Who sits in the middle seat of Row 1?
Practice 8hard
Eight people—A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H—sit in two parallel rows of 4 each, facing North. Row 1 is in front; Row 2 is behind. Positions are numbered 1–4 from left to right in each row.
Clues:
1. A sits in Row 1, Position 2.
2. B sits directly behind A (Row 2, Position 2).
3. C sits to the immediate right of A in Row 1.
4. D sits in Row 2, Position 4, and faces the same direction as everyone else.
5. E sits to the left of B in Row 2.
6. F sits in Row 1, Position 1.
7. G sits in Row 2, Position 3.
8. H is the only person not yet placed.
Who sits in Row 1, Position 4?
Practice 9hard
Six people—P, Q, R, S, T, U—sit in two parallel rows of 3 each, facing South. Row 1 is North; Row 2 is South. Positions are 1, 2, 3 from left to right.
Clues:
1. P sits in Row 1, Position 2.
2. Q sits in Row 2, Position 1.
3. R sits directly in front of Q (Row 1, Position 1).
4. S sits to the right of P in Row 1.
5. T sits in Row 2, Position 2, and is not adjacent to Q.
6. U sits in Row 2, Position 3.
Which of the following is a valid pair sitting in the same row?
Practice 10hard
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 East. Positions in Row 1 are 1–4 (left to right); positions in Row 2 are 1–3 (left to right).
Clues:
1. M sits in Row 1, Position 3.
2. N sits in Row 2, Position 2.
3. O sits to the left of M in Row 1.
4. P sits in Row 1, Position 1.
5. Q sits directly behind M (Row 2, Position 3).
6. R sits in Row 2, Position 1.
7. S sits in Row 1, Position 4.
If we count from the left in each row, which person sits at the same position number in both rows?
Practice 11hard
Eight people—A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H—sit in two parallel rows of 4 each, facing North. Row 1 is in front; Row 2 is behind. Positions are 1–4 from left to right.
Clues:
1. A sits in Row 1, Position 2.
2. B sits directly behind A.
3. C sits to the immediate right of A.
4. D sits in Row 2, Position 4.
5. E sits to the left of B in Row 2.
6. F sits in Row 1, Position 1.
7. G sits in Row 2, Position 3.
8. H sits in Row 1, Position 4.
Which of the following statements is FALSE?
Practice 12hard
Nine people—A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I—sit in two parallel rows: Row 1 has 5 seats, Row 2 has 4 seats. Both rows face East. Positions in Row 1 are 1–5 (left to right); positions in Row 2 are 1–4 (left to right).
Clues:
1. A sits in Row 1, Position 3.
2. B sits in Row 2, Position 2.
3. C sits to the left of A in Row 1.
4. D sits in Row 1, Position 1.
5. E sits directly behind A (Row 2, Position 3).
6. F sits in Row 2, Position 1.
7. G sits to the right of A in Row 1.
8. H sits in Row 1, Position 5.
9. I sits in Row 2, Position 4.
How many people sit to the right of the person sitting directly in front of them?
Practice 13hard
Eight people—A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H—sit in two parallel rows of 4 each, facing North. Row 1 is in front; Row 2 is behind. Positions are numbered 1–4 from left to right in each row.
Clues:
1. A sits in Row 1, Position 2.
2. B sits directly behind A (Row 2, Position 2).
3. C sits to the right of A in Row 1.
4. D sits in Row 2, Position 4, and faces the same direction as all others.
5. E sits in Row 1, Position 1.
6. F sits directly behind E.
7. G sits in Row 2, Position 3.
8. H is the only person not yet placed.
Who sits in Row 1, Position 4?
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