SSC CGL Data Sufficiency โ Reasoning โ Study Material & 52 Practice MCQs | ZestExam
ZestExam
SSC CGL Data Sufficiency โ Reasoning
Study Material ยท Concept Notes ยท Shortcuts
This page covers SSC CGL Data Sufficiency โ Reasoning with complete concept notes, 52 graded practice MCQs, key points and exam-specific tips. Free to study.
Data Sufficiency is a unique question type where you don't solve the problem completely. Instead, you determine whether the given information is enough to answer the question. Think of it as being a detective - you need to check if the clues are sufficient to solve the case.
In SSC CGL, data sufficiency questions typically provide a question followed by two statements (I and II).
Your job is to decide which combination of statements can answer the question. The standard answer choices are:
A) Statement I alone is sufficient
B) Statement II alone is sufficient
C) Both statements together are sufficient
D) Neither statement is sufficient
E) Each statement alone is sufficient
Key Rules: Never assume information not given. Don't make calculations unless necessary - just check if calculation is possible.
Focus on 'Can I solve?' not 'What is the answer?'. Remember that 'sufficient' means you can find a unique answer, not multiple possibilities.
๐
Exam Patterns
What examiners ask โ read before attempting PYQs
SSC CGL asks 2-3 data sufficiency questions per paper. Common topics include ages, profit-loss, time-work, geometry, and number problems. Questions often test logical thinking more than mathematical computation.
Powerful Shortcut: Use the SCAN method - S(can I solve with Statement I alone?), C(an I solve with Statement II alone?), A(re both needed together?), N(ot sufficient even together?). This systematic approach prevents confusion and saves time.
โ๏ธ
Worked Example
Solve this step-by-step before moving on
1
Step 1
Check Statement I alone
Statement I gives us: Ram = Shyam + 5
This has two unknowns but only one equation. We cannot find Ram's exact age.
Statement I alone: NOT SUFFICIENT
2
Step 2
Check Statement II alone
Statement II gives us: Ram + 10 = 2 ร (Shyam's current age)
Again, two unknowns, one equation. Cannot find exact ages.
Statement II alone: NOT SUFFICIENT
3
Step 3
Check both statements together
From I: Ram = Shyam + 5, so Shyam = Ram - 5
From II: Ram + 10 = 2 ร Shyam
Substituting: Ram + 10 = 2(Ram - 5)
Ram + 10 = 2Ram - 10
20 = Ram
Both statements together give us Ram's age as 20 years.
Answer: C) Both statements together are sufficient
Common Mistake: Students often try to solve the complete problem instead of just checking sufficiency. This wastes time and can lead to wrong conclusions. Another trap is assuming obvious information that isn't stated - stick strictly to what's given.
Remember: In data sufficiency, your goal is to be a judge, not a calculator. Judge whether the evidence is enough to reach a verdict.
Test Data Sufficiency โ Reasoning under exam conditions
Statements:
I. All honest people are trustworthy.
II. Some trustworthy people are not rich.
Question: Can we conclude that some honest people are not rich?
A) Yes, definitely
B) No, it is not possible to conclude this
C) Yes, but only if all rich people are dishonest
D) No, because all honest people must be rich
Practice 2easy
Statements:
I. All teachers are educated.
II. Some educated people are not doctors.
Question: Is it possible that all teachers are doctors?
A) Yes, it is definitely possible
B) No, it is definitely not possible
C) Cannot be determined from the given statements
D) Yes, but only if all educated people are teachers
Practice 3easy
Statements:
I. All fruits are sweet.
II. Some sweet things are not healthy.
Question: Which of the following must be true?
(A) All fruits are healthy.
(B) Some fruits are not healthy.
(C) No fruit is healthy.
(D) We cannot determine if any fruit is healthy.
Practice 4easy
In a group of 5 people, each person shakes hands with every other person exactly once. How many total handshakes occur?
Statement I: There are 5 people in the group.
Statement II: Each handshake involves exactly 2 people.
Which statement(s) is/are sufficient to answer the question?
(A) Statement I alone is sufficient
(B) Statement II alone is sufficient
(C) Both statements together are necessary
(D) Either statement alone is sufficient
Practice 5easy
Statements:
I. All teachers are educated.
II. Some educated people are not teachers.
Question: Is it possible for an educated person to not be a teacher?
Which statement(s) is/are sufficient to answer the question?
Practice 6easy
Statements:
I. All engineers are problem-solvers.
II. All problem-solvers are intelligent.
Question: Which of the following must be true?
(A) All intelligent people are engineers.
(B) Some engineers are not intelligent.
(C) All engineers are intelligent.
(D) No engineer is intelligent.
Practice 7easy
Statements:
I. All flowers are plants.
II. Some plants are green.
III. All roses are flowers.
Question: Which conclusion logically follows?
A) All roses are green
B) Some roses are green
C) All roses are plants
D) No rose is green
Practice 8easy
Is Rahul taller than Priya?
Statement I: Rahul is taller than Amit, and Amit is taller than Priya.
Statement II: Priya is shorter than Rahul by 5 cm.
Practice 9easy
Statements:
I. All fruits are sweet.
II. All mangoes are fruits.
III. Some sweet things are expensive.
Question: Which of the following must be true?
(A) All mangoes are expensive.
(B) Some mangoes are expensive.
(C) All mangoes are sweet.
(D) Some fruits are not sweet.
Practice 10easy
Statements:
I. Raj scored more marks than Priya.
II. Priya scored more marks than Karan.
Question: Did Raj score more marks than Karan?
Which statement(s) is/are sufficient to answer the question?
Practice 11easy
Statements:
I. No politician is honest.
II. Some honest people are rich.
Question: Can we conclude that no politician is rich?
Which of the following is correct?
(A) Yes, we can definitely conclude this.
(B) No, we cannot conclude this.
(C) Yes, but only if all rich people are honest.
(D) No, because all politicians must be rich.
Practice 12easy
Statements:
I. No cats are dogs.
II. All pets are either cats or dogs.
Question: Can a pet be a cat?
Which statement(s) is/are sufficient to answer the question?
Practice 13easy
Statements:
I. No reptile is a mammal.
II. All snakes are reptiles.
Question: Which of the following must be true?
A) All snakes are mammals
B) No snake is a mammal
C) Some snakes are mammals
D) Some snakes are not reptiles
Practice 14easy
Statements:
I. No politician is honest.
II. Some honest people are rich.
Question: Can we conclude that no politician is rich?
Which of the following is correct?
(A) Yes, we can definitely conclude this.
(B) No, we cannot conclude this.
(C) The conclusion is definitely false.
(D) We need more information.
Practice 15easy
Statements:
I. All teachers are educated.
II. Some educated people are not doctors.
Question: Is it possible that all teachers are doctors?
Which of the following is correct?
(A) Yes, it is definitely possible.
(B) No, it is definitely not possible.
(C) Cannot be determined from the given statements.
(D) Yes, it is definitely true.
Practice 16easy
Statements:
I. All students in Class A passed the exam.
II. Some students in Class B failed the exam.
III. All students in Class A are from City X.
Question: Can we conclude that some students from City X failed the exam?
Which of the following is correct?
(A) Yes, we can definitely conclude this.
(B) No, we cannot conclude this.
(C) Yes, because some students in Class B are from City X.
(D) Yes, because all students in Class A are from City X.
Practice 17easy
Statements:
I. All teachers are educated.
II. Some educated people are not doctors.
Question: Is it possible that all teachers are doctors?
Which of the following is correct?
(A) Yes, it is definitely possible.
(B) No, it is definitely not possible.
(C) Cannot be determined from the given statements.
(D) Yes, but only if all educated people are teachers.
Practice 18easy
Statements:
I. Some athletes are vegetarians.
II. All vegetarians are health-conscious.
Question: Which of the following must be true?
(A) All athletes are health-conscious.
(B) Some athletes are health-conscious.
(C) No athlete is health-conscious.
(D) All health-conscious people are athletes.
Practice 19easy
Statements:
I. All engineers are problem-solvers.
II. No problem-solver is lazy.
III. Some engineers are not creative.
Question: Which of the following must be true?
(A) All engineers are lazy.
(B) No engineer is lazy.
(C) Some engineers are lazy.
(D) Some problem-solvers are creative.
Practice 20easy
Statements:
I. All roses are flowers.
II. Some flowers are red.
Question: Are all roses red?
Which statement(s) is/are sufficient to answer the question?
32 more practice questions in the Study Panel
Difficulty-graded, bookmarkable, with timed mode. Free account โ no credit card.