You are given information about positions, rankings, or arrangements. Your job is to determine the exact order or find specific positions of elements in that arrangement
💡Key Rules
Always work systematically from left to right or top to bottom. When multiple conditions are given, satisfy all conditions simultaneously. Pay attention to words like 'between', 'immediately', 'adjacent', 'next to', and 'opposite'
→Types of Questions
Linear arrangements (single row), circular arrangements, and ranking based on performance, height, weight, or age. SSC CGL frequently asks about finding positions, counting people between two positions, or determining who sits where
⚡Shortcut Technique 1
Use the 'Anchor Method'. Find the most restrictive condition first and use it as your starting point. This saves time and reduces errors.
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Worked Example
Solve this step-by-step before moving on
1
Step 1
D sits at one end. Let's place D at the left end: D _ _ _ _
2
Step 2
A sits two places to the left of E. This means there's exactly one person between A and E. Possible positions: A_E or positions 2 and 4.
3
Step 3
Since D is at position 1, A can be at position 2 and E at position 4: D A _ E _
4
Step 4
B sits immediately to the right of C. The remaining positions are 3 and 5. So C must be at position 3 and B at position 5.
Final arrangement: D A C E B
Verification: A is two places left of E ✓, B is immediately right of C ✓, D is at one end ✓
Shortcut Technique 2: Use the 'Elimination Method' for ranking questions. When given partial information about ranks, eliminate impossible positions systematically.
Common Mistakes: Students often confuse 'left' and 'right' directions. Always maintain consistent orientation. Another mistake is not checking if the final arrangement satisfies ALL given conditions. Many students also misinterpret 'between' (which excludes endpoints) and 'among' (which can include endpoints).
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Exam Patterns
What examiners ask — read before attempting PYQs
SSC CGL typically asks 1-2 questions on this topic. Questions usually involve 5-8 people or objects. Linear arrangements are more common than circular ones. The difficulty level is moderate, and these questions are scoring if approached systematically.
In a queue of 50 people, Meera's position from the front is 18. How many people are standing behind Meera?
Practice 2easy
In a class of 40 students, Raj ranks 15th from the top. What is his rank from the bottom?
Practice 3easy
In a race, Priya finished ahead of Qureshi. Qureshi finished ahead of Ravi. Sana finished ahead of Priya. Who finished in the second position?
Practice 4easy
In a building with 8 floors, Apartment A is on the 3rd floor. Apartment B is 2 floors above Apartment A. On which floor is Apartment B?
Practice 5easy
Five friends are standing in a line. Arun is 2nd from the left. Bhavna is 2nd from the right. How many people are standing between Arun and Bhavna?
Practice 6easy
Seven books are arranged on a shelf. The English book is 3 positions to the right of the Hindi book. If the Hindi book is at position 2, at which position is the English book?
Practice 7easy
Seven students are ranked 1st through 7th in a test. Meera's rank is 4th. Naveen's rank is 2 positions below Meera's rank. Omprakash's rank is 1 position above Naveen's rank. What is Omprakash's rank?
Practice 8easy
Among six books on a shelf, Book A is heavier than Book B. Book C is lighter than Book D. Book B is heavier than Book C. Book E is heavier than Book F. If Book D is heavier than Book A, which book is the heaviest among A, B, C, and D?
Practice 9easy
In a class of 40 students, Rajesh's rank from the top is 15th. What is his rank from the bottom?
Practice 10easy
Seven students stand in a line. Arun is 4th from the left. What is his position from the right?
Practice 11easy
Five friends—Anil, Bina, Charu, Devi, and Eka—are standing in a line. Charu is 2nd from the left. Eka is 2nd from the right. Anil is to the left of Bina. Who is standing in the middle?
Practice 12easy
In a class of 40 students, Rajesh's rank from the top is 12th. What is his rank from the bottom?
Practice 13easy
In a queue of 12 people, Neha is 7th from the front. Exactly 3 people are standing between Neha and Rohan. How many possible positions can Rohan occupy?
Practice 14easy
In a race, Priya finishes before Quincy. Quincy finishes before Ravi. Sita finishes after Ravi but before Priya. Who finishes first?
Practice 15easy
In a race, Priya finished ahead of Neha, and Neha finished ahead of Meera. Meera finished ahead of Deepa. Who finished last among the four?
Practice 16easy
In a class of 40 students, Rajesh's rank from the top is 12th. What is his rank from the bottom?
Practice 17easy
In a row of 20 students, Ravi is 8th from the left end. What is his position from the right end?
Practice 18easy
Among 6 books on a shelf, Book A is 3rd from the left. Book B is immediately to the right of Book A. What is Book B's position from the left?
Practice 19medium
In a merit list of 50 students, Meera's rank is 15th from the top. Neha's rank is 10 positions below Meera's rank. What is Neha's rank from the bottom?
Practice 20medium
In a building, there are 8 floors. Apartment A is on a floor such that there are exactly 3 floors above it. Apartment B is 2 floors below Apartment A. On which floor is Apartment B?
15 more practice questions in the Study Panel
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