SSC CPO Data Sufficiency — Reasoning — Study Material, 12 PYQs & Practice MCQs | ZestExam
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SSC CPO Data Sufficiency — Reasoning
Study Material — 12 PYQs (2022–2022) · Concept Notes · Shortcuts
SSC CPO Data Sufficiency — Reasoning is a frequently tested subtopic — 12 previous year questions from 2022–2022 papers are included below with concept notes, key rules and shortcut tricks.
SSC CPO Data Sufficiency — Reasoning — Past Exam Questions
12 questions from actual SSC CPO papers · all shown free · click option to reveal solution
Exam Q 12022Previous Year Pattern
In a group of 5 people, each person shakes hands with every other person exactly once. How many handshakes occur in total?
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?
Test Data Sufficiency — Reasoning under exam conditions
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 possible.
(B) No, it is not possible.
(C) Cannot be determined from the given statements.
(D) The statements are contradictory.
Exam Q 32022Previous Year Pattern
Statements:
I. All flowers are plants.
II. All plants need water.
III. Some flowers are roses.
Question: Do all roses need water?
Which of the following is correct?
(A) Yes, definitely.
(B) No, definitely not.
(C) Cannot be determined from the given statements.
(D) Only some roses need water.
Exam Q 42022Previous Year Pattern
Statements:
I. All doctors are professionals.
II. Some professionals are teachers.
III. No teacher is a doctor.
Question: Are the given statements logically consistent?
Which of the following is correct?
(A) Yes, the statements are consistent.
(B) No, the statements are contradictory.
(C) The statements are partially consistent.
(D) Cannot be determined from the given statements.
Exam Q 52022Previous Year Pattern
A person walks from point A to point B. Statement I: The person walks 8 km North, then 6 km East. Statement II: The straight-line distance from A to B is 10 km. Is Statement II sufficient to determine the path taken by the person?
Exam Q 62022Previous Year Pattern
In a group of 5 people, each person shakes hands with every other person exactly once. Statement I: The total number of handshakes is 10. Statement II: If we add one more person, the total number of handshakes becomes 15. Which statement(s) is/are sufficient to determine the total number of handshakes in the original group?
Exam Q 72022Previous Year Pattern
A person's age is being determined. Statement I: The person's age is a two-digit number. Statement II: When the digits are reversed, the resulting number is 27 less than the original age. If the person's current age is between 30 and 60, what is their age?
Exam Q 82022Previous Year Pattern
In a group of 5 people, each person knows at least one language among English, Hindi, and Tamil. Statement I: The number of people who know English is equal to the number of people who know Hindi. Statement II: Exactly 2 people know Tamil, and no one knows all three languages. Is the data sufficient to determine the exact number of people who know only English?
Exam Q 92022Previous Year Pattern
In a family, there are three children. Statement I: The sum of their ages is 15 years. Statement II: The product of their ages is 24 years. What is the age of the youngest child?
Exam Q 102022Previous Year Pattern
Statement I: All members of Club A are also members of Club B. Statement II: Some members of Club B are not members of Club A. Can we determine whether Club A and Club B have the same membership?
Exam Q 112022Previous Year Pattern
A company manufactures products A and B. Statement I: The production cost of A is ₹40 per unit. Statement II: The production cost of B is 25% more than A. Statement III: The selling price of A is ₹60 per unit. Statement IV: The profit margin on B is 20%. Statement V: The company produced 100 units of A and some units of B, with a combined total profit of ₹2,400. Can we determine the number of units of B produced?
Exam Q 122022Previous Year Pattern
A shopkeeper sells three types of items: X, Y, Z. Statement I: The profit on X is 20% more than on Y. Statement II: The profit on Z is 15% less than on Y. Statement III: The total profit from selling 10 units of X, 15 units of Y, and 20 units of Z is ₹2,500. Can we determine the individual profit per unit on Y?
Concept Notes
Data Sufficiency — Reasoning— Rules & Concept
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Core Concept
Read this first — the foundation of the topic
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.
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Exam Patterns
What examiners ask — 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.
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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 × (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 × 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.
Key Points to Remember
Data sufficiency tests whether given information is enough to answer the question, not the actual answer
Standard format includes a question followed by two statements I and II
Five answer choices cover all combinations of statement sufficiency
Never assume information that is not explicitly provided in the statements
Focus on 'Can I solve?' rather than 'What is the solution?'
Use SCAN method: check Statement I alone, Statement II alone, both together, neither sufficient
Sufficient means you can find one unique answer, not multiple possibilities
Most common topics are ages, profit-loss, time-work, and basic geometry problems
Exam-Specific Tips
SSC CGL includes 2-3 data sufficiency questions per reasoning section
Standard answer choices are always A, B, C, D, E representing different statement combinations
Data sufficiency questions carry same marks as other logical reasoning questions
Age-related problems appear in 40% of data sufficiency questions in SSC exams
Time allocation should be maximum 2 minutes per data sufficiency question
Geometry-based data sufficiency questions often involve finding area or perimeter
Number theory problems frequently test concepts of even, odd, and prime numbers
60-Second Revision — Data Sufficiency — Reasoning
Remember: Judge sufficiency, don't calculate the actual answer unless necessary
Formula: Use SCAN method to systematically check each statement combination
Trap: Never assume information not explicitly stated in the problem
Strategy: If one statement alone works, don't waste time checking combinations
Focus: Look for unique answer possibility, not multiple solutions
Time tip: Spend maximum 2 minutes per question using elimination method