Most Asked Types of Puzzles For SBI PO Mains Exam 2025

The SBI PO Mains exam is just one month away. In the Reasoning section of SBI PO Mains, you will face 40 questions for 60 marks with 50 minutes to solve them. At first, this might seem like enough time, but remember, the level of Mains is much tougher compared to Prelims. One of the most important things you should know is that there is a sectional cut-off. This means you must score minimum of marks in every section to qualify. To clear this section, you need smart preparation, not just hard work. The major part of Reasoning in SBI PO Mains comes from Puzzles and Seating Arrangements, which carry high weightage. If you practice these regularly, your score can improve a lot. In this blog, we will discuss the most asked puzzle types, tips on how to solve them quickly, and also share free practice questions for your preparation.

Types of Puzzles Asked in SBI PO Mains Exam 2025

When you prepare for the SBI PO Mains reasoning section, puzzles are the heart of the SBI PO Mains exam. Almost half of the questions come from puzzles and seating arrangements, and unlike Prelims, they are more detailed, lengthy, and multi-layered. If you want to score well, you must understand the types of puzzles asked and practice them smartly.

1. Linear Arrangement Puzzles

These puzzles are about people sitting in a straight line. Everyone may face the same direction (north or south) or mixed directions. if two cases are given in question it will make students confuse. Sometimes, extra variable like their age, profession, or height are added. For example, “Seven people are sitting in a row, some facing north, some facing south, and each has a different profession.” To solve these, always start by getting the direct clues like who is sitting at the extreme ends and gradually place others.

2. Circular, Square, and Polygon Arrangement Puzzles

Here, people sit around a round, square, or polygon-shaped table. Some face inward, others outward, which increases difficulty. On top of that, you might get extra details like favorite cities, colors, or subjects. For example, “Eight friends are sitting around a circular table, some facing the center, and others facing outside. Each likes a different subject.” in such puzzles you can make table for better visualization. Beacuse one wrong assumption can confuse the whole solution.

3. Floor-Based Puzzles

These are very common in SBI PO Mains. You have to arrange people living on different floors of a building. It gets tougher when additional details like their job, favorite car, or hobby are added. For example, “A building has 8 floors, and each floor is occupied by a person with a different profession.” In such puzzles start with direct clues given in the puzzles.Put them in a floor step by step and try to connect the two clues which has similar variable.

4. Month/Day/Year Puzzles

These puzzles are based on events scheduled on different days, months, or years. They may even combine multiple details together, like “Seven people were born in different months, and each has a unique hobby.” This type always looks lengthy but can be solved easily if you focus on timeline placement and work step by step.

5. Box/Stack/Order Arrangement Puzzles

These puzzles are about arranging boxes one above another, or ordering/ranking people based on certain criteria like tallest to shortest, heaviest to lightest, or oldest to youngest. The challenge students faces in such question is that the sometimes conditions overlap. in this case you can start by eliminatibng all the possibites given in questions or you can put cross on the box in which partcular variable cannot be fit.For example, “Seven boxes are stacked one above another, each containing a different item.” These are frequent and relatively easier with practice.

6. Hybrid/Mixed Puzzles

This is the toughest type of puzzle and a favorite in SBI PO Mains. Hybrid puzzles combine two or more types together. For example, “Eight people are sitting in a row, each belongs to a different state and owns a different car.” Or a floor puzzle mixed with colors and professions. These take the most time. you need a good amount of practice to solve such type of questions.

Weightage of Puzzles in the SBI PO Mains Exam 2025

When we look at the SBI PO Mains reasoning paper of the last 5 years, one thing is very clear – Puzzles and Seating Arrangement always dominate the section. In 2020, around 25–27 questions came, in 2021 it was 20, in 2022 it dropped to 15, but again in 2023 it was 21–25 and in 2024 it was 20. So, every year at least 50–60% of the reasoning paper is from puzzles. This means students must give maximum practice to puzzles. Start with linear, circular, and floor-based puzzles, then move to hybrid ones. Other topics like logical reasoning, machine input-output, data sufficiency, and coded direction are also important, but they carry fewer questions compared to puzzles. The right approach is to make puzzles your strongest area because once you solve 3–4 puzzles correctly in the exam, your score automatically jumps. Regular practice and speed building are the keys here.

Most Important Puzzles Questions for SBI PO Mains 2025

Here are some important and expected questions of DI for SBI PO Mains. Have a look:

Directions: Answer the questions based on the information given below.

There are seven teams KKR, KXIP, JW, RR, CSK, MI and DD which represented different states (Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, WB, Assam, MP, Punjab and Odisha). Each of these teams played match in different venues (Pune, Kolkata, Chandigarh, Chennai, Hyderabad, New Delhi, Lucknow). Total runs scored by each team is 79, 81, 85, 86, 88, 91 and 92.

KKR represents Gujarat and scored 6 runs less than the team, which played its match in Chandigarh. JW played in New Delhi scored at most 6 runs more than KKR. Neither RR nor MI played in Hyderabad. DD doesn’t represent Tamil Nadu. The team, which represent Punjab, neither scored 79 nor 85 runs. The team, which represents Odisha, scored more than the one, which represents Punjab. Difference in run scored by the teams which played in New Delhi and Chandigarh is equal to the difference between the run scored by the teams which played in Hyderabad and Lucknow. DD doesn’t play in Hyderabad. DD scores 85 runs. Sum of runs of RR and the one, which represents Tamil Nadu, is not more than 166. Team, which played in Chennai, scored lesser run than CSK, who played in Pune. CSK doesn’t score 88 runs. The team, which played at Kolkata, scored the lowest run. Team, which represents Assam, scored more than the one, which represents Odisha. JW does not represent Tamil Nadu.

Question 1: Which among the following teams scored runs which is an even number?

I. KXIP

II. CSK

III. JW

A) Only II and III

B) Only III

C) Only I and II

D) Only I and III

E) Only II

Question 2: The teams from which among the following states, doesn’t scored more than 86 runs?

I. West Bengal

II. Madhya Pradesh

III. Punjab

A) Only II and III

B) Only III

C) Only I and III

D) Only II

E) Only I and II

Question 3: Difference in the runs scored by JW and the team which represents Odisha, is ____.

A) 3

B) 7

C) 9

D) 6

E) None of the above

Question 4: Sum of total runs scored by KXIP and RR is ____.

A) 177

B) 179

C) 160

D) 165

E) None of the above

Question 5: The team, which played in ____ scored the 2^nd highest runs.

A) New Delhi

B) Kolkata

C) Chandigarh

D) Pune

E) None of the above

Download Free PDF of Puzzles question for SBI PO Mains

Download the free PDF of puzzle questions for SBI PO Mains and practice high-level puzzle sets. These questions are based on the latest exam pattern to help you improve speed and accuracy. It helps make your preparation more productive for scoring well in the Reasoning section.

How to Solve Puzzles in SBI PO Mains Exam

In SBI PO Mains, puzzles are the scoring part of the Reasoning section. Almost half of your score depends on puzzles and seating arrangement. Unlike Prelims, where puzzles are straightforward, in Mains they are multi-layered with 3–4 variables (like persons, places, numbers, conditions, etc.) connected together. You can the follow the simple steps 

1. Read the Entire Puzzle in One Go

The first mistake students make is moving directly into question solution. Instead, read the whole puzzle once carefully. Try to find out how many variables are there (like in the example: Teams, States, Venues, and Runs). By reading once, you’ll sense whether it’s a tricky puzzle or a puzzles you be able to do it. This helps you decide if you should attempt it first or leave it for later.

2. Create a Table

Always draw a structured table/grid. For puzzles, this is your biggest helping hand. A table avoids confusion. It also makes linking easier, and keeps your work clean. If there are multiple possibilities, don’t think twice to make 2–3 tables side by side. This way, if one doesn’t fit, you can quickly switch to the other.

3. Start with Direct Clues

Direct clues are the most valuable starting point. They usually give clear information connecting two or more variables. Example: “KKR represents Gujarat and scored 6 runs less than the team in Chandigarh.” Such clues directly link team, state, and runs. Note them down immediately in your table.

4. Move to Elimination-Based Clues

Once direct clues are placed, go for elimination-based ones. It means there are such statements which directly show this possibility will not fit in particular case. These are clues that tell you what cannot happen. For example: “DD doesn’t represent Tamil Nadu.” These negative statements help you cut down options and shorten the puzzle solution.

5. Use Linking Technique

Many puzzles in Mains need you to connect two indirect clues. Example: “The team from Odisha scored more than Punjab” and “The team in Kolkata scored the lowest.” By combining these type of links or hints, you create chains of logic. This technique saves time and you will not get confused.

6. Manage Time Wisely

In SBI PO Mains, one puzzle can take 5–7 minutes. So, never get stuck. If after 2–3 minutes of starting puzzle you are still blank, skip and come back later if you had time. Because solving 3–4 puzzles with accuracy can fetch you more marks than wasting time on one tough puzzle.

Here is what the Successful Candidates say about the practice mock. Have a look. You never know may be you are the next one.

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