Seating Arrangement is one of the most asked topics in the IBPS PO 2025 Prelims exam. It may look confusing at first, but with the right approach, you can solve these questions quickly and correctly. However, many students make small mistakes that lead to wrong answers or a waste of time. In this blog, we will help you understand the topic clearly, explain the types of questions, their importance in the exam, and the most common mistakes to avoid while solving seating arrangement puzzles.
What is Seating Arrangement?
Seating arrangement questions are puzzles where people or objects are seated in a particular order. You are given a set of clues and must arrange them correctly. These puzzles test your logical thinking and ability to follow multiple clues at the same time.
Types of Seating Arrangement
Here are the common types of seating arrangement questions you may see in IBPS PO:
| Type | Definition |
| Linear Arrangement | People are sitting in a straight line, either facing north or south. |
| Circular Arrangement | People are sitting around a circle, facing inside or outside. |
| Square Arrangement | People are sitting around a square or rectangular table. |
| Two Rows | Two lines of people face each other or in the same direction. |
| With Vacant Seats | Some seats are empty, making the puzzle more challenging. |
| Mixed Arrangement | Includes extra data like professions, cities, etc., along with positions. |
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Weightage and Importance Of Seating Arrangement in IBPS PO
Seating Arrangement is a high-scoring topic if you practice enough. You usually get one full puzzle (5 questions) in Prelims, and multiple puzzles in the Mains exam.
| Exam Stage | Number of Questions | Difficulty Level |
| Prelims | 5 to 10 | Moderate |
| Mains | 10 to 15 | Moderate to High |
Weightage and Importance Of Seating Arrangement in IBPS PO
Seating Arrangement is a high-scoring topic if you practice enough. You usually get one full puzzle (5 questions) in Prelims, and multiple puzzles in the Mains exam.
| Exam Stage | Number of Questions | Difficulty Level |
| Prelims | 5 to 10 | Moderate |
| Mains | 10 to 15 | Moderate to High |
Since these puzzles come as sets, if you solve one correctly, you get all 5 marks easily.
Common Mistakes to Avoid While Solving Seating Arrangement
Let’s now talk about the most common mistakes students make while solving seating arrangement puzzles and how to avoid them:
Not Drawing the Diagram
Many students try to solve the puzzle in their heads. Always draw a proper layout. For linear arrangements, draw a row with boxes. For circular ones, draw a circle and mark positions.
Placing Names Too Early
Students place names too soon without enough clues. Wait until you have enough fixed clues. Try to place only those people whose positions are certain.
Confusing Left and Right
You get confused with “left” and “right”, especially when people face different directions.
If people face north, their left and right are the same as yours. If they face south, it is opposite.
Ignoring Negative Clues
Clues like “A doesn’t sit next to B” are ignored. These are very important. They help eliminate wrong possibilities. Pay attention to “not”, “except”, and “only”.
Not Rechecking Final Arrangements
Once they fill in the arrangement, students directly answer questions without checking. After placing all people, quickly read each clue and check if everything matches. Just 30 seconds of checking can save your marks.
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FAQs
Yes, 5-10 questions.
Try to solve in 5–6 minutes. Skip if it’s taking too long.
Practice 1 puzzle every day with a timer and check your accuracy.
Not always. Vacant seat puzzles are hard, but with practice, they become easier. Try it if you have time.
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