SBI PO Syllogism Questions, Check Smart Tricks to Solve Ques Quickly

SBI PO Syllogism Questions: Syllogism is an important part of the logical reasoning section in the SBI PO competitive exam. For aspirants aiming to excel in the SBI PO 2025 Prelims, mastering syllogism is important, as it typically contains 2-6 questions in the exam and boosts your overall score in the reasoning section. In this article, we are providing a comprehensive guide to understanding syllogism, offering important practice questions for the SBI PO 2025 exam and sharing smart tricks to solve these questions quickly and accurately, ensuring you maximise your performance on exam day.

What is a Syllogism

A syllogism is a type of logical reasoning problem where conclusions are drawn from a set of given statements (premises). It involves deducing whether a particular conclusion logically follows from the given statements.

SBI PO Syllogism Questions: Types Asked

Over the years, SBI PO has featured different patterns of syllogism, which are crucial for candidates to understand and practice.

Traditional/Old Pattern:

• Based on Venn diagram logic.
• Two or three statements followed by conclusions.
• The candidate needs to decide which conclusion follows.

New Pattern (introduced in recent years):

• Only a few statements were given.
• Reverse syllogism — conclusions given, and the candidate must decide which statements are possible.
• Possibility-based conclusions.
• Questions asking “At least”, “Some not”, “Possibility”, etc.

Basic Rules for Solving Syllogism Questions

To solve syllogism questions effectively, it is important to understand some basic principles and relationships between the given statements. Below are some important and basic rules to solve Syllogism questions for the RRB PO 2025 exam.

All + All = All
If both statements are of the type “All A are B” and “All B are C”, then the conclusion will be “All A are C.”

• All + No = No
  If the statements are “All A are B” and “No B are C”, the valid conclusion is “No A are C.”
• All + Some = No Conclusion
  For statements like “All A are B” and “Some B are C”, no definite conclusion can be drawn about the relationship between A and C.
• Some + All = Some
  If the statements are “Some A are B” and “All B are C”, you can conclude “Some A are C.”
• Some + No = Some Not
  Given “Some A are B” and “No B are C”, the conclusion will be “Some A are not C.”
• Some + Some = No Conclusion
  With statements like “Some A are B” and “Some B are C”, no definite conclusion about A and C can be made.

Updated Terminology in Recent Exams

In the latest IBPS RRB Clerk exams, syllogism questions have introduced varied terminology:

• Some: Can also appear as Few, A Few, Mostly, 30%, 50%, or Only a Few.
• All: May be phrased as 100%, Each, or Every.
  Example: All A are B may also be stated as 100% A are B or Each A is B.
• Only: The phrase Only A are B means All B are A, and no other element can be part of B.

Complementary Pairs in Syllogism

Some conclusions in syllogism are presented in complementary pairs — either one is true, or neither is.

• Either-or Pair:
  From two given conclusions, one must be true, and the other must be false.
  
  Example:
  Statements:
  • Some A are B
  • Some C are B
• Conclusions:
  • Some A are C
  • Some A are not C
• Neither-nor Pair:
  In this case, neither of the given conclusions is true or can be logically deduced.
  
  Example:
  Statements:
  • All A are B
  • Some B are C
• Conclusions:
  • All A are C
  • No A are C

In this scenario, neither conclusion can be definitively established.

Why is Syllogism Important for SBI PO Prelims?

The SBI PO Prelims exam consists of three sections: Reasoning Ability, Quantitative Aptitude, and English Language. The Reasoning Ability section, which carries 35 marks, often includes 2-6 syllogism questions, each worth 1 mark. Candidates can enhance their reasoning score by mastering the syllogism section.

Given the competitive nature of the SBI PO Prelims, where every mark counts, proficiency in syllogism can significantly boost your chances of clearing the sectional and overall cutoffs.

Most Important SBI PO Syllogism Questions

Question 1: In the question below there are four statements followed by two conclusions I and II. You have to take the three given statements to be true even if they seem to be at variance from commonly known facts and then decide which of the given conclusions logically follows from the four statements disregarding commonly known facts.

Statements:

Some Mobile is Nokia.

No Mobile is Oppo.

All oppo is MI.

Some MI is Vivo.

Conclusions:

I. All MI can never be Nokia.

II. Some MI is not Mobile.

A) Only conclusion I follows.

B) Only conclusion II follows.

C) Either conclusion I or conclusion II follows.

D) Neither conclusion I nor conclusion II follows.

E) Both conclusions I and conclusion II follow.

Question 2: In the question below there are four statements followed by two conclusions I and II. You have to take the three given statements to be true even if they seem to be at variance from commonly known facts and then decide which of the given conclusions logically follows from the four statements disregarding commonly known facts.

Statements:

Some Blue is Red.

Only a few Red is black.

Some black is pink.

No pink is Red.

Conclusions:

I. Some Blue is Pink.

II. All black can be Red.

A) Only conclusion I follows.

B) Only conclusion II follows.

C) Either conclusion I or conclusion II follows.

D) Neither conclusion I nor conclusion II follows.

E) Both conclusion I and conclusion II follow.

Question 3: In the question below there are four statements followed by two conclusions I and II. You have to take the three given statements to be true even if they seem to be at variance from commonly known facts and then decide which of the given conclusions logically follows from the four statements disregarding commonly known facts.

Statements:

All Jack is King.

Some King is diamond.

All diamond is Ace.

Some Ace is spade.

Conclusions:

I. Some spade can be jack.

II. No Jack is Ace.

A) Only conclusion I follows.

B) Only conclusion II follows.

C) Either conclusion I or conclusion II follows.

D) Neither conclusion I nor conclusion II follows.

E) Both conclusion I and conclusion II follow.

Question 4: In the questions given below there are three statements followed by three conclusions I, II and III. You have to take the three given statements to be true even if they seem to be at variance from commonly known facts. Read all the conclusions and then decide which of the given conclusions logically follows from the given statements disregarding commonly known facts.

Statements:

No Maths is Biology

Few Biology is Science

Some Science are not Physics

Conclusion:

I. All Maths can be Physics

II. Some Physics are not Science:

III. Some Science are not Maths

A) Only conclusion I follows

B) Only conclusions II and III follow

C) Only conclusion II follows

D) Only conclusions I and III follow

E) None of the conclusions follows

Question 5: In the question below there are three statements followed by two conclusions I and II. You have to take the three given statements to be true even if they seem to be at variance from commonly known facts and then decide which of the given conclusions logically follows from the three statements disregarding commonly known facts.

Statements:

A few water is ground

Only a few ground is drink

Some drink is tap

Conclusions:

I. Some ground is not drink

II. Few tap can be ground

A) Only conclusion I follows

B) Only conclusion II follows

C) Both the conclusions I and II follow

D) Neither conclusion I nor II follows

E) Either conclusion I or II follows

Smart Tricks to Solve Syllogism Questions Quickly

To excel in syllogism questions, candidates need a blend of conceptual understanding and strategic problem-solving techniques. Below are some smart tricks to solve syllogism questions quickly and accurately, tailored specifically for the SBI PO Prelims.

1. Use Venn Diagrams for Visualisation

Venn diagrams are the most effective tool for solving syllogism questions, Here’s how to use them:

• Identify Categories: Note the categories (e.g., A, B, C) mentioned in the statements.
• Draw Circles: Represent each category as a circle, overlapping them as needed based on the statements.
• Interpret Statements:
  • All A are B: Draw circle A entirely within circle B.
  • No A is B: Draw circles A and B with no overlap.
  • Some A are B: Draw circles A and B with some overlap.
  • Some A are not B: Ensure part of circle A lies outside circle B.

2. Understand Logical Rules

In addition to Venn diagrams, certain logical rules can help you solve syllogism questions quickly without drawing diagrams:

• Positive Statements, Negative Conclusions: If all premises are positive (e.g., “All” or “Some”), a negative conclusion (e.g., “No” or “Some not”) cannot be definitely true.
• Negative Statements, Positive Conclusions: If at least one premise is negative (e.g., “No”), a positive conclusion (e.g., “All” or “Some”) cannot be definitely true unless supported by a specific configuration.
• Complementary Pairs: In “either-or” cases, look for complementary pairs like “All A are B” and “Some A are not B.” If one is true, the other must be false, but one must be true in all scenarios.
• Possibility Cases: For conclusions like “Some A can be B,” check if the scenario is possible in at least one valid Venn diagram.

3. Time Management

• Prioritise Easy Questions: In the exam, quickly identify syllogism questions with simple statements (e.g., two statements, two conclusions) and solve them first.
• Set a Time Limit: Aim to solve each syllogism question in 30-45 seconds. If it takes longer, mark it for review and move on.
• Batch Processing: Solve all syllogism questions together to maintain a consistent thought process and save time.

4. Practice Regularly

Regular practice is key to mastering every topic so you can solve Syllogism variety of Syllogism questions and boost your overall score. Use resources like previous years’ SBI PO question papers, mock tests, and online quizzes to familiarise yourself with different question patterns.

Disclaimer: The questions here are for practice only, inspired by exam trends and past patterns. They are not official or endorsed by IBPS. Actual exam content may differ. Always rely on official notices for authentic information.