Tips to Solve Different Types of Seating Arrangement Questions

Reasoning Ability Section is one of the most important sections of all banking and insurance exams and is probably a scoring one too. If we carefully analyze the previous year questions of all major banking exams then seating arrangement is one prominent topic that forms a major chunk of the questions from Reasoning section particularly. Seating arrangement questions are usually asked in both Prelims and Mains examinations of major banking exams including IBPS PO, SBI PO, SBI Clerk, RRB PO and RRB Clerk etc. thus, aspirants must prepare this topic well. In order to master the seating arrangement topic aspirants must practice as many questions as possible based on that. Practice is the ultimate key to score well in the reasoning section. In this article we are here to give you tips in order to solve different types of seating arrangement questions which usually come in the exams.

Different Types of Seating Arrangements

Candidates must be aware that in exams at least two sets are asked from the seating arrangement or puzzle based questions which makes this topic extremely important. Different types of seating arrangements on which questions can be asked are:

• Linear Arrangement
• Circular Arrangement (inward facing, outward facing or facing both sides)
• Rectangular/Square Arrangement (inward facing, outward facing or facing both sides)
• Combination of Linear, Circular & Square along with Puzzles

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Let’s study each and every arrangement in detail now:

Linear Seating Arrangement

These type of questions are usually asked in a single row or double row arrangement. In this directions of the people in which they are sitting is a point which is to be considered carefully. In this kind of arrangement usually a single row of arrangement is formed.

Circular Seating Arrangement

As far as circular arrangement is concerned, questions are generally asked in the following forms:

• All people are facing towards the centre
• All people are facing outside the centre
• Some people are facing inside and some are facing outside the centre

In such kind of problems special attention is to be given to the direction in which people are sitting.

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Double Row Arrangement

These are the questions in which there will be two groups of persons and you have to arrange one group in one row and other group in another row. Persons in this normally face each other.

Rectangular/Square Arrangement

In this type of seating arrangement different types of arrangements are possible that are mentioned below:

• All people facing towards centre
• All people facing outside the centre
• Some people are facing inside while some are facing outside

The directions in this are similar to that of the circular arrangement.

Combination of Linear, Circular and Square Seating Arrangements combined along with Puzzles

This is a bit complicated problem and usually aspirants find it difficult to solve such kind of problems. In order to master these, practice such questions well.

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Seating Arrangement Tips & Tricks

Seating arrangement questions are usually asked in the blocks of 4 to 5 questions. Some information will be given to the candidates and there will be questions based on that information. There are generally two types of information available to the candidates:

Type I: Direct Information – As the name suggests, direct information is clearly mentioned in the statement of the question itself. While solving questions this is the information to be used.

Type II: Indirect Information: Once you have filled all the direct information correctly, then you will have to look for any connection between the different parts of the information. These connections form the indirect information.

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Following Things to be Kept in Mind While Solving Seating Arrangement Questions

• Don’t panic by the language of the question or the size.
• Read the question carefully and find all all relevant and important details. Usually all the details are given in the question itself. All you need to do is look at it carefully and try to figure out what the question is trying to say.
• Even if the question is combined with puzzles, the approach to take up the question would remain the same as that in the case of normal seating arrangement questions.
• According to the given question, all possible scenarios are to be considered and lot of possibilities will keep getting cancelled out once you move ahead with the question.

Practice is the only key to win over these kind of seating arrangement problems. Make sure you practice specific seating arrangement and puzzles based questions. Practicing Reasoning Aptitude sectional tests will be of great help. Also, practice as many mock tests as possible.