Logical Reasoning MCQs With Answers: Analogy, Series & Coding-Decoding

20 logical reasoning MCQs — analogies, number series, and coding-decoding — the exact question types tested in NTS, PPSC, FPSC and CSS aptitude sections.

Logical reasoning shows up in almost every competitive and admission test in Pakistan — NTS, PPSC, FPSC, CSS, and university admission tests all include it, usually as analogies, number/letter series, and coding-decoding. Unlike subject knowledge, this skill improves almost entirely through practice and pattern recognition. Here are 20 questions across the three most common formats.

Analogies

1. Pen is to Write as Knife is to:

A) Sharp
B) Cut ✅
C) Kitchen
D) Metal

2. Doctor is to Hospital as Teacher is to:

A) Book
B) Student
C) School ✅
D) Chalk

3. Bird is to Nest as Bee is to:

A) Flower
B) Hive ✅
C) Honey
D) Sting

4. Author is to Book as Composer is to:

A) Instrument
B) Music ✅
C) Orchestra
D) Concert

Number Series

5. Find the next number: 2, 4, 8, 16, __

A) 20
B) 24
C) 32 ✅
D) 30

6. Find the next number: 3, 6, 11, 18, __

A) 25
B) 27 ✅
C) 24
D) 29

7. Find the missing number: 5, 10, 15, __, 25

A) 18
B) 22
C) 20 ✅
D) 21

8. Find the next number: 1, 4, 9, 16, __

A) 20
B) 24
C) 25 ✅
D) 22

Letter Series

9. Find the next letter: A, C, E, G, __

A) H
B) I ✅
C) J
D) F

10. Find the next term: B, D, F, H, __

A) I
B) J ✅
C) K
D) L

Coding-Decoding

11. If CAT is coded as DBU, how is DOG coded?

A) EPH ✅
B) EPI
C) FPH
D) EQH

12. If in a code, "APPLE" is written as "1662512", what does each letter represent based on its position in the alphabet?

A) A=1, P=16, L=12, E=5 ✅
B) A=2, P=17, L=13, E=6
C) A=1, P=15, L=11, E=4
D) A=3, P=18, L=14, E=7

Odd One Out

13. Which word does not belong with the others?

A) Apple
B) Banana
C) Carrot ✅
D) Mango

14. Which number does not belong with the others?

A) 4
B) 9
C) 16
D) 20 ✅

Blood Relations

15. Pointing to a man, a woman said, "His mother is the only daughter of my mother." How is the woman related to the man?

A) Sister
B) Mother ✅
C) Aunt
D) Grandmother

Direction Sense

16. A man walks 5 km north, then turns right and walks 3 km. In which direction is he from his starting point?

A) North-West
B) North-East ✅
C) South-East
D) South-West

Syllogisms

17. All roses are flowers. Some flowers fade quickly. Which conclusion follows?

A) All roses fade quickly.
B) Some roses fade quickly.
C) No definite conclusion can be drawn. ✅
D) No flowers are roses.

Ratio & Age Problems

18. If the ratio of two numbers is 3:4 and their sum is 42, what is the smaller number?

A) 16
B) 18 ✅
C) 20
D) 24

19. A father is 3 times as old as his son. In 12 years, he will be twice as old. What is the son's current age?

A) 10
B) 12 ✅
C) 14
D) 15

20. Find the odd pair out:

A) 6:36
B) 7:49
C) 8:56 ✅
D) 9:81

How to Actually Improve at Logical Reasoning

Time yourself. Most tests give under a minute per question — practice at that pace, not untimed.
Learn the pattern types, not individual answers. There are a limited number of series/analogy/coding patterns; once you recognise the type, the specific numbers stop mattering.
Review every wrong answer. A missed logic question usually means a pattern type you haven't drilled yet — find it and practice that type specifically.

HighYield's General Knowledge, Logical Reasoning & IQ question bank covers exactly these formats with a full explanation on every question. Try the first 20 questions free, no sign-in required, from the Logical Reasoning & IQ question bank page.