Analogy & Classification MCQs for UPSC Prelims

67 practice questions on Analogy & Classification from the Logical Reasoning section of the UPSC Prelims syllabus. 67 come with a written explanation and 13 are actual previous year questions. Try the sample set below - the answer stays hidden until you ask for it.

47 Easy 18 Medium 2 Hard 13 from past papers

Sample questions

Q1
Previous year question medium

Consider the following matrix. The top row is: 3, 8, 10, 2, ?, 1 and the bottom row is: 6, 56, 90, 2, 20, 0. What is the missing number at '?' in the matrix? (a) 5 (b) 0 (c) 7 (d) 3

  1. A 5
  2. B 0
  3. C 7
  4. D 3
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: A - 5

In each column the bottom number equals the top number multiplied by one less than itself, i.e. n x (n - 1). Check: 3x2 = 6, 8x7 = 56, 10x9 = 90, 2x1 = 2, 1x0 = 0. For the missing entry the bottom value is 20, so n x (n - 1) = 20, which gives n = 5 (since 5x4 = 20). The missing number is 5.

Q2
Previous year question easy

Choose the group which is different from the others:

  1. A 17, 37, 47, 97
  2. B 31, 41, 53, 67
  3. C 71, 73, 79, 83
  4. D 83, 89, 91, 97
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: D - 83, 89, 91, 97

Options (a), (b) and (c) consist entirely of prime numbers: 17, 37, 47, 97 are prime; 31, 41, 53, 67 are prime; 71, 73, 79, 83 are prime. In option (d), 83, 89 and 97 are prime but 91 = 7 x 13 is composite, so this group breaks the pattern and is the different one. Hence (d) is correct and the other three options, being uniform groups of primes, are not the odd group.

Q3
Previous year question medium

Consider the following figures. Four figures show a square frame with beads positioned at the corners and along the sides, and the beads change position from one figure to the next. Change in positions of beads in the four figures above follows a sequence. Following the same sequence, which of the figures below should appear as the fifth figure above?

  1. A Figure (a)
  2. B Figure (b)
  3. C Figure (c)
  4. D Figure (d)
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: B - Figure (b)

The beads shift their positions around the square frame in a fixed, repeating rotation from one figure to the next. By tracking the direction and step of movement of each bead across the first four figures and applying the same step once more, the fifth figure must show the beads in the arrangement given by option (b).

Q4
Previous year question medium

Consider the following figures (positions 1 to 6 are given, and position 7 is marked with a question mark). Each figure is a large circle containing an inner shape together with two curved directional arrows running along the circumference. Across the series the inner shape alternates between a small circle and a small square, while the pair of curved arrows rotates its orientation from figure to figure. Which one of the following figures would logically come in the 7th position indicated above by a question mark? (a) A large circle with an inner small circle, with one curved arrow at the top-right pointing downward and one curved arrow at the bottom pointing rightward. (b) A large circle with an inner small circle, with one curved arrow at the top-left pointing upward and one curved arrow at the bottom-right pointing rightward. (c) A large circle with an inner small square, with one curved arrow at the top-right pointing downward and one curved arrow at the bottom-left pointing leftward. (d) A large circle with an inner small circle, with one curved arrow at the top-right pointing downward and one curved arrow at the bottom-left pointing leftward.

  1. A Figure (a)
  2. B Figure (b)
  3. C Figure (c)
  4. D Figure (d)
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: D - Figure (d)

This is a non-verbal figure-completion series. Two independent patterns run through the six given figures: (1) the inner shape alternates in a fixed cycle between a small circle and a small square, and (2) the pair of curved arrows steadily rotates its position around the circumference. Tracking both rules forward to the 7th position, the inner shape must be a small circle and the two curved arrows must sit at the top-right (pointing downward) and bottom-left (pointing leftward). Only figure (d) satisfies both the required inner shape and the required arrow orientation, so (d) is the figure that logically completes the series. The official UPSC 2013 key marks (d).

Q5
Previous year question medium

Consider the following matrix with one empty block in the lower extreme corner. The matrix is a grid filled with patterns of small circles and triangles, and one block in the lower-right corner is left empty. Which of the following figures could fit in the empty block and thus complete the matrix?

  1. A Figure (a)
  2. B Figure (b)
  3. C Figure (c)
  4. D Figure (d)
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: A - Figure (a)

This is a figure-completion matrix where the arrangement and count of circles and triangles in each cell follow a positional pattern across rows and columns. Tracking how the number and placement of the shapes progress through the grid, the missing lower-corner block must continue that progression. Option (a) is the only figure consistent with the established pattern, so it completes the matrix.

Q6
Previous year question medium

Consider the following figures 1, 2, 3, and 4. Each figure is a square divided by both diagonals into four triangular cells, with two small symbols placed inside two of the cells. In the figures from 1 to 4, the two symbols are shown to change their position in a regular direction (rotating step by step). Following the same sequence, which one of the following will appear at the fifth stage?

  1. A A square (with crossed diagonals) in which the two symbols occupy the top and right cells.
  2. B A square (with crossed diagonals) in which the two symbols have moved one further step in the same rotational direction, occupying the cells that continue the established pattern.
  3. C A square (with crossed diagonals) in which the two symbols occupy the left and bottom cells.
  4. D A square (with crossed diagonals) in which the two symbols occupy the bottom and right cells.
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: B - A square (with crossed diagonals) in which the two symbols have moved one further step in the same rotational direction, occupying the cells that continue the established pattern.

The two symbols inside the divided square move by a fixed angular step (a regular rotation) from figure 1 to figure 4. To find the fifth figure, continue that same rotation by one more step from figure 4. The option that advances both symbols by exactly one additional step in the established direction is the answer. This is a non-verbal figure-series rotation problem; the marked official answer is option (b).

Q7
Previous year question medium

What is the missing term @ in the following? ACPQ : BESU : MNGI : @

  1. A NPJL
  2. B NOJM
  3. C NPIL
  4. D NPJM
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: D - NPJM

Each letter is shifted forward by its position number: 1st letter +1, 2nd letter +2, 3rd letter +3, 4th letter +4. Check ACPQ to BESU: A+1=B, C+2=E, P+3=S, Q+4=U - correct. Apply to MNGI: M+1=N, N+2=P, G+3=J, I+4=M, giving NPJM. So the missing term is NPJM.

Q8
Previous year question medium

Consider the figure given below: [A horizontal sequence of node-and-connector diagrams is shown, with the last cell left blank marked by a question mark.] To fit the question mark, the correct answer is (a) Option (a) figure (b) Option (b) figure (c) Option (c) figure (d) Option (d) figure NOTE: This is a figure-based pattern-completion item. Refer to the original paper for the four diagram options.

  1. A Option (a) figure
  2. B Option (b) figure
  3. C Option (c) figure
  4. D Option (d) figure
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: A - Option (a) figure

This is a visual pattern-completion item where the missing diagram must continue the established sequence of node orientations and connectors. Following the progression of the figures in the series, the diagram in option (a) maintains the consistent transformation pattern, so it correctly fits the question mark. The diagram options cannot be reproduced from the text alone, so this item is flagged low confidence.

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