Ranking & Ordering MCQs for UPSC Prelims

90 practice questions on Ranking & Ordering from the Logical Reasoning section of the UPSC Prelims syllabus. 90 come with a written explanation and 41 are actual previous year questions. Try the sample set below - the answer stays hidden until you ask for it.

25 Easy 51 Medium 14 Hard 41 from past papers

Sample questions

Q1
Previous year question medium

In a test, Randhir obtained more marks than the total marks obtained by Kunal and Debu. The total marks obtained by Kunal and Shankar are more than those of Randhir. Sonal obtained more marks than Shankar. Neha obtained more marks than Randhir. Who amongst them obtained highest marks?

  1. A Randhir
  2. B Neha
  3. C Sonal
  4. D Data are inadequate
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: D - Data are inadequate

We know Neha > Randhir, and Randhir > Kunal + Debu, so Randhir > Kunal and Randhir > Debu. Also Kunal + Shankar > Randhir, and Sonal > Shankar. So both Neha and Sonal are 'large', but there is no relation given that compares Neha with Sonal directly, nor any that ranks Sonal against Randhir/Neha numerically. Either Neha or Sonal could be the highest depending on values. Since the data do not fix a single highest scorer, the answer is (d) Data are inadequate.

Q2
Previous year question hard

Consider two Statements and a Question: Statement-1: Each of A and D is heavier than each of B, E and F, but none of them is the heaviest. Statement-2: A is heavier than D, but is lighter than C. Question: Who is the heaviest among A, B, C, D and E? Which one of the following is correct in respect of the Statements and the Question?

  1. A Statement-1 alone is sufficient to answer the Question
  2. B Statement-2 alone is sufficient to answer the Question
  3. C Both Statement-1 and Statement-2 are required to answer the Question
  4. D Neither Statement-1 alone nor Statement-2 alone is sufficient to answer the Question
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: C - Both Statement-1 and Statement-2 are required to answer the Question

From Statement-2 alone, C > A > D, but nothing is known about B and E relative to C, so it cannot crown the heaviest - insufficient. Statement-1 says A and D each outweigh B, E and F, and that none of them is the heaviest; since C is the only person Statement-1 never weighs against anyone, the statement by itself does not directly establish C's position, so on the official reading Statement-1 alone is also not sufficient. Combining the two: B, E (and F) are below A and D, and C > A > D places C above everyone, so C is the heaviest only when both statements are used together - option (c). Note on the dispute: the official UPSC key accepted both (c) and (d) for this item because the two options overlap (both assert that neither statement alone suffices), while some coaching keys argued for (a) by elimination (if neither A nor D is heaviest, only C remains). The official key is followed here with (c); confidence is marked low because of this conflict. Option (b) is clearly wrong since Statement-2 says nothing about B and E.

Q3
Previous year question easy

Usha runs faster than Kamala, Priti runs slower than Swati, Swati runs slower than Kamala. Who is the slowest runner? (a) Kamala (b) Priti (c) Swati (d) Usha

  1. A Kamala
  2. B Priti
  3. C Swati
  4. D Usha
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: B - Priti

Translate each statement into a speed ordering (faster on the left). Usha > Kamala. Swati < Kamala means Kamala > Swati. Priti < Swati means Swati > Priti. Chaining these: Usha > Kamala > Swati > Priti. Priti is at the bottom of the order, so she is the slowest runner. Answer (b).

Q4
Previous year question medium

Read the following information and answer the item that follows: Six students A, B, C, D, E and F appeared in several tests. Either C or F scores the highest. Whenever C scores the highest, then E scores the least. Whenever F scores the highest, B scores the least. In all the tests they got different marks; D scores higher than A, but they are close competitors; A scores higher than B; C scores higher than A. If F stands second in the ranking, then the position of B is

  1. A Third
  2. B Fourth
  3. C Fifth
  4. D Sixth
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: C - Fifth

If F is second, then F is not the highest, so by the rule 'either C or F scores the highest', C must be the highest. Whenever C is highest, E scores the least, so E is ranked sixth. The remaining ranks 3, 4 and 5 are filled by D, A and B. Using D > A > B (from D > A and A > B), the order is D third, A fourth, B fifth. Hence B is fifth, option (c).

Q5
Previous year question medium

Examine the information given in the following paragraph and answer the item that follows: Guest lectures on five subjects, viz., Economics, History, Statistics, English and Mathematics have to be arranged in a week from Monday to Friday. Only one lecture can be arranged on each day. Economics cannot be scheduled on Tuesday. Guest faculty for History is available only on Tuesday. Mathematics lecture has to be scheduled immediately after the day of Economics lecture. English lecture has to be scheduled immediately before the day of Economics lecture. Question: Which lecture is scheduled between Statistics and English?

  1. A Economics
  2. B History
  3. C Mathematics
  4. D No lecture
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: B - History

The fixed schedule is Monday = Statistics, Tuesday = History, Wednesday = English, Thursday = Economics, Friday = Mathematics. Statistics (Monday) and English (Wednesday) have exactly one day between them, namely Tuesday, which is History. Hence (b).

Q6
Previous year question hard

Read the following information and answer the item that follows: Six students A, B, C, D, E and F appeared in several tests. Either C or F scores the highest. Whenever C scores the highest, then E scores the least. Whenever F scores the highest, B scores the least. In all the tests they got different marks; D scores higher than A, but they are close competitors; A scores higher than B; C scores higher than A. If B scores the least, the rank of C will be

  1. A Second
  2. B Third
  3. C Fourth
  4. D Second or third
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: D - Second or third

If B scores the least, then E is not the least, so C cannot be the highest (because C highest forces E least). Therefore F is the highest and B is least (rank 6). The middle order must respect C > D > A (from C > A, D > A and A > B). E has no constraint except that it is not the least. So two valid arrangements exist: F > E > C > D > A > B (here C is third) and F > C > D > A > E > B (here C is second). Since E can sit either above or below C, C's rank is not fixed; it is second or third, option (d).

Q7
Previous year question medium

Examine the following statements: 1. Either A and B are of the same age or A is older than B. 2. Either C and D are of the same age or D is older than C. 3. B is older than C. Which one of the following conclusions can be drawn from the above statements?

  1. A A is older than B.
  2. B B and D are of the same age.
  3. C D is older than C.
  4. D A is older than C.
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: D - A is older than C.

From statement 1, A is at least as old as B, so A >= B. From statement 3, B > C. Combining, A >= B > C, which forces A > C, giving (d). (a) is not guaranteed because A and B could be the same age. (c) is not guaranteed because statement 2 allows C and D to be the same age, so D need not be older than C. (b) has no support; B and D are not directly comparable.

Q8
Previous year question easy

If Pen < Pencil, Pencil < Book and Book > Cap, then which one of the following is always true?

  1. A Pen > Cap
  2. B Pen < Book
  3. C Pencil = Cap
  4. D Pencil > Cap
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: B - Pen < Book

From Pen < Pencil and Pencil < Book we get the chain Pen < Pencil < Book, so Pen < Book is definitely true. The other statements cannot be guaranteed: Book > Cap tells us Cap is smaller than Book, but it gives no fixed relation between Cap and Pen or between Cap and Pencil. So Pen > Cap, Pencil = Cap and Pencil > Cap may or may not hold depending on the actual value of Cap. Only Pen < Book is always true. Hence (b).

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Logical Deductions 171 Puzzles & Arrangements 100 Coding-Decoding 89 Number & Letter Series 83 Counting & Combinatorial Reasoning 77 Analogy & Classification 67 Blood Relations 67 Syllogism 67 Statement & Conclusions 63 Direction Sense 62 Venn Diagrams 62 Seating Arrangement 49 Statement & Assumptions 46 Cubes & Dice 45 Statement & Arguments 42