Ranking Test Reasoning – Complete Notes, Formulas,... | RozgarAssam

Ranking Test in Reasoning – Complete Notes, Formulas, Tricks & Solved Questions

Ranking Test is one of the most important and frequently asked topics in the Reasoning Ability section of competitive examinations. Questions are based on the position of persons or objects from the top, bottom, left or right, along with concepts such as rank difference, persons between two positions and finding the total number of persons. This complete guide covers Ranking Test formulas, shortcut tricks, important concepts, common mistakes and solved examples to help students solve ranking questions quickly and accurately in exams.

Formula - 1

Total persons = Rank from top + Rank from bottom − 1
Trick : Total = Top + Bottom − 1

Example

Rahul is 7th from the top and 13th from the bottom.

Therefore, Total = 7 + 13 − 1 = 19

So, there are 19 persons.

Why subtract 1?

Because the same person is counted once from the top and once from the bottom.

Formula - 2

Rank from opposite side = Total − Rank from known side + 1

Example

There are 30 students. Anil is 8th from the top.

His rank from the bottom = 30 − 8 + 1 = 23rd

So, Anil is 23rd from the bottom.

Formula - 3

Persons between = Difference between their ranks − 1

Example - 1

A is 8th from the top and B is 15th from the top.

Persons between them = 15 − 8 − 1 = 6

Therefore, 6 persons are between A and B.

Example - 2

Note : If one rank is from the top and another is from the bottom, convert both to the same side before finding the gap.

A is 8th from the top. B is 12th from the bottom. Total students = 30. Then

First convert B's rank into rank from the top:

B's top rank = 30 − 12 + 1 = 19

Now:

Persons between A and B = 19 − 8 − 1 = 10

Therefore, 10 students are between them.

Note: Instead of asking Top and bottom , it may ask as left and right. Then Use Top = write & bottom = left.

Rank of a Person Who Is Between Two People

Example - 1

A is 5th from the top and B is 9 places below A.

Then, B's rank: 5 + 9 = 14th

Example - 2

A is 5th from the top and 9 persons are between A and B,

Then: B's rank: 5 + 9 + 1 = 15th.

Trick :

5 persons between → difference = 6 ( 5 persons between means 6-position difference )
5 places between → 5 positions difference

Solved Questions & Answer

Q1. A student is 15th from the top and 18th from the bottom. How many students are there?

Solution:

Total = 15 + 18 − 1 = 32

Answer: 32 students

Q2. In a class of 40 students, Rina is 12th from the top. What is her rank from the bottom?

Solution:

Rank from the bottom = = 40 − 12 + 1 = 29

Answer: 29th

Q3. A is 8th from the top and B is 17th from the top. How many persons are between them?

Solution:

Persons between A and B = 17 − 8 − 1 = 8

Q4. In a row of 35 students, A is 9th from the left. What is A's position from the right?

Solution:

A's position from the right = 35 − 9 + 1 = 27

Answer: 27th from the right

Q5. Rahul is 7th from the top. There are 5 students between Rahul and Amit. Amit is below Rahul. What is Amit's rank from the top?

Solution:

Amit's rank: = 7 + 5 + 1 = 13th

Answer: 13th

Q6. Rahul is 7th from the top. Amit is 5 places below Rahul. What is Amit's rank from the top?

Solution:

Amit's rank: = 7 + 5 = 12th

Answer: 12th

Q7. A is 10th from the top and B is 15th from the bottom in a class of 35. How many students are between A and B?

Solution:

B's rank from top: = 35 − 15 + 1 = 21

Now,

Students between A & B = = 21 − 10 − 1 = 10

Answer: 10 students

Q8. There are 6 persons above P and 9 persons below P. Find the total number of persons.

Solution:

P's rank from top = 6 + 1 = 7

P's rank from bottom = 9 + 1 = 10

Total: Rank from top + Rank from bottom − 1 = 7 + 10 − 1 = 16

Answer: 16 persons

Q9. In a row, A is 11th from the left and B is 16th from the right. If there are 7 persons between them and A is to the left of B, find the total number of persons.

Solution:

B's position from left = 11 + 7 + 1 = 19

So, B is 19th from left and 16th from right.

Now,

Total = Top + Bottom − 1

= Left + right -1

= 19 + 16 − 1

= 34

Answer: 34 persons

Q10. In a row of girls, Gauri is 11th from each end. How many girls are there inthe row

Solution:

Total = Top + Bottom − 1

= Left + right -1

= 11 + 11 − 1

=21

Therefore, there are 21 girls in the row.

Ranking Based on Comparison – Order and Position

Another important type of Ranking Test questions is based on comparing people or objects according to height, marks, age, weight, performance, speed, etc. In these questions, the exact rank may not be given. Instead, statements such as taller than, shorter than, older than, younger than, more than, less than, higher than, lower than are provided.

The main task is to arrange the persons in the correct order and identify the required position.

Example

A is taller than B & B is taller than C.

Therefore: A > B > C

So, A is the tallest and C is the shortest.

Solved Example

Question: Five friends are standing in a row. Amar is taller than Sameer. Prabhat is taller than Umesh but not so tall as Sameer. Ashok is shorter than Umesh. Who among them is the shortest?

Solution:

Step 1: Arrange the given information

Amar is taller than Sameer:

Amar > Sameer

Prabhat is taller than Umesh but shorter than Sameer:

Sameer > Prabhat > Umesh

Ashok is shorter than Umesh:

Umesh > Ashok

Step 2: Combine all the relationships

Therefore, the complete order is: Amar > Sameer > Prabhat > Umesh > Ashok

Step 3: Identify the shortest

Ashok is at the bottom of the order.

So, Answer: Ashok

Solved Questions & Answer

Q1. Ahmed is taller than Salim. Salim is not as tall as Ahmed but taller than Akbar. Sohan too is not as tall as Salim but taller than Akbar. Who is the tallest?

(a) Salim

(b) Akbar

(d) Sohan

Solution

Let's convert each statement into a simple comparison:

Ahmed is taller than Salim → Ahmed > Salim
Salim is taller than Akbar → Salim > Akbar
Sohan is not as tall as Salim → Salim > Sohan
Sohan is taller than Akbar → Sohan > Akbar

Now we can arrange the known order:

Ahmed > Salim > Sohan > Akbar

Therefore, the person at the top of the ranking is Ahmed.

Answer : (c) Ahmed

Q2. The cricket ball is heavier than the hockey ball and volleyball is lighter than the football. Hockey ball is heavier than the football and tennis. Which of the following is the heaviest ball?

(a) Hockey ball

(b) Cricket ball

(d) Football

Solution

Convert the statements into comparisons:

Cricket ball is heavier than Hockey ball : Cricket > Hockey
Hockey ball is heavier than Football : Hockey > Football
Hockey ball is heavier than Tennis : Hockey > Tennis
Volleyball is lighter than Football : Football > Volleyball

Therefore:

Cricket > Hockey > Football > Volleyball

It is also given: Hockey > Tennis

So, the ball at the top is the Cricket ball.

Answer (b) Cricket ball

Q3. Shrikant is shorter than Nilima. Pratima is taller than Shrikant. Subhash is taller than Nilima but shorter than Heramb. Nilima is taller than Pratima. Who will be in the middle if they stand in a row according to descending order of height?

(a) Pratima

(b) Subhash

(d) Nilima

Solution

Convert each statement into a comparison:

Nilima is taller than Shrikant: Nilima > Shrikant
Pratima is taller than Shrikant: Pratima > Shrikant

So, Nilima / Prima > Shrikant

Subhash is taller than Nilima: Subhash > Nilima

So, Subhash > Nilima > Shrikant

Heramb is taller than Subhash: Heramb > Subhash

So, Heramb >Subhash > Nilima > Shrikant

Nilima is taller than Pratima: Nilima > Pratima

Now arrange everyone from tallest to shortest:

Heramb > Subhash > Nilima > Pratima > Shrikant

There are 5 persons, so the 3rd person is in the middle.

Therefore: Middle = Nilima

Answer : (d) Nilima

Q4. If Anita is taller than Surjit but shorter than Kusum and Surjit is just as tall as Kalpana but taller than Vanita, then Kalpana is

(a) Just as tall as Anita

(b) Taller than Kusum

(d) Shorter than Surjit

Solution

First statement says , Anita is taller than Surjit but shorter than Kusum.

Therefore: Kusum > Anita > Surjit

Second statement says , Surjit is just as tall as Kalpana.

Therefore: Surjit = Kalpana

Surjit is taller than Vanita:

Surjit > Vanita

So the complete order is: Kusum > Anita > Surjit = Kalpana > Vanita

Since: Anita > Kalpana

So, Kalpana is shorter than Anita.

Answer : (c) Shorter than Anita

Q5. Among five friends, Mohan is older than Raju but not as old as Lalit. Lalit is older than Neelesh and Kabir. Neelesh is younger than Raju but not the youngest. Who is the fourth in the descending order of age?

(a) Mohan

(b) Raju

(d) Neelesh

Solution

We need to arrange them from oldest → youngest.

Mohan is older than Raju, but younger than Lalit.

So: Lalit > Mohan > Raju

Lalit is older than Neelesh and Kabir.

So: Lalit > Neelesh and Lalit > Kabir

Neelesh is younger than Raju.

So: Raju > Neelesh

But Neelesh is not the youngest.

There are five people. Since Kabir is the remaining person who must be younger than Neelesh:

Neelesh > Kabir

Now the complete order is:

Lalit > Mohan > Raju > Neelesh > Kabir

Therefore, the 4th person is Neelesh.

Answer: (d) Neelesh

Important Web Links For You

Complete Solution of Social Science & GK Section	Click Here
Complete Solution of Logical Reasoning & Mental Ability	Click Here
Complete Solution of General English	Click Here
Complete Solution of General Maths	Click Here
ADRE Question Paper-III (for HSSLC Level Posts) Exam held on 15 September, 2024	Click Here

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FAQs

Q1. What is the basic formula for solving Ranking Test questions in Reasoning?

Ans: The main formula is Total Number = Rank from Top + Rank from Bottom − 1. To find the rank from the opposite side, use Opposite Rank = Total Number − Given Rank + 1.

Q2. How can I solve Ranking Test questions quickly in competitive exams?

Ans: First identify the direction of the rank (top/bottom or left/right), convert ranks to the same direction if necessary, and then apply the appropriate ranking formula. Practising questions based on total persons, opposite rank, persons between two positions, and relative ranking can improve speed and accuracy.

Ranking Test in Reasoning – Complete Notes, Formulas, Tricks & Solved Questions

Formula - 1

Total persons = Rank from top + Rank from bottom − 1
Trick : Total = Top + Bottom − 1

Example

Rahul is 7th from the top and 13th from the bottom.

Therefore, Total = 7 + 13 − 1 = 19

So, there are 19 persons.

Why subtract 1?

Because the same person is counted once from the top and once from the bottom.

Formula - 2

Rank from opposite side = Total − Rank from known side + 1

Example

There are 30 students. Anil is 8th from the top.

His rank from the bottom = 30 − 8 + 1 = 23rd

So, Anil is 23rd from the bottom.

Formula - 3

Persons between = Difference between their ranks − 1

Example - 1

A is 8th from the top and B is 15th from the top.

Persons between them = 15 − 8 − 1 = 6

Therefore, 6 persons are between A and B.

Example - 2

Note : If one rank is from the top and another is from the bottom, convert both to the same side before finding the gap.

A is 8th from the top. B is 12th from the bottom. Total students = 30. Then

First convert B's rank into rank from the top:

B's top rank = 30 − 12 + 1 = 19

Now:

Persons between A and B = 19 − 8 − 1 = 10

Therefore, 10 students are between them.

Note: Instead of asking Top and bottom , it may ask as left and right. Then Use Top = write & bottom = left.

Rank of a Person Who Is Between Two People

Example - 1

A is 5th from the top and B is 9 places below A.

Then, B's rank: 5 + 9 = 14th

Example - 2

A is 5th from the top and 9 persons are between A and B,

Then: B's rank: 5 + 9 + 1 = 15th.

Trick :

5 persons between → difference = 6 ( 5 persons between means 6-position difference )
5 places between → 5 positions difference

Solved Questions & Answer

Q1. A student is 15th from the top and 18th from the bottom. How many students are there?

Solution:

Total = 15 + 18 − 1 = 32

Answer: 32 students

Q2. In a class of 40 students, Rina is 12th from the top. What is her rank from the bottom?

Solution:

Rank from the bottom = = 40 − 12 + 1 = 29

Answer: 29th

Q3. A is 8th from the top and B is 17th from the top. How many persons are between them?

Solution:

Persons between A and B = 17 − 8 − 1 = 8

Q4. In a row of 35 students, A is 9th from the left. What is A's position from the right?

Solution:

A's position from the right = 35 − 9 + 1 = 27

Answer: 27th from the right

Q5. Rahul is 7th from the top. There are 5 students between Rahul and Amit. Amit is below Rahul. What is Amit's rank from the top?

Solution:

Amit's rank: = 7 + 5 + 1 = 13th

Answer: 13th

Q6. Rahul is 7th from the top. Amit is 5 places below Rahul. What is Amit's rank from the top?

Solution:

Amit's rank: = 7 + 5 = 12th

Answer: 12th

Q7. A is 10th from the top and B is 15th from the bottom in a class of 35. How many students are between A and B?

Solution:

B's rank from top: = 35 − 15 + 1 = 21

Now,

Students between A & B = = 21 − 10 − 1 = 10

Answer: 10 students

Q8. There are 6 persons above P and 9 persons below P. Find the total number of persons.

Solution:

P's rank from top = 6 + 1 = 7

P's rank from bottom = 9 + 1 = 10

Total: Rank from top + Rank from bottom − 1 = 7 + 10 − 1 = 16

Answer: 16 persons

Q9. In a row, A is 11th from the left and B is 16th from the right. If there are 7 persons between them and A is to the left of B, find the total number of persons.

Solution:

B's position from left = 11 + 7 + 1 = 19

So, B is 19th from left and 16th from right.

Now,

Total = Top + Bottom − 1

= Left + right -1

= 19 + 16 − 1

= 34

Answer: 34 persons

Q10. In a row of girls, Gauri is 11th from each end. How many girls are there inthe row

Solution:

Total = Top + Bottom − 1

= Left + right -1

= 11 + 11 − 1

=21

Therefore, there are 21 girls in the row.

Ranking Based on Comparison – Order and Position

The main task is to arrange the persons in the correct order and identify the required position.

Example

A is taller than B & B is taller than C.

Therefore: A > B > C

So, A is the tallest and C is the shortest.

Solved Example

Question: Five friends are standing in a row. Amar is taller than Sameer. Prabhat is taller than Umesh but not so tall as Sameer. Ashok is shorter than Umesh. Who among them is the shortest?

Solution:

Step 1: Arrange the given information

Amar is taller than Sameer:

Amar > Sameer

Prabhat is taller than Umesh but shorter than Sameer:

Sameer > Prabhat > Umesh

Ashok is shorter than Umesh:

Umesh > Ashok

Step 2: Combine all the relationships

Therefore, the complete order is: Amar > Sameer > Prabhat > Umesh > Ashok

Step 3: Identify the shortest

Ashok is at the bottom of the order.

So, Answer: Ashok

Solved Questions & Answer

Q1. Ahmed is taller than Salim. Salim is not as tall as Ahmed but taller than Akbar. Sohan too is not as tall as Salim but taller than Akbar. Who is the tallest?

(a) Salim

(b) Akbar

(d) Sohan

Solution

Let's convert each statement into a simple comparison:

Ahmed is taller than Salim → Ahmed > Salim
Salim is taller than Akbar → Salim > Akbar
Sohan is not as tall as Salim → Salim > Sohan
Sohan is taller than Akbar → Sohan > Akbar

Now we can arrange the known order:

Ahmed > Salim > Sohan > Akbar

Therefore, the person at the top of the ranking is Ahmed.

Answer : (c) Ahmed

(a) Hockey ball

(b) Cricket ball

(d) Football

Solution

Convert the statements into comparisons:

Cricket ball is heavier than Hockey ball : Cricket > Hockey
Hockey ball is heavier than Football : Hockey > Football
Hockey ball is heavier than Tennis : Hockey > Tennis
Volleyball is lighter than Football : Football > Volleyball

Therefore:

Cricket > Hockey > Football > Volleyball

It is also given: Hockey > Tennis

So, the ball at the top is the Cricket ball.

Answer (b) Cricket ball

(a) Pratima

(b) Subhash

(d) Nilima

Solution

Convert each statement into a comparison:

Nilima is taller than Shrikant: Nilima > Shrikant
Pratima is taller than Shrikant: Pratima > Shrikant

So, Nilima / Prima > Shrikant

Subhash is taller than Nilima: Subhash > Nilima

So, Subhash > Nilima > Shrikant

Heramb is taller than Subhash: Heramb > Subhash

So, Heramb >Subhash > Nilima > Shrikant

Nilima is taller than Pratima: Nilima > Pratima

Now arrange everyone from tallest to shortest:

Heramb > Subhash > Nilima > Pratima > Shrikant

There are 5 persons, so the 3rd person is in the middle.

Therefore: Middle = Nilima

Answer : (d) Nilima

Q4. If Anita is taller than Surjit but shorter than Kusum and Surjit is just as tall as Kalpana but taller than Vanita, then Kalpana is

(a) Just as tall as Anita

(b) Taller than Kusum

(d) Shorter than Surjit

Solution

First statement says , Anita is taller than Surjit but shorter than Kusum.

Therefore: Kusum > Anita > Surjit

Second statement says , Surjit is just as tall as Kalpana.

Therefore: Surjit = Kalpana

Surjit is taller than Vanita:

Surjit > Vanita

So the complete order is: Kusum > Anita > Surjit = Kalpana > Vanita

Since: Anita > Kalpana

So, Kalpana is shorter than Anita.

Answer : (c) Shorter than Anita

(a) Mohan

(b) Raju

(d) Neelesh

Solution

We need to arrange them from oldest → youngest.

Mohan is older than Raju, but younger than Lalit.

So: Lalit > Mohan > Raju

Lalit is older than Neelesh and Kabir.

So: Lalit > Neelesh and Lalit > Kabir

Neelesh is younger than Raju.

So: Raju > Neelesh

But Neelesh is not the youngest.

There are five people. Since Kabir is the remaining person who must be younger than Neelesh:

Neelesh > Kabir

Now the complete order is:

Lalit > Mohan > Raju > Neelesh > Kabir

Therefore, the 4th person is Neelesh.

Answer: (d) Neelesh

Important Web Links For You

Complete Solution of Social Science & GK Section	Click Here
Complete Solution of Logical Reasoning & Mental Ability	Click Here
Complete Solution of General English	Click Here
Complete Solution of General Maths	Click Here
ADRE Question Paper-III (for HSSLC Level Posts) Exam held on 15 September, 2024	Click Here

Explore More Topics

FAQs

Q1. What is the basic formula for solving Ranking Test questions in Reasoning?

Ans: The main formula is Total Number = Rank from Top + Rank from Bottom − 1. To find the rank from the opposite side, use Opposite Rank = Total Number − Given Rank + 1.

Q2. How can I solve Ranking Test questions quickly in competitive exams?

Ranking Test Reasoning – Complete Notes, Formulas, Tricks & Solved Questions

Ranking Test in Reasoning – Complete Notes, Formulas, Tricks & Solved Questions

Formula - 1

Formula - 2

Formula - 3

Rank of a Person Who Is Between Two People

Solved Questions & Answer

Ranking Based on Comparison – Order and Position

Solved Questions & Answer

Important Web Links For You

Explore More Topics

FAQs

Ranking Test Reasoning – Complete Notes, Formulas, Tricks & Solved Questions

Ranking Test in Reasoning – Complete Notes, Formulas, Tricks & Solved Questions

Formula - 1

Formula - 2

Formula - 3

Rank of a Person Who Is Between Two People

Solved Questions & Answer

Ranking Based on Comparison – Order and Position

Solved Questions & Answer

Important Web Links For You

Explore More Topics

FAQs

Analogy Questions and Answers for Competitive Exams – Types, Solved Examples, Tricks & Practice Questions

Coding Decoding Reasoning Questions and Answers for Competitive Exams – Tricks, Rules & Practice

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