Mental ability tests are used in almost every competitive exam to assess a candidate’s logical thinking, reasoning ability, and problem-solving skills. These questions assess how fast and accurately you analyse circumstances, perceive patterns, and form conclusions. In this book, we’ve assembled 50 crucial mental ability questions and answers on topics such as analogy, coding-decoding, series completion, riddles, arithmetic reasoning, and direction sense excellent for exams like as SSC, Banking, RRB, State PSC, and others.
Mental Ability Questions and Answers
1. If A = 1, B = 2, C = 3, then the value of the word “BAD” is:
a) 6
b) 7
c) 8
d) 9
Answer: b) 7
(2 + 1 + 4 = 7)
2. Find the odd one out: 3, 5, 11, 14, 17, 19
a) 11
b) 14
c) 17
d) 19
Answer: b) 14
(All others are prime numbers)
3. If ‘CAT’ = 24, then ‘DOG’ = ?
a) 26
b) 28
c) 30
d) 32
Answer: b) 28
(CAT = 3+1+20=24; DOG=4+15+7=26)
4. Find the missing number: 3, 9, 27,?
a) 54
b) 81
c) 72
d) 108
Answer: b) 81
(Each term ×3)
5. If ‘A+B’ means A is the father of B, and ‘A−B’ means A is the mother of B, then what does ‘P−Q+B’ mean?
a) P is the father of B
b) P is the mother of B
c) P is the grandmother of B
d) P is the daughter of B
Answer: c) P is the grandmother of B
6. Choose the correct analogy:
Doctor: Hospital:: Teacher:?
a) School
b) Class
c) Student
d) Book
Answer: a) School
7. Find the missing number: 8, 16, 32, 64,?
a) 96
b) 100
c) 128
d) 256
Answer: c) 128
8. Arrange the words in dictionary order:
(i) Apple (ii) Ant (iii) Axe (iv) Aeroplane
Answer: (iv), (ii), (i), (iii)
9. If SOUTH is coded as 12345 and NORTH as 67845, then SNOW is coded as?
a) 1627
b) 1678
c) 1624
d) 1625
Answer: a) 1627
10. A is 3 years older than B, and B is twice as old as C. If C is 5, what is A’s age?
a) 10
b) 12
c) 13
d) 14
Answer: c) 13
(B=10, A=13)
11. Which number will replace the question mark?
2, 6, 12, 20, 30,?
a) 40
b) 42
c) 50
d) 56
Answer: b) 42
(+4, +6, +8, +10, +12)
12. 81: 9:: 64:?
a) 6
b) 7
c) 8
d) 9
Answer: c) 8
(Square root pattern)
13. In a certain code, MONKEY is written as XDJMNL. How is TIGER written in that code?
a) QDFHS
b) SDFHS
c) SHFDQ
d) QDFHT
Answer: a) QDFHS
14. Which one is different from the others?
a) Circle
b) Triangle
c) Square
d) Rectangle
Answer: a) Circle
(Has no sides)
15. Choose the correct mirror image of “PQ4”
Answer: Mirror image will show Q and P reversed and 4 as the same (as 4 is symmetrical).
16. If in a code, A = 26, B = 25, …, Z = 1, then what is the code for CAT?
a) 24 26 7
b) 24 1 7
c) 24 26 20
d) 24 1 20
Answer: d) 24 1 20
17. If ALL = 25, BALL = 35, CALL = 45, then DALL = ?
a) 50
b) 55
c) 60
d) 65
Answer: b) 55
(+10 pattern)
18. A clock shows 3:15. What is the angle between the hands?
a) 30°
b) 37.5°
c) 45°
d) 52.5°
Answer: b) 37.5°
19. Find the next term: AB, CD, EF, GH,?
a) IJ
b) HI
c) JK
d) KL
Answer: c) JK
20. Which number is missing?
4, 9, 16, 25,?
a) 30
b) 36
c) 49
d) 64
Answer: b) 36
(Squares of 2,3,4,5,6)
21. If NORTH is written as 53124, SOUTH as 64524, then NOON is written as?
a) 5535
b) 5335
c) 5533
d) 5313
Answer: c) 5533
22. Find the odd one: 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 14
Answer: 14
23. Which one doesn’t belong?
a) Mango
b) Banana
c) Carrot
d) Apple
Answer: c) Carrot
(Not a fruit)
24. What comes next?
1, 4, 9, 16, 25,?
Answer: 36
25. The day before yesterday was Friday. What day is tomorrow?
Answer: Monday
26. Pointing to a man, Rina said, “He is the father of my son’s sister.” Who is that man?
Answer: Her husband
27. If 8 = 56, 7 = 42, 6 = 30, 5 = ?
Answer: 20
(Multiply by previous number)
28. 2, 5, 10, 17, 26,?
Answer: 37
(+3, +5, +7, +9, +11)
29. Which one is different?
a) 16 – 4²
b) 25 – 5²
c) 36 – 7²
d) 49 – 7²
Answer: c) 36–7² (49 ≠ 36)
30. Which is the smallest number of four different digits?
Answer: 1023
31. If 5 cats can catch 5 rats in 5 minutes, how many rats can 10 cats catch in 10 minutes?
Answer: 20
32. If 2x = 10, then x + 5 = ?
Answer: 10
33. Find the next number: 1, 8, 27, 64,?
Answer: 125
(Cubes)
34. Which number should come next?
11, 13, 17, 19, 23,?
Answer: 29
(Next prime)
35. If “EARTH” = 5, then “OCEAN” = ?
Answer: 5 (Number of letters)
36. Find the odd one:
a) 21
b) 35
c) 49
d) 56
Answer: c) 49
(Perfect square)
37. Which number completes the series?
3, 6, 12, 24,?
Answer: 48
38. If 15 × 4 = 64, 8 × 6 = 52, then 9 × 7 = ?
Answer: 63
(Actual multiplication)
39. Which one is not a direction?
a) East
b) South
c) North
d) Up
Answer: d) Up
40. If ‘+’ means ‘×’, ‘×’ means ‘−’, then what is 5 + 2 × 3?
Answer: 5 × 2 − 3 = 10 − 3 = 7
41. 6, 11, 21, 36, 56,?
Answer: 81
(+5, +10, +15, +20, +25)
42. Choose the odd one:
a) Iron
b) Gold
c) Silver
d) Cotton
Answer: d) Cotton
(Not a metal)
43. If ‘RED’ = 27, then ‘BLUE’ = ?
Answer: 40 (R=18, E=5, D=4 → 27; B=2+L=12+U=21+E=5=40)
44. Find the missing alphabet:
ACE, BDF, CEG,?
Answer: DFH
45. Which number is missing?
7, 14, 28, 56,?
Answer: 112
46. If 1=3, 2=3, 3=5, 4=4, 5=4, then 6=?
Answer: 3 (No. of letters in spelling “six”)
47. Which is the odd one out?
a) 64
b) 125
c) 216
d) 343
Answer: a) 64 (Even cube)
48. If A = 26, Z = 1, then the sum of “AZ” = ?
Answer: 27
49. Complete the series:
2, 6, 12, 20, 30,?
Answer: 42 (+4, +6, +8, +10, +12)
50. In a code language, if ROAD = 68, then LOAD =?
Answer: 56 (R=18, O=15, A=1, D=4 → sum=38×2=76; L=12, sum=32×2=64)
Conclusion
Regular practice with mental ability problems promotes logical reasoning, analytical thinking, and problem-solving speed, all of which are necessary abilities for passing any competitive exam. The 50 questions supplied here cover a wide range of patterns and difficulty levels, providing you with a good basis for confidently approaching reasoning sections. Continue to revise, analyse your weaknesses, and strive for correctness and speed; success will follow!
