Reasoning Ability is one of the most important and scoring sections in banking and insurance exams. Whether you are preparing for IBPS, SBI, RBI, or Insurance exams, the reasoning syllabus is largely the same across all exams.
In this blog, we will cover the detailed reasoning syllabus for banking exams, including Prelims & Mains, along with preparation tips for beginners.
What is Reasoning Ability in Banking Exams?
Reasoning Ability tests a candidate’s:
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Logical thinking
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Analytical skills
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Decision-making ability
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Problem-solving speed
Organizations like Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS), SBI, RBI, and insurance companies give high weightage to reasoning in both prelims and mains.
Reasoning Syllabus for Banking Exams – Overview
The reasoning syllabus is divided into two levels:
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Prelims Reasoning Syllabus
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Mains Reasoning Syllabus
Some topics are common, while Mains includes higher-level questions.
🔹 Reasoning Syllabus for Banking Prelims
The prelims reasoning section mainly focuses on speed and accuracy.
📌 Topics Included in Prelims:
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Alphanumeric Series
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Inequality (Direct & Coded)
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Blood Relations
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Direction Sense Test
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Coding–Decoding
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Order & Ranking
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Syllogism
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Seating Arrangement (Basic – Linear/Circular)
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Puzzle (Basic Level)
📌 Prelims questions are usually straightforward but time-bound.
🔹 Reasoning Syllabus for Banking Mains
The mains reasoning section is more analytical and lengthy.
📌 Topics Included in Mains:
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Puzzles (Floor-based, Box-based, Month-based, Comparison-based)
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Seating Arrangement (Complex Patterns)
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Logical Reasoning
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Input–Output
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Data Sufficiency
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Machine Input–Output
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Course of Action
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Statement & Assumption
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Statement & Conclusion
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Cause & Effect
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Decision Making
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Critical Reasoning
📌 Mains questions test depth of understanding, not just speed.
Reasoning Syllabus for Insurance Exams
Insurance exams like LIC AAO, NIACL AO, UIIC AO follow a similar reasoning syllabus, with added focus on:
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Logical Reasoning
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Statement-based questions
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Decision Making
👉 If you prepare reasoning for banking mains, insurance reasoning is automatically covered.
Weightage of Reasoning in Banking Exams
| Exam Stage | No. of Questions |
|---|---|
| Prelims | 35 |
| Mains | 40–60 |
📌 Reasoning is often the deciding section for selection.
Preparation Strategy for Reasoning Ability (Very Important)
✅ For Beginners:
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Start with basic topics (Inequality, Syllogism, Series)
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Learn concepts before shortcuts
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Practice daily (minimum 20–30 questions)
✅ For Mains Level:
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Focus heavily on Puzzles & Seating Arrangement
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Improve question selection
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Practice timed mock tests
Common Mistakes to Avoid in Reasoning Preparation
❌ Solving without understanding logic
❌ Ignoring mains-level topics
❌ Not analyzing mock tests
❌ Practicing without time limit
❌ Skipping revision
Why Reasoning is a Game-Changer in Banking Exams
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No formulas required
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High scoring if practiced properly
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Improves overall exam confidence
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Helps clear cut-off easily
Final Words
The reasoning syllabus for banking exams may look vast, but with consistent practice and smart strategy, it becomes one of the easiest sections to score. Whether you are targeting IBPS, SBI, RBI, or Insurance exams, mastering reasoning can significantly improve your selection chances.
👉 Start today, practice daily, and analyze every mock.
📌FAQs
Q1. Is reasoning syllabus same for IBPS and SBI exams?
Yes, the syllabus is almost identical with slight variation in difficulty.
Q2. Which topic has highest weightage in reasoning?
Puzzles and seating arrangement carry the highest weightage.
Q3. Can I prepare reasoning for banking and insurance together?
Yes, one preparation is sufficient for both.
