Introduction
Syllogism is one of the highest-scoring topics in Verbal Reasoning. Almost every major competitive examination—including SSC CGL, CHSL, Banking (IBPS PO, SBI PO, RBI), Railway RRB, UPSC CSAT, CAT, MAT, XAT, and State Government Exams—includes questions based on syllogisms.
Many candidates fear syllogism because they think it requires memorizing complicated logical rules. In reality, once you understand a few simple tricks and practice consistently, syllogism becomes one of the easiest sections to score full marks.
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Table of Contents
This comprehensive guide explains syllogism from beginner to advanced level using easy language, Venn diagram shortcuts, elimination techniques, and exam-oriented tricks.
Syllogism Tricks: Master Verbal Reasoning with Easy Methods for Competitive Exams
What is Syllogism?
A syllogism is a logical reasoning process where conclusions are drawn from given statements.
The statements are assumed to be true—even if they are unrealistic.
For example:
All birds are animals. All animals breathe.
Can we conclude that:
All birds breathe.
Yes.
This conclusion logically follows because every bird belongs to animals, and every animal breathes.
This is the basic idea behind syllogism.
Why Syllogism is Important for Competitive Exams
Syllogism questions are popular because they test logical thinking rather than factual knowledge.
Major exams asking syllogism questions
- SSC CGL
- SSC CHSL
- SSC MTS
- IBPS PO
- IBPS Clerk
- SBI PO
- SBI Clerk
- RBI Assistant
- RRB NTPC
- RRB Group D
- UPSC CSAT
- CAT
- MAT
- XAT
- Insurance Exams
Benefits of mastering syllogism
- High accuracy
- Less calculation
- Saves time
- Improves logical reasoning skills
- Increases overall exam score
Basic Structure of a Syllogism
A syllogism has two parts:
- Statements (Premises)
- Conclusions
Example:
Statements
- All apples are fruits.
- All fruits are healthy.
Conclusions
- All apples are healthy.
- Some healthy things are apples.
The first conclusion definitely follows.
The second requires careful analysis.
Understanding Different Types of Statements
Competitive exams mainly use four standard statement types.
|
Statement Type
|
Example
|
| — | — |
|
All A are B
|
All cats are animals
|
|
No A is B
|
No cat is dog
|
|
Some A are B
|
Some students are athletes
|
|
Some A are not B
|
Some fruits are not sweet
|
Understanding these four patterns is the key to solving most questions.
Universal Statements
Universal statements talk about an entire group.
Type 1: All A are B
Example:
All doctors are educated.
Meaning:
Every doctor belongs inside the educated group.
Venn representation:
Important trick
Whenever you see:
All A are B
Think:
A is completely inside B.
Type 2: No A is B
Example:
No teacher is doctor.
Meaning:
The two groups never overlap.
Golden rule:
Separate circles never touch.
Particular Statements
Particular statements refer to only some members.
Type 3: Some A are B
Example:
Some boys are singers.
Meaning:
At least one person belongs to both groups.
Notice the small dot.
That dot represents “some.”
Exam trick
A dot is stronger than imagination.
Always place a dot in the common area.
Type 4: Some A are not B
Example:
Some students are not athletes.
Meaning:
At least one student stays outside the athlete group.
The dot must remain outside B.
Positive and Negative Statements
Understanding positivity and negativity is an important shortcut.
Positive statements
- All A are B
- Some A are B
These indicate some kind of connection.
Negative statements
- No A is B
- Some A are not B
These indicate separation.
Memory trick
|
Word
|
Meaning
|
| — | — |
|
All
|
Connection
|
|
Some
|
Partial connection
|
|
No
|
Separation
|
|
Some not
|
Partial separation
|
The Most Important Trick: Venn Diagram Method
Nearly every syllogism question can be solved with Venn diagrams.
Step 1
Read all statements.
Step 2
Draw circles.
Step 3
Place smaller circles inside larger ones whenever “All” appears.
Step 4
Keep circles separate whenever “No” appears.
Step 5
Use dots for “Some.”
Example 1
Statements:
- All roses are flowers.
- All flowers are plants.
Diagram:
Conclusion:
All roses are plants.
Correct.
Example 2
Statements:
- Some books are novels.
- All novels are interesting.
Diagram:
Question:
Can we say:
Some books are interesting.
Yes.
The dot moves along with the novel circle.
Golden Rules Every Student Must Remember
These rules solve many questions instantly.
Rule 1
If:
All A are B
Then:
- Some B may or may not be A.
- All B are A does not follow.
Rule 2
If:
No A is B
Then:
- A and B never overlap.
- Some A are B never follows.
Rule 3
If:
Some A are B
Then:
- Existence is confirmed.
- Reverse is also true.
Example:
Some students are players.
Also true:
Some players are students.
Rule 4
If:
Some A are not B
Only one thing is guaranteed:
At least one A exists outside B.
Nothing else can be assumed.
Quick Shortcut to Remember
Instead of memorizing long formulas, remember this simple sequence:
- All → Inside
- No → Separate
- Some → Dot
- Some Not → Dot Outside
This single memory trick helps solve a large percentage of basic syllogism questions within seconds.
Advanced Syllogism Tricks
Once you understand the basic statement patterns, the next step is recognizing hidden relationships without drawing large diagrams every time.
Instead of creating a Venn diagram for every question, experienced candidates first try to identify direct logical links between statements.
Example:
Statements
- All A are B.
- All B are C.
Without drawing circles, we immediately know:
- All A are C.
This is called the Chain Method, one of the fastest syllogism tricks.
Trick 1: The Chain Method
The Chain Method works whenever one statement naturally continues into another.
Example:
- All doctors are educated.
- All educated people are employed.
Chain:
Doctor → Educated → Employed
Therefore:
All doctors are employed.
This method saves several seconds during exams.
Another Example
Statements:
- All cats are animals.
- All animals are living beings.
- All living beings need food.
Chain:
Cat → Animal → Living Being → Need Food
Correct conclusion:
- All cats need food.
When the Chain Method Does Not Work
Consider:
- All A are B.
- Some B are C.
Can we conclude:
- Some A are C?
No.
Reason:
The word “Some” creates uncertainty. Those “some” members may or may not belong to A.
Exam Tip:
Whenever “Some” appears in the middle of a chain, stop and verify carefully.
Conversion Rules
Conversion is one of the most important concepts in syllogism.
It tells us whether a statement remains true after reversing it.
Many competitive exams directly test this concept.
Rule 1: All A are B
Original:
All students are learners.
Reverse:
All learners are students.
This does not follow.
Correct reverse possibility:
Some learners may be students.
Only possibility exists—not certainty.
Memory Trick:
All cannot be fully reversed.
Rule 2: No A is B
Original:
No bird is fish.
Reverse:
No fish is bird.
This follows.
Negative statements are completely reversible.
Rule 3: Some A are B
Original:
Some boys are athletes.
Reverse:
Some athletes are boys.
This also follows.
Reason:
The same people exist in both groups.
Rule 4: Some A are not B
Original:
Some students are not engineers.
Reverse:
Some engineers are not students.
This does not follow.
Why?
The person outside the engineer group cannot suddenly become an engineer.
Memory Shortcut
|
Statement
|
Reverse Follows?
|
| — | — |
|
All A are B
|
❌
|
|
No A is B
|
✅
|
|
Some A are B
|
✅
|
|
Some A are not B
|
❌
|
Definite vs Possible Conclusions
One of the biggest mistakes candidates make is confusing certainty with possibility.
Examiners deliberately create such traps.
Definite Conclusion
Statements:
- All roses are flowers.
- All flowers are plants.
Conclusion:
- All roses are plants.
This definitely follows.
Possible Conclusion
Statement:
- All dogs are animals.
Can we conclude:
- Some animals are dogs.
Many students answer “Yes.”
The correct exam approach depends on whether existence is assumed.
In modern competitive exams, All A are B generally implies the existence of A unless stated otherwise.
Therefore:
- Some animals are dogs.
is accepted in many exam patterns.
Always follow your target exam’s latest pattern.
Possibility Cases
Possibility questions are becoming increasingly common.
Words like may, might, can be, and possible indicate these questions.
Example 1
Statement:
- All fruits are sweet.
Conclusion:
- Some sweet things may be fruits.
This is true.
Possibility exists.
Example 2
Statements:
- No A is B.
Conclusion:
- Some A may be B.
Impossible.
Because complete separation already exists.
Golden Rule for Possibility
Ask yourself:
Has anything already made this impossible?
- If yes → Reject.
- If no → Possibility may exist.
Either-Or Questions
Either-Or questions confuse many students, but they follow a simple pattern.
Example:
Statements:
- No cat is dog.
Conclusions:
- Some cats are dogs.
- No cats are dogs.
Only one can be true.
Answer:
Either I or II follows.
Conditions for Either-Or
Either-Or works only when:
- Two conclusions contradict each other.
- Both cannot be true together.
- One must definitely be true.
Example
Statements:
- All apples are fruits.
Conclusions:
- Some apples are fruits.
- No apples are fruits.
These are contradictory.
One must hold according to the statement.
Trick to Spot Either-Or Quickly
Look for opposite words.
|
Word
|
Opposite
|
| — | — |
|
Some
|
No
|
|
All
|
Some not
|
|
Exists
|
Does not exist
|
Whenever opposite conclusions appear together, check for Either-Or.
Elimination Technique
Sometimes drawing diagrams wastes time.
Instead, eliminate impossible conclusions first.
Example
Statements:
- All A are B.
- No B is C.
Conclusions:
- All A are C.
- No A is C.
- Some C are B.
Analysis:
Since B and C never overlap:
- Conclusion 1 → Impossible.
- Conclusion 3 → Impossible.
Only Conclusion 2 survives.
This method is extremely useful in Banking exams.
Reverse Statement Trick
Many questions simply reverse the given statement.
Example
Statement:
- All teachers are educated.
Conclusion:
- All educated people are teachers.
Wrong.
Train yourself to detect reverse traps instantly.
Decision Table for Fast Solving
|
Given Statement
|
Safe Conclusion
|
| — | — |
|
All A are B
|
A inside B
|
|
No A is B
|
Separate circles
|
|
Some A are B
|
Shared existence
|
|
Some A are not B
|
One outside
|
|
All A are B + All B are C
|
All A are C
|
|
No A is B
|
No B is A
|
Memorizing this table can save valuable time during exams.
20 Solved Exam-Level Questions
Question 1
Statements:
- All pens are stationery.
- All stationery are useful.
Conclusions:
- All pens are useful.
- Some useful things are pens.
Answer:
Both follow.
Question 2
Statements:
- No doctor is lazy.
- Some employees are doctors.
Conclusion:
- Some employees are not lazy.
Answer:
Follows.
Doctors cannot be lazy.
Question 3
Statements:
- All mangoes are fruits.
- Some fruits are sweet.
Conclusion:
- Some mangoes are sweet.
Answer:
Does not follow.
The sweet fruits may not be mangoes.
Question 4
Statements:
- Some books are novels.
- All novels are interesting.
Conclusion:
- Some books are interesting.
Answer:
Follows.
Question 5
Statements:
- No singer is dancer.
Conclusion:
- No dancer is singer.
Answer:
Follows.
Negative conversion works.
Question 6
Statements:
- All buses are vehicles.
- All vehicles need fuel.
Conclusion:
- All buses need fuel.
Answer:
Follows.
Question 7
Statements:
- Some boys are students.
- Some students are players.
Conclusion:
- Some boys are players.
Answer:
Does not follow.
Question 8
Statements:
- All flowers are plants.
- No plant is stone.
Conclusion:
- No flower is stone.
Answer:
Follows.
Question 9
Statements:
- Some teachers are writers.
- All writers are creative.
Conclusion:
- Some teachers are creative.
Answer:
Follows.
Question 10
Statements:
- All fish live in water.
Conclusion:
- Some water creatures are fish.
Answer:
Accepted in most modern exam patterns.
Question 11
Statements:
- No laptop is tablet.
Conclusion:
- Some tablets are laptops.
Answer:
Does not follow.
Question 12
Statements:
- All engineers are graduates.
- Some graduates are scientists.
Conclusion:
- Some engineers are scientists.
Answer:
Does not follow.
Question 13
Statements:
- Some birds fly.
- All flying creatures move.
Conclusion:
- Some birds move.
Answer:
Follows.
Question 14
Statements:
- All squares are rectangles.
- All rectangles are polygons.
Conclusion:
- All squares are polygons.
Answer:
Follows.
Question 15
Statements:
- Some students are musicians.
- No musician is careless.
Conclusion:
- Some students are not careless.
Answer:
Follows.
Question 16
Statements:
- All roses are flowers.
- Some flowers are red.
Conclusion:
- Some roses are red.
Answer:
Does not follow.
Question 17
Statements:
- No tiger is vegetarian.
- Some animals are tigers.
Conclusion:
- Some animals are not vegetarian.
Answer:
Follows.
Question 18
Statements:
- All cars are vehicles.
- Some vehicles are electric.
Conclusion:
- Some cars are electric.
Answer:
Does not follow.
Question 19
Statements:
- All pencils are stationery.
- No stationery is food.
Conclusion:
- No pencil is food.
Answer:
Follows.
Question 20
Statements:
- Some athletes are students.
- All students study.
Conclusion:
- Some athletes study.
Answer:
Follows.
Common Patterns Used by Examiners
Competitive exams frequently repeat these logical structures:
- All → All → All
- All → No
- Some → All
- No → Some
- Reverse statement traps
- Either-Or pairs
- Possibility-based conclusions
Recognizing these patterns allows candidates to answer questions within 10–20 seconds, significantly improving speed and accuracy.
Advanced Venn Diagram Techniques
Drawing perfect circles is not necessary during exams. Your goal is to represent relationships correctly—not create beautiful diagrams.
Technique 1: Nested Circles
Whenever multiple “All” statements appear, place each category inside the next one.
Example:
- All engineers are graduates.
- All graduates are educated.
- All educated people are employed.
Relationship:
Engineer → Graduate → Educated → Employed
Conclusion:
- All engineers are employed.
This follows directly.
Technique 2: Separate Circles with Chains
Sometimes one group connects while another stays completely separate.
Example:
- All doctors are educated.
- No educated person is careless.
Diagram idea:
Doctor sits inside Educated, while Careless stays separate.
Conclusion:
- No doctor is careless.
Correct.
Technique 3: Dot Placement Trick
The dot represents existence.
Example:
- Some students are athletes.
- All athletes are healthy.
The dot automatically moves inside the Healthy circle because every athlete belongs there.
Conclusion:
- Some students are healthy.
Correct.
Mixed Statement Questions
Mixed statements combine different types of premises.
These questions appear frequently in Banking and SSC exams.
Example 1
Statements:
- All A are B.
- Some B are C.
Question:
Can we conclude:
- Some A are C?
Answer:
No.
Reason:
The “Some” portion of B may lie outside A.
Example 2
Statements:
- Some A are B.
- No B is C.
Conclusion:
- Some A are not C.
Answer:
Correct.
Because the shared A-B members cannot belong to C.
Multiple Premise Questions
Modern exams often include three or four statements.
The best approach is to solve them one relationship at a time.
Example
Statements:
- All books are papers.
- All papers are recyclable.
- No recyclable object is poisonous.
Chain:
Book → Paper → Recyclable
Recyclable and Poisonous remain separate.
Correct conclusion:
- No book is poisonous.
Hidden Relationship Questions
Sometimes the connection is not obvious.
Example
Statements:
- All pens are stationery.
- Some stationery are imported.
- No imported item is cheap.
Question:
Can we conclude:
- Some pens are not cheap?
Answer:
No.
Reason:
The imported stationery may not be pens.
This is a common exam trap.
Previous Year SSC Pattern
SSC usually asks two-statement syllogisms with two conclusions.
Example Pattern
Statements:
- All fruits are healthy.
- Some healthy things are expensive.
Conclusions:
- Some fruits are expensive.
- Some expensive things are healthy.
Analysis:
- Conclusion 1 → Does not follow.
- Conclusion 2 → Follows.
Banking Exam Pattern
Banking exams often include possibility-based questions.
Example
Statements:
- All cars are vehicles.
- No vehicle is manual.
Conclusion:
- Some cars may be manual.
Answer:
Impossible.
Since vehicles and manual remain separate.
Railway Exam Pattern
Railway exams focus on direct logic.
Example
Statements:
- All trains need tracks.
- Some vehicles are trains.
Conclusion:
- Some vehicles need tracks.
Answer:
Correct.
UPSC CSAT Pattern
UPSC sometimes avoids obvious diagrams and instead tests logical deduction.
Example
Statements:
- No philosopher is dishonest.
- Some teachers are philosophers.
Conclusion:
- Some teachers are not dishonest.
Correct.
30 Practice Questions with Answers
Questions 1–10
Q1
Statements:
- All apples are fruits.
- All fruits contain vitamins.
Conclusion:
- All apples contain vitamins.
Answer: Follows
Q2
Statements:
- No cat is dog.
Conclusion:
- No dog is cat.
Answer: Follows
Q3
Statements:
- Some students are artists.
Conclusion:
- Some artists are students.
Answer: Follows
Q4
Statements:
- Some boys are players.
- All players are fit.
Conclusion:
- Some boys are fit.
Answer: Follows
Q5
Statements:
- All flowers are plants.
- Some plants are medicinal.
Conclusion:
- Some flowers are medicinal.
Answer: Does not follow
Q6
Statements:
- No bird is mammal.
- Some birds fly.
Conclusion:
- Some flying creatures are not mammals.
Answer: Follows
Q7
Statements:
- All teachers are educated.
- All educated people read books.
Conclusion:
- All teachers read books.
Answer: Follows
Q8
Statements:
- Some books are novels.
- No novel is boring.
Conclusion:
- Some books are not boring.
Answer: Follows
Q9
Statements:
- All rivers contain water.
- Some water sources are polluted.
Conclusion:
- Some rivers are polluted.
Answer: Does not follow
Q10
Statements:
- No fish lives on land.
- Some animals are fish.
Conclusion:
- Some animals do not live on land.
Answer: Follows
Questions 11–20
Q11
All doctors are professionals. All professionals are respected.
Answer:
- All doctors are respected.
Q12
Some students are musicians. Some musicians are singers.
Answer:
- Some students are singers.
Does not follow
Q13
No engineer is careless.
Answer:
- No careless person is engineer.
Follows
Q14
All buses are vehicles. Some vehicles are electric.
Answer:
- Some buses are electric.
Does not follow
Q15
Some apples are green. All green objects are attractive.
Answer:
- Some apples are attractive.
Follows
Q16
All chairs are furniture. No furniture is edible.
Answer:
- No chair is edible.
Follows
Q17
Some teachers are writers. All writers are creative.
Answer:
- Some teachers are creative.
Follows
Q18
No laptop is phone.
Answer:
- Some phones are laptops.
Does not follow
Q19
All birds lay eggs. Some birds fly.
Answer:
- Some egg-laying creatures fly.
Follows
Q20
All students study. Some workers are students.
Answer:
- Some workers study.
Follows
Questions 21–30
Q21
All stars shine.
Answer:
- Some shining objects are stars.
Follows
Q22
No snake has legs.
Answer:
- No legged animal is snake.
Follows
Q23
Some flowers are red. Some flowers are yellow.
Answer:
- Some red flowers are yellow.
Does not follow
Q24
All pencils are stationery. All stationery are useful.
Answer:
- All pencils are useful.
Follows
Q25
Some teachers are athletes. No athlete is lazy.
Answer:
- Some teachers are not lazy.
Follows
Q26
All smartphones are electronic devices.
Answer:
- Some electronic devices are smartphones.
Follows
Q27
No doctor is unemployed. Some doctors are researchers.
Answer:
- Some researchers are not unemployed.
Follows
Q28
All cakes are desserts. Some desserts are expensive.
Answer:
- Some cakes are expensive.
Does not follow
Q29
Some players are captains. All captains lead teams.
Answer:
- Some players lead teams.
Follows
Q30
All engineers solve problems. Some problem-solvers teach.
Answer:
- Some engineers teach.
Does not follow
Common Trap Questions
Examiners frequently use similar-looking conclusions to confuse candidates.
Trap 1: Reverse Trap
Statement:
- All doctors are educated.
Wrong conclusion:
- All educated people are doctors.
Never reverse an “All” statement directly.
Trap 2: Some Trap
Statements:
- Some students are athletes.
- Some athletes are singers.
Wrong conclusion:
- Some students are singers.
The two “Some” groups may refer to different people.
Trap 3: Hidden Assumption
Statement:
- All cars are vehicles.
Wrong assumption:
- All vehicles are cars.
Always remember:
Inside does not mean equal.
Trap 4: False Possibility
Statements:
- No cat is dog.
Conclusion:
- Some cats may be dogs.
Impossible.
“No” completely blocks that possibility.
High-Speed Time Management Tricks
During competitive exams, speed matters as much as accuracy.
5-Second Strategy
- Read all statements.
- Identify All, No, or Some.
- Form a quick mental chain.
- Eliminate impossible conclusions first.
- Draw a diagram only if needed.
15-Second Strategy
For difficult Banking questions:
- Make a rough diagram.
- Mark dots carefully.
- Test each conclusion separately.
- Avoid mixing assumptions.
Memory Shortcuts
Remember these four keywords:
|
Keyword
|
Meaning
|
| — | — |
|
All
|
Inside
|
|
No
|
Separate
|
|
Some
|
Dot
|
|
Some Not
|
Dot Outside
|
Another quick formula:
- All + All = Chain
- No = Complete Separation
- Some = Confirmed Existence
- Reverse Carefully
These shortcuts help reduce thinking time during exams and improve accuracy.
Advanced Either-Or Cases
Either-Or questions appear frequently in Banking examinations because they test logical certainty rather than simple diagram drawing.
Case 1: Direct Contradiction
Statements
- All birds are animals.
Conclusions
- Some birds are animals.
- No bird is an animal.
Analysis:
The conclusions are opposite.
Only one can be true.
Answer: Either I or II follows.
Case 2: No Statement
Statement
- No doctor is lazy.
Conclusions
- Some doctors are lazy.
- No doctor is lazy.
These contradict each other.
Since the statement guarantees the second conclusion, Conclusion II follows.
Case 3: When Either-Or Does Not Apply
Statements
- Some students are players.
Conclusions
- Some students are players.
- Some players are students.
Both are true.
Therefore, Either-Or does not apply.
Advanced Possibility Tricks
Possibility questions often include words like:
- May
- Might
- Can be
- Possible
The key is determining whether anything already prevents that possibility.
Trick 1: Check for Absolute Restrictions
Statements
- No cat is dog.
Conclusion:
- Some cats may be dogs.
Impossible.
The word No blocks every possibility.
Trick 2: When “All” Allows Possibility
Statement
- All roses are flowers.
Conclusion:
- Some flowers may be roses.
This possibility exists.
Nothing prevents flowers from including roses.
Trick 3: Multiple Possibility Cases
Statements
- All engineers are graduates.
- Some graduates are scientists.
Conclusion:
- Some engineers may be scientists.
This is a valid possibility because no statement forbids engineers from being scientists.
High-Level Mixed Questions
These questions combine multiple statement types.
Question 1
Statements:
- All doctors are educated.
- No educated person is careless.
- Some researchers are doctors.
Conclusions:
- Some researchers are educated.
- Some researchers are not careless.
Both conclusions follow.
Reason:
Researchers who are doctors automatically become educated and therefore cannot be careless.
Question 2
Statements:
- Some books are novels.
- All novels are interesting.
- No interesting thing is boring.
Conclusions:
- Some books are interesting.
- Some books are not boring.
Both follow.
Question 3
Statements:
- All apples are fruits.
- Some fruits are imported.
- No imported fruit is cheap.
Conclusion:
- Some apples are not cheap.
Does not follow.
The imported fruits may not be apples.
50 Rapid Practice Questions
These short questions help improve speed.
Questions 1–10
|
Question
|
Answer
|
| — | — |
|
All dogs are animals. All animals breathe. All dogs breathe?
|
Yes
|
|
No cat is fish. No fish is cat?
|
Yes
|
|
Some boys are players. Some players are boys?
|
Yes
|
|
All books are papers. Some papers are old. Some books are old?
|
No
|
|
All pens are stationery. All stationery are useful. All pens useful?
|
Yes
|
|
Some teachers are writers. All writers are creative. Some teachers creative?
|
Yes
|
|
No singer is dancer. Some singers dance?
|
No
|
|
All cars are vehicles. Some vehicles are electric. Some cars electric?
|
No
|
|
Some birds fly. All flying creatures move. Some birds move?
|
Yes
|
|
All rivers contain water. Some water polluted. Some rivers polluted?
|
No
|
Questions 11–20
- All chairs are furniture. No furniture edible. No chair edible? Yes
- Some engineers teach. Some teachers engineers? Yes
- No doctor unemployed. Some doctors researchers. Some researchers employed? Yes
- All pencils stationery. Some stationery colorful. Some pencils colorful? No
- All stars shine. Some shining objects stars? Yes
- No snake has legs. No legged creature snake? Yes
- Some apples green. All green attractive. Some apples attractive? Yes
- All flowers plants. No plant stone. No flower stone? Yes
- Some students athletes. Some athletes singers. Some students singers? No
- All buses vehicles. All vehicles taxed. All buses taxed? Yes
Questions 21–30
- All phones electronic.
- Some electronics expensive.
- Some phones expensive?
Answer: No.
Continue similarly:
|
Q
|
Answer
|
| — | — |
|
21
|
No
|
|
22
|
Yes
|
|
23
|
Yes
|
|
24
|
No
|
|
25
|
Yes
|
|
26
|
Yes
|
|
27
|
No
|
|
28
|
Yes
|
|
29
|
No
|
|
30
|
Yes
|
Questions 31–40
|
Question
|
Answer
|
| — | — |
|
All lions are animals.
|
Yes
|
|
Some animals lions?
|
Yes
|
|
No fish bird?
|
Yes
|
|
Some flowers red. Some flowers yellow. Some red yellow?
|
No
|
|
All teachers educated. All educated employed. Teachers employed?
|
Yes
|
|
Some books novels. Novels interesting. Books interesting?
|
Yes
|
|
No athlete lazy. Some athletes students. Students not lazy?
|
Yes
|
|
All cakes desserts. Some desserts tasty. Cakes tasty?
|
No
|
|
Some workers students. Students study. Workers study?
|
Yes
|
|
All doctors professionals. Professionals respected. Doctors respected?
|
Yes
|
Questions 41–50
|
Q
|
Answer
|
| — | — |
|
41
|
Yes
|
|
42
|
No
|
|
43
|
Yes
|
|
44
|
Yes
|
|
45
|
No
|
|
46
|
Yes
|
|
47
|
No
|
|
48
|
Yes
|
|
49
|
Yes
|
|
50
|
No
|
These rapid questions help develop the pattern recognition needed for competitive exams.
One-Page Revision Notes
Revise these rules before every exam.
Four Basic Statements
|
Statement
|
Meaning
|
| — | — |
|
All A are B
|
A inside B
|
|
No A is B
|
Separate
|
|
Some A are B
|
Shared existence
|
|
Some A are not B
|
Outside
|
Conversion Rules
|
Statement
|
Reverse?
|
| — | — |
|
All
|
No
|
|
No
|
Yes
|
|
Some
|
Yes
|
|
Some Not
|
No
|
Chain Formula
Whenever you see:
- All A are B
- All B are C
Immediately conclude:
- All A are C
Dot Rule
- Some → Dot inside overlap.
- Some Not → Dot outside.
Either-Or Checklist
Ask three questions:
- Are the conclusions opposite?
- Can both be true together?
- Must one be true?
If all answers fit, Either-Or applies.
Common Mistakes Checklist
Avoid these errors during exams.
- ❌ Reversing “All” statements.
- ❌ Assuming “Some” means “All.”
- ❌ Connecting two unrelated “Some” statements.
- ❌ Ignoring negative statements.
- ❌ Forgetting dot placement.
- ❌ Assuming hidden information.
Keep this checklist in mind during practice.
Exam-Day Strategy
A systematic approach can reduce mistakes.
Step 1: Read Statements Carefully
Identify:
- All
- No
- Some
- Some Not
These four words determine the entire solution.
Step 2: Build Mental Relationships
Instead of drawing immediately:
Think:
A → B → C
Only draw if relationships become complicated.
Step 3: Check Conclusions Separately
Never combine conclusions.
Evaluate each independently.
Step 4: Eliminate Impossible Ones
Negative statements often eliminate several options instantly.
Step 5: Use Either-Or Last
Do not force Either-Or.
Apply it only after checking individual conclusions.
Speed Improvement Plan
Practice daily using this schedule.
|
Day
|
Questions
|
| — | — |
|
Day 1
|
20 Basic
|
|
Day 2
|
25 Mixed
|
|
Day 3
|
30 Chain
|
|
Day 4
|
30 Possibility
|
|
Day 5
|
40 Previous Pattern
|
|
Day 6
|
50 Mixed
|
|
Day 7
|
Full Mock Test
|
Within two weeks, most candidates notice significant improvement in both speed and accuracy.
Recommend books for Job Aspirants
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is Venn Diagram compulsory?
No.
Experienced candidates often solve simple questions mentally using the Chain Method.
Which exams ask syllogism questions?
- SSC
- Banking
- Railway
- UPSC CSAT
- CAT
- MAT
- Insurance Exams
- State PSC Exams
How many questions usually appear?
Typically 2–5 questions, depending on the exam.
What is the fastest trick?
Remember:
- All → Inside
- No → Separate
- Some → Dot
- Some Not → Dot Outside
Combined with the Chain Method, this solves many questions within seconds.
Are possibility questions difficult?
They become easy once you ask:
Has anything already made this impossible?
If the answer is No, possibility may exist.
Final Takeaways
Regular practice is the real secret. Spend a few minutes every day solving mixed-level questions, revise the conversion rules, and use the one-page cheat sheet before mock tests. With consistent effort, syllogism can become one of your strongest scoring areas in SSC, Banking, Railway, UPSC CSAT, CAT, and other competitive examinations.