← Learn solving strategies

Analytical Reasoning Practice Questions with Answers

Practice with 30 sample questions organized by difficulty. Click “Show Answer” to reveal the correct answer and explanation.

Start Practicing

Easy

Easy #1
3 items are ranked from 1 (highest) to 3 (lowest).
1. Bob is not ranked 2
2. Frank is not ranked 3
3. Bob is ranked higher than Alice
Who is ranked 3?
A. Alice
B. Bob
C. Frank

Answer: A

Explanation:

1: Bob > 2: Frank > 3: Alice

1. Bob is not ranked 2 ✓
2. Frank is not ranked 3 ✓
3. Bob is ranked higher than Alice ✓
Easy #2
3 people sit in a row (positions 1–3, left to right).
1. Frank sits at an end
2. David sits to the left of Bob
3. Bob sits to the left of Frank
Who sits next to David?
A. David
B. Bob
C. Frank

Answer: B

Explanation:

1: David | 2: Bob | 3: Frank

1. Frank sits at an end ✓
2. David sits to the left of Bob ✓
3. Bob sits to the left of Frank ✓
Easy #3
3 items are ranked from 1 (highest) to 3 (lowest).
1. Carol is ranked higher than David
2. Emma is ranked higher than Carol
What is the rank of Emma?
A. 2
B. 1
C. 3

Answer: B

Explanation:

1: Emma > 2: Carol > 3: David

1. Carol is ranked higher than David ✓
2. Emma is ranked higher than Carol ✓
Easy #4
3 items are ranked from 1 (highest) to 3 (lowest).
1. Frank is ranked higher than Carol
2. Emma is not ranked 2
3. Emma is ranked higher than Carol
Who is ranked 2?
A. Frank
B. Carol
C. Emma

Answer: A

Explanation:

1: Emma > 2: Frank > 3: Carol

1. Frank is ranked higher than Carol ✓
2. Emma is not ranked 2 ✓
3. Emma is ranked higher than Carol ✓
Easy #5
3 items are ranked from 1 (highest) to 3 (lowest).
1. Emma is ranked lower than Frank
2. Alice is not ranked 1
3. Emma is not ranked 3
What is the rank of Alice?
A. 2
B. 3
C. 1

Answer: B

Explanation:

1: Frank > 2: Emma > 3: Alice

1. Emma is ranked lower than Frank ✓
2. Alice is not ranked 1 ✓
3. Emma is not ranked 3 ✓
Easy #6
3 items are ranked from 1 (highest) to 3 (lowest).
1. David is not ranked 1
2. David is ranked lower than Alice
3. Carol is ranked lower than Alice
4. David is ranked lower than Carol
What is the rank of David?
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3

Answer: C

Explanation:

1: Alice > 2: Carol > 3: David

1. David is not ranked 1 ✓
2. David is ranked lower than Alice ✓
3. Carol is ranked lower than Alice ✓
4. David is ranked lower than Carol ✓
Easy #7
3 items are ranked from 1 (highest) to 3 (lowest).
1. Emma is ranked lower than Bob
2. Alice is ranked higher than Bob
What is the rank of Alice?
A. 2
B. 1
C. 3

Answer: B

Explanation:

1: Alice > 2: Bob > 3: Emma

1. Emma is ranked lower than Bob ✓
2. Alice is ranked higher than Bob ✓
Easy #8
3 items are ranked from 1 (highest) to 3 (lowest).
1. Carol is ranked lower than Frank
2. Frank is ranked higher than Carol
3. Frank is not ranked 3
4. Carol is not ranked 1
5. Frank is ranked lower than Bob
What is the rank of Carol?
A. 3
B. 1
C. 2

Answer: A

Explanation:

1: Bob > 2: Frank > 3: Carol

1. Carol is ranked lower than Frank ✓
2. Frank is ranked higher than Carol ✓
3. Frank is not ranked 3 ✓
4. Carol is not ranked 1 ✓
5. Frank is ranked lower than Bob ✓
Easy #9
3 people sit in a row (positions 1–3, left to right).
1. Carol sits to the left of David
2. Frank sits next to Carol
3. Carol sits in position 2
Who sits next to Frank?
A. David
B. Carol
C. Frank

Answer: B

Explanation:

1: Frank | 2: Carol | 3: David

1. Carol sits to the left of David ✓
2. Frank sits next to Carol ✓
3. Carol sits in position 2 ✓
Easy #10
3 people sit in a row (positions 1–3, left to right).
1. Carol is not next to David
2. Carol sits next to Frank
3. Carol sits in position 1
Who sits next to Carol?
A. Frank
B. Carol
C. David

Answer: A

Explanation:

1: Carol | 2: Frank | 3: David

1. Carol is not next to David ✓
2. Carol sits next to Frank ✓
3. Carol sits in position 1 ✓

Medium

Medium #11
Assign 6 people to 3 teams of 2 each.
1. Frank and David cannot be on the same team
2. Bob is on Team C
3. Frank and Carol cannot be on the same team
4. Alice and Carol cannot be on the same team
5. David is on Team B
6. Alice and Emma cannot be on the same team
7. David and Bob cannot be on the same team
8. Frank and Emma cannot be on the same team
9. Alice is on Team A
10. Alice and Bob cannot be on the same team
11. Alice and David cannot be on the same team
12. David and Carol cannot be on the same team
Which team is Frank on?
A. B
B. D
C. C
D. A

Answer: D

Explanation:

A: Alice, Frank
B: Emma, David
C: Bob, Carol

1. Frank and David cannot be on the same team ✓
2. Bob is on Team C ✓
3. Frank and Carol cannot be on the same team ✓
4. Alice and Carol cannot be on the same team ✓
5. David is on Team B ✓
6. Alice and Emma cannot be on the same team ✓
7. David and Bob cannot be on the same team ✓
8. Frank and Emma cannot be on the same team ✓
9. Alice is on Team A ✓
10. Alice and Bob cannot be on the same team ✓
11. Alice and David cannot be on the same team ✓
12. David and Carol cannot be on the same team ✓
Medium #12
4 items are ranked from 1 (highest) to 4 (lowest).
1. Alice is ranked lower than Frank
2. Carol is not ranked 4
3. Frank is not ranked 2
4. Bob is ranked lower than Alice
5. Frank is ranked higher than Alice
6. Bob is not ranked 1
7. Frank is ranked higher than Bob
8. Carol is ranked higher than Bob
9. Alice is ranked higher than Bob
10. Bob is ranked lower than Frank
11. Bob is ranked lower than Carol
12. Alice is ranked higher than Carol
Who is ranked 2?
A. Alice
B. Carol
C. Frank
D. Bob

Answer: A

Explanation:

1: Frank > 2: Alice > 3: Carol > 4: Bob

1. Alice is ranked lower than Frank ✓
2. Carol is not ranked 4 ✓
3. Frank is not ranked 2 ✓
4. Bob is ranked lower than Alice ✓
5. Frank is ranked higher than Alice ✓
6. Bob is not ranked 1 ✓
7. Frank is ranked higher than Bob ✓
8. Carol is ranked higher than Bob ✓
9. Alice is ranked higher than Bob ✓
10. Bob is ranked lower than Frank ✓
11. Bob is ranked lower than Carol ✓
12. Alice is ranked higher than Carol ✓
Medium #13
4 people sit in a row (positions 1–4, left to right).
1. Frank sits in position 4
2. David is not next to Frank
3. Emma sits to the left of Frank
4. Frank sits at an end
5. David sits to the left of Carol
6. Carol sits to the left of Frank
7. Emma sits to the left of Carol
8. Emma sits next to David
9. David sits in position 2
Who sits in position 4?
A. Frank
B. Emma
C. David
D. Carol

Answer: A

Explanation:

1: Emma | 2: David | 3: Carol | 4: Frank

1. Frank sits in position 4 ✓
2. David is not next to Frank ✓
3. Emma sits to the left of Frank ✓
4. Frank sits at an end ✓
5. David sits to the left of Carol ✓
6. Carol sits to the left of Frank ✓
7. Emma sits to the left of Carol ✓
8. Emma sits next to David ✓
9. David sits in position 2 ✓
Medium #14
4 items are ranked from 1 (highest) to 4 (lowest).
1. Alice is not ranked 3
2. David is ranked higher than Carol
3. Carol is ranked lower than Alice
4. David is ranked higher than Alice
5. Alice is ranked higher than Carol
6. Carol is ranked lower than Bob
What is the rank of David?
A. 1
B. 4
C. 2
D. 3

Answer: A

Explanation:

1: David > 2: Alice > 3: Bob > 4: Carol

1. Alice is not ranked 3 ✓
2. David is ranked higher than Carol ✓
3. Carol is ranked lower than Alice ✓
4. David is ranked higher than Alice ✓
5. Alice is ranked higher than Carol ✓
6. Carol is ranked lower than Bob ✓
Medium #15
4 people sit in a row (positions 1–4, left to right).
1. Carol sits to the left of Frank
2. Alice sits in position 4
3. Frank sits next to Alice
4. Bob is not next to Alice
5. Bob is not next to Frank
Who sits in position 2?
A. Bob
B. Carol
C. Alice
D. Frank

Answer: B

Explanation:

1: Bob | 2: Carol | 3: Frank | 4: Alice

1. Carol sits to the left of Frank ✓
2. Alice sits in position 4 ✓
3. Frank sits next to Alice ✓
4. Bob is not next to Alice ✓
5. Bob is not next to Frank ✓
Medium #16
4 people sit in a row (positions 1–4, left to right).
1. Bob sits to the left of Frank
2. Carol sits in position 4
3. Bob sits at an end
4. Emma sits to the left of Carol
5. Frank sits to the left of Emma
Who sits next to Emma?
A. Bob
B. Carol
C. Emma
D. Frank

Answer: B

Explanation:

1: Bob | 2: Frank | 3: Emma | 4: Carol

1. Bob sits to the left of Frank ✓
2. Carol sits in position 4 ✓
3. Bob sits at an end ✓
4. Emma sits to the left of Carol ✓
5. Frank sits to the left of Emma ✓
Medium #17
4 items are ranked from 1 (highest) to 4 (lowest).
1. David is not ranked 1
2. Emma is ranked higher than David
3. Frank is not ranked 4
4. Frank is ranked higher than David
5. David is ranked lower than Alice
6. Alice is ranked higher than Emma
7. Frank is ranked lower than Alice
8. Alice is not ranked 2
9. David is ranked lower than Emma
10. Alice is ranked higher than David
11. Frank is ranked lower than Emma
Who is ranked 4?
A. Emma
B. David
C. Alice
D. Frank

Answer: B

Explanation:

1: Alice > 2: Emma > 3: Frank > 4: David

1. David is not ranked 1 ✓
2. Emma is ranked higher than David ✓
3. Frank is not ranked 4 ✓
4. Frank is ranked higher than David ✓
5. David is ranked lower than Alice ✓
6. Alice is ranked higher than Emma ✓
7. Frank is ranked lower than Alice ✓
8. Alice is not ranked 2 ✓
9. David is ranked lower than Emma ✓
10. Alice is ranked higher than David ✓
11. Frank is ranked lower than Emma ✓
Medium #18
Assign 6 people to 3 teams of 2 each.
1. Alice and Bob cannot be on the same team
2. Carol and David cannot be on the same team
3. Bob is on Team B
4. Bob and Emma cannot be on the same team
5. Frank and David cannot be on the same team
6. Carol is on Team B
7. Alice and Frank must be on the same team
8. Frank and Emma cannot be on the same team
9. Alice is on Team A
Who is on the same team as David?
A. Carol
B. Frank
C. Bob
D. Emma

Answer: D

Explanation:

A: Alice, Frank
B: Carol, Bob
C: Emma, David

1. Alice and Bob cannot be on the same team ✓
2. Carol and David cannot be on the same team ✓
3. Bob is on Team B ✓
4. Bob and Emma cannot be on the same team ✓
5. Frank and David cannot be on the same team ✓
6. Carol is on Team B ✓
7. Alice and Frank must be on the same team ✓
8. Frank and Emma cannot be on the same team ✓
9. Alice is on Team A ✓
Medium #19
4 items are ranked from 1 (highest) to 4 (lowest).
1. Carol is not ranked 4
2. Frank is ranked higher than Carol
3. David is ranked lower than Frank
4. David is ranked higher than Alice
5. David is ranked higher than Carol
Who is ranked 1?
A. Carol
B. David
C. Frank
D. Alice

Answer: C

Explanation:

1: Frank > 2: David > 3: Carol > 4: Alice

1. Carol is not ranked 4 ✓
2. Frank is ranked higher than Carol ✓
3. David is ranked lower than Frank ✓
4. David is ranked higher than Alice ✓
5. David is ranked higher than Carol ✓
Medium #20
4 items are ranked from 1 (highest) to 4 (lowest).
1. Bob is ranked lower than Alice
2. Frank is ranked higher than David
3. Alice is ranked higher than Frank
4. Bob is not ranked 1
5. David is not ranked 4
Who is ranked 2?
A. Alice
B. Frank
C. Bob
D. David

Answer: B

Explanation:

1: Alice > 2: Frank > 3: David > 4: Bob

1. Bob is ranked lower than Alice ✓
2. Frank is ranked higher than David ✓
3. Alice is ranked higher than Frank ✓
4. Bob is not ranked 1 ✓
5. David is not ranked 4 ✓

Hard

Hard #21
5 people sit in a row (positions 1–5, left to right).
1. David is not next to Alice
2. Bob sits to the left of Alice
3. Frank sits to the left of Emma
4. Alice sits to the left of Emma
5. David sits in position 2
6. Bob sits to the left of David
Who sits in position 1?
A. Bob
B. David
C. Alice
D. Frank
E. Emma

Answer: A

Explanation:

1: Bob | 2: David | 3: Frank | 4: Alice | 5: Emma

1. David is not next to Alice ✓
2. Bob sits to the left of Alice ✓
3. Frank sits to the left of Emma ✓
4. Alice sits to the left of Emma ✓
5. David sits in position 2 ✓
6. Bob sits to the left of David ✓
Hard #22
Assign 6 people to 3 teams of 2 each.
1. Frank and Alice cannot be on the same team
2. Emma is on Team A
3. Emma and Alice cannot be on the same team
4. David and Bob cannot be on the same team
5. Carol and Bob cannot be on the same team
6. Alice is on Team C
7. Carol and David cannot be on the same team
8. Bob is on Team C
9. Alice and Bob must be on the same team
10. Carol and Alice cannot be on the same team
11. Emma and David cannot be on the same team
Which team is David on?
A. E
B. D
C. C
D. B
E. A

Answer: D

Explanation:

A: Carol, Emma
B: Frank, David
C: Alice, Bob

1. Frank and Alice cannot be on the same team ✓
2. Emma is on Team A ✓
3. Emma and Alice cannot be on the same team ✓
4. David and Bob cannot be on the same team ✓
5. Carol and Bob cannot be on the same team ✓
6. Alice is on Team C ✓
7. Carol and David cannot be on the same team ✓
8. Bob is on Team C ✓
9. Alice and Bob must be on the same team ✓
10. Carol and Alice cannot be on the same team ✓
11. Emma and David cannot be on the same team ✓
Hard #23
Assign 6 people to 3 teams of 2 each.
1. David and Frank must be on the same team
2. Frank and Carol cannot be on the same team
3. Bob and Alice cannot be on the same team
4. David is on Team B
5. Alice is on Team C
6. Bob and Carol cannot be on the same team
Which team is Alice on?
A. C
B. D
C. A
D. B
E. E

Answer: A

Explanation:

A: Emma, Bob
B: David, Frank
C: Carol, Alice

1. David and Frank must be on the same team ✓
2. Frank and Carol cannot be on the same team ✓
3. Bob and Alice cannot be on the same team ✓
4. David is on Team B ✓
5. Alice is on Team C ✓
6. Bob and Carol cannot be on the same team ✓
Hard #24
5 people sit in a row (positions 1–5, left to right).
1. David sits in position 4
2. Frank sits next to Emma
3. David sits next to Carol
4. Alice sits in position 1
5. Emma is not next to Carol
6. Alice is not next to Emma
Who sits in position 4?
A. Alice
B. Carol
C. Frank
D. Emma
E. David

Answer: E

Explanation:

1: Alice | 2: Frank | 3: Emma | 4: David | 5: Carol

1. David sits in position 4 ✓
2. Frank sits next to Emma ✓
3. David sits next to Carol ✓
4. Alice sits in position 1 ✓
5. Emma is not next to Carol ✓
6. Alice is not next to Emma ✓
Hard #25
Assign 6 people to 3 teams of 2 each.
1. Frank and Emma cannot be on the same team
2. Alice and David cannot be on the same team
3. Frank and Carol cannot be on the same team
4. Emma and Carol cannot be on the same team
5. Bob and Carol cannot be on the same team
6. Frank and David cannot be on the same team
7. David is on Team C
8. David and Carol must be on the same team
9. Alice and Carol cannot be on the same team
10. Bob and David cannot be on the same team
11. Bob and Alice cannot be on the same team
12. Bob and Emma cannot be on the same team
13. Emma and David cannot be on the same team
14. Alice and Emma must be on the same team
15. Frank and Alice cannot be on the same team
16. Frank is on Team A
Which team is Frank on?
A. A
B. E
C. B
D. D
E. C

Answer: A

Explanation:

A: Bob, Frank
B: Alice, Emma
C: David, Carol

1. Frank and Emma cannot be on the same team ✓
2. Alice and David cannot be on the same team ✓
3. Frank and Carol cannot be on the same team ✓
4. Emma and Carol cannot be on the same team ✓
5. Bob and Carol cannot be on the same team ✓
6. Frank and David cannot be on the same team ✓
7. David is on Team C ✓
8. David and Carol must be on the same team ✓
9. Alice and Carol cannot be on the same team ✓
10. Bob and David cannot be on the same team ✓
11. Bob and Alice cannot be on the same team ✓
12. Bob and Emma cannot be on the same team ✓
13. Emma and David cannot be on the same team ✓
14. Alice and Emma must be on the same team ✓
15. Frank and Alice cannot be on the same team ✓
16. Frank is on Team A ✓
Hard #26
5 people sit in a row (positions 1–5, left to right).
1. Emma is not next to Bob
2. David sits to the left of Bob
3. Carol is not next to Alice
4. Carol sits to the left of Bob
5. Carol sits to the left of Emma
6. Emma sits to the left of Alice
7. David sits next to Bob
8. Alice sits to the left of Bob
Who sits next to Alice?
A. Bob
B. Alice
C. Carol
D. Emma
E. David

Answer: D

Explanation:

1: Carol | 2: Emma | 3: Alice | 4: David | 5: Bob

1. Emma is not next to Bob ✓
2. David sits to the left of Bob ✓
3. Carol is not next to Alice ✓
4. Carol sits to the left of Bob ✓
5. Carol sits to the left of Emma ✓
6. Emma sits to the left of Alice ✓
7. David sits next to Bob ✓
8. Alice sits to the left of Bob ✓
Hard #27
Assign 6 people to 3 teams of 2 each.
1. Bob and David cannot be on the same team
2. Alice is on Team B
3. Frank and David cannot be on the same team
4. Frank and Alice cannot be on the same team
5. Bob is on Team B
6. Carol and Alice cannot be on the same team
7. Alice and Bob must be on the same team
8. Carol is on Team A
9. Emma and David must be on the same team
Which team is Frank on?
A. B
B. D
C. E
D. A
E. C

Answer: D

Explanation:

A: Carol, Frank
B: Alice, Bob
C: Emma, David

1. Bob and David cannot be on the same team ✓
2. Alice is on Team B ✓
3. Frank and David cannot be on the same team ✓
4. Frank and Alice cannot be on the same team ✓
5. Bob is on Team B ✓
6. Carol and Alice cannot be on the same team ✓
7. Alice and Bob must be on the same team ✓
8. Carol is on Team A ✓
9. Emma and David must be on the same team ✓
Hard #28
Assign 6 people to 3 teams of 2 each.
1. Carol and Alice cannot be on the same team
2. Carol and David cannot be on the same team
3. Emma and David cannot be on the same team
4. Bob and Carol must be on the same team
5. Frank is on Team B
6. Bob is on Team A
7. Frank and David cannot be on the same team
Who is on the same team as Bob?
A. Emma
B. Carol
C. David
D. Frank
E. Alice

Answer: B

Explanation:

A: Bob, Carol
B: Frank, Emma
C: Alice, David

1. Carol and Alice cannot be on the same team ✓
2. Carol and David cannot be on the same team ✓
3. Emma and David cannot be on the same team ✓
4. Bob and Carol must be on the same team ✓
5. Frank is on Team B ✓
6. Bob is on Team A ✓
7. Frank and David cannot be on the same team ✓
Hard #29
Assign 6 people to 3 teams of 2 each.
1. Alice and Bob cannot be on the same team
2. Carol and Bob cannot be on the same team
3. Alice and David cannot be on the same team
4. David and Bob must be on the same team
5. Alice and Frank cannot be on the same team
6. Frank is on Team C
7. Carol and Alice must be on the same team
8. David and Emma cannot be on the same team
9. Alice and Emma cannot be on the same team
10. David and Frank cannot be on the same team
11. Frank and Emma must be on the same team
12. Bob and Frank cannot be on the same team
13. Carol and Frank cannot be on the same team
14. Emma is on Team C
15. Alice is on Team A
Who is on the same team as Alice?
A. David
B. Bob
C. Frank
D. Carol
E. Emma

Answer: D

Explanation:

A: Carol, Alice
B: David, Bob
C: Frank, Emma

1. Alice and Bob cannot be on the same team ✓
2. Carol and Bob cannot be on the same team ✓
3. Alice and David cannot be on the same team ✓
4. David and Bob must be on the same team ✓
5. Alice and Frank cannot be on the same team ✓
6. Frank is on Team C ✓
7. Carol and Alice must be on the same team ✓
8. David and Emma cannot be on the same team ✓
9. Alice and Emma cannot be on the same team ✓
10. David and Frank cannot be on the same team ✓
11. Frank and Emma must be on the same team ✓
12. Bob and Frank cannot be on the same team ✓
13. Carol and Frank cannot be on the same team ✓
14. Emma is on Team C ✓
15. Alice is on Team A ✓
Hard #30
Assign 6 people to 3 teams of 2 each.
1. Bob and Carol must be on the same team
2. David is on Team A
3. David and Alice cannot be on the same team
4. Bob is on Team C
5. David and Emma cannot be on the same team
Which team is Emma on?
A. A
B. E
C. C
D. B
E. D

Answer: D

Explanation:

A: Frank, David
B: Emma, Alice
C: Bob, Carol

1. Bob and Carol must be on the same team ✓
2. David is on Team A ✓
3. David and Alice cannot be on the same team ✓
4. Bob is on Team C ✓
5. David and Emma cannot be on the same team ✓

Frequently Asked Questions

Analytical reasoning tests present you with a set of rules or constraints and ask you to determine valid arrangements. Common formats include seating arrangements, group assignments, and ordering problems. The LSAT Analytical Reasoning section ("Logic Games") is the most well-known example, but similar questions appear in GRE, GMAT, and civil service exams.
Start by identifying the most restrictive constraints — those that fix items in specific positions. Then work through remaining constraints systematically, eliminating impossible arrangements. Drawing a diagram or grid often helps visualize the solution space. Practice builds your ability to spot key constraints quickly.
The LSAT (Law School Admission Test) is famous for its Analytical Reasoning section, often called "Logic Games." The GRE includes analytical reasoning in its Analytical Writing section. Many management aptitude tests (CAT, XAT, SNAP) and civil service exams worldwide include constraint-based reasoning sections. Corporate assessment centers also frequently use similar puzzle formats.