SSC Non Verbal Reasoning Notes: Free Topic-wise Study Material
Non-verbal reasoning uses pictures, shapes and patterns instead of words. The questions ask you to find the next figure in a series, the mirror image of a figure, the number of triangles in a diagram or the figure that comes after a paper is folded and cut. Many students find these questions difficult because they try to solve them without a method. These SSC non verbal reasoning notes explain the topics with simple rules, tables and practice questions.
With a few rules and regular practice, non-verbal reasoning becomes a quick and scoring part of the paper.
What You Get in These Non Verbal Reasoning Notes
- Rules and tricks for mirror image, water image and counting of figures
- Formulas for counting triangles, squares and rectangles
- Solved examples and practice questions with answers
- Free PDF notes with a cover page for offline reading
- Links to the Verbal Reasoning and Logical Reasoning notes
Topics of Non Verbal Reasoning
| Topic | What is asked |
|---|---|
| Figure series | Find the next figure in a pattern |
| Mirror image and water image | Find the reflection of a figure or a number |
| Counting of figures | Count triangles, squares and rectangles in a diagram |
| Paper folding and cutting | Find the shape after folding and cutting |
| Embedded figures | Find the figure hidden in a bigger figure |
| Cubes and dice | Find the opposite face or the number of painted faces |
| Analogy and classification (figures) | Find the figure that matches the pattern |
Basic Ideas to Remember
- Look for changes in one thing at a time: shape, size, colour, position, rotation or number of lines.
- In a series, check the rotation (clockwise or anticlockwise), the movement of a part and the increase of lines.
- In a mirror image, left and right are changed, while top and bottom remain the same.
- In a water image, top and bottom are changed, while left and right remain the same.
Counting Formulas
| Figure | Formula |
|---|---|
| Triangles in a triangle divided by n lines from one vertex | n(n + 1) / 2 |
| Squares in an n × n grid | n(n + 1)(2n + 1) / 6 |
| Rectangles in an m × n grid | m(m + 1) n(n + 1) / 4 |
Cube and Dice Facts
- A cube has 6 faces, 12 edges and 8 corners.
- On a standard die, the sum of opposite faces is 7: 1 is opposite 6, 2 is opposite 5 and 3 is opposite 4.
- A cube cut into n × n × n small cubes has (n − 2)3 cubes with no painted face.
Common Mistakes
- Looking at the whole figure and not at one change at a time.
- Mixing the mirror image with the water image.
- Missing the small triangles and the overlapping squares while counting.
- Not using the rotation pattern, and guessing the option.
How to Prepare Non Verbal Reasoning Step by Step
- Learn the basic patterns of rotation, reflection and movement.
- Learn the counting formulas and test them on small grids.
- Solve 10 figure questions daily and write the pattern for each answer.
- Learn the dice and cube facts once, and revise them every week.
- Take one sectional test every week in a fixed time.
- In the last month, solve complete reasoning sections of previous year papers.
Tips to Avoid Silly Mistakes
- Find the change in one feature at a time.
- Use a small mirror or imagine the vertical or horizontal line for image questions.
- Count in a fixed order while counting triangles and squares.
- Eliminate the wrong options first when the pattern is unclear.
Practise and Revise
After each topic, attempt questions from our SSC previous year papers and the practice papers. Also read the Reasoning notes, the Verbal Reasoning notes and the Logical Reasoning notes.
Frequently Asked Questions About Non Verbal Reasoning Notes
Where can I read SSC non verbal reasoning notes for free?
You can read these notes free on this website. They cover mirror and water images, counting of figures and related topics, and you can also buy the PDF.
What is non-verbal reasoning?
Non-verbal reasoning is the part of reasoning in which the questions are based on pictures, shapes and patterns.
What is the difference between a mirror image and a water image?
In a mirror image the left and the right sides are reversed, and in a water image the top and the bottom are reversed.
How many squares are there in an n by n grid?
The number of squares is n times (n plus 1) times (2n plus 1) divided by 6.
How many rectangles are there in an m by n grid?
The number of rectangles is m (m plus 1) n (n plus 1) divided by 4.
What is the sum of opposite faces of a die?
The sum of the opposite faces of a standard die is 7.
How can I solve figure series questions quickly?
Check one change at a time, such as rotation, movement, size, colour or the number of lines.
Is non-verbal reasoning difficult?
It looks difficult at the start, but with a few rules and regular practice it becomes quick and easy.
Which non-verbal topics are asked the most in SSC?
Figure series, mirror and water images, counting of figures, paper folding and embedded figures are asked the most.
How much time should I give to a figure question?
Give about 30 to 40 seconds to one figure question.
Are these notes enough for the SSC reasoning section?
They give a strong base for the non-verbal part. For the whole section, also read the verbal and logical notes and solve previous year papers.
Can I download these notes as a PDF?
Yes. Each note has a PDF with a cover page, available for a small price of Rs 5.