Eligibility Test Reasoning: Selection Rules, Conditions and Solved Examples for SSC CGL and Other Exams

An eligibility test (also called a selection or decision-making rule question) gives a list of conditions for a post or scheme and then describes several candidates. You must check each candidate against the conditions and decide whether he or she can be selected, rejected, or referred. This guide on eligibility test reasoning for SSC explains the method, the typical answer options and solved examples with practice questions and FAQs.

How Eligibility Questions Are Framed

A passage lists the conditions. Then each question describes a candidate and gives answer options, such as:

Method to Solve

1. Read the conditions carefully and number them (i), (ii), (iii).
2. Underline the numbers, limits and words like “at least”, “not more than” and “maximum”.
3. Read the exception clause, such as “if a candidate fails condition (iii) only, refer to the manager”.
4. Check the candidate against each condition one by one and tick or cross it.
5. If any needed fact is not given, choose “data inadequate” unless another condition already rejects the candidate.

Sample Conditions

Conditions for the post of Software Engineer:

• (i) The candidate must be a graduate in B.E. or B.Tech with at least 60% marks.
• (ii) The age must not be more than 30 years as on 1 January 2026.
• (iii) The candidate must have at least 2 years of work experience.
• (iv) The candidate must have scored at least 50 marks out of 100 in the written test.
• (v) If a candidate satisfies all the conditions except (iii) but has at least 1 year of experience, the case is to be referred to the HR manager.

Solved Examples

Example 1. Ravi is 28 years old, has B.Tech with 65% marks, 3 years of experience and scored 55 in the written test.
All conditions are met, so he can be selected.

Example 2. Meena is 26 years old, has B.Tech with 58% marks, 2 years of experience and scored 60 in the test.
Condition (i) fails because 58% is less than 60%, and the exception does not apply, so she cannot be selected.

Example 3. Sunil is 29 years old, has B.E. with 70% marks, 1.5 years of experience and scored 52 in the test.
Only condition (iii) fails but he has more than 1 year of experience, so the case is referred to the HR manager.

Example 4. Pooja is 31 years old, has B.Tech with 75% marks, 4 years of experience and scored 80 in the test.
Condition (ii) fails, so she cannot be selected.

Example 5. Arjun is 27 years old, has B.Tech with 66% marks and 3 years of experience, but the test marks are not given.
All other conditions are met, but condition (iv) cannot be checked, so the answer is data inadequate.

Example 6. Kavita is 33 years old and has B.Tech with 55% marks. Her other details are not given.
Conditions (i) and (ii) already fail, so she cannot be selected, even though other data is missing.

Tricks

• Check the conditions that can be verified quickly (age, marks) first.
• If a candidate fails a condition for which there is no exception, reject immediately even if other data is missing.
• “Data inadequate” applies only when all given conditions are satisfied and some needed data is missing.
• Watch the dates: “as on” a particular date means you should compute the age on that date.
• Read the exception clause last, but apply it before rejecting.

Quick Tips

• Number each condition and tick it off.
• Apply rejection first if a condition fails without exception.
• Use data inadequate only when no condition has failed.
• Check the age as on the given date.

Quick Revision Points

• Eligibility questions test careful reading of rules.
• A failed condition with no exception means rejection.
• Missing data leads to data inadequate only if nothing else fails.
• Exception clauses lead to referral.
• Check numbers like at least, at most, minimum and maximum.

Practice Questions With Answers

1. A post needs a graduate with 50% marks and age of 25 to 35. Rohit is 30 with 52% marks. Is he eligible?
   Answer: Yes
2. The same post: Sita is 24 with 60% marks. Is she eligible?
   Answer: No, because of age
3. The same post: Imran is 28, but his marks are not given. What is the answer?
   Answer: Data inadequate
4. A scheme needs annual income below 3 lakh rupees. A family has 2.5 lakh. Eligible?
   Answer: Yes
5. A scheme needs age 18 or more. Aman is 17 with all other conditions met. Eligible?
   Answer: No
6. A candidate fails only condition (iii) and has 1.5 years of experience. Using the sample rule, what happens?
   Answer: Referred to the HR manager
7. A candidate fails condition (i) and the age is not given. What is the decision?
   Answer: Cannot be selected
8. If a rule says at least 60% marks, can a candidate with 60% be selected?
   Answer: Yes (60% is allowed)
9. If a rule says more than 60% marks, can a candidate with 60% be selected?
   Answer: No
10. When is the answer data inadequate?
    Answer: When all given facts are fine but a needed condition cannot be checked

How to Practise This Chapter

Practise 10 questions every day and write the steps on paper. Then attempt timed sets from our practice papers and the previous year papers page. See all topics on the Reasoning notes page, read the previous topic Alphanumeric Series and the next topic Cube Cutting and Painting.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an eligibility test in reasoning?

It is a question type in which you check candidates against a list of selection conditions.

How do I solve eligibility questions?

Number the conditions, check each candidate against them one by one and apply the exception clause if there is one.

When is the answer data inadequate?

When all stated facts satisfy the conditions but some data needed to check a condition is not given.

What if one condition fails and data is missing for another?

Reject the candidate, because one failed condition is enough.

What does at least mean?

It means equal to or more than the given number.

What does more than mean?

It means strictly greater than the given number.

How do I calculate the age as on a date?

Subtract the date of birth from the given date.

Are eligibility questions asked in SSC?

Yes. They appear as decision-making or selection questions in SSC and other exams.

How much time should I spend?

About 45 seconds per question.

What is the role of the exception clause?

It tells what to do when a particular condition fails, for example refer the case.

Can I use common sense for the decision?

No. Use only the rules given in the passage.

What are common mistakes?

Missing the exception clause and choosing data inadequate when a condition has already failed.