Introduction to Order and Ranking Questions for Bank Exams
Order and ranking questions are a vital part of the reasoning ability section in bank exams such as IBPS PO, SBI PO, RBI Assistant, and other competitive banking tests. These questions test a candidate’s logical thinking, analytical skills, and ability to interpret positional relationships based on given conditions. Typically found in the preliminary and mains phases, order and ranking problems require you to determine the position, rank, or sequence of individuals or objects in a linear or circular arrangement, often with constraints like height, weight, age, or performance. Mastering these questions can significantly boost your score in the reasoning section, which often carries 35-40 marks in bank exams. This article provides 35 carefully crafted order and ranking questions, designed to mirror the difficulty and format of bank exams, along with detailed explanations to enhance your problem-solving skills. Practice these questions to improve your speed, accuracy, and confidence for your upcoming bank exam!
Practice More Floor Puzzle Reasoning Questions
toc=#(table of content)
Order and Ranking Questions SET 1
Directions (Q.1-5): Study the following information carefully and answer the questions given below.
Five students—Anil, Bina, Chetan, Diya, and Esha—are standing in a row facing north, not necessarily in that order. Anil is third to the left of Diya. Bina is not at an end. Chetan is second to the right of Esha. Only one person stands between Bina and Chetan.
1. Who is standing at the leftmost end?
(A) Anil
(B) Esha
(C) Chetan
(D) Diya
(E) Bina
2. Who is standing immediately to the right of Anil?
(A) Bina
(B) Chetan
(C) Esha
(D) Diya
(E) None of these
3. How many people are standing between Anil and Chetan?
(A) None
(B) One
(C) Two
(D) Three
(E) Four
4. Who is standing in the middle position?
(A) Anil
(B) Bina
(C) Chetan
(D) Diya
(E) Esha
5. If Esha and Bina exchange positions, who is now second to the left of Diya?
(A) Anil
(B) Bina
(C) Chetan
(D) Esha
(E) None of these
Directions (Q.6-10): Study the following information carefully and answer the questions given below.
Six books—P, Q, R, S, T, and U—are arranged in a stack from bottom to top. Book Q is immediately above book P. Book S is not at the top. Book T is immediately below book U. Only two books are between Q and T. Book R is not adjacent to Q.
6. Which book is at the top?
(A) P
(B) Q
(C) R
(D) U
(E) T
7. Which book is immediately below book S?
(A) P
(B) Q
(C) R
(D) T
(E) U
8. How many books are between R and U?
(A) None
(B) One
(C) Two
(D) Three
(E) Four
9. Which book is in the third position from the bottom?
(A) P
(B) Q
(C) R
(D) S
(E) T
10. If book S is moved to the top, which book is now immediately above book P?
(A) Q
(B) R
(C) S
(D) T
(E) U
Directions (Q.11-15): Study the following information carefully and answer the questions given below.
Seven people—A, B, C, D, E, F, and G—are ranked based on their marks in an exam, from 1 (highest) to 7 (lowest). B has a better rank than E but worse than A. C is ranked immediately below F. D has a better rank than G but worse than C. E is not ranked last.
11. Who is ranked first?
(A) A
(B) B
(C) C
(D) F
(E) None of these
12. How many people are ranked between B and G?
(A) One
(B) Two
(C) Three
(D) Four
(E) None
13. Who is ranked fourth?
(A) B
(B) C
(C) D
(D) E
(E) F
14. Which of the following pairs is ranked consecutively?
(A) A and B
(B) B and E
(C) C and D
(D) D and G
(E) E and G
15. If C and E exchange ranks, who is now ranked immediately above D?
(A) B
(B) C
(C) E
(D) F
(E) None of these
Directions (Q.16-20): Study the following information carefully and answer the questions given below.
Five friends—Karan, Lata, Manoj, Neha, and Om—are sitting around a circular table facing the center. Karan is second to the left of Neha. Manoj is not adjacent to Karan. Lata is immediately to the right of Om.
16. Who is sitting second to the right of Karan?
(A) Lata
(B) Manoj
(C) Neha
(D) Om
(E) None of these
17. Who is sitting immediately to the left of Neha?
(A) Karan
(B) Lata
(C) Manoj
(D) Om
(E) None of these
18. How many people are seated between Manoj and Om (counting clockwise from Manoj)?
(A) One
(B) Two
(C) Three
(D) Four
(E) None
19. Who is sitting opposite Lata?
(A) Karan
(B) Manoj
(C) Neha
(D) Om
(E) None of these
20. If Karan and Manoj exchange positions, who is now second to the left of Neha?
(A) Karan
(B) Lata
(C) Manoj
(D) Om
(E) None of these
ANSWERS
1. B 2. C 3. C 4. B 5. D 6. D 7. C 8. C 9. C 10. B 11. A 12. C 13. C 14. C 15. C 16. C 17. D 18. B 19. B 20. C
Explanations:
Q1-5: Positions (left to right): Esha, Anil, Bina, Chetan, Diya. Anil is third to the left of Diya (Diya at 5, Anil at 2). Chetan is second to the right of Esha (Esha at 1, Chetan at 4). Bina is not at an end and has one person between her and Chetan (Bina at 3). Answers: 1. Esha (B), 2. Esha (C), 3. Two (Bina, Esha) (C), 4. Bina (B), 5. After exchange, positions: Bina, Anil, Esha, Chetan, Diya; second to left of Diya is Esha (D).
Q6-10: Stack (bottom to top): P, Q, R, S, T, U. Q above P (P at 1, Q at 2). Two books between Q and T (T at 5, Q at 2). T below U (U at 6). S not at top (S at 4). R not adjacent to Q (R at 3). Answers: 6. U (D), 7. R (C), 8. Two (S, T) (C), 9. R (C), 10. After S to top: P, Q, R, T, U, S; R above P (B).
Q11-15: Ranks (1 to 7): A, B, F, C, D, E, G. B better than E, worse than A (A, B, E order). C immediately below F (F, C). D better than G, worse than C (C, D, G). E not last (G last). Answers: 11. A (A), 12. Three (F, C, D) (C), 13. D (C), 14. C and D (C), 15. After C-E exchange, ranks: A, B, F, E, D, C, G; E above D (C).
Q16-20: Circular positions (clockwise): Om, Lata, Manoj, Neha, Karan. Karan second to left of Neha (Neha at 4, Karan at 5). Manoj not adjacent to Karan (Manoj at 3). Lata right of Om (Om at 1, Lata at 2). Answers: 16. Neha (C), 17. Om (D), 18. Two (Neha, Karan) (B), 19. Manoj (B), 20. After Karan-Manoj exchange: Om, Lata, Karan, Neha, Manoj; second to left of Neha is Manoj (C).
Order and Ranking Questions SET 2
Directions (Q.1-5): Study the following information carefully and answer the questions given below.
Six people—Kavya, Lokesh, Meera, Naveen, Priya, and Rohan—live on different floors of a six-story building, numbered 1 (ground) to 6 (top). Naveen lives on an odd-numbered floor. Priya is immediately below Kavya. Meera is not on the top floor. Only two people live between Lokesh and Rohan. Lokesh lives above Rohan.
1. Who lives on the top floor?
(A) Kavya
(B) Lokesh
(C) Meera
(D) Priya
(E) Rohan
2. How many people live between Kavya and Naveen?
(A) One
(B) Two
(C) Three
(D) Four
(E) None
3. Who lives immediately above Meera?
(A) Kavya
(B) Lokesh
(C) Naveen
(D) Priya
(E) Rohan
4. Which floor does Rohan live on?
(A) 1
(B) 2
(C) 3
(D) 4
(E) 5
5. If Priya and Meera exchange floors, who is now immediately below Kavya?
(A) Lokesh
(B) Meera
(C) Naveen
(D) Priya
(E) Rohan
Directions (Q.6-10): Study the following information carefully and answer the questions given below.
Five friends—Arjun, Bhavna, Chetan, Divya, and Eklavya—are standing in a queue, not necessarily in that order. Bhavna is third in the queue. Chetan is immediately behind Arjun. Divya is not at the front. Eklavya is not adjacent to Bhavna.
6. Who is standing at the front of the queue?
(A) Arjun
(B) Bhavna
(C) Chetan
(D) Divya
(E) Eklavya
7. Who is standing immediately behind Bhavna?
(A) Arjun
(B) Chetan
(C) Divya
(D) Eklavya
(E) None of these
8. How many people are standing between Arjun and Divya?
(A) None
(B) One
(C) Two
(D) Three
(E) Four
9. Who is standing at the last position?
(A) Arjun
(B) Bhavna
(C) Chetan
(D) Divya
(E) Eklavya
10. If Arjun and Eklavya exchange positions, who is now second in the queue?
(A) Arjun
(B) Bhavna
(C) Chetan
(D) Divya
(E) Eklavya
Directions (Q.11-15): Study the following information carefully and answer the questions given below.
Seven students—P, Q, R, S, T, U, and V—are ranked by age, from 1 (youngest) to 7 (oldest). Q is older than T but younger than P. S is not the oldest. R is immediately younger than U. T is older than V. Only one student is between S and Q.
11. Who is the youngest student?
(A) P
(B) Q
(C) R
(D) T
(E) V
12. How many students are older than S?
(A) One
(B) Two
(C) Three
(D) Four
(E) None
13. Who is ranked fourth in age?
(A) P
(B) Q
(C) R
(D) S
(E) T
14. Which pair of students is ranked consecutively?
(A) P and Q
(B) Q and T
(C) R and U
(D) S and V
(E) T and V
15. If S and T exchange ranks, who is now immediately younger than Q?
(A) P
(B) R
(C) S
(D) T
(E) V
ANSWERS
1. B 2. C 3. D 4. A 5. B 6. A 7. C 8. B 9. D 10. C 11. E 12. B 13. D 14. C 15. C
Explanations:
Q1-5: Floors (1 to 6): Rohan (1), Meera (2), Priya (3), Kavya (4), Naveen (5), Lokesh (6). Naveen on odd floor (5). Priya below Kavya (Kavya at 4, Priya at 3). Meera not on top (not 6). Two people between Lokesh and Rohan (Lokesh at 6, Rohan at 1). Lokesh above Rohan. Meera at 2 satisfies all conditions. Answers: 1. Lokesh (B), 2. Three (Priya, Meera, Rohan) (C), 3. Priya (D), 4. Rohan at 1 (A), 5. After Priya-Meera exchange: Rohan, Priya, Meera, Kavya, Naveen, Lokesh; Meera below Kavya (B).
Q6-10: Queue (front to back): Arjun, Chetan, Bhavna, Divya, Eklavya. Bhavna third (3). Chetan behind Arjun (Arjun at 1, Chetan at 2). Divya not at front (not 1). Eklavya not adjacent to Bhavna (Eklavya at 5). Divya at 4. Answers: 6. Arjun (A), 7. Divya (C), 8. One (Chetan) (B), 9. Divya (D), 10. After Arjun-Eklavya exchange: Eklavya, Chetan, Bhavna, Divya, Arjun; Chetan second (C).
Q11-15: Ranks (1 to 7, youngest to oldest): V, T, Q, S, R, U, P. Q older than T, younger than P (P, Q, T order). T older than V (T, V). S not oldest (not 7). R immediately younger than U (R, U). One student between S and Q (Q at 3, S at 5 or vice versa; S at 4, Q at 2 invalid). Final order: V, T, Q, S, R, U, P. Answers: 11. V (E), 12. Two (U, P) (B), 13. S (D), 14. R and U (C), 15. After S-T exchange: V, S, Q, T, R, U, P; S younger than Q (C).
