UGC NET Paper 1 Notes – Logical Reasoning + MCQs
Main Objective: Test your ability to understand arguments, identify reasoning types, solve analogies and classifications, and interpret logical and diagrammatic relationships.
Syllabus Breakdown & What to Focus On
| Subtopic | What to Study | Key Pointers |
| 1. Understanding the Structure of Arguments | – Argument = Premise + Conclusion
– Identify main point, supporting ideas, assumptions – Differentiate between assertion, evidence, and inference |
Understand how logical flow is built: What is said → Why it’s said → What it leads to. |
| 2. Deductive and Inductive Reasoning | – Deductive: General rule → Specific conclusion
– Inductive: Specific examples → General conclusion – Evaluate argument strength |
E.g., Deductive: All birds fly → Sparrow is a bird → Sparrow flies. Inductive: 10 crows fly → So, all crows fly. |
| 3. Verbal Analogies (Word & Applied) | – Relation between word pairs: synonym, antonym, cause-effect, part-whole, function
– Applied analogy = Based on real-world logic |
Example: Knife : Cut :: Pen : Write – Tool and its function. |
| 4. Verbal Classification | – Grouping based on similarity
– Identify the odd one out based on meaning/function/usage |
Common groups: professions, tools, animals, etc. |
| 5. Reasoning Logical Diagrams | – Diagrammatic logic: arrows, sequences, flows
– Interpret direction, quantity, relationships in diagrams |
Focus on logic behind arrows/flow – e.g., influence, comparison, condition. |
| 6. Venn Diagrams | – Show relationships among sets (shared and distinct)
– Solve set-based problems (union, intersection, only/none) |
Useful in syllogisms, data sets, and overlapping conditions. |
| 7. Analytical Reasoning | – Data-based puzzles: seating, ranking, grouping, matching
– Logic-based analysis of conditions |
Requires careful reading + elimination. Use tables or symbols to solve faster. |
Concept Examples and Quick Tips
| Concept | Example | Tip |
| Argument | “All engineers are logical. Raj is an engineer. So, Raj is logical.” | Deductive logic. Premise supports conclusion. |
| Word Analogy | “Doctor : Hospital :: Teacher : ?” → School | Identify the relationship, not just meaning. |
| Verbal Classification | “Gold, Silver, Copper, Iron, Mercury” → Mercury is odd (liquid metal) | Understand core concept. Don’t fall for superficial similarity. |
| Venn Diagram | “Some poets are singers. All singers are artists.” → Show all three sets | Draw overlapping circles based on conditions. |
| Analytical Puzzle | “A, B, C sit in a row. A is left of B. C is not at the ends.” → Who is in the middle? | Draw scenarios step-by-step. Don’t guess. |
Smart Study Tips
- Practise argument-based MCQs to learn logic structure.
- Revise common analogies and classification logic.
Use symbols and diagrams to solve puzzles and Venn problems. - Don’t rely on memory—apply logic every time.
- Make a summary sheet of analogy types, diagram rules, and argument patterns.