Subject guide
Analytical ability — emphasized on the Professional level — tests logical reasoning, number and letter series, and the ability to draw valid conclusions. You succeed by finding the rule behind a pattern, reasoning only from the information given, and rejecting conclusions that go beyond what the premises support.
Relevance to your level
Analytical ability is most heavily tested on the Professional (second-level) exam. If you are taking the Professional level, give this area dedicated practice time.
Question 1
What number comes next in the series? 3, 6, 11, 18, 27, ___
Correct answer: B. 38
Why: The differences are 3, 5, 7, 9 — each gap grows by 2. The next gap is 11, so 27 + 11 = 38.
Learning objective: Find the rule in a number series with increasing differences.
Question 2
All accredited trainers are certified. All certified trainers attended the seminar. Which conclusion must be true?
Correct answer: A. All accredited trainers attended the seminar.
Why: If every accredited trainer is certified, and every certified trainer attended, then every accredited trainer attended. The other options reverse the logic or claim facts the premises do not support.
Learning objective: Draw a valid conclusion from chained (syllogistic) statements.
Question 3
Find the next term: 2, 6, 18, 54, ___
Correct answer: B. 162
Why: Each term is multiplied by 3: 2×3=6, 6×3=18, 54×3=162. The pattern is geometric, not additive.
Learning objective: Identify a geometric (constant-ratio) number series.
Question 4
A statement says: "If the request is complete, it will be processed today." The request was NOT processed today. What can be concluded?
Correct answer: B. The request was not complete.
Why: If a complete request is always processed today, and it was not processed today, then it could not have been complete (valid contrapositive reasoning). The other options add facts the statement never provided.
Learning objective: Apply contrapositive reasoning to a conditional statement.
Question 5
Which word does NOT belong with the others?
Correct answer: C. circle
Why: A triangle, square, and pentagon are polygons made of straight sides. A circle has no straight sides, so it is the odd one out.
Learning objective: Classify items by a shared defining property.
Analytical ability is emphasized on the Professional (second-level) exam. The Sub-Professional exam focuses more on clerical operations and basic verbal and numerical skills.
Check the differences between consecutive terms first. If the differences are constant, it is arithmetic; if each term multiplies by the same factor, it is geometric; if the differences grow steadily, look for a +2, +4, +6 pattern.
Treating "some" as "all," or reversing a statement. A conclusion is valid only if it must be true whenever the premises are true — reason strictly from what is given.
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