Logical Reasoning
Logic puzzles, ordering/ranking problems, process-of-elimination reasoning, and non-routine problem solving — does NOT include custom operation symbols (see order-of-operations)
Generate Unlimited Practice Questions
Sign up for free and get 50 practice questions to start your prep.
Start Free PracticeLearn This Topic
Have you ever played detective? Like figuring out who ate the last slice of pizza based on the crumbs on their shirt? 🍕 That's exactly what Logical Reasoning is! On the SSAT, logical reasoning questions are like mini brain-teasers. They don't test hard math like long division or tricky fractions. Instead, they test how well you can organize clues. You might have to figure out the order of runners in a race, or figure out a secret code using a few simple hints.
Think of it like playing the game Guess Who? You don't guess the person right away. You ask questions to eliminate people with glasses or hats until only one person is left standing. On the SSAT, you can use the "process of elimination" to cross out silly answers until only the right one is left. If the question says a secret number is even, immediately cross out all the odd numbers! 🕵️♂️
The absolute best way to solve these puzzles is to draw pictures or make lists on your scratch paper. If a puzzle says "Alex is taller than Bailey but shorter than Charlie," you can just draw three little stick figures or write . By taking it one clue at a time, you turn a confusing paragraph into a simple map to the right answer. Get your magnifying glass ready, because you're about to become a math detective! 🔍
Practice Questions
4 practice questions for SSAT Upper Level
Statement 2: Finn finished first, and Dave finished third.
Three runners, Dave, Eli, and Finn, competed in a race, finishing in first, second, and third place. If only half of each of the statements above is true, which of the following lists the runners from first to third place?
Show Solution
- Let's test the possibilities. Assume the first half of Statement 1 is true: Dave finished first. If this is true, the second half must be false (Eli did not finish third). Also, if Dave finished first, the first half of Statement 2 (Finn finished first) must be false. This forces the second half of Statement 2 (Dave finished third) to be true. However, Dave cannot finish both first and third, which is a contradiction. Therefore, our initial assumption was wrong. The first half of Statement 1 must be false, which means the second half is true: Eli finished third. If Eli finished third, Dave did not finish third, making the second half of Statement 2 false. This means the first half of Statement 2 must be true: Finn finished first. With Finn in first and Eli in third, Dave must have finished second. The correct order from first to third is Finn, Dave, Eli.
Show Solution
- Substitute and into the defined operation: . We are given that this expression equals 5, so we can set up the equation: . Multiply both sides by 2 to eliminate the denominator: . Subtract 12 from both sides to get . Finally, multiply by -1 to find .
Show Solution
- Substitute and into the given expression: . First, evaluate the exponent: . Next, simplify the fraction: . Finally, subtract the two values: .
Show Solution
- First, evaluate the expression inside the parentheses, . Substitute and into the operation: . Now, substitute this result back into the original expression to evaluate . Using and , we get .
Tips & Strategies
- Draw it out! Your brain can only hold so many clues at once. If a problem talks about people sitting at a table or standing in line, quickly draw stick figures or write their initials in order.
- Play the 'Guess Who?' game with the answer choices. Read the answers first and use the clues to eliminate choices one by one. If a clue says 'the number is less than 50', immediately cross out any answers that are 50 or bigger!
- Don't assume anything that isn't written. If the puzzle says 'Sam is taller than Alex', it doesn't mean Sam is the tallest person in the whole group. Stick only to the facts the puzzle gives you.
Common Mistakes
- Watch out for reading too fast and missing tiny words like 'NOT' or 'EXCEPT'. A clue that says 'Jenny is NOT next to Bob' changes the whole puzzle!
- Don't forget to double-check your final answer against ALL the original clues. Sometimes an answer fits the last clue perfectly, but breaks the very first clue.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to know tricky math formulas for Logical Reasoning on the SSAT?
Nope! Logical Reasoning questions are more about organizing information than calculating big numbers. You just need basic math skills like knowing odd/even numbers or simple fractions like .
What if I get completely stuck on a logic puzzle?
Take a deep breath and look at the answer choices! Often, you can test each answer choice against the clues. If an answer breaks even one rule, cross it out. Process of elimination is your best friend here.
Are these questions on a specific part of the SSAT?
Yes, you will find these brain-teasers in the Quantitative (Math) sections. They are mixed in with regular math questions to test how well you think on your feet!