Theory & Concepts
SSC CGL Ranking and Ordering Questions, Formulas & Short Tricks
Prepare Ranking and Ordering for SSC CGL with formulas, short tricks, solved examples, practice questions, PYQs, and free PDF notes for faster exam preparation.
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Practice Notes
30 min readDifficulty: Easy-Medium
Ranking and Ordering questions require you to determine the position of a person/object in a row or their relative order based on criteria like height, age, or marks. Mastery of a few simple formulas ensures 100% accuracy in these questions.
Learning path
- The Total Row Formula
- Position Interchange Cases
- Comparison-Based Ordering
- 20 Solved Practice Questions
1. The Golden Formula for Ranking
When the position of a single person is given from both ends (Left/Right or Top/Bottom), use this formula:
Why subtract 1? Because the same person is counted twice (once from left and once from right).
Position from Left
\( L = (T - R) + 1 \)
Position from Right
\( R = (T - L) + 1 \)
2. Advanced Cases
1
Interchanging Positions
If A and B swap places, the change in A's position from the left is the same as the change in B's position from the right.
Shortcut: New Pos A = Old Pos A + (Old Pos B - New Pos B).
2
Maximum vs Minimum (Overlapping)
Max People: (L pos of A) + (R pos of B) + (People in between).
Min People (Overlap): (L pos of A + R pos of B) - (People in between + 2).
3. 20 Practice Questions (Solved)
Question 01Exam Pattern
In a row of 40 students, A is 13th from the left end. What is his position from the right end?
A) 27th
B) 28th
C) 26th
D) 29th
Correct answer: B) 28th
Solution
Step 1: Given Total (T) = 40, Position from Left (L) = 13.
Step 2: Use formula: \( R = (T - L) + 1 \).
Step 3: \( R = (40 - 13) + 1 = 27 + 1 = 28 \).
Conclusion: His position from the right end is 28th. Option B.
Question 02Exam Pattern
Raju is 7th from the top and 28th from the bottom in a class. How many students are there in the class?
A) 34
B) 35
C) 36
D) 37
Correct answer: A) 34
Solution
Step 1: Top position = 7, Bottom position = 28.
Step 2: Use formula: \( \text{Total} = (\text{Top} + \text{Bottom}) - 1 \).
Step 3: \( \text{Total} = (7 + 28) - 1 = 35 - 1 = 34 \).
Conclusion: Total students = 34. Option A.
Question 03Exam Pattern
In a row of boys, A is 10th from the left and B is 9th from the right. If they interchange their positions, A becomes 15th from the left. How many boys are there in the row?
A) 23
B) 27
C) 28
D) 31
Correct answer: A) 23
Solution
Step 1: Initially, A is 10th (L) and B is 9th (R).
Step 2: After interchanging, A moves to B's old spot.
Step 3: So, A's new position is 15th from the left and it is the same spot that was 9th from the right.
Step 4: Total = (New Left + Old Right) - 1.
Step 5: Total = (15 + 9) - 1 = 24 - 1 = 23.
Conclusion: There are 23 boys. Option A.
Question 04Exam Pattern
In a queue of children, Kashish is 5th from the left and Mona is 6th from the right. When they interchange their places among themselves, Kashish becomes 13th from the left. What will be Mona's new position from the right?
A) 14th
B) 15th
C) 16th
D) 10th
Correct answer: A) 14th
Solution
Step 1: Kashish moved from 5th to 13th (Left). Change = +8.
Step 2: Mona will also move by +8 in her ranking from the right.
Step 3: Mona's new position = Old Position + Change = 6 + 8 = 14.
Conclusion: Mona is 14th from the right. Option A.
Question 05Exam Pattern
In a row of 35 people, facing North, X is 12th from the right end and Y is 10th from the left end. How many people are between X and Y?
A) 11
B) 12
C) 13
D) 14
Correct answer: C) 13
Solution
Step 1: Total = 35. Y is 10th from Left.
Step 2: Convert X to position from Left. \( L_x = (35 - 12) + 1 = 24 \).
Step 3: People between 10th and 24th = \( (24 - 10) - 1 = 13 \).
Conclusion: There are 13 people between them. Option C.
Question 06Exam Pattern
Three persons A, B and C are standing in a queue. There are five persons between A and B and eight persons between B and C. If there are three persons ahead of C and 21 persons behind A, what could be the minimum number of persons in the queue?
A) 27
B) 28
C) 40
D) 41
Correct answer: B) 28
Solution
Step 1: To minimize, we should overlap the positions as much as possible.
Step 2: Arrange in order: C ... (8) ... B ... (5) ... A.
Step 3: If C is 4th (3 ahead), then B is 13th (8 between).
Step 4: If B is 13th and A is 5 ahead (B ... (5) ... A → A is at 7th position?). No, minimize by overlap.
Step 5: Let's re-evaluate. Max would be C(4) + 8 + B(1) + 5 + A(1) + 21 = 40.
Step 6: Min case: C ... A ... B. But 8 between B and C means A is inside that gap.
Step 7: Let's assume the order C(4th) -> (2 people) -> A -> (5 people) -> B. Distance B-C is 2+1+5 = 8. (Correct).
Step 8: Position of A is 7th. People behind A is 21. Total = 7 + 21 = 28.
Conclusion: Minimum is 28. Option B.
Question 07Exam Pattern
In a class of 45 students, rank of Ayush is 15th from the top. Rank of Sunil is 32nd from the top. How many students are there between them?
A) 16
B) 17
C) 15
D) 18
Correct answer: A) 16
Solution
Step 1: Students between rank 15 and 32 = \( (32 - 15) - 1 \).
Step 2: \( 17 - 1 = 16 \).
Conclusion: The correct option is A.
Question 08Exam Pattern
Among P, Q, R, S and T, each having a different weight, R is heavier than only P. S is lighter than Q and heavier than T. Who is the heaviest?
A) Q
B) P
C) S
D) Data inadequate
Correct answer: A) Q
Solution
Step 1: R is heavier than ONLY P. This means P is the lightest and R is 2nd lightest. (... > R > P).
Step 2: S is lighter than Q but heavier than T. (Q > S > T).
Step 3: Combining these, and knowing P and R are at the bottom: Q > S > T > R > P.
Conclusion: Q is the heaviest. Option A.
Question 09Exam Pattern
In a row of boys, A is 15th from the left and B is 4th from the right. There are 3 boys between A and B. C is just left of A. What is C's position from the right?
A) 9th
B) 10th
C) 12th
D) 13th
Correct answer: A) 9th
Solution
Step 1: Position of A is 15th from Left.
Step 2: There are 3 boys between A and B. So B's position from Left is \( 15 + 3 + 1 = 19 \) (Non-overlap case).
Step 3: Total = L pos of B + R pos of B - 1 = \( 19 + 4 - 1 = 22 \).
Step 4: C is just left of A. So C is 14th from Left.
Step 5: C's position from right = \( (22 - 14) + 1 = 8 + 1 = 9 \).
Conclusion: C is 9th from the right. Option A.
Question 10Exam Pattern
In a class of 60, where girls are twice that of boys, Kamal ranked seventeenth from the top. If there are 9 girls ahead of Kamal, how many boys are after him in rank?
A) 3
B) 7
C) 12
D) 23
Correct answer: C) 12
Solution
Step 1: Girls (G) + Boys (B) = 60. G = 2B. 3B = 60 → B=20, G=40.
Step 2: Kamal's rank is 17th. People ahead of him = 16.
Step 3: Girls ahead = 9. So Boys ahead = 16 - 9 = 7.
Step 4: Total boys = 20. Boys including Kamal = 7 (ahead) + 1 (Kamal) = 8.
Step 5: Boys after Kamal = 20 - 8 = 12.
Conclusion: There are 12 boys after him. Option C.
Question 11Exam Pattern
If you are 9th person in a queue starting from either end, how many persons are there in the queue?
A) 11
B) 15
C) 17
D) 19
Correct answer: C) 17
Solution
Step 1: Left = 9, Right = 9.
Step 2: Total = \( (9 + 9) - 1 = 17 \).
Conclusion: The correct option is C.
Question 12Exam Pattern
Suresh is 7 ranks ahead of Ashok in a class of 39. If Ashok's rank is 17th from the last, what is Suresh's rank from the start?
A) 14th
B) 15th
C) 16th
D) 17th
Correct answer: C) 16th
Solution
Step 1: Ashok's rank from last = 17.
Step 2: Suresh is 7 ranks ahead of Ashok, so Suresh's rank from last = \( 17 + 7 = 24 \).
Step 3: Total = 39.
Step 4: Suresh's rank from start = \( (39 - 24) + 1 = 15 + 1 = 16 \).
Conclusion: Suresh is 16th from the start. Option C.
Question 13Exam Pattern
A is older than B but younger than C. D is younger than E but older than A. If C is younger than D, who is the oldest?
A) A
B) C
C) D
D) E
Correct answer: D) E
Solution
Step 1: A > B, C > A. (Order: C > A > B).
Step 2: E > D, D > A. (Order: E > D > A).
Step 3: Given C is younger than D (D > C).
Step 4: Combined: E > D > C > A > B.
Conclusion: E is the oldest. Option D.
Question 14Exam Pattern
In a row of girls, Kamla is 9th from the left and Veena is 16th from the right. If they interchange their positions, Kamla becomes 25th from the left. How many girls are there in the row?
A) 34
B) 36
C) 40
D) 41
Correct answer: C) 40
Solution
Step 1: Total = (New Left of Kamla + Old Right of Veena) - 1.
Step 2: Total = \( (25 + 16) - 1 = 41 - 1 = 40 \).
Conclusion: There are 40 girls. Option C.
Question 15Exam Pattern
There are 30 students in a class. Mahesh is at 14th rank from the top and Ramesh is at 10th rank from the bottom. How many students are there between Mahesh and Ramesh?
A) 4
B) 5
C) 6
D) 7
Correct answer: C) 6
Solution
Step 1: Total = 30.
Step 2: Position of Mahesh from Top = 14.
Step 3: Convert Ramesh to position from Top: \( (30 - 10) + 1 = 21 \).
Step 4: Students between 14th and 21st = \( (21 - 14) - 1 = 6 \).
Conclusion: There are 6 students between them. Option C.
Question 16Exam Pattern
In a row of 25 children, N is 14th from the right end. R is 3rd to the left of N. What is R's position from the left end of the row?
A) 8th
B) 9th
C) 10th
D) 11th
Correct answer: B) 9th
Solution
Step 1: N is 14th from Right.
Step 2: R is 3rd to the left of N. (Left of a person facing South is their left, but in a standard row facing North, left of N means N moves towards the start).
Step 3: So R's position from Right is \( 14 + 3 = 17 \).
Step 4: R's position from Left = \( (25 - 17) + 1 = 8 + 1 = 9 \).
Conclusion: R is 9th from the left. Option B.
Question 17Exam Pattern
Among five friends, A is taller than B, but not as tall as C, who is shorter than D. E is shorter than D but taller than C. Who is the tallest?
A) D
B) C
C) E
D) A
Correct answer: A) D
Solution
Step 1: C > A > B.
Step 2: D > C.
Step 3: D > E > C.
Step 4: Combined: D > E > C > A > B.
Conclusion: D is the tallest. Option A.
Question 18Exam Pattern
If Arun's rank is 11th in a class of 31, what is his rank from the last?
A) 20th
B) 21st
C) 22nd
D) 23rd
Correct answer: B) 21st
Solution
Step 1: \( R = (31 - 11) + 1 = 20 + 1 = 21 \).
Conclusion: The correct option is B.
Question 19Exam Pattern
In a class, 7 students are ahead of P and 15 students are behind P. How many students are there in the class?
A) 21
B) 22
C) 23
D) 24
Correct answer: C) 23
Solution
Step 1: Students = (Ahead) + (P) + (Behind).
Step 2: Students = 7 + 1 + 15 = 23.
Conclusion: There are 23 students. Option C.
Question 20Exam Pattern
In a row of boys, Deepak is 7th from the left and Madhu is 12th from the right. If they interchange their positions, Deepak becomes 22nd from the left. How many boys are there between Deepak and Madhu (initially)?
A) 14
B) 15
C) 16
D) 13
Correct answer: A) 14
Solution
Step 1: Deepak moved from 7th to 22nd position.
Step 2: The number of people between them = \( (22 - 7) - 1 \).
Step 3: \( 15 - 1 = 14 \).
Conclusion: There are 14 boys between them. Option A.
Strategy errors to avoid
!
Forget to Subtract 1
The most common mistake in 'Total' calculation is adding the two positions without subtracting 1. Remember, the formula counts the person at that intersection twice.
!
Miscounting "Between"
If you need to find the number of people between A (rank 5) and B (rank 10), it is not 10-5=5. It is (10-5)-1 = 4. Always double-check with a small example like between 1 and 3 (only 2 is between, so (3-1)-1=1).