Lots of kids find reasoning the friendliest part of the paper. Not because it’s simple. Because it repeats.
The AISSEE Intelligence Section has 25 questions worth 2 marks each. That’s 50 marks. And the same ten or so question types keep coming back. Learn them once, and you’ve done most of the work.
What the Syllabus Says
The official AISSEE intelligence syllabus is short. It covers analogies, patterns, classification, and visual and logical reasoning. You can read it on NTA’s official AISSEE page.
That’s vague, right? So here’s what it looks like inside the paper.
The 10 Question Types
1. Number Series
2, 5, 10, 17, ?
Trick: Check the gaps first. Here they’re 3, 5, 7. Next gap is 9. Answer: 26. If gaps don’t work, try ×2 or squares.
2. Letter Series
A, C, F, J, ?
Trick: Learn EJOTY. E is 5, J is 10, O is 15, T is 20, Y is 25. Now any letter’s number is a quick jump away. Gaps here are 2, 3, 4, so next is 5. J (10) + 5 = O.
3. Word Analogy
Pen : Write :: Knife : ?
Trick: Make a sentence. “A pen is used to write.” Now say it with knife. Answer: cut.
4. Number Analogy
3 : 9 :: 5 : ?
Trick: Test the usual suspects in order. Square, cube, double, add a number. 3 squared is 9. So 5 squared is 25.
5. Odd One Out
4, 9, 16, 20, 25
Trick: Ask “what do four of these share?” Here, they’re perfect squares. 20 isn’t. Done.
6. Coding–Decoding
If CAT is DBU, what is DOG?
Trick: Write the letter numbers below each word. C→D, A→B, T→U. Each moves +1. So DOG becomes EPH.
7. Mirror and Water Images
Trick: In a mirror, left and right swap. Top and bottom stay. In water, it’s the opposite: top and bottom flip. Kids mix these up all the time. Say it out loud before you pick.
8. Figure Series
You’ll see four shapes and pick the fifth.
Trick: Track one thing at a time. First the arrow. Then the dots. Then the shading. Many series rotate 45° or 90° each step. Trying to watch everything at once is how you get stuck.
9. Direction Sense
Ravi walks 5 km north, turns right and walks 3 km. Which way is he from the start?
Trick: Always draw it. North at the top. A right turn from north faces east. So Ravi is north-east of where he began.
10. Ranking
Meera is 7th from the top and 12th from the bottom. How many students are in the class?
Trick: Add both ranks, then subtract 1. 7 + 12 − 1 = 18. Why minus 1? Because Meera got counted twice.
How to Practise (Without Burning Out)
Ten questions a day is enough. Mix the types so your child doesn’t go on autopilot.
Here’s a habit that helps. After each wrong answer, write the type next to it. After two weeks, you’ll see a pattern. Maybe it’s always coding. Maybe it’s mirror images. Now you know where to spend time.
Also, solve these AISSEE reasoning questions with a timer. Aim for under a minute each. Some will take 20 seconds. Save the extra for the tricky figure ones.
And yes, guess if stuck. There’s no negative marking.
A Quick Word on the 25% Rule
You need at least 25% in every section to qualify. For this one, that’s just 7 correct answers out of 25. Low bar. But some kids rush this part and slip anyway. Don’t let a scoring section become a risky one.
Want Guided Practice?
Many children improve fast once someone shows them the patterns. If you’re nearby, our Sainik School coaching in Ajmer runs daily drills on Sainik School intelligence questions. You’ll also find more Sainik School entrance exam preparation guides on SainikStudy.
Master the AISSEE Intelligence Section, and those 50 marks start to feel like the safest part of the paper.
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