Order & Ranking
🔒 Log in to trackRank-conversion and ordering puzzles: ranks from either end, totals from two ranks, people between two positions, queue shifts, and taller/heavier comparison chains. Two formulas (n + 1 − p and a + b − 1) plus the between-count run the entire numeric half; the comparison half is inequality chaining into one unique order. Speed comes from drawing a mini-row and from the built-in check a + b = n + 1.
One page per subtopic: detailed notes, every question type, formulas, tricks and practice sets.
Every formula on one printable page, grouped by subtopic.
4 exam-level questions worked step by step.
52 questions — untimed practice or a timed test with analysis.
Track record in the exam
Questions per shift in recent SSC CGL papers.
Test difficulty mix (52 questions)
Question patterns exams keep repeating
Taken from previous-year papers. If a pattern is marked "very common", expect to see it in your exam.
Rank conversion at the two ends
very commonA rank from one end plus a total; the other end is asked.
How to solve: Mirror: total − rank + 1; queues: ahead = rank − 1, behind = total − rank.
Example: In a queue of 60, S is 21st from the front. How many people are behind her?
= 39 behind.
Two ranks to the total
very commonOne person's rank from both ends; class size asked.
How to solve: Add the ranks and subtract 1; the shared person was counted twice.
Example: A is 9th from the left and 11th from the right. How many people are in the row?
= 19.
Counting between two ranks
very common'How many between A and B' with ranks from the same or opposite ends.
How to solve: Same end: |a − b| − 1. Opposite ends with total T: T − a − b. Convert ends before subtracting.
Example: P is 11th from the left and Q is 9th from the right in a row of 30. How many sit between?
= 10.
The middle person
common'Who is exactly in the middle of A and B?'
How to solve: Convert to the same end; the midpoint is (a + b) / 2 from that end.
Example: Manish is 14th from the left; Rakesh is 8th from the right in a row of 35. Who is midway between them?
Rakesh = th from the left; midway = = 21st from the left.
Comparison chain to a named slot
very commonTaller/older/more-marks clues; tallest, youngest or Nth is asked.
How to solve: Arrows toward the bigger/older/better; merge into a chain; read the slot; reversed words flip the arrow.
Example: M > N; O < N; P > M; Q < O. Who is second highest?
P > M > N > O > Q → second highest = M.
Scattered stack assembly
commonAbove/below clues for boxes, books or shelves; a slot is asked.
How to solve: Above = arrow up; stack the chain on paper; read 'Nth from top' directly off the list.
Example: Red above Blue; Green below Blue but above White; Yellow at the bottom. Which is second from the top?
Red, Blue, Green, White, Yellow → second = Blue.