Crack Logical Reasoning in CA Foundation
Master puzzles, blood relations, and series with simple hacks—diagramming, elimination, and shortcuts—to turn reasoning into your easiest 20 marks!
CA FOUNDATION
9/8/20252 min read


Logical Reasoning Hacks: Solving Puzzles in CA Foundation Exam
For many CA aspirants, Logical Reasoning in the CA Foundation Exam feels like a challenge. While Accounts and Law are concept-driven, Logical Reasoning is about patterns, puzzles, and quick problem-solving. The good news? With the right hacks, you can master this section and turn it into a high-scoring advantage.
Why Logical Reasoning Matters in CA Foundation
Logical Reasoning carries 20 marks in CA Foundation Paper 3, covering topics like:
Seating Arrangements
Blood Relations
Coding-Decoding
Directions & Distances
Series & Puzzles
Since most questions are MCQ-based, a strong grip on reasoning ensures you don’t miss out on these straightforward scoring marks.
Common Challenges Students Face
Spending too much time on complex puzzles.
Misinterpreting relationships in Blood Relation questions.
Making calculation errors in Series or Coding-Decoding.
Lack of time management in reasoning-heavy mocks.
Hack 1: Break Down the Puzzle Step-by-Step
When solving puzzles like seating arrangements, don’t try to visualize everything at once. Instead:
Write down the given information in short points.
Draw simple diagrams (circle/table/line).
Place fixed positions first, then fill in the rest logically.
👉 Example: If A is sitting second to the left of B in a circular arrangement, mark B first and then A accordingly.
Hack 2: Elimination is Your Friend
Instead of solving the entire puzzle, use elimination.
Check each option against the clues.
Eliminate those that don’t fit.
You’ll often arrive at the right answer much faster.
This is especially useful in Coding-Decoding and Series questions.
Hack 3: Practice Blood Relation Shortcuts
Instead of drawing complex family trees, use a generation code technique:
Male = +1, Female = -1, Same generation = 0.
👉 Example: “A is the brother of B’s father” → Father (+1), Brother (0), so A is one generation above B.
Hack 4: Don’t Get Stuck
In CA exams, time is gold. If a puzzle feels too time-consuming, skip and return later. It’s better to secure easy marks from direct reasoning questions (like Directions or Coding) first, then revisit puzzles.
Hack 5: Mock Tests & Timed Practice
Logical Reasoning is like a game—the more you play, the better you get.
Solve previous year CA Foundation reasoning papers.
Attempt timed mocks to build speed.
After every test, analyze where you wasted time and refine your shortcuts.
Resources That Help
ICAI Study Material – Start here for the basics.
R.S. Aggarwal – Logical Reasoning – Great for practice questions.
Online CA Foundation Mock Tests – To simulate real exam conditions.
Final Thoughts
Logical Reasoning in CA Foundation is less about memorizing and more about practice + smart hacks. Once you master the art of diagramming, eliminating, and applying shortcuts, you’ll find puzzles surprisingly fun to solve.
At ResultPrep Coaching, we provide step-by-step reasoning workshops, doubt-solving sessions, and timed puzzle practice so that our students enter the exam hall with confidence. Remember, these 20 marks may look small, but they can be the difference between just passing and securing a top rank.
👉 Start your Logical Reasoning prep today—and make puzzles your scoring weapon in the CA Foundation Exam!
Prepare for the best results!
Achieve your goals with expert coaching and support from ResultPrep.
Contact us
© 2024. All rights reserved.
Address:
GSS Complex, Vidyaranyapura
2nd Floor, 601, 16th Cross Rd,
HMT Layout, Vidyaranyapura,
Bengaluru, Karnataka 560097