What are Comparison Type Questions?

Comparison type questions are based on ranking or comparing different sets of people, things, and numbers based on one or more variables. You, as a candidate, need to analyze these types of questions and answer them accordingly. If you are appearing for different banking exams or other entrance exams, then you need to prepare for such comparison questions. Most of the competitive examinations contain a section that includes these comparison type questions. It usually consists of one or more quantities that need to be compared and analysed for getting a specific answer. Reasoning ability is the skill required for solving comparison type questions. Even the scholarship examinations for school going students also face this type of problems, sums and questions. 

Different types of Comparison Questions

There are different types of comparison questions which can be based on a given formula, for example-

Vikas is sitting in the 12th position from the right side and the 17th position from the left side. What is the total number of people in the row?

Formula- Total number of people=, the sum of persons from both side-1

Solution- (12+17)- 1 = 28 

The question that does not provide adequate data, for example

A is standing at position 20th from the front, and B is standing 24th from the back. What is the total number of people in the queue?

Here you cannot solve this problem because the data is inadequate, like 2 different people from either side of the line.

Here are some examples of simple different comparison questions with solutions to boost your ability for various competitive exams-

  • In a class, the height of the students was being recorded, and it was found that A is taller than B, C is shorter than A, and D is taller than E but shorter than B. Then who among them is the tallest?

a)  C

b) D

c) B

d) A

e) None of the above

Answer- d) A

  • A test series was conducted among 5 students in which P ranked lower than Q, R ranked higher than S, and T ranked between P and R. Who ranked the highest?

a) R

b) Q

c) P

d) T

e) None of the above

Answer– b) Q

  • An Intelligence quotient test was conducted for 5 students. The report suggested that student L has less IQ than student M, N has less IQ than O, M has less IQ than N, and Student L has more IQ than P.

a) O

b) M

c) N

d) Cannot be determined

Answer- a) O

  • The weight of newborn babies was being calculated. The report showed child A has more weight than child B; child C weighs more than A, child D has more weight than E. Which baby weighs the most?

a) A

b) B

c) C

d) Can’t determine

 Answer- c) C

Comparison tricks

The most important point to make while solving the comparison type question is that there is a need for a lot of understanding and practice. The candidate needs to focus on the different variables or quantities provided completely.

  1. Focus on the question and study the quantities given carefully.
  2. Collect the data and develop a general idea of the given question.
  3. Check for the possibilities, and some questions may have more than one possibility.
  4. According to the possibilities, arrange them in a table format, avoid the ones with incorrect possibilities.
  5. Following this process, you can get the right answer accurately.

Conclusion

Comparison type questions are very useful in improving the mental ability to look at a question and evaluate the answer on the basis of comparative analysis. Practising these types of questions can help to perform well in various banking exams like SBI, RBI, IBPS exams and other entrance exams that include logical reasoning or reasoning ability. Nowadays, so many students, as well as other people, are found to show interest in appearing in many entrance and competitive exams.

These types of exams have a limited time duration, and it is vital that you should be prepared for comparison-type questions beforehand. You cannot depend on a particular pattern of comparison questions so practising and trying to solve sums related to it is the way to succeed in these competitive exams. Students need to be made aware of such questions so that they find the other mathematical problems and basic maths easier and quicker to solve. With good practice and regular solving, this reasoning ability to solve comparison type questions can be enhanced and can motivate the candidates to appear for various competitive examinations.