Flat Puzzle Reasoning for Bank Exams 2026: Tricks, Tips & Practice Questions
Neha Tanna11 Feb, 2026
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Flat Puzzle Reasoning for Bank Exams 2026 is an important topic in the logical reasoning section and often appears in prelims and mains exams. These puzzles are an advanced form of floor-based arrangements where candidates must place people across multiple floors and flats within a building.
To solve them efficiently, aspirants need a clear understanding of the basic structure, proper floor–flat mapping, and accurate interpretation of given conditions. Statements may involve directions, positions, or diagonal relations, making the puzzle multi-dimensional. With regular practice, flat puzzles become easier to decode, improving both speed and accuracy in bank exams.
Flat Puzzle Reasoning for Bank Exams 2026
Flat Puzzle Reasoning for Bank Exams 2026 is a high-scoring topic that demands clarity and practice. To understand the structure, common patterns, and step-by-step solving approach, check the detailed explanation and examples given below.
Regular practice of such puzzles helps improve logical thinking, accuracy, and confidence for bank exams.
Core Concepts of Flat Puzzles
Basic Structure: A Flat Puzzle typically involves a single building with multiple floors, where each floor contains two or more flats. Unlike a simple floor puzzle where arrangements are linear (a single column), flat puzzles demand a two-dimensional grid arrangement, considering both vertical (floor) and horizontal (flat) positions. For instance, a building might have five floors, with two flats (e.g., Flat P and Flat Q) on each floor.
Initial Analysis and Setup
When approaching a Flat Puzzle, you must begin by identifying two critical pieces of information from the problem statement:
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The number of flats present on each floor. Preliminary exams for Probationary Officer (PO) roles can feature up to three flats per floor, while Assistant-level exams usually have two flats.
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The position of the flats relative to each other. The problem will specify this using cardinal directions, such as "Flat P is to the west of Flat Q." This information is fundamental for accurately drawing your initial diagram.
Key Terminology: Floor vs. Flat
It is critical to distinguish between floors and flats to avoid confusion when interpreting conditions:
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A Floor corresponds to a horizontal row in your solving diagram.
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A Flat corresponds to a vertical column in your solving diagram.
Interpreting Conditions in Flat Puzzles
Understanding the precise meaning of various conditional statements is paramount for successfully solving these puzzles.
Direction-Based Conditions
These conditions use cardinal directions (North, South, East, West) to describe the relative placements of individuals.
|
Condition Type |
Implication |
Diagrammatic Relationship |
|---|---|---|
|
East / West |
Individuals are on the same floor. |
(A is to the East of B) → B -- A |
|
North / South |
Individuals are in the same flat. |
(A is to the North of B) → A is on a floor above B, in the same flat column. |
Diagonal Direction Conditions
Conditions like "North-East" or "South-West" provide combined information about both floor and flat positions.
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Example: "B lives North-East of A."
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This immediately fixes their relative flat positions: for B to be North-East of A, A must be in a western flat (e.g., Flat P) and B in an eastern flat (e.g., Flat Q).
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"North-East" implies B can be on any floor above A.
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CRITICAL DISTINCTION: Always pay close attention to the word "just".
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"B lives North-East of A" allows for multiple floors between them.
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"B lives just North-East of A" or "immediately North-East" means B is on the very next floor directly above A, occupying the adjacent diagonal flat.
Positional Conditions ("Above" / "Below")
The specific wording of "above" and "below" conditions is extremely important as it dictates whether the individuals share the same flat or can be in different ones.
|
Condition Statement |
Interpretation |
|---|---|
|
"A is just above B's flat" |
A and B are in the same flat (same column), with A on the floor immediately above B. |
|
"A is just above B's floor" |
A is on the floor immediately above B, but their flats can be the same or different. Both possibilities must be considered. |
|
"A is above B's floor" |
A is on any floor above B. Their flats can be the same or different. |
|
"A is two floors above B" |
There is a gap of one floor between A and B. Their flats can be the same or different, unless specified. |
|
"A is two flats above B" |
This implies A and B are in the same flat, with a gap of one floor between them. |
"Persons Between" Condition
This condition type is less common in recent examinations but is valuable to understand. When a problem states a specific number of "persons between" two individuals (e.g., "Two persons between A and B"), you should count the number of floors separating them. If each floor has two flats, "two persons between A and B" means there is exactly one full floor between A and B, occupied by those two individuals.
Worked Examples
Practicing with examples is essential to solidify your understanding of Flat Puzzles. Each example highlights different conditional interpretations and strategic approaches.
Example 1: 4 Floors, 2 Flats
Setup: 8 people, 4 floors, 2 flats (Flat 1 is west of Flat 2).
Key Learning: This example demonstrates how to combine conditions like "K is two floors above L, but not in the same numbered flat" with directional clues such as "M lives just to the South-West of K" to establish foundational structural elements. The process involves forming initial cases and using subsequent conditions like "P lives above N, but not on the same floor with K" to eliminate incorrect arrangements.
Answer: P lives on the 2nd Floor, in Flat 2.
Example 2: 5 Floors, 2 Flats
Setup: 10 people, 5 floors, 2 flats (Flat X is west of Flat Y).
Key Learning: This problem emphasizes the interpretation of complex positional relationships. Conditions like "J lives two floors above I" fix specific floor numbers, while "J lives on an even-numbered floor… but in a different flat than I" helps create initial cases. A critical condition like "No one lives to the West of F" immediately fixes F in the westernmost flat (Flat X), significantly narrowing down possibilities and leading to the final arrangement.
Answer: D lives on the 1st Floor, in Flat Y.
Example 3: 5 Floors, 2 Flats with Special "Note"
Setup: 10 people, 5 floors, 2 flats (Flat X is west of Flat Y), with a special note defining "adjacent" and "above/below."
Key Learning: This example highlights the importance of adhering to specific rules provided within the puzzle. The "Note" clarifies that "adjacent" implies the same floor and "above/below" implies the same flat unless otherwise specified.
This distinct interpretation helps correctly place individuals like J and I ("J lives one floor below I" means same flat) and H and C ("H lives adjacent to A. H lives two floors above C"). This demonstrates how a small detail can alter standard interpretations.
Answer: D lives adjacent to J. (Note: If the question asked for "just North-West" or "immediate North-West," the answer would have been only B, based on the specific final arrangement of this example.)
Example 4: 4 Floors, 2 Flats (Simpler)
Setup: 8 people, 4 floors, 2 flats (Flat P is west of Flat Q).
Key Learning: This example showcases a more straightforward puzzle where conditions directly fix positions or create limited scenarios that are easily resolved. Conditions such as "Two-floor gap between H and C" (fixing them to floors 1 and 4 in the same flat) and "C lives just above A's floor but in a different flat" efficiently guide towards a single valid arrangement without extensive case analysis.
Answer: F lives in Flat Q.
Example 5: 3 Floors, 3 Flats
Setup: 9 people, 3 floors, 3 flats (Flat 1 is west of 2, which is west of 3).
Key Learning: This puzzle introduces 3 flats per floor, increasing complexity. The combination of diagonal conditions, "Q is in the South-West of T AND in the North-West of A," combined with "T and A live in the same numbered flat," is a powerful deduction. It forces a diagonal alignment of T, Q, and A, allowing for the creation of initial cases based on the column of T/A. The condition "B lives just above R's flat" helps in eliminating one of the main cases.
Answer: Both B and P are to the North-West of E.
Homework Assignment
To master Flat Puzzles, consistent practice is crucial. Try solving the following problem:
Problem: A Flat & Floor puzzle featuring an additional variable (e.g., people liking different colors or fruits).
Difficulty Level: This problem is representative of a PO Preliminary Exam question.
Target Time: Aim to solve this problem within 3.5 minutes.