Aptitude Questions for Interviews

At times you may be asked an aptitude question directly in an interview. Considering you don’t necessarily need to solve it using pen and paper in an interview, most likely the questions will be an easy one. Here are few examples.

1. Numerical Ability – Percentages

Interviewer: If the price of an item increases from ₹200 to ₹250, what is the percentage increase?

Candidate:
The increase is ₹250 – ₹200 = ₹50.
Percentage increase = (50 / 200) × 100 = 25%.

2. Logical Reasoning – Series Completion

Interviewer: What comes next in the series: 2, 6, 12, 20, 30, ___?

Candidate:
The pattern is:
2 + 4 = 6
6 + 6 = 12
12 + 8 = 20
20 + 10 = 30
Next: 30 + 12 = 42

3. Verbal Reasoning – Analogy

Interviewer: Book is to Reading as Fork is to?

Candidate:
A fork is used for Eating, just as a book is used for Reading. So, the answer is Eating.

4. Quantitative Aptitude – Time & Work

Interviewer: If A can complete a task in 10 days and B can do it in 15 days, how long will they take to finish it together?

Candidate:
A’s one day work = 1/10
B’s one day work = 1/15
Combined = (1/10 + 1/15) = (3 + 2)/30 = 5/30 = 1/6
So, together they can complete the work in 6 days.

5. Data Interpretation – Averages

Interviewer: The average of five numbers is 36. If one number is 42, what is the average of the remaining four?

Candidate:
Total of five numbers = 5 × 36 = 180
Remaining total = 180 – 42 = 138
Average of remaining = 138 / 4 = 34.5

6. Logical Puzzles – Direction Sense

Interviewer: A man walks 3 km North, then turns East and walks 4 km. How far is he from the starting point?

Candidate:
He forms a right triangle with sides 3 km and 4 km.
Distance = √(3² + 4²) = √(9 + 16) = √25 = 5 km

7. Quant – Ratio & Proportion

Interviewer: The ratio of two numbers is 3:5. If their sum is 64, what are the numbers?

Candidate:
Let the numbers be 3x and 5x.
3x + 5x = 64 → 8x = 64 → x = 8
Numbers are: 3×8 = 24 and 5×8 = 40

8. Number System

Interviewer: What is the smallest number which when divided by 5, 6, and 7 leaves a remainder of 1?

Candidate:
LCM of 5, 6, 7 = 210
So, required number = 210 + 1 = 211

9. Permutations & Combinations

Interviewer: How many different 3-letter words (real or imaginary) can be formed using the letters A, B, and C without repetition?

Candidate:
Number of 3-letter arrangements = 3! = 6
(Possibilities: ABC, ACB, BAC, BCA, CAB, CBA)

10. Problem on Ages

Interviewer: A father is 4 times as old as his son. In 20 years, he will be only twice as old. What is the son’s current age?

Candidate:
Let son’s age = x
Father’s age = 4x
In 20 years:
Father = 4x + 20, Son = x + 20
4x + 20 = 2(x + 20)
4x + 20 = 2x + 40 → 2x = 20 → x = 10

11. Profit and Loss

Interviewer: An article is sold at a profit of 20%. If the cost price is ₹250, what is the selling price?

Candidate:
Profit = 20% of ₹250 = ₹50
Selling Price = Cost Price + Profit = 250 + 50 = ₹300

12. Speed, Time, and Distance

Interviewer: A train travels 120 km in 2 hours. What is its speed in km/h?

Candidate:
Speed = Distance / Time = 120 / 2 = 60 km/h

13. Logical Reasoning – Blood Relations

Interviewer: A says, “The son of my grandfather is my uncle.” How is A related to the uncle?

Candidate:
The son of A’s grandfather is A’s uncle, so A is the nephew/niece.

14. Percentage – Discount

Interviewer: A shirt marked at ₹800 is sold at a 25% discount. What is the selling price?

Candidate:
Discount = 25% of ₹800 = ₹200
Selling Price = 800 – 200 = ₹600

15. Clocks

Interviewer: At what time between 2 and 3 o’clock will the hands of a clock be together?

Candidate:
At 2:00, the minute hand is at 12 and the hour hand at 2 (i.e., 60° apart).
They will meet in 6011\frac{60}{11}1160​ minutes = 5 minutes 27 seconds (approx).

16. Coding-Decoding

Interviewer: In a code, if CAT is written as DBU, how is DOG written?

Candidate:
Each letter is shifted +1:
C → D, A → B, T → U
So, D → E, O → P, G → H
Answer: EPH

17. Pipes and Cisterns

Interviewer: Pipe A can fill a tank in 12 hours, Pipe B in 6 hours. If both are opened together, how long will it take to fill the tank?

Candidate:
Combined rate = 1/12 + 1/6 = (1 + 2)/12 = 3/12 = 1/4
Time = 4 hours

18. Simple Interest

Interviewer: What is the simple interest on ₹5,000 at 8% per annum for 2 years?

Candidate:
SI = (P × R × T)/100 = (5000 × 8 × 2)/100 = ₹800

19. Geometry – Area

Interviewer: What is the area of a circle with radius 7 cm?

Candidate:
Area = πr² = (22/7) × 7 × 7 = 154 cm²

20. Logical Reasoning – Odd One Out

Interviewer: Find the odd one out: 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13

Candidate:
All are prime numbers except 9, which is not prime.