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 from one end, find the other
very commonA person's rank from one end and the total are given.
People ahead = rank − 1.
People behind = total − rank.
In a queue of 60, Sita is 21st from the front. How many people are behind her?
Total = 60
People ahead = 21 − 1 = 20
People behind = 60 − 21 = 39
Find the total from two ranks
very commonOne person's rank from the left and from the right is given. Asks the total.
Add the two ranks and subtract 1.
The person was counted twice.
A is 9th from the left and 11th from the right in a row. How many people are in the row?
Add the ranks: 9 + 11 = 20
A is counted twice, so subtract 1
Total = 19
People between two persons
very common"How many people are between P and Q?"
If the ranks are from opposite ends: total − rank 1 − rank 2.
If from the same end: difference − 1.
P is 11th from the left and Q is 9th from the right in a row of 30. How many are between them?
Opposite ends, so use total − both ranks
30 − 11 − 9
= 10
Who is in the middle
common"Who is exactly in the middle of A and B?"
Change both ranks to the same end.
Middle rank = (first + second) ÷ 2.
In a row of 35, Manish is 14th from the left and Rakesh is 8th from the right. Who is exactly midway?
Rakesh from the left = 35 − 8 + 1 = 28
Middle = (14 + 28) ÷ 2 = 21
The middle person is 21st from the left
Order by height, age or marks
very commonClues like "taller than" or "older than". Asks who is highest, lowest or Nth.
Write each clue as A > B.
Join the clues into one chain, then read the rank.
M > N, O < N, P > M, Q < O. Who is second highest?
M > N and P > M gives P > M > N
N > O and O > Q gives N > O > Q
Full chain: P > M > N > O > Q
Second highest = M
Stack of books or boxes
commonClues like "above" and "below" for boxes, books or floors.
Draw the stack from the top.
Read the place you need straight from your list.
Red is above Blue. Green is below Blue but above White. Yellow is at the bottom. Which is second from the top?
Red is above Blue; Green and White come below Blue
Green is above White; Yellow is last
Order from top: Red, Blue, Green, White, Yellow
Second from top = Blue