November 6, 2025
Summary: Reasoning can be your secret weapon in NID DAT Prelims 2026. Unlike subjective sketching, these questions have exact answers, making them the easier marks to secure if you know the tricks. In this guide, you’ll explore practice-ready NID reasoning questions with detailed solutions, smart solving shortcuts, and strategies to maximize your GAT score.
Preparing for NID DAT 2026? Then reasoning is a section you can’t afford to ignore. Many aspirants focus only on sketching and creative ability, but the NID logical reasoning questions in the GAT section often decide whether you cross the NID cut-off or not.
In this guide, we’ll break down:
- Why reasoning matters in the NID exam
- Types of reasoning questions for NID.
- 25+ sample NID logical reasoning questions and answers.
- Step-by-step solutions for tricky problems.
- Proven strategies to master reasoning for NID DAT.
Whether you’re targeting B.Des or M.Des, this blog will give you a solid foundation for logical reasoning in NID.
The General Ability Test (GAT) in NID DAT includes multiple-choice and objective-type questions, and reasoning is a core part of it.
Here’s why:
Based on the NID previous year question paper, official sample papers and exam trends, here are the common NID reasoning questions that have been asked year after year in NID entrance exam:
1. Analogy & Classification
2. Series (Alphabet, Number, Figure Series)
3. Coding-Decoding
4. Blood Relations & Direction Sense
5. Seating Arrangements & Puzzles
6. Mathematical & Logical Problems
7. Visual/Non-Verbal Reasoning (Mirror Images, Figure Completion, Cubes)
The mix of these in the NID may vary every year, but these categories cover almost everything you’ll see in NID 2026 reasoning questions.
Also check: NID Syllabus 2026 - Download Subjects-wise Syllabus and Important Topics here
Let’s dive into practice questions with detailed solutions for NID 2026 preparation. These are closest to the actual NID GAT reasoning questions.
Q1: Book : Reading :: Knife : ?
A) Cutting
B) Writing
C) Eating
D) Drawing
Answer: A) Cutting
Solution: A book is used for reading, and a knife is used for cutting.
Q2: Designer : Creativity :: Scientist : ?
A) Imagination
B) Experiment
C) Discovery
D) Observation
Answer: C) Discovery
2. Series Questions
Q3 (Number Series): 2, 6, 12, 20, ?
A) 28
B) 30
C) 32
D) 34
Answer: A) 30
Solution: Pattern = (n² + n). 1²+1=2, 2²+2=6, 3²+3=12, 4²+4=20, next = 5²+5=30.
Q4 (Alphabet Series): A, C, F, J, O, ?
A) T
B) U
C) V
D) W
Answer: B) U
Solution: +2, +3, +4, +5, so next is +6 → O + 6 = U.
Q5: If DESIGN is coded as 451729, then SIGN = ?
Answer: 1729
Solution: Assign each letter a digit from DESIGN’s mapping.
Q6: In a code, TREE = VTKK. How is LEAF written?
A) NGCH
B) NGCF
C) MGCH
D) NFCH
Answer: A) NGCH
Solution: Each letter shifted +2.
Q7: A is the mother of B. C is the father of A. D is the son of C. How is D related to B?
Answer: D is the maternal uncle of B.
Q8: Pointing to a girl, Rohan said, “She is the daughter of my mother’s only son.” How is the girl related to Rohan?
Answer: Daughter
Solve More: Blood Relation Questions With Solution for Design Entrance Exams
Q9: A person walks 3 km north, then 4 km east, then 5 km south. How far is he from the starting point?
Answer: 5 km
Solution: Use Pythagoras theorem. Net displacement = √(4² + 2²) = √20 = 4.47 km ≈ 5 km.
Q10: Four friends A, B, C, D sit around a circular table. A is opposite C, and B is to the right of A. Who sits to the left of A?
Answer: D
Q11: Which figure will come next in the sequence? (Show 4 images with rotation pattern).
Answer: The one rotated 90° clockwise.
Q12: A cube is painted red on all sides and then cut into 64 small cubes. How many cubes will have exactly 2 faces painted?
Answer: 24
Solution: Each edge (without corners) contributes.
Q13: If 6 pencils cost ₹90, how much do 10 pencils cost?
Answer: ₹150
Q14: A watch shows 6:15. Find the angle between the hands.
Answer: 97.5°
Solution: Minute hand = 90°, hour hand = 187.5°, difference = 97.5°.
Q15: Ram is taller than Shyam but shorter than Ravi. Ajay is shorter than Shyam. Who is the tallest?
Answer: Ravi
The NID DAT Prelims GAT section includes reasoning questions. These are not like tough maths problems - they test your ability to see patterns, solve puzzles, and think logically.
Here are the exact types of reasoning questions (with examples) that NID has asked in its official NID sample paper, explained in plain language.
Question:
In a code language, if “CAT” is written as “DBU”, how will “DOG” be written?
Explanation:
Look at how CAT → DBU was formed.
C → D (one step forward), A → B (one step forward), T → U (one step forward).
So, every letter is shifted forward by one.
Now apply the same to DOG → D→E, O→P, G→H.
Answer: EPH
Question:
Find the missing figure in this series: [Four simple shapes shown, each one changing step by step].
Explanation:
A “series” means something is changing step by step.
Look carefully- maybe the number of dots is increasing, or the shape is rotating.
Spot the rule: e.g., each figure rotates 90° clockwise.
Apply the same rule to find the missing figure.
Answer: The progressing figures keeps including shaded boxes and circles one after the other. Going by the pattern, the next figure in the series should be option B.
Question:
Which of the following letters will look the same in a mirror?
A. TEAM
B. TOUR
C. THAT
D. THIS
Explanation:
Imagine holding up the letter in front of a mirror.
Letters like A, H, I, M, O, T, U, V, W, X, Y look the same.
In this question, the right answer is whichever letter belongs to that set.
Answer: C
Question: A square sheet is folded into a cube. Which option shows the correct cube that can be formed?
A. 1 & 3 only
B. 2 & 4 only
C. 3 & 4 only
D. 1 & 4 only
Explanation:
- Think of it like folding a cardboard cut-out into a dice.
- Opposite sides of the cube can never touch each other.
- So, eliminate options where impossible sides are shown together.
Clearly the 2 square sides will be the top and bottom of the dice, the 2 filled rectangles will be opposite to each other and the two blank rectangles will be opposite to each other.
Since, in figures 2 & 4, the two filled rectangular sides are adjacent, these options are eliminated.
Answer: The option that follows cube rules. (1 & 3 only)
Read more: NID Cut Off 2025 - Category & Campus-Wise Cut Off Details
Question: Out of 100 students: 60 like drawing, 40 like painting, 20 like both. How many like only painting?
Explanation:
Draw 2 circles overlapping. One circle = drawing, one circle = painting.
The overlap (both) = 20.
Painting total = 40 → subtract the 20 (both) = 20 left.
Answer: 20
Question:
If gear A rotates clockwise, in which direction will gear C rotate? (3 gears shown in a line).
Explanation:
Rule: Gears next to each other always move in opposite directions.
Gear A = clockwise → Gear B = anti-clockwise → Gear C = clockwise.
Answer: Clockwise
Question:
Four friends sit around a circular table. A is opposite C. B sits to the right of A. Who is to the left of A?
Explanation:
Draw a circle with 4 seats. Place A at the top.
C is opposite A → place C at bottom.
B is to the right of A → place B to A’s right.
Left of A = the last friend → D.
Answer: D
Question (simplified): Read a short passage about design and answer: What is the main idea of the passage?
Explanation:
Don’t memorize the whole passage.
Quickly read once, then look at the question.
Scan the passage to find the relevant line.
Answer: The correct sentence that matches the passage’s main idea.
Check: NID Marking Scheme 2026: Check Section wise NID Marks Distribution
- Figures may be rotated 90°, 180°, or 270° in the series.
- Look for a small orientation mark (like an arrow, dot, or corner highlight).
Example: A triangle pointing up → right → down → left → back up. This is a 90° rotation each step.
Tip: Always note if rotation is clockwise or anti-clockwise.
- Identify the axis of reflection (vertical, horizontal, or diagonal).
- Some letters/symbols don’t change when reflected (A, H, I, M, O, T, U, V, W, X, Y).
Example: “A” in a mirror looks the same, but “B” flips and looks different.
Tip: Imagine drawing a line of symmetry. If both halves match, the reflection stays same.
In a figure series, usually only one thing changes at a time:
- Count (e.g., 1 star → 2 stars → 3 stars)
- Size (small → medium → large)
- Position (left → center → right)
- Fill (empty → half-shaded → full)
- If multiple things change at once, it’s often a trap.
Tip: Focus on the simplest consistent change.
If a cube is painted on all sides and cut into n × n × n smaller cubes:
- 3 painted faces = 8 (corners only)
- 2 painted faces = 12 edges × (n−2)
- 1 painted face = 6 faces × (n−2)²
- 0 painted = (n−2)³ inside cubes
Example: A 4×4×4 cube →
3-face = 8
2-face = 12×2 = 24
1-face = 6×4 = 24
0-face = 8
Tip: Remember: corners → 3, edges → 2, faces → 1.
When folding a cube, opposite sides never touch.
Example: If the top face has a dot, its opposite side will never touch it when folded.
The correct net shows all faces connected logically.
Tip: Try mentally folding it like paper- does it make a cube? If not, reject it.
Rule: Two connected gears always rotate in opposite directions.
Chain of gears:
- Odd number of gears → last gear rotates opposite to the first.
- Even number of gears → last gear rotates same as the first.
- Belts or internal gears can flip direction again.
Example: 3 gears in a line → First gear clockwise → Third gear clockwise.
Tip: Just count the gears—odd = opposite, even = same.
One of the biggest mistakes NID aspirants make is getting stuck on a tough reasoning puzzle in the middle of the exam. You waste 5-6 minutes, panic, and then rush through easy questions later. The solution? A strategic approach that ensures you attempt all the scoring NID reasoning questions first, then come back for the harder ones.
Here’s how it works:
In your first scan, answer only the questions that are short, direct, and take less than 30 seconds. For example:
Why? These are guaranteed marks. Finishing them first boosts your confidence and frees up time for the longer puzzles.
Now go back and tackle the medium to tough reasoning questions that need diagrams or calculations.
Why? These are slower but high-weight questions. Attempt them once the easy ones are out of the way.
In the last few minutes, quickly revisit:
Why? This way, you maximize attempts without wasting time or making random guesses in NID exam 2026.
With this strategy, you’ll:
- Finish all easy questions (no marks left behind).
- Have enough time for the tricky puzzles.
- Avoid panicking if a question looks confusing.
Must-check: Weekly Current Affairs for NID/NIFT/UCEED
Know more: NID 2025 Exam Analysis
Reasoning is one of the most scoring NID subjects for 2026, if prepared well and can help immensely in clearing the NID. All it requires to master it, is consistent practice of NID reasoning questions and answers. And you can secure easy marks in the GAT section thereby boosting your chances of clearing the Prelims.
To maximize your prep, CreativEdge by Toprankers suggests solving past year papers, mock tests, and reasoning practice sets regularly.
For more such valuable insights, high-scoring tricks and end-to-end preparation for NID Logical Reasoning Questions 2026, consider joining CreativEdge NID online coaching.
Get LIVE online sessions with best in the industry mentors, expert-curated reasoning question banks, exam-like NID mocks, and personalized feedback at your fingertips.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are reasoning questions compulsory in NID DAT 2026?

Do reasoning questions come in both B.Des and M.Des exams?

How many reasoning questions appear in NID DAT?

Where can I practice NID reasoning questions and answers for 2026 prep?

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Is there negative marking for reasoning questions in NID DAT?

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