Sitting Arrangements

🟢 Lite — Quick Review (1h–1d)

Rapid summary for last-minute revision before your exam.

Sitting Arrangement is a critical reasoning topic in SSC CGL Tier I and Tier II. It tests your ability to arrange people or objects in a logical sequence based on given conditions. Questions involve linear arrangements (single row or double row) or circular arrangements. The key skill is extracting positional constraints from the description and using them to build a step-by-step solution.

Types of Arrangements:

Type	Description
Linear (single row)	Persons face one direction (usually North or South)
Linear (double row)	Two rows facing each other
Circular	Persons around a circle, facing centre or outward
Square/Rectangular	Persons at corners or sides

Key Assumptions:

• In linear arrangement facing North: Right of your picture = Right side in arrangement
• In circular arrangement facing centre: Left and right are as per your perspective facing inward
• Unless stated, adjacent means immediate neighbour

Basic Linear Arrangement Rules:

For a row facing North:

• A’s right is towards East (higher numbers usually)
• A’s left is towards West (lower numbers)
• If A is to the left of B, then B is to the right of A
• “Immediate left/right” means adjacent

For a row facing South:

• A’s right is towards West; A’s left is towards East
• In SSC CGL, usually people face NORTH unless specified

⚡ Exam Tip: Draw a simple diagram with positions numbered 1, 2, 3… from left to right. Always start by fixing the person whose position is most constrained by conditions. If no direct position is given, use the “slot filling” method — find who CAN go in which position.

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🟡 Standard — Regular Study (2d–2mo)

For students who want genuine understanding and problem-solving practice.

Linear Arrangement Problem-Solving Steps:

1. Identify known positions: Note which persons are directly placed
2. Create a framework: Draw slots representing positions
3. Apply constraints one by one:
   • “A is to the left of B” → A’s position < B’s position
   • “A is immediately left of B” → A’s position + 1 = B’s position
   • “A is second to the left of B” → A’s position + 2 = B’s position
   • “A is between B and C” → B-A-C or C-A-B in consecutive positions
4. Check for contradictions: If a condition seems impossible, revisit assumptions
5. Fill remaining slots: Use elimination to place others

Phrases and Their Meanings:

Phrase	Meaning
”A is to the left of B”	A’s position number < B’s position number
”A is immediately left of B”	A = B - 1
”A is second to the left of B”	A = B - 2
”A is between B and C”	B and C on either side of A (not necessarily adjacent)
“A is sitting adjacent to B”	A’s position = B’s position ± 1
”A is facing B”	In linear facing North: A’s right = B’s left = face toward

Circular Arrangement Rules:

For persons around a circle facing centre:

• Your left-hand neighbour is the person clockwise from you
• Your right-hand neighbour is the person anticlockwise from you
• “A is to the left of B” → going clockwise from B reaches A

For persons around a circle facing outward:

• Your left-hand neighbour is anticlockwise from you
• Reverse the direction logic

Double Row Arrangements:

Two rows of persons facing each other:

• Persons in row 1 face South (towards row 2)
• Persons in row 2 face North (towards row 1)
• Each person in row 1 faces the person directly opposite in row 2
• “A’s neighbour” is the person adjacent in the same row

Circular Problem-Solving:

1. Draw the circle and mark 12 o’clock, 3 o’clock, 6 o’clock, 9 o’clock positions
2. Place the person with most constraints
3. Use clockwise/anticlockwise directions carefully
4. If facing centre: “to the left” means moving clockwise

⚡ SSC CGL-Specific Tip: In circular arrangements with facing direction, be very careful. If facing centre, when I say “A is to the left of B,” from B’s perspective, A is clockwise from B (since facing centre, left = clockwise). But some questions assume all look at centre. Read the exact phrasing.

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing “to the left of” with “immediately to the left of”
• Not accounting for facing direction in linear arrangements
• Mixing up clockwise vs anticlockwise in circular arrangements
• Forgetting that “between” means one on each side, not just one somewhere nearby

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🔴 Extended — Deep Study (3mo+)

Comprehensive coverage for students on a longer study timeline.

Complex Conditional Logic:

When multiple conditions interact: Example: “A is to the left of B. B is to the left of C. D is between C and E. E is at one end.” Solution approach:

1. A < B < C (in terms of position)
2. D is between C and E, so either C-D-E or E-D-C
3. E is at an end, so either position 1 or 5 (if 5 persons)

Using positions:

• Let positions = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
• E at position 1 or 5
• Try E=1: Then C-D-E gives sequence D-C-E with E=1, but C and D need positions
• E=5: C-D-E with C and D at positions 3,4 and E=5 → D=4, C=3
• A and B fill positions 1,2 with A < B < C=3 → A=1, B=2 or A=2, B=1
• But E is at position 5, so A, B must be at 1 and 2
• A < B → A=1, B=2 works
• Final: A=1, B=2, C=3, D=4, E=5

Row Reversal in Linear Arrangements:

Sometimes a question says “if everyone changes sides” or similar. When the row reverses:

• Position 1 becomes position n, position 2 becomes position n-1, etc.
• “Left” and “Right” relationships swap

Inequality-Based Reasoning:

Sometimes sitting arrangement is combined with inequality logic: “People with different heights arranged in order based on conditions”

Treat height order as another dimension alongside position.

Multi-Building/Precinct Arrangements:

More complex arrangements have multiple groups:

• Group 1 in one building, Group 2 in another
• Conditions linking members of different groups
• Solve each group separately first, then connect by cross-group conditions

Blood Relation Additions:

In blood relation + sitting arrangement:

• “A is father of B who is sitting…”
• Use relationship to add constraints
• Father must be older, so position logic still applies

Sample SSC CGL Questions:

Q1: Six friends A, B, C, D, E, F are standing in a row facing North. A is between D and F. B is next to E. C is at one end. F is next to A. Who is at the other end? Solution:

• “C is at one end” → position 1 or 6
• “A is between D and F” → D-A-F or F-A-D (consecutive positions)
• “F is next to A” → F and A are adjacent
• From D-A-F consecutive: positions are D=1, A=2, F=3 (or reverse)
• F is next to A, and C is at an end
• C would be at position 4, 5, or 6
• “B is next to E” → B and E adjacent
• If A=2, F=3, then F is not at an end
• Working backwards: positions 1, 6 remain for C and end
• A between D and F means A is in middle of three consecutive: D-A-F or F-A-D
• If A is 2, then D=1 and F=3 (D-A-F)
• B next to E: possible positions 4,5,6 but position 6 is an end
• B and E adjacent: B=4, E=5 or B=5, E=4
• Check: C at one end… remaining positions 4,5,6 → C=6 (other end)
• Answer: C is at the other end

Q2: Six persons P, Q, R, S, T, U are sitting around a circle facing centre. P is between T and R. Q is between U and S. T is to the right of R. Who is facing who? Solution:

• Facing centre means left = clockwise
• P between T and R: T-P-R or R-P-T (consecutive)
• T is to the right of R: T clockwise from R
• So R-P-T order clockwise
• Q between U and S: U-Q-S or S-Q-U clockwise
• T is right of R means T clockwise from R
• R-P-T consecutive clockwise
• Q between U and S means these three are consecutive
• Possible arrangement: Start with R at 12 o’clock
• Going clockwise: R, P, T, (next), (next), (next)
• Q is between U and S → place U-Q-S consecutively
• They can replace the three remaining slots in two ways
• After placing R-P-T, the U-Q-S must fit in remaining 3 slots clockwise
• So clockwise: R, P, T, U, Q, S (or R, P, T, S, Q, U)
• Check T right of R: T clockwise from R ✓
• Who faces whom: Opposite persons in circle of 6 (180° apart)
• P faces U or S, R faces Q or U, T faces S or Q
• Need more info to determine exact facing

⚡ Advanced Tip: For circular arrangements of 6 people facing centre, opposite positions are 3 apart (if numbered clockwise: 1-4, 2-5, 3-6). In questions without a diagram, use this rule: Person at position k faces position k+3. Also remember that “to the left” of a person in a circle facing centre means moving clockwise.

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