Logical Reasoning for Olympiads: 10 Question Types Every Class 1–5 Child Should Know

Whichever Olympiad your child takes (IMO, NSO or NCO), the paper opens with a Logical Reasoning section. It is the section where practice makes the biggest difference, because the same 10 or so question types come up again and again. Here they are, each with a worked example.

1. Number series

What comes next? 3, 6, 9, 12, __
Answer: 15 (add 3 each time). Harder series have growing gaps, like 2, 5, 10, 17 (gaps of 3, 5, 7).

2. Letter series

A, C, E, G, __
Answer: I (skip one letter each time).

3. Odd one out

9, 16, 25, 30, 36. Which doesn't belong?
Answer: 30. All the others are square numbers (3×3, 4×4, 5×5, 6×6).

4. Classification

Apple, Mango, Potato, Banana. Which is different?
Answer: Potato. It's a vegetable, and the rest are fruits.

5. Analogies

Bird : Nest :: Bee : ?
Answer: Hive (where each one lives).

6. Coding–decoding

If CAT is written as DBU, how is DOG written?
Answer: EPH. Each letter moves one step forward in the alphabet.

7. Direction sense

Asha walks 5 metres north, then turns right and walks 3 metres. Which direction is she facing now?
Answer: East. Turning right from north means facing east.

8. Ranking and position

In a row of 15 children, Kabir is 6th from the left. What is his position from the right?
Answer: 10th (15 − 6 + 1 = 10).

9. Alphabet position

Which letter is 3rd to the right of the 10th letter of the English alphabet?
Answer: M. The 10th letter is J, and three more steps gives K, L, M.

10. Mirror images and patterns

Which of these letters looks the same in a mirror placed beside it? B, H, K, R
Answer: H. Letters like A, H, M, O, T, U, V, W, X and Y are symmetric left-to-right.

How to practise reasoning with a young child

• Make them explain the rule out loud. "Add 3 each time" is the real skill; the answer is just the proof.
• Five questions a day is plenty. Reasoning improves with regular short practice, not long sessions.
• Use real life: directions on the way to school, the order of children in a queue, patterns on a tiled floor.
• Mix the types. On exam day, questions don't come grouped by type, so practice shouldn't either.

See how reasoning fits into each paper: IMO 2026-27 · NSO 2026-27 · all Olympiads for Classes 1–5.

Practise for free with Brain & Bounce Kids

Brain & Bounce Kids has an Olympiad-ready Logical Reasoning track (Puzzle Planet) covering patterns, odd one out, matching and classification for Grades 1–5. It's short daily practice that adapts as your child gets better.

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Brain & Bounce Kids is an independent practice app and is not affiliated with the Science Olympiad Foundation (SOF). Exam dates and patterns are from SOF's published 2026-27 schedule. Please confirm the exact date with your child's school Olympiad coordinator or at sofworld.org.