Let’s be honest—when you hear the words Logical Reasoning, your brain probably imagines an unsolvable puzzle. Honestly, this section was a nightmare for me; it felt as if everyone understood the clues before Sherlock Holmes, and I could not understand even after watching the whole episode.

Now, if I get to the point, pattern recognition in LR is not about trial & error; it’s about being Sherlock Holmes with a side of Joey Tribbiani's confidence. You need to know how to spot relationships, transitions, and trends in data to crack these puzzles like a boss.

1. Spot the Sequence Like a Puzzle Master

Sequences are the simplest way CAT likes to mess with your head. But don’t worry, it’s all about small clues. Let’s take a common example:

Question: What is the next term in the series: 2, 6, 12, 20, 30, ___?

Solution Trick: Look at the differences between consecutive terms:

• 6 − 2 = 4
• 12 − 6 = 6
• 20 − 12 = 8
• 30 − 20 = 10

Do you see the pattern? The differences increase by +2. So, the next difference will be 12. Add it to the last term (30), and the next term will be 42.

A quick tip: Always look for common mathematical operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication) or patterns (increasing/decreasing order) when faced with sequences.

2. Crack the Odd One Out

These questions can feel like your mother’s organised closet—everything seems perfect until you zoom in. But here’s your golden mantra: Identify the rule first. Let’s look at an example:

Question: Which of these is the odd one out?

• (A) 121
• (B) 144
• (C) 169
• (D) 198

Solution Trick: Notice all the numbers except one are perfect squares:

• 121 = 112
• 144 = 122
• 169 = 132

But 198? Not a square. Boom! You found your oddball.

A quick tip: When hunting the odd one out, test numbers for square roots, cube roots, prime factors, or divisibility. Often, a sneaky detail will give the odd one away!

3. Visual Patterns: Don’t Overthink It

The biggest LR mistake? Overcomplicating diagrams! Imagine the exam is just trying to prank you, so you should focus on spotting the simplest patterns.

Visual reasoning is another exciting aspect of pattern recognition. Questions may present shapes or figures where you need to identify the next figure in a series. For example, if you see a series of triangles rotating clockwise and changing colours with each step, your task is to predict what comes next.

Practice: Use online resources or books with visual puzzles to sharpen your skills. The more you practice identifying visual patterns, the more intuitive it will become.

4.  Recognising Relationships

Another crucial technique is understanding relationships between different elements. For example, if you encounter a question that states: “A is taller than B, B is shorter than C, and C is shorter than D,” you can deduce the following relationship: D > A > B > C.

Exercise: Create your own relationship chains using different characteristics (height, age, etc.) and practice drawing conclusions based on them. This will enhance your ability to quickly visualise relationships during the exam.

Final Thoughts: Be the Pattern Prodigy

Pattern recognition is not rocket science; it's about quick observation and consistent practice. Solve past CAT questions, test your skills with puzzles, and time yourself. The more you practice, the faster patterns will pop out—like your Myntra sale alert!

Now, go on, sharpen those pattern-recognition skills and leave no puzzle unsolved in your CAT journey.