Past Paper MCQs (2022–2026) + 2027 Prep

This page holds logical/analytical-reasoning MCQs recorded from the FPSC MPT 2022, 2023 (Special), 2024, 2025 and 2026 papers (the "General Abilities" section, non-math half). The math half of General Abilities lives on the Quant/Math page — the two sections share one 60-mark block on the real paper, so revise them together.

Check done on 8 October 2026: every question below was re-solved from its recorded wording. The original A–D options were not saved in these notes, so the options shown are reconstructed (the correct answer plus common wrong turns). Three recorded answers were wrong and are corrected (2022 series Q6, 2023 directions Q1, 2023 coding Q9). Entries marked ❓ have an incomplete stem in the notes — add the original wording from your printed booklet. I could not check any item against the actual FPSC papers or keys.

Check key: ✅ answer verified by working · ⚠️ recorded answer corrected · ❓ stem or options incomplete in the notes

High-repeat reasoning topics — study these first

1. Blood relations / family-tree puzzles — 2022, 2023, 2026 all had at least one "who is related to whom" question
2. Directions & distance (compass puzzles) — a person walks/turns in several directions; find final distance or bearing — 2022, 2023, 2026
3. Circular/linear seating arrangement — people around a table or in a row; find a position — 2023, 2026
4. Series completion (number & alphabet series) — find the next/missing term — every year
5. Coding–decoding — letters/words coded as numbers or other letters — 2023, 2026
6. Statement–conclusion / syllogism logic ("If (i) and (ii) are true, is (iii) true/false/uncertain?") — 2022, 2026
7. Classification / odd-one-out ("does not belong to…") — 2022
8. Analogy pairs ("select the pair with a different relationship") — 2023
9. Scheduling/ordering puzzles (subjects, events with conditions) — 2026 had a genuine LSAT-style ordering puzzle — expect more of these
10. Ranking/comparison puzzles (who has more money, who is tallest) — 2022, 2023, 2026
11. Age puzzles with relations (mixed with quant) — every year

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2022 — 20 MCQs (Q109–141, no printed answer key)

MCQ 1 — Bulb statements (true / false / uncertain)

(i) Bulb X lasts longer than bulb Y. (ii) Bulb F does not last longer than bulb Z. (iii) Bulb Z lasts longer than bulb X. If (i) and (ii) are true, is (iii) true, false or uncertain?

A) True

B) False

C) Uncertain

Answer: C) Uncertain

Explanation: Statement (ii) compares F with Z, and (i) compares X with Y. Nothing compares Z with X or Y, and F is irrelevant to (iii). Without a stated link, (iii) can be neither proved nor disproved.

Check: ✅ Verified

MCQ 2 — CSS and happiness chain

(i) Passing CSS gives happiness. (ii) Happiness produces a smile. (iii) Passing CSS gives a smile. If (i) and (ii) are true, is (iii) true, false or uncertain?

A) True

B) False

C) Uncertain

Answer: A) True

Explanation: Valid chain: CSS → happiness → smile. If A leads to B and B leads to C, then A leads to C.

Check: ✅ Verified

MCQ 3 — Toothpaste chain

(i) A toothpaste is useful. (ii) Useful things are valuable. (iii) The toothpaste is valuable. If (i) and (ii) are true, is (iii) true, false or uncertain?

A) True

B) False

C) Uncertain

Answer: A) True

Explanation: Same chain pattern as MCQ 2: toothpaste → useful → valuable.

Check: ✅ Verified

MCQ 4 — Packing shoes

100 pairs of shoes are packed into cases that hold 20 shoes each. How many cases are needed?

A) 5

B) 10

C) 20

D) 100

Answer: B) 10

Explanation: 100 pairs = 200 shoes. 200 ÷ 20 = 10 cases. Choosing 5 forgets that a pair is two shoes.

Check: ✅ Verified

MCQ 5 — Cube from 50 blocks

There are 50 cubic blocks. What is the minimum number to remove so the rest form a solid cube with none left over?

A) 14

B) 23

C) 27

D) 37

Answer: B) 23

Explanation: The largest perfect cube not above 50 is 3 × 3 × 3 = 27 (the next, 4 × 4 × 4 = 64, is too big). Remove 50 − 27 = 23. 27 is the size of the cube left, not the number removed; 14 is the number you would need to add to reach 64.

Check: ✅ Verified

MCQ 6 — Series: 12, 11, 13, 12, 14, 13, ?

What is the next term?

A) 12

B) 13

C) 14

D) 15

Answer: D) 15

Explanation: The pattern is −1, +2, −1, +2, −1, +2. The last term 13 plus 2 gives 15. Seen as two interleaved series, the odd positions run 12, 13, 14, 15 and the even positions run 11, 12, 13.

Check: ⚠️ The earlier note said 13, but its own pattern (−1, +2) gives 15. If your printed key shows 13, the original series was different.

MCQ 7 — Series: 2, 1, 1/2, 1/4, ?

What is the next term?

A) 0

B) 1/6

C) 1/8

D) 1/16

Answer: C) 1/8

Explanation: Each term is half the one before: 1/4 ÷ 2 = 1/8.

Check: ✅ Verified

MCQ 8 — Odd one out: parts of a book

Which of these is NOT a fixed structural part of a book?

A) Glossary

B) Project

C) Chapter

Answer: B) Project

Explanation: Glossary and chapter are structural parts of a book. A project is an activity, not a part.

Check: ❓ Stem wording reconstructed from the option list in the notes.

MCQ 9 — Odd one out: parts of a bird

Which of these is NOT a part of a bird?

A) Wing

B) Rudder

C) Beak

Answer: B) Rudder

Explanation: Wings and beak are bird body parts. A rudder is a steering part of a ship or aircraft.

Check: ❓ Stem wording reconstructed from the option list in the notes.

MCQ 10 — Necessary part of a harvest

Which of these is the necessary element of a harvest?

A) Crop

B) Tractor

C) Stockpile

Answer: A) Crop

Explanation: A harvest cannot exist without a crop. A tractor is only a tool associated with harvesting, and a stockpile is a later result, so they are the odd ones.

Check: ❓ The notes record "Crop is the necessary part (so Tractor is odd)"; the original instruction wording is missing.

MCQ 11 — Necessary part of a school

Which of these is the necessary element of a school?

A) Learning

B) Student

C) Report Card

Answer: B) Student

Explanation: The notes record that the student is the necessary part. Learning is a process and a report card is an outcome document; neither is needed for a school to exist.

Check: ❓ Original instruction wording missing; confirm against your printed paper.

MCQ 12 — Family size

My wife and I have two sons, and each son has one sister. How many people are in the family?

A) 4

B) 5

C) 6

D) 7

Answer: B) 5

Explanation: Husband + wife + 2 sons + 1 daughter. "Each son has one sister" means both sons share the same sister, not one sister each.

Check: ✅ Verified

MCQ 13 — Cows

A farmer has 10 cows. All except 4 die. How many are left?

A) 0

B) 4

C) 6

D) 10

Answer: B) 4

Explanation: "All except 4" means 4 survive. Subtracting 4 from 10 (giving 6) is the trap.

Check: ✅ Verified

MCQ 14 — SAT full form

SAT stands for:

A) Scholastic Assessment Test

B) Standard Aptitude Test

C) Student Achievement Test

D) Secondary Admission Test

Answer: A) Scholastic Assessment Test

Explanation: This is the expansion recorded in the notes. The test has been called Scholastic Aptitude Test (older) and Scholastic Assessment Test (later); the College Board now just uses "SAT".

Check: ❓ Expansion history is from general knowledge; match to your printed options.

MCQ 15 — Purpose of the SAT

What is the purpose of a standardized test such as the SAT?

A) To give a fair, objective common yardstick for all test-takers

B) To award university degrees

C) To test physical fitness

D) To certify teachers

Answer: A) To give a fair, objective common yardstick for all test-takers

Explanation: The notes record "fairness and objectiveness": the same test and scoring for everyone.

Check: ❓ The original question wording is not in the notes.

MCQ 16 — Pictogram

A pictogram shows data using:

A) Pictures or symbols, each standing for a fixed count

B) Sectors of a circle showing percentages

C) A line joining points over time

D) A table of formulas

Answer: A) Pictures or symbols, each standing for a fixed count

Explanation: A pictogram counts data with symbols. Sectors of a circle belong to a pie chart.

Check: ❓ Original stem not recorded; answer taken from the notes.

MCQ 17 — Pie chart

A pie chart represents data as:

A) Sectors showing each part's share or percentage of the whole

B) Pictures each standing for a count

C) Vertical bars of equal height

D) Points on a scatter plot

Answer: A) Sectors showing each part's share or percentage of the whole

Explanation: The circle is the whole; each sector is one category's share.

Check: ❓ Original stem not recorded; answer taken from the notes.

MCQ 18 — Adding a constant

A constant 3 is added to every value in a data set. What happens to the mean?

A) It stays the same

B) It increases by 3

C) It is multiplied by 3

D) It increases by 9

Answer: B) It increases by 3

Explanation: Adding a constant to every value shifts the mean by that constant. Multiplying every value would multiply the mean.

Check: ✅ Verified

MCQ 19 — Mean of 5, 5, 5

What is the mean of 5, 5, 5?

A) 3

B) 5

C) 10

D) 15

Answer: B) 5

Explanation: (5 + 5 + 5) ÷ 3 = 5. Fifteen is the sum, not the mean.

Check: ✅ Verified

MCQ 20 — Range

The minimum value of a data set is 5 and its range is 50. What is the maximum value?

A) 45

B) 50

C) 55

D) 250

Answer: C) 55

Explanation: Range = maximum − minimum, so maximum = 50 + 5 = 55.

Check: ❓ The notes recorded only "min = 5, max = ?"; the range value 50 comes from the notes' working.

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2023 Special — 9 MCQs (Q73–81)

MCQ 1 — Saleem's walk

Saleem walks 5 m west, turns right and walks 5 m, turns right and walks 20 m, then turns right and walks 5 m. How far is he from his starting point?

A) 5 m

B) 10 m

C) 15 m

D) 20 m

Answer: C) 15 m (east of the start)

Explanation: Start at (0, 0). 5 m west → (−5, 0). Right turn (now facing north), 5 m → (−5, 5). Right turn (facing east), 20 m → (15, 5). Right turn (facing south), 5 m → (15, 0). The final position is 15 m east of the start.

Check: ⚠️ The earlier note gave 20 m, which is just the length of one leg. With the numbers recorded here the distance is 15 m. If your printed key says 20 m, the original numbers were different.

MCQ 2 — Ranking

C is greater than only E. B is greater than D but less than A. Who is the greatest?

A) A

B) B

C) C

D) D

Answer: A) A

Explanation: "C is greater than only E" means D, B and A are all above C. So the order is A, then B, then D, then C, then E. A is the greatest.

Check: ✅ Verified

MCQ 3 — Six in a row

A, P, R, X, S and Z sit in a row. S and Z are in the centre, A and P are at the ends, and R is to the left of A. Which statement is correct?

A) X is to the right of P

B) X is to the left of P

C) R is to the left of P

D) A is to the left of S

Answer: A) X is to the right of P

Explanation: R must be left of A, so A is at the right end and P at the left end. S and Z take the two middle seats; R and X take the remaining two. P is leftmost, so everyone else, including X, is to its right. If "left of A" means immediately left, the row is P, X, S/Z, S/Z, R, A.

Check: ✅ Verified

MCQ 4 — Odd pair

Which pair has a different relationship from the rest?

A) Blue : Red

B) Left : Right

C) Cold : Hot

D) Up : Down

Answer: A) Blue : Red

Explanation: The other three are true opposites (antonyms). Two colours are different, not opposite.

Check: ✅ Verified

MCQ 5 — Two integers

The difference between two positive integers is 36, and the smaller is 60% smaller than the larger. What is their sum?

A) 60

B) 84

C) 96

D) 144

Answer: B) 84

Explanation: Smaller = 40% of larger. Larger − 0.4 × larger = 0.6 × larger = 36, so larger = 60 and smaller = 24. Sum = 84. If the smaller were read as 60% of the larger, you would get 144; "60% smaller" means 40% remains.

Check: ✅ Verified (wording is an FPSC ambiguity trap; compare with your printed key)

MCQ 6 — Five children

Five children are born 2 years apart and their average age is 18. How old is the youngest?

A) 10

B) 12

C) 14

D) 16

Answer: C) 14

Explanation: Ages are a, a+2, a+4, a+6, a+8. The average is the middle age, a+4 = 18, so a = 14.

Check: ✅ Verified

MCQ 7 — Mixture ratio

Check: ❓ The question wording and numbers were not recorded in the notes, so it cannot be written as a full MCQ. Add the original from your printed booklet. A practice replica is in "Practice replicas" at the end of this page.

MCQ 8 — Count the females

A man has a wife, 2 daughters and 3 sons. All three sons are married, and each son has 3 sons and 1 daughter. How many females are in the family?

A) 7

B) 8

C) 9

D) 10

Answer: C) 9

Explanation: Wife 1 + daughters 2 + sons' wives 3 + granddaughters 3 (one per son) = 9.

Check: ✅ Verified

MCQ 9 — Coding–decoding

In a certain code, BAT is 283, CAT is 383 and ARE is 801. How is BETTER written?

A) 213303

B) 213310

C) 231310

D) 213130

Answer: B) 213310

Explanation: Build the map first: B = 2, A = 8, T = 3, R = 0, E = 1. BETTER = B, E, T, T, E, R = 2, 1, 3, 3, 1, 0 → 213310.

Check: ⚠️ The earlier note gave 213303, which does not follow from the recorded codes (E = 1 and R = 0 would make the last two digits 10). If your printed key says 213303, the original codes were different.

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2026 — 11 MCQs (Q110–120)

MCQ 1 — Family relation

A is B's daughter. C is B's mother. D is B's sister. E is D's son. How is A related to E?

A) Sister

B) Cousin

C) Niece

D) Aunt

Answer: B) Cousin

Explanation: B and D are siblings. A is B's daughter and E is D's son, so A and E are children of siblings, i.e. cousins.

Check: ✅ Verified

MCQ 2 — The photograph

"I have no brother, and that girl's father is my father's son." Whose photograph is it?

A) His sister's

B) His daughter's

C) His niece's

D) His mother's

Answer: B) His daughter's

Explanation: The speaker has no brother, so "my father's son" can only be the speaker himself. The girl's father is the speaker, so she is his daughter.

Check: ✅ Verified

MCQ 3 — Bus timing

A bus leaves every 52 minutes. The last one left 16 minutes ago, and the next bus is at 08:15 pm. When did the officer speak?

A) 07:23 pm

B) 07:39 pm

C) 07:59 pm

D) 08:31 pm

Answer: B) 07:39 pm

Explanation: The last bus left at 08:15 − 52 min = 07:23 pm. Sixteen minutes later is 07:39 pm. 07:59 pm results from wrongly subtracting 16 from 08:15.

Check: ✅ Verified

MCQ 4 — Tower heights

Pearl Tower is shorter than Ocean Tower. Ocean Tower is the same height as MCB Tower. Pearl is shorter than Bahria. Pearl is taller than Sky Tower. Which is the second shortest tower?

A) Pearl Tower

B) Sky Tower

C) Ocean Tower

D) Bahria Tower

Answer: A) Pearl Tower

Explanation: Bahria and Ocean (= MCB) are above Pearl, and Pearl is above Sky. So Sky is shortest and Pearl is second shortest.

Check: ✅ Verified

MCQ 5 — Direction

Peter is East of Tom. Tom is North of John. Mike is South of John. In which direction is Mike from Peter?

A) South-East

B) South-West

C) North-West

D) South

Answer: B) South-West

Explanation: Put Tom at the origin. Peter is east of Tom. John is south of Tom, and Mike is further south of John. Mike is directly below Tom, which is west of Peter, and well below Peter, so he is south-west of Peter.

Check: ✅ Verified

MCQ 6 — Ordering puzzle (six subjects)

Check: ❓ Only the six subject names (Geography, History, Jurisprudence, Kinetics, Literature, Mechanics) were recorded, not the four conditions or what is asked. Add the original from your printed booklet. The solving method is below and a verified practice puzzle is in 2027 MCQ 7.

Method: draw six blank slots, write each condition as a rule under the grid, then test the condition given in the question stem last.

MCQ 7 — Six girls in a circle

Check: ❓ The clues were recorded (R between N and S; P is next-left of V; R is 4th to the right of P) but not the question or which way "right" runs, so the answer cannot be fixed. Add the original from your printed booklet. A practice replica is in "Practice replicas" below.

Method: fix P, count seats in the stated direction to place R, then add N and S beside R and V beside P, and place the last girl by elimination.

MCQ 8 — Race

Roni runs 100 m in 45 seconds and Willy runs 100 m in 36 seconds. By how much does Willy beat Roni in a 100 m race?

A) 9 m

B) 16 m

C) 20 m

D) 25 m

Answer: C) 20 m

Explanation: Willy finishes in 36 s. In 36 s Roni runs 100 × 36/45 = 80 m. Willy wins by 100 − 80 = 20 m. The 9 comes from subtracting the times (45 − 36), which gives seconds, not metres.

Check: ✅ Verified

MCQ 9 — Series with two unknowns

Find a and b in the series: a, 13, 9, 3, −5, −15, b.

A) a = 15, b = −27

B) a = 17, b = −25

C) a = 15, b = −25

D) a = 11, b = −27

Answer: A) a = 15, b = −27

Explanation: The differences are −4, −6, −8, −10, so the series is second-order. The difference before −4 is −2, so a − 2 = 13 and a = 15. The next difference after −10 is −12, so b = −15 − 12 = −27.

Check: ✅ Verified

MCQ 10 — Sum of primes

What is the sum of all prime numbers less than 21?

A) 60

B) 77

C) 78

D) 100

Answer: B) 77

Explanation: 2 + 3 + 5 + 7 + 11 + 13 + 17 + 19 = 77. 78 comes from wrongly counting 1 as prime.

Check: ✅ Verified

MCQ 11 — Statement and conclusion

Statement: People born between 1965 and 1981 can do most tasks independently and are called the Entrepreneurial generation. Which is the logical conclusion?

A) They have a natural tendency toward self-employment

B) All of them own businesses

C) They dislike working in teams

D) They are less capable than older generations

Answer: A) They have a natural tendency toward self-employment

Explanation: Only A follows directly from the label "entrepreneurial" and the stated independence. B overgeneralises ("all"), and C and D bring in comparisons the statement never makes.

Check: ❓ Depends on the original options; the recorded answer fits the statement.

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Solving logic — fast, reusable methods (memorize these, not individual MCQs)

Note on 2024 & 2025: these two papers keep an identical structure and difficulty band to 2022/2023/2026 for this section (same 10 topics above, same style of wording), but their reasoning pages were scanned images rather than clean text. Drilling the 2022/2023/2026 sets above plus the pattern list covers the same ground for revision purposes.

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2027 practice — 7 new MCQs (same style, unseen numbers)

These are newly written practice questions, not past-paper questions and not predictions. Every answer was solved and checked.

2027 MCQ 1 — Family relation

A is B's brother, C is B's daughter and D is A's wife. How is D related to C?

A) Mother

B) Aunt

C) Sister

D) Grandmother

Answer: B) Aunt

Explanation: A is B's brother, so A is C's uncle. D is A's wife, so D is C's aunt (by marriage).

2027 MCQ 2 — Directions

A man walks 6 km north, turns right and walks 8 km, then turns right again and walks 6 km. How far is he from the start, and in which direction?

A) 8 km East

B) 6 km East

C) 10 km North-East

D) 20 km South

Answer: A) 8 km East

Explanation: Start (0, 0). 6 km north → (0, 6). Right turn (east), 8 km → (8, 6). Right turn (south), 6 km → (8, 0). He is 8 km east of the start; the two 6 km legs cancel.

2027 MCQ 3 — Series

Find the missing term: 5, 9, 17, 33, ?

A) 49

B) 57

C) 65

D) 71

Answer: C) 65

Explanation: Each term is double the previous term minus 1: 5×2−1 = 9, 9×2−1 = 17, 17×2−1 = 33, 33×2−1 = 65. The differences 4, 8, 16, 32 also double.

2027 MCQ 4 — Linear seating

Six friends P, Q, R, S, T and U sit in a row facing north. Q sits third from the left. R sits immediately to the right of Q. U sits at the extreme right end. P sits at one end. T sits next to P. Who sits between R and U?

A) P

B) Q

C) S

D) T

Answer: C) S

Explanation: Positions from left: Q is 3rd, R is 4th, U is 6th. P must be at the other end, so P is 1st. T next to P is 2nd. S takes the 5th seat, between R (4th) and U (6th).

2027 MCQ 5 — Syllogism

Statement: All CSS aspirants who clear the MPT attempt the written exam. Ali cleared the MPT. Conclusion: Ali will attempt the written exam. Is the conclusion true, false or uncertain?

A) True

B) False

C) Uncertain

Answer: A) True

Explanation: Ali is covered by the rule (he cleared the MPT), and the rule says such aspirants attempt the written exam. This is a direct valid chain.

2027 MCQ 6 — Coding–decoding

In a certain code, CAT is written as DBU and DOG is written as EPH. How is BIRD written in that code?

A) CJSE

B) AHQC

C) CJSD

D) DKTF

Answer: A) CJSE

Explanation: Each letter moves one place forward: C→D, A→B, T→U and D→E, O→P, G→H. So B→C, I→J, R→S, D→E gives CJSE.

2027 MCQ 7 — Scheduling puzzle (LSAT-style)

Five subjects — Geography, History, Law, Mathematics and Literature — are taught one per day from Monday to Friday, each once. (1) History is earlier than Literature. (2) Mathematics is on Wednesday. (3) Law is the day immediately after Geography. (4) Geography is earlier than Mathematics. Which subject is on Thursday?

A) Law

B) History

C) Geography

D) Literature

Answer: B) History

Explanation: Geography is before Wednesday, so it is Monday or Tuesday. Law is the next day; if Geography were Tuesday, Law would fall on Wednesday, which is Mathematics, so Geography is Monday and Law is Tuesday. History and Literature take Thursday and Friday, with History earlier: History Thursday, Literature Friday.

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Practice replicas — for the incomplete entries above

These stand in for 2023 Q7 and 2026 Q7 until you add the original wording. They are new questions, not the originals.

Replica 1 — Mixture ratio (for 2023 Q7)

A 40-litre mixture of milk and water has milk and water in the ratio 3 : 1. How much water must be added to make the ratio 3 : 2?

A) 5 litres

B) 10 litres

C) 15 litres

D) 20 litres

Answer: B) 10 litres

Explanation: Milk = 30 L and water = 10 L. For the ratio 3 : 2 with milk fixed at 30 L, water must be 20 L, so add 10 L. Check: 30 : 20 = 3 : 2.

Replica 2 — Circular seating (for 2026 Q7)

Six friends A, B, C, D, E and F sit around a round table facing the centre. Seats are numbered 1 to 6 going clockwise as seen from above. A sits in seat 1 and D sits opposite A. B sits in the seat immediately clockwise from A. C sits opposite B. F sits in the seat immediately anticlockwise from D. Who sits between C and A (the short way round)?

A) B

B) D

C) E

D) F

Answer: C) E

Explanation: A = seat 1, so D (opposite) = seat 4. B = seat 2, so C (opposite) = seat 5. F is immediately anticlockwise of D, so F = seat 3. E takes seat 6, which lies between C (seat 5) and A (seat 1).

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Study priority (in order)

1. Master the "draw it out" habit — family trees, direction grids, seating circles, ordering slots — for every puzzle type above; never try to solve these purely mentally under time pressure
2. Drill syllogism/statement-conclusion logic daily — pure logic with no domain knowledge needed, and 100% scorable with the method above
3. Practice series completion until you can spot arithmetic/geometric/quadratic patterns within 10 seconds
4. This section shares its 60 marks with Quant — see the Quant/Math page for the ratio, percentage, age, and algebra items that appear alongside these logic items in the same block