Anisha has done MBA in Marketing from NMIMS And Executive Management(PMNO) from Harvard Business School. She has been instrumental in growing CATKing Digital with her experience with Marico and Henkel in the past.
Seating Arrangement: Basic Concepts for CAT Exam
The Common Admission Test (CAT) is one of the most competitive MBA entrance exams in India. Within the Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation (LRDI) section of CAT, the Seating Arrangement topic plays a significant role. On average, aspirants can expect around 5–6 questions from this area, making it essential for overall performance.
Importance of Seating Arrangement in CAT
The LRDI section constitutes approximately 30% of the total CAT exam, and seating arrangement questions test your analytical and logical thinking capabilities. Based on previous year papers, questions from this topic are frequently asked and hold substantial weight.
To solve these effectively, candidates must:
Understand the meaning of each statement.
Derive logical conclusions.
Use diagrams or tables for visualizing arrangements.
Eliminate incorrect options smartly.
Types of Seating Arrangements in CAT
Seating arrangement questions in CAT are presented in various formats:
1. Linear Arrangement
People or objects are arranged in a straight line.
Direction (left/right) plays a vital role.
2. Circular Arrangement
Individuals are seated around a circular or round table.
There are two common directions:
Facing the center
Facing outwards
👉 Explore Our CATKing CAT Courses
3. Rectangular/Square Arrangement
People are seated around a square or rectangular table.
Direction is either toward the center or outward.
4. Complex Arrangement
Questions include multiple properties (e.g., names, colors, items).
Can be solved using table formation or matrix tabulation techniques.
Common Assumptions
Unless stated, assume the top of the page as North.
Left/right orientation must be judged based on facing direction.
Real-World Example (Seating in a Photograph)
Scenario: Five friends—Deepthi, Bhagya, Ramya, Sushil, and Akash—request Sugjna to take their photo.
Bhagya is always in the middle of Ramya and Deepti.
Ramya stands next to Sushil.
There is no girl between two boys.
Akash has no one on his left.
Actual arrangement: Deepti - Bhagya - Ramya - Sushil - Akash
Photograph view (mirror flipped): Akash appears at the leftmost end, Deepti at the rightmost.
Understanding left-right inversion is key when solving photo-based questions.
Sample Complex Arrangement Question
Question: Five people (Amit, Bharati, Cheryl, Deepak, Eric) wear different colored caps and eat different dishes.
Red cap = pastries
Amit = blue cap
Cheryl = sandwiches
Bharati = yellow cap
Eric = pizza, not green cap
Amit ≠ice cream
Solution using tabular format:
| Name | Cap | Dish |
|---|---|---|
| Amit | Blue | Burger |
| Bharati | Yellow | Ice Cream |
| Cheryl | Green | Sandwiches |
| Deepak | Red | Pastries |
| Eric | White | Pizza |
Solved Examples
Example 1: Who cannot be seated at either end?
Options: C, D, F, G
Answer: F
Example 2: Six people are seated in a circle. After certain exchanges, who sits to the left of Dhiraj?
Answer: Suresh
Practice Problem
Question: Gargi’s family (7 members) sits at a round table. Use given clues to solve roles, seating, and professions.
Who is the Professor?
How many members sit between the Businessperson and Professor?
If B is a Doctor, then who is A?
Try solving this using a matrix/table format.
Need Help with Logical Reasoning?
Want to improve your accuracy and speed in LRDI?
👉 Explore Our CATKing CAT Courses for comprehensive coverage of all logical reasoning topics including Seating Arrangement, Puzzles, Data Interpretation, and more.
Unlock detailed mock tests, concept videos, expert mentoring, and personalized preparation strategies.
Prepare smart, solve faster, and aim for the IIMs!
