CAT stands for common aptitude test. CAT Seating Arrangement is important and useful in logical section. An aspirants could except 5 to 6 questions from this topic. As Logical reasoning section contain a total of 20 questions and out of that few questions are from Seating Arrangement. A Logical Reasoning & Data Interpretation contains 30% weightage in CAT exam.

Questions from this section are frequently asked as per pervious paper analysis. To solve the questions based on Seating Arrangement in CAT, candidates first have to understand the meaning of statements then move for the conclusions and after that mark the answer. Seating arrangement questions requires a candidate to develop a logical approach towards solving questions.

We can solve Seating arrangement questions. Read the article to know more about some tricks, important formulas, and solved sample questions. Generally, CAT Seating Arrangement questions are asked in the format of the row, circular table, rectangular table, parallel lines, etc.

Also read: How to Prepare for CAT

Meaning of Seating Arrangement for CAT exam

The basic concept of Seating Arrangement is that candidates have to arrange information based on logical assumptions. This skill would be extremely useful in management situations, where candidates have to handle many such situations. Here are all the important subtypes of this type of question.

In logical reasoning, when a piece of information is given about a group of people and the manner in which they are seated, such an arrangement is called a seating arrangement. This skill is highly acceptable in any type of management situation, where you have to handle multiple problems at a time.

Types Of Seating Arrangement questions in CAT exam.

Here are all the important subtypes of this type of question -

• Assumptions: Always assume that the direction at the top part of the page is north unless specified and the same holds for all the directions.
• Linear Arrangement: The arrangement of people or objects in any direction is Linear Arrangement.
• Circular Arrangement: Arrangement would be in the shape of a circle.
• Seating Arrangement in Photos
• Complex Arrangement: Complex arrangements are similar to other types but they generally have multiple elements. They can be either table or matric arrangements.

Linear Arrangement Questions for CAT

The objects are placed around a square or rectangular table in these questions. The direction of the people is either towards the centre or away from the table. Thereby, the direction can be understood in the following way.

Assumptions Questions for CAT

1. Unless specified the direction at the top page is always assumed as North.
2. The right side of the page is the viewer’s left side and vice versa.

Circular Arrangement Questions for CAT

The objects are placed around a circle or a round table in these questions. There are only two possible directions of placing them: facing the centre and facing away from the centre. The following figure should help you understand better.

There are two types of circular arrangement:

1. Facing the center: In this arrangement, every object or a person in the arrangement will be facing the center of the circle.
2. Facing outwards: In this arrangement, every object or a person in the arrangement will be facing outwards.

Seating arrangement in a photograph

For example 1: How different is the seating arrangement in actual and in the picture?

Five friends Deepthi, Bhagya, Ramya, Sushil, and Akash request Sugjna, their friend, to take their photograph. Bhagya, who is an attention seeker, is always in the middle of Ramya and Deepti. So There is no one to the left of Aka

sh. Ramya always stands next to Sushil. There is no girl between two boys. Who is at the extreme right end in the photograph?

Solution: The seating arrangement in actual would be Deepti- Bhagya-Ramya-Sushil, and Akash. But when the photograph of the above arrangement is taken a right and left references are changed. Since the photograph is held in front of us. The viewer’s right will be the photograph’s left, and the photograph’s right would be the viewer’s left. Hence, Deepti will be at the extreme right end in the photograph.

Complex Arrangement Questions for CAT

Complex arrangements are very similar to linear arrangement problems in terms of arrangement and properties. But unlike linear arrangement, where the objects had only one property – their positioning, objects in the complex arrangement have multiple properties.

Hence, There are two methods to solve the problem:

1. Table Formation: The data is tabulated to match the properties based on the logical conditions provided in the questions.
2. Matric Tabulation: The Properties are matched in the form of a matrix with the help of symbols and special characters to solve the questions.

Among both the methods, the number of rows and columns depends on the complexity and the number of properties in the questions.

Given below is an example of complex seating arrangement:

For example 2: Amit, Bharati, Cheryl, Deepak, and Eric are five friends sitting in a restaurant. They are wearing caps of five different colours — yellow, blue, green, white and red. Also, they are eating five different snacks. For example burgers, sandwiches, ice cream, pastries, and pizza.

1. The person wearing a red cap is eating pastries.
2. Amit does not eat ice cream, and Cheryl is eating sandwiches.
3. Bharati is wearing a yellow cap and Amit wearing a blue cap.
4. Eric is eating pizza and is not wearing a green cap.

Solution: There are five people in the scenario. And each person is associated with two properties. For instance those are Colour of the caps, and the dish they are eating. Hence the tabulation method is easier to apply.

Hence, The properties can be tabular form as it is shows in the given information.

We know that a person wearing a red cap is eating pastries. So There is only one place possible in the table to fit this combination. Therefore the person will be Deepak.

We also know that Eric is not wearing a green cap. Hence, the one who is wearing a green cap should be Cheryl. Since Amith does not eat Ice Cream, it should be Bharati who is eating it. That leaves us with the fact that Amith should be eating burgers. As that’s the only dish left. And hence, Eric should be wearing a white cap.

Video’s that could help aspirant.

Solved Examples for CAT

For example 1: Which of the following cannot be seated at either end?

1. C
2. D
3. F
4. G

Solution: According to given conditions we can conclude ,

Hence , F cannot be seated at either end.

For Example 2 : 6 people are playing a card game sitting around a circular table. Suresh is facing Raghubir, who is to the left of Ajay and to the right of Pramod. Ajay is to the left of Dhiraj. Yogendra is to the left of Pramod. If Dhiraj exchanges his seat with Yogendra and Pramod exchanges with Raghubir, so find out who will be sitting to the left of Dhiraj?

1. Yogendra
2. Raghubir
3. Suresh
4. Ajay

Answer: C

Solution: The correct original circular arrangement sequence in a clockwise manner in Suresh, Dhiraj, Ajay, Raghubir, Pramod, Yogendra. So, after the changes, Suresh will be to the left of Dhiraj.

Practice questions

Answer the questions based on the information provided.

In Gargi’s family, there are 7 members A, B, C, D, E, F and G other than her consisting of Mother, Father, Brother, Sister, Uncle, Grandfather and Grandmother. They are Doctor, Professor, Director, Actor, Minister, Business Person and Artist by profession not necessarily in the same order. Gargi is a Manager of a leading restaurant and invites the family to her restaurant having round tables for seating to have dinner. The family members select a table for dinner while Gargi is on duty. Few other details are :