Preparation guide
IOCL Aptitude Questions
Overview
This page has IOCL aptitude questions with full solutions - numerical ability, verbal, and logical reasoning - in the style students report for the IOCL GATE-based Recruitment. Start with the timed mock quiz, then work the solved set and log every miss by topic.
IOCL Aptitude Mock Quiz
Timed placement-style MCQs with score and explanations after you submit. Use it to check speed and accuracy before the real test.
Quantitative
Reading Comprehension (2024 - Real Question)
According to the passage, a major consequence was a significant increase in urban populations due to migration for work opportunities.
Verbal
Problem: Choose the correct sentence: a) Neither the students nor the teacher were present b) Neither the students nor the teacher was present c) Neither the students or the teacher was present
With "neither...nor", the verb agrees with the subject closer to it. "Teacher" is singular, so "was" is correct.
Quantitative
Find the error: "Each of the students have completed their assignment."
"Each" is singular, so "has" should be used instead of "have", and "his or her" instead of "their".
Verbal
Choose correctly spelled word:
Correct spelling is Necessary.
Quantitative
A and B invest ₹5,000 and ₹7,000 respectively in a business. After 6 months, A withdraws ₹2,000. If the profit at the end of the year is ₹4,500, find B's share.
A's investment: 5000 × 6 + 3000 × 6 = 30,000 + 18,000 = 48,000 B's investment: 7000 × 12 = 84,000 Ratio = 48,000 : 84,000 = 4 : 7 B's share = 7/(4+7) × 4500 = 7/11 × 4500 = ₹2,863.64
Reasoning
Statements: 1) Some boxes are cars, 2) Some cars are roads Conclusions: I) Some roads are boxes, II) Some cars are boxes, III) No box is a road, IV) Some roads are cars.
Correct answer: Only II and IV follow
Reasoning
Find the next number: 1, 3, 6, 10, 15, ?
Correct answer: 21
Verbal
A person who speaks many languages is a:
Polyglot speaks several languages.
Reasoning
A walks 10m North, turns right walks 5m, turns right walks 10m. Direction from start?
Correct answer: East (5m east of starting point)
Quantitative
A 120 m train crosses a pole in 8 s. Speed in km/h is:
Speed = 120/8 = 15 m/s = 54 km/h.
Reasoning
Number Series - 37, 47, 58, ?, 79, 95
Correct answer: 70
Verbal
He _____ to school every day.
Singular present.
Quantitative
A number is first increased by 25% and then decreased by 20%. Find the net percentage change.
Let number = 100 After 25% increase: 100 + 25 = 125 After 20% decrease: 125 - 20% of 125 = 125 - 25 = 100 Net change = 0%
Reasoning
Find the next number: 5, 10, 20, 40, ?
×2 each → 80.
Quantitative
The ratio of the ages of two persons is 4:3. After 6 years, the ratio becomes 9:7. What are their present ages?
Let present ages be 4x and 3x After 6 years: (4x + 6)/(3x + 6) = 9/7 7(4x + 6) = 9(3x + 6) 28x + 42 = 27x + 54 x = 12 Present ages: 4×12 = 48 years, 3×12 = 36 years
Your score
0/15(0%)
Review
IOCL aptitude topics students usually practice
- Numerical / quantitative: percentages, profit and loss, ratios, time and work, averages, SI/CI, speed-distance
- Logical reasoning: series, coding-decoding, blood relations, seating, syllogisms
- Verbal ability: grammar, vocabulary, error spotting, idioms
Numerical ability questions
Q1: Unitary rice
Problem: 12 kg rice costs ₹540. Cost of 8 kg?
Solution: Per kg = 45. 8 kg = ₹360.
Answer: ₹360
Q2: Average speed
Problem: A person covers a distance at 60 km/h and returns at 40 km/h. What is the average speed for the whole trip?
Solution: For equal distances, average speed = 2ab/(a+b). = 2×60×40 / (60+40) = 4800/100 = 48 km/h.
Do not take the arithmetic mean (50); that would be wrong here.
Answer: 48 km/h
Q3: Loss to profit shift
Problem: An article sold at 10% loss would give 5% profit if sold for ₹60 more. Find the cost price.
Solution: 0.9P + 60 = 1.05P 60 = 0.15P P = 60 / 0.15 = ₹400.
Answer: ₹400
Q4: Cube surface
Problem: A cube has side 6 cm. What is its total surface area?
Solution: TSA = 6a² = 6 × 36 = 216 cm².
Answer: 216 cm²
Q5: Pipe empty
Problem: A pipe fills in 8 hours; a leak empties in 12. Time to fill with both open?
Solution: Rate = 1/8 − 1/12 = 1/24. Time = 24 hours.
Answer: 24 hours
Q6: Train and pole
Problem: A train 150 meters long passes a pole in 15 seconds. What is its speed in km/h?
Solution: Distance = 150 m = 0.15 km. Time = 15 s = 15/3600 h = 1/240 h. Speed = 0.15 ÷ (1/240) = 0.15 × 240 = 36 km/h.
Faster check: 150/15 = 10 m/s → 10 × 18/5 = 36 km/h.
Answer: 36 km/h
Q7: Deck probability
Problem: What is the probability of drawing an ace from a standard 52-card deck?
Solution: There are 4 aces in 52 cards. Probability = 4/52 = 1/13.
Answer: 1/13
Q8: Permutation basic
Problem: In how many ways can 5 different books be arranged on a shelf?
Solution: Arrangements of 5 distinct items = 5! = 120.
Answer: 120
Q9: Relative speed trains
Problem: Two trains 120 m and 180 m long run at 40 and 50 km/h in opposite directions. Time to cross?
Solution: Relative speed = 90 km/h = 25 m/s. Distance = 300 m. Time = 12 s.
Answer: 12 seconds
Q10: Remainder theorem style
Problem: Find remainder when 7^3 is divided by 5.
Solution: 343 ÷ 5: 5×68=340, remainder 3. Or 7≡2 mod 5; 2³=8≡3.
Answer: 3
Verbal ability questions
Q11: One word - bibliophile
Problem: A person who loves books is called a?
Solution: Bibliophile.
Answer: Bibliophile
Q12: Idiom
Problem: What does ‘hit the nail on the head’ mean?
Solution: It means to describe exactly what is causing a situation or problem; to be precisely right.
Answer: To be exactly right
Q13: Sentence rearrange
Problem: Arrange: (1) the exam (2) she cleared (3) with ease
Solution: She cleared the exam with ease.
Answer: 2-1-3
Q14: Antonym - scarce
Problem: Choose the best antonym of ‘scarce’.
Solution: ‘Scarce’ means in short supply. Opposite: abundant.
Answer: Abundant
Q15: Synonym - abundant
Problem: Choose the best synonym of ‘abundant’.
Solution: ‘Abundant’ means present in large quantity. Closest match: plentiful.
Answer: Plentiful
Q16: Error spotting subject
Problem: Identify the error: The list of items are on the table.
Solution: ‘List’ is singular → ‘is’ not ‘are’.
Answer: are → is
Reasoning ability questions
Q17: Direction turn
Problem: A person walks 5 km north, then 3 km east, then 5 km south. How far is he from the start, and in which direction?
Solution: North 5 and south 5 cancel. He is 3 km east of the start.
Answer: 3 km east
Q18: Seating circular
Problem: Four people sit around a square table facing center. A sits opposite C. If B is left of A, who is right of C?
Solution: Opposite pairs A-C. B left of A means clockwise B. Right of C is B.
Answer: B
Q19: Cause effect
Problem: Cause: Heavy rain overnight. Which is a likely effect?
Solution: Waterlogging / traffic delays are likely effects.
Answer: Waterlogging / delays
Q20: Analogy
Problem: Book is to Reading as Fork is to ?
Solution: A book is used for reading; a fork is used for eating.
Answer: Eating
Q21: Statement assumption
Problem: Statement: Use public transport to reduce pollution. Assumption: Public transport causes less pollution than private vehicles.
Solution: The advice assumes public transport is cleaner. Assumption is implicit.
Answer: Implicit / valid
Q22: Coding letter shift
Problem: If CAT is coded as DBU, how is DOG coded in the same way?
Solution: Each letter moves +1 in the alphabet: C→D, A→B, T→U. D→E, O→P, G→H → EPH.
Answer: EPH
Timed practice tips for IOCL
- First pass: only high-confidence questions
- Mark and skip time sinks early
- Keep verbal accuracy high - these are easy marks if you stay calm
- Run the mock quiz at least three times a week under real timing
- Sleep properly the night before; fatigue hurts DI and calculation accuracy

