Seating Arrangement : Aptitude Questions and Answers

Seating arrangement is the logical arrangement of people or objects. This concept involves arrangement of people in many possible ways. Seating Arrangement is a common category of Logical Reasoning that is asked in competitive exams.

In these types of questions, you will have to arrange a group of persons satisfying certain conditions. Questions on this topic can be asked in any sequence such as linear or circular arrangements. By applying logical analysis, we can perform logical arrangement to answer the questions or decode.

Rules for Seating Arrangement Questions

Seating Arrangement Questions can be a linear arrangement or circular arrangement. In circular seating arrangement, we arrange people around a circle while in linear seating arrangement, we arrange people in a line. Some detail regarding the objects/person and how they are seated is given, one should arrange either in a Linear or circular as mentioned. Here, we will discuss the rules:

1. Identifying the right and left in a given seating arrangement
2. If it is not mentioned in the question, we cannot assume the left or immediate left.
3. Always start the arrangement with complete fixed details.
4. In the case of a circular arrangement, if nothing is mention regarding the direction they are facing then by default, assume they are facing the center.

Types of Seating Arrangement Questions

The Seating arrangement questions are the most common in reasoning sections of entrance exams. There are different types of problems with the concept of seating arrangement as follows.

1. Linear Arrangement
2. Square/Rectangular Arrangement
3. Circular Arrangement
4. Triangular arrangement
5. Hexagonal arrangement
6. Pentagon arrangement.
7. Combination of the above.

Examples :

Following are some questions on seating arrangement as follows.

Example1 : 

B, L, M, N, P, and Q are in a row. P and Q are in the center, B and L are at the ends. M is sitting to the left of B. Who is to the right of L?

Solution :
The seating arrangements can be as follows:

L, N, P, Q, M, B
or
L, N, Q, P, M, B

Therefore, N is to the right of L

Example2 : 

Five boys are sitting to be photographed. S is to the left of R and to the right of B. M is to the right of R. E is between R and M.

1. Who is sitting immediate right to E?  
   Answer: M
2. Who is second from the right?     
   Answer: E

Solution :
The seating arrangement is as follows:

B, S, R, E, M

Example3 : 

Five girls are standing in a line. One of the two girls at extreme end is P and the other is B. A is to the right of S. C is to the immediate left of B. What is the position of A from the left?

Answer: A is third from left

Solution :
The seating arrangement is as follows.
P, S, A, C, B

Seating Arrangement Reasoning Questions and Answers

Q1. There are 8 people sitting around a circular table. A is sitting to the immediate left of B, who is third to the left of C. D is sitting between C and E, and F is sitting to the immediate right of E. Who is sitting to the immediate left of D?

a) B
b) C
c) E
d) F

Answer: b) C

Explanation: Circular arrangement will be: B, _, _, C, D, E, F, A, B (from right of B). The two positions are not mentioned in question but it does not matter as it only asked about the immediate left of D.

Q2. There are six persons sitting in a row facing North. A is sitting towards immediate left of B and immediate right of C. C is sitting to immediate right of F. D is immediate right of E who is to the left of F, then which two people are sitting in the center?

a) D and B
b) A and B
c) F and C
d) E and D

Answer: c) F and C
Explanation: The seating arrangement is: E, D, F, C, A, B.
F and C are sitting in the center.

Q3. In a row of 5 persons, A is sitting third to the right of B and fourth to the right of C. D is sitting immediate left of A and immediate right of E. Who is sitting at the extreme left end?

a) A
b) B
c) C
d) D

Answer: c) C
Explanation: The seating arrangement is: C, B, E, D, A.
C is sitting at the extreme left end.

Q4. In a circular arrangement of 5 persons, A is sitting between B and C, D is sitting immediate right of C, and E is sitting immediate left of B. Who is sitting between D and B?

a) A
b) B
c) C
d) E

Answer: d) E

Explanation: The seating arrangement is: A, C, D, E, B, A (from the right of A).

Q5. There are 5 persons sitting in a row facing South. P is sitting to the immediate left of Q and immediate right of R. R is to the left of T. S is sitting to the immediate left of T. Who is sitting at the extreme right end of the row?

a) R
b) P
c) Q
d) T

Answer: a) T
Explanation: The seating arrangement is: T, S, Q, P, R. It is because all of them are facing South.
Thus T is sitting at the extreme right end.

Q6. In a row of 12 persons, M is sitting 3rd from the left end, and N is sitting 5th from the right end. How many persons are sitting between M and N?

a) 3
b) 4
c) 5
d) 6

Answer: b) 4
Explanation: Total number of persons = 12.
M is 3rd from the left and N is 5th from the right.
There are 4 persons between M and N.

Q7. In a circular arrangement of 5 persons, A is sitting between B and C, D is sitting immediate right of C, and E is sitting immediate left of A. Who is sitting immediate left to B?

a) D
b) C
c) E
d) F

Answer: a) D

Explanation: The arrangement will be: A, E, B, D, C, A (from the left of A).

Q8. In a row of 15 persons, X is sitting 7th from the left and Y is sitting 8th from the right. How many persons are sitting between X and Y?

a) 7
b) 8
c) 9
d) 0

Answer: d) 0
Explanation: Total number of persons = 15.
X is 7th from the left and Y is 8th from the right.
There is no person sitting between X and Y.

Q9. In a row of 10 persons facing North, A is sitting 2nd from the left end and B is sitting 4th from the right end. How many persons are sitting between A and B?

a) 3
b) 4
c) 5
d) 6

Answer: b) 4
Explanation: Total number of persons = 10.
A is 2nd from the left and B is 4th from the right.
There are 4 persons sitting between A and B.

Q10. In a rectangular table, A, B, C, and D are sitting on one side facing E, F, G, and H on the other side. A is opposite to E,D is opposite to G and B is opposite to F. Who is sitting opposite to C?

a) G
b) H
c) E
d) F

Answer: b) H
Explanation: A is opposite E, B is opposite F, D is opposite to G. Hence, C can be opposite to H only.