Relationship Test, often called Blood Relation or Coded Relationship Test, is an important topic in IQ and Logical Reasoning that tests your ability to identify and analyze family or logical connections between individuals. Relationship questions require you to decipher the link between two or more people based on a given statement or coded symbols, and then answer questions about other members of the group.
In this lesson, you will learn the types of relationship questions, methods for solving them, useful tricks, important tips, and practice questions for entrance examinations such as the Nepal Army Officer Cadet Entrance Exam.
1. What is a Relationship Test?
A Relationship Test measures your ability to identify and apply relationships between individuals within a family or a coded system.
Basic Pattern
Relationship questions generally fall into two main formats:
1. Direct / Blood Relation: A statement or short paragraph describing a family is given, and you must find the relationship between two individuals.
2. Coded Relationship: Symbols (e.g., +, −, ×, ÷, $, #, @) are used to represent familial relationships such as mother, father, brother, or sister. You must decode the symbols to understand the relationship.
Example (Direct)
Statement: Pointing to a man, Dinesh said, “His only brother is the father of my daughter’s father.”
How is the man related to Dinesh?
Dinesh’s daughter’s father is Dinesh himself.
The man’s only brother is therefore Dinesh’s father.
Therefore, the man is Dinesh’s father’s brother.
Answer: Uncle
Example (Coded)
A + B means A is the daughter of B. A − B means A is the husband of B. A × B means A is the brother of B.
If P × Q + R, how is P related to R?
P × Q means P is the brother of Q.
Q + R means Q is the daughter of R.
Since Q is R’s daughter and P is Q’s brother, P is also R’s child.
Answer: P is the son of R
What Does a Relationship Test Measure?
Relationship questions test your ability in:
- Logical deduction
- Analytical thinking
- Systematic problem-solving
- Observation and attention to detail
- Speed and accuracy
2. Relationship Test for Officer Cadet Entrance Preparation
Relationship is an important part of IQ and Logical Reasoning preparation because candidates need to analyze family structures quickly and accurately.
For Officer Cadet Entrance Exam preparation, relationship questions can generally be divided into three major forms:
Direct Blood Relation
Relationships described in plain words, ranging from a simple two-person link to a multi-generation family puzzle.Coded Blood Relation
Relationships expressed using symbols that must first be decoded before a family tree can be drawn.
Mixed Relation
A family puzzle combined with other elements, such as ranking, seating arrangement, or directional sense.
Preparation Strategy
To improve your performance:
- Draw a family tree immediately — don’t try to solve it in your head.
- Use standard symbols for males (+ or ♂) and females (− or ♀).
- Represent generations clearly, one row per generation.
- Decode the statement step-by-step, one clause at a time.
- Always double-check the gender of each individual.
- Pay close attention to words like “only,” “eldest,” and “youngest.”
3. Direct Blood Relation
This is the most common type of relationship question. A statement describes several people, and you must work out how two of them are related.
Basic Format
“[Person A] is [relation] of [Person B], who is [relation] of [Person C]…”
Example
Statement: Pointing to a photograph, Nishant said, “She is the mother of my son’s wife’s daughter.”
How is Nishant related to the lady?
My son’s wife = Nishant’s daughter-in-law.
His daughter-in-law’s daughter = Nishant’s granddaughter.
The lady in the photograph is the mother of Nishant’s granddaughter — and the mother of that granddaughter is the daughter-in-law herself.
Answer: Daughter-in-law
Common Direct-Relation Terms
While solving direct blood relation questions, be clear on relationships such as:
- Parent–child relations
- Sibling relations
- Grandparent relations
- Uncle, aunt, nephew, and niece
- Cousin relations
- In-law relations
- Step and half relations
3.1 Parent–Child Relationship
The most basic relationship, connecting a person directly to their father or mother.
Example
A is the son of B. How is B related to A?
If A is the son of B, then B is A’s parent.
Answer: Father or Mother (depending on gender of B)
3.2 Sibling Relationship
This relationship connects children of the same parents.
Example
A and B are children of the same parents. A is male. How is A related to B if B is female?
Answer: Brother
3.3 Grandparent Relationship
This relationship connects a person to their parent’s parent.
Example
A’s father’s father is B. How is B related to A?
Answer: Grandfather
3.4 Uncle and Aunt
This relationship connects a person to their parent’s sibling.
Example
A’s father’s brother is B. How is B related to A?
Answer: Uncle
3.5 Nephew and Niece
This relationship connects a person to their sibling’s children.
Example
A’s sister’s son is B. How is B related to A?
Answer: Nephew
3.6 Cousin Relationship
This relationship connects children of siblings (i.e., children of an uncle or aunt).
Example
A’s father’s brother’s son is B. How is B related to A?
Answer: Cousin
3.7 In-Law Relationship
This relationship connects a person to the family of their spouse.
Example
A is the husband of B. B’s mother is C. How is C related to A?
Answer: Mother-in-law
3.8 Step and Half Relationship
This relationship arises when a parent remarries, or when siblings share only one common parent.
Example
A’s father marries a woman who already has a daughter, B. How is B related to A?
Answer: Step-sister
4. Coded Blood Relation
This type uses symbols to represent relationships. Your primary task is to decode the symbols and convert the expression into a standard family tree.
Method
Step 1: Note down the meaning of every symbol given.
Step 2: Start decoding the expression from the left.
Step 3: Draw a family tree as you decode.
Step 4: Answer the question based on the completed tree.
Example
A $ B means B is the father of A. A # B means B is the mother of A. A * B means B is the sister of A. A @ B means B is the husband of A.
Which expression correctly shows that N is the grandmother of P?
If N is the grandmother of P, then N must be the mother of one of P’s parents.
The symbol # means the person on the right is the mother of the person on the left. So P # Q means Q is P’s mother, and Q # N means N is Q’s mother.
Combining the two: P is the child of Q, and Q is the child of N — so N is the grandparent of P.
Answer: P # Q # N
Coded Relation Tip
Never memorize a coded relationship visually — always rewrite it in words first (“B is the father of A”) before drawing the tree. This prevents confusing the direction of a symbol.
5. Mixed Relation
A Mixed Relation question combines a family puzzle with another reasoning element, such as seating arrangement, ranking, or directions.
Example
Six people are sitting in a row. A is the father of D, who is seated at one end. B is A’s wife and is seated second from the other end…
To solve this type of question, first extract and draw the family relationships, then separately map the seating or ranking information, and finally combine both diagrams to answer the question.
6. How to Solve Relationship Questions
Use the following systematic method to solve relationship questions quickly and accurately.
Step 1: Read the Statement Carefully
Read the entire statement once without trying to solve it, just to understand who is being discussed.
Step 2: Identify the Two Individuals in Question
Note exactly which two people you must find the relationship between.
Step 3: Work Backward
Start from the last mentioned person and work your way back to the first. This is especially useful for long, nested statements.
Step 4: Draw a Family Tree
As you decode each clause, add it to a family tree. This is the single most effective strategy for avoiding errors.
Step 5: Double-Check Gender
Confirm the gender of every individual mentioned before finalizing your answer.
Step 6: Verify Against the Question
Re-read the question and confirm that your answer describes the relationship in the same direction that was asked.
Step 7: Manage Your Time
Do not spend too much time on one difficult puzzle.
Use the strategy: Solve → Mark if necessary → Move on → Return later
7. Important Tricks for Relationship Questions
Trick 1: Use a Family Tree
This is the most reliable method. Draw a tree to visualize the relationships instead of holding them in your head.
- Use a standard symbol: e.g., + for male, − for female.
- Connect spouses with a horizontal line (=) and children with a vertical line.
Trick 2: Work Backward
When a statement is long and complex, start from the last mentioned individual and work your way back to the first. This simplifies nested statements considerably.
Trick 3: Memorize Standard Relations
Be clear on basic relations before the exam:
- Father’s/Mother’s brother = Uncle
- Father’s/Mother’s sister = Aunt
- Brother’s/Sister’s son = Nephew
- Brother’s/Sister’s daughter = Niece
- Father’s/Mother’s father = Grandfather
- Father’s/Mother’s mother = Grandmother
Trick 4: Pay Attention to Gender
The gender of a person is crucial. In many cases, a wrong answer is chosen only because the gender was assumed incorrectly. A “son” cannot be a daughter, and in coded questions, an entire symbol’s meaning can depend on the gender it represents.
Trick 5: “Of” and “Who” Change the Direction
In direct relation questions, phrases like “of” and “who” dictate the direction of the relationship.
For example: “Daughter of my father” is not the same as “My father’s daughter” when other clues are involved — always read the direction carefully.
Trick 6: Decode Symbols Into Words First
For coded relationship questions, never work with the symbol alone. Rewrite each part as a plain sentence (“B is the father of A”) before drawing the tree.
Trick 7: Practice With Timed Sessions
Once you are comfortable with the method, practice solving relationship questions under a time limit to build speed for the exam.
8. Important Tips for Officer Cadet Candidates
Tip 1: Learn Common Relationship Terms
Become familiar with frequently used terms such as grandparent, uncle, aunt, nephew, niece, cousin, and in-laws, so you don’t lose time recalling them mid-exam.
Tip 2: Practice Different Types
Do not practice only direct blood relation questions. Include:
- Direct Blood Relation
- Coded Blood Relation
- Mixed Relation
Tip 3: Focus on Accuracy
A quick answer is useful only when it is correct. Build the habit of drawing the tree first and selecting the answer second.
Tip 4: Practice Against the Clock
Once you understand the method, solve relationship questions under a time limit to improve both speed and accuracy.
Tip 5: Review Your Mistakes
Do not only look at your score. Ask yourself:
- Did I misread the direction of the relationship?
- Did I assume the wrong gender?
- Did I skip drawing the family tree?
- Did I stop decoding too early?
Understanding your mistakes is one of the best ways to improve your reasoning ability.
9. Practice Questions
Conclusion
Mastering the Relationship Test is essential for success in the Nepal Army Officer Cadet Entrance Examination. Success requires systematic construction of family trees and careful decoding of statements — not guesswork. Follow a disciplined approach: Read → Decode → Draw → Analyze → Answer. Regular practice enhances logical reasoning, analytical thinking, speed, and accuracy.
This resource is part of the Officer Cadet Entrance Exam Preparation series, focusing on IQ and Logical Reasoning for the Nepal Army Officer Cadet Entrance Exam. For structured lessons, comprehensive practice banks, and mock tests, explore the Relationship Test course on the Pratima Academy LMS. This course is designed to support systematic Officer Cadet Entrance Exam preparation through targeted practice and logical reasoning exercises.