Are you preparing for the IBPS RRB Clerk or IBPS RRB PO Exam and struggling to decode who’s the aunt, cousin, or grandfather in blood relation reasoning questions? You are not alone! At first, blood relation questions seem tricky and confusing, but once you know how to approach them, they become easy to crack.

A blood relation question is a type of puzzle that tests a person’s ability to understand relationships between different family members.

In this article we will break down the most effective tricks and techniques to solve blood relation questions quickly and accurately.

Whether you are a beginner or looking to refine your strategies, these tips will help you gain an edge in the exam and avoid common traps that slow you down in the IBPS RRB Clerk and PO exam 2025.

Why Blood Relation Questions Matter 

Blood relation questions typically appear in the Reasoning Ability section, in both prelims and mains. Here’s why they are important:

2-3 questions are common in IBPS Clerk and IBPS PO-level exams.

They are easy to master with logic and diagram practice.

Common Types Of Blood Relation Questions

1. Pointing and Introducing

In these questions, a person is introduced in relation to another person, often using a nested relationship. The aim is to decode this chain and determine the final relationships.

Example: 

Question: Pointing to a man, Rina said, “ He is the son of my father’s only daughter.” How is the man related to Rina?

Solution: 

Rina’s father’s only daughter = Rina herself (since she says “my father’s only daughter”)

So the man is the son of Rina.

2. Family tree: 

These questions provide a diagram of a family tree, and you are asked to determine relationships based on the given information.

Example:

In a family tree, A is the father of B, B is the sister of C, and C is the mother of D. What is the relationship between A and D?

A is the father of B → A is also the father of C (since B and C are siblings)

B is the sister of C → confirms B and C are siblings.

C is the mother of D → So; D is the child of C.

Therefore, A is the maternal grandfather of D.

3. Coded Relations 

In these types of questions, relationships are presented by codes, and you have to provide a set of rules along with equations to identify the codes.

Example 

A+B = A is the mother of B. 

A-B = A is the brother of B.

A*B = A is the sister of B.

What does D-E+F mean?

Solution:

D-E→D is the brother of E. 

E +F →E is the mother of F. 

So, D is E’s brother and F’s uncle.

Answer: Uncle

4. Mixed blood relation:

Mixed blood relation type questions involve a combination of the above types, coded relations, family tree, and often mixing pointing.

Example: 

Pointing to a man, Reena said,

“He is the brother of the daughter of my husband’s sister,”

Solution:

My husband’s sister → Reena’s sister-in-law.

Daughter of my husband’s sister → Reena’s niece.

Brother of that daughter → Reena’s nephew. 

Answer:

The man is Reeen’s nephew.

5. Puzzle-based blood relations:

These questions involve a family-based puzzle or descriptive scenario where multiple relationships are interlinked. To solve these types of questions, you have to apply logical reasoning.

Example 

In a family consisting of six members across three generations, the grandfather has two sons and one daughter. Each of his sons has two children, while his daughter has one child. How many grandchildren does the grandfather have in total?

Son 1 → 2 children 

Son 2 → 2 children 

Daughter → 1 child 

2+2+1 = 5 grandchildren  

6. Single Person blood relation

Single person blood relation type questions focus on determining the relationship between a single individual and another person based on the given information.

Example:

A woman says, "My brother's son’s sister is my niece.” What is the relationship between the woman and the girl?

Solution:

My brother’s son → woman’s nephew 

His sister → that means the girl is the sister of the woman's nephew.

So, the girl is the daughter of the woman’s brother.

Answer: 

The girl is the woman's niece.

Tips To Solve Blood Relation Questions:

Tip 1. Consider me as an introducing person

This is an essential tip, for those questions in which individuals are introduced relative to the speaker. By analyzing the role of the speaker, you can easily understand the relationships between the mentioned individuals.

Tip 2. Check all options carefully in coded relations

In coded blood relation questions, relationships are given in symbols or short codes like:

A*B: A is the brother of B.

A+B: A is the mother of B. 

To solve these:

• Decode each part of the expression step by step, maintaining the left-to-right order.

• Don’t assume gender unless explicitly mentioned. 

• Carefully examine all options, eliminate the ones that contradict the question.

Tip 3: Avoiding Gender Assumptions 

Avoid guessing a person’s gender based on their name or position in the sentence. Only rely on the details explicitly provided in the question to determine the gender.

Tip 4. Understand “only son” and “only daughter”

These terms show that there are no other siblings of the same gender. The person may still have siblings of the opposite gender.

Tip: 5 Identify the two key people first

Always pinpoint the two individuals whose relationship needs to be found. Then trace the connections logically through the other family members.

Tip 6: Use diagrams or family trees

To solve complex questions, draw a quick diagram or family tree. This visual aid helps avoid confusion, especially in multi-generational questions.

Tip 7: Practice common relationship chains

Memorize standard relations like:

Father’s brother = Uncle 

Mother’s sister = Aunt

Sister’s son = Nephew 

Mothers sister = Aunt

Tip 8: Practice regularly: 

The more you practice, the faster you will identify patterns. Use mock test practice and solve as many previous year questions to build up speed and confidence.

• Pro Tips and Tricks to Solve Blood Relation Questions

• Always create diagrams. Mental calculation often leads to errors.

• Fix generation first, and then connect other relations.

• Watch for keywords: only, either, neither, not, same, etc.

• If the question is in coded form, decode each symbol one by one carefully.

Common Mistakes To Avoid 

• Assuming gender based on name or guess
• Skipping diagram for multiple persons 
• Ignoring words like “only” or “not”.
• Misinterpreting the direction of relation.

Sample Blood Relation Questions with Solution

Example 1. Descriptive type 

P is the son of Q. R is Q’s sister. M is Q’s mother. E is M’s husband. How is R related to E?

Solution:

R is Q’s sister → R is M’s daughter.

M is E’s wife → E is C’s father.

Answer Daughter

Example 2. Puzzle type 

P, Q, R, S, T and U are in a family.

T is the son of P but not of U.

R and P are a married couple.

U is the sister of P.

Q is the brother of T.

S is the daughter of R.

Who is the mother of T?

Solution:

P is married to R → T is P’s son.

U is P’s sister → Not T’s mother. 

So, R is T’s mother. 

Answer: R

Read More: Computer Awareness for Bank Exams with Preparation Tips and Tricks

Conclusion:

Blood relation questions may seem confusing at first glance, but with a structured approach-breaking down clues, drawing family trees, and decoding symbols–they become crystal clear. Make it a part of your daily reasoning drills and this once tricky topic will soon be your speed booster in the IBPS RRB Clerk and PO bank exams.

FAQ’s 

Q1. What are blood relation questions?

Ans. These are reasoning questions that test your ability to identify family relationships based on a given set of clues.

Q2. How many blood relation questions are asked in the IBPS RRB exam?

Ans. You can expect 2-3 blood relation questions in the IBPS RRB prelims, and sometimes integrated puzzles or coded formats in the mains, especially in the PO-level exam.

Q3. Can I solve blood relation questions mentally?

Ans. Not completely recommended. Always use diagrams for clarity and accuracy for complex questions.

Q4. What is the best way to solve blood relation questions?

Ans. The most effective way to solve blood relation questions is to draw a family tree based on clues, identify the generation and gender of each member, and avoid mental calculation for complex questions.

Q5. Are coded blood relations questions asked in IBPS RRB PO?

Ans. Yes, coded blood relation questions are mostly asked in IBPS RRB PO. They use symbol like +,-,*,/ to indicate relationships, which must be decoded logically. 

Q6. How can I improve my speed and accuracy in blood relation questions?

Ans. To improve speed and accuracy in blood relation questions, practice with mock tests, use diagrammatic representation, and revise standard relationship terms regularly. Try to solve each question in one minute.

Q7. Which books are best to practice blood relation questions?

Ans. RS Aggarwal’s Verbal & Non verbal Reasoning 

Arihant’s reasoning books

Also Check

• Must-Know Reasoning Topics for Bank Exam Success
• IBPS PO Mains Exam: Detailed Syllabus and Preparation Tips
• Essential Books and Study Material for RBI Assistant Exam Preparation
• Time Management Tips for Bank Exam Aspirants Using Mock Test Series
• IBPS PO Prelims vs. Mains: Key Differences in Exam Patterns
• 8 Important Subjects to Focus on for Bank Exams
• The Importance of Mock Tests in Bank Exam Preparation