Consider the groups: multiples of 4, multiples of 8, divisors of 20, and odd numbers. Which relationship must be represented correctly in a Venn diagram?
Pick an answer to see the explanation
Reasoning on Texts and Data is the second section of CEnT-S: 15 questions in 30 minutes. It does not test school knowledge — it tests how precisely you read a text, a table or a chart and how you turn a real-life situation into a calculation.
Three question families dominate: logic (connectives, quantifiers, counterexamples), data interpretation (tables, charts, rankings) and problem solving (rates, ratios, integer constraints). Together with Mathematics it makes up 30 of the 65 questions.
Question distribution analysis
CEnT-S Reasoning on Texts & Data Topics: Frequency
Which topics demand your deepest attention? Below is the topic breakdown from our CEnT-S question data:
| Topic | Total | |
|---|---|---|
| Problem Solving | 23 | |
| Data Interpretation | 12 | |
| Logic & Deductive Reasoning | 10 |
*Question counts per topic in 3 CEnT-S past exams from our question bank; each exam has the full 15 Reasoning on Texts & Data questions. Exams are numbered, not dated. These figures are derived from the past-exam question samples that have reached us; the samples may be incomplete or contain errors, and the topic mix can change from one exam session to the next. Treat them as a guide to priorities, not a prediction of your exam.
Key Takeaways
- Problem solving is half of the section: rates, pace, prices and packaging with integer constraints.
- Data interpretation rewards choosing the right denominator and spotting weighted averages.
- Logic is fewer questions but the highest error rate: ‘necessarily true / false’ stems and negations.
- Speed matters: tables are dense, so read the question before the data.
Difficulty analysis
Topic Difficulty & Recommended Study Allocation
Not all topics require the same time investment. Some need extensive problem-solving practice, others rely on precise conceptual recall:
Hard
Logic & Deductive Reasoning 2–3 weeksMedium
Problem Solving 2–3 weeksMedium
Data Interpretation 2 weeksNot Sure Where to Begin Your Preparation?
Take the free CEnT-S diagnostic test: see your baseline in every section and get a personalised AI study plan.
Take Diagnostic TestOfficial syllabus breakdown
CEnT-S Reasoning on Texts & Data Topics: How Each Is Tested
A topic-by-topic look at the Reasoning on Texts & Data section of the official CISIA CEnT-S syllabus:
01
Logic & Deductive Reasoning Hard
- Logical connectives (and, or, if…then, if and only if) and quantifiers (all, some, none).
- Negation of statements, counterexamples, necessary vs sufficient conditions.
- Set relations and Venn diagrams; truth and compatibility of propositions.
How it appears on CEnT-S: ‘Which statement is necessarily true?’ items and negations of ‘all/some’. One counterexample is enough to make a universal statement false.
02
Data Interpretation Medium
- Reading multi-format texts, tables and graphs.
- Percentages, percentage points and relative change.
- Ranking and sorting by different criteria; evaluating statements against data.
How it appears on CEnT-S: A table plus 3 statements: ‘which are correct?’. Errors come from using the wrong base for a percentage or confusing absolute and relative values.
03
Problem Solving Medium
- Interpreting text, figures and tables together.
- Percentages, ratios, proportionality and rates (speed, pace, prices).
- Algebraic modelling, integer/packaging constraints and checking real-world plausibility.
How it appears on CEnT-S: Short real-life scenarios (cyclist pace, theatre tickets, delivery boxes). Compute every option the same way; the answer is often ‘the minimum/maximum’.
Official CISIA Syllabus
The full, official CEnT-S syllabus and test structure are published by CISIA:
cisiaonline.it — CEnT-S structure and syllabusSolved exam problems
CEnT-S Reasoning on Texts & Data Sample Questions & Elimination Tactics
See how CEnT-S reasoning questions are built and how disciplined elimination avoids the −0.25 penalty:
Kate is an amateur cyclist. Her pace depends on the average gradient: below 7% → 5 min/km; between 7% and 9% → 6 min/km; above 9% → 8 min/km. Which climb takes the least time?
Pick an answer to see the explanation
Medal table: France 8/10/1; Germany 6/10/13; Italy 10/6/8; United States 10/7/5 (gold/silver/bronze). Ranking A orders by golds, then silvers, then bronzes. Ranking B gives 3 points per gold, 2 per silver, 1 per bronze. Where is Italy in A and in B?
Pick an answer to see the explanation
Candidate trap analysis
5 Most Common Mistakes in CEnT-S Reasoning on Texts & Data
Recurring conceptual and tactical errors that cost students crucial points:
01
Negating ‘all’ wrongly
The negation of ‘all X are Y’ is ‘at least one X is not Y’ — not ‘no X is Y’.
02
Wrong denominator
‘Percentage of women among graduates’ and ‘percentage of graduates among women’ use different bases.
03
Percent vs percentage points
A rise from 10% to 12% is 2 percentage points but a 20% relative increase.
04
Choosing the ‘obvious’ option
In optimisation items the shortest, cheapest-looking or largest option is usually the distractor. Compute every option.
05
Reading the whole table first
Read the question first, then scan only the rows and columns you need — it saves minutes.
Study roadmap
10-Week Strategic Study Roadmap
Weeks 1–2
Diagnostic & Foundations
Take a timed diagnostic; rebuild the Foundation topics marked ‘Easy’ and note every error type.
Weeks 3–5
Core Topics
Work through the ‘Medium’ and ‘Hard’ topics in the order of the frequency table; 20–30 targeted questions per topic.
Weeks 6–7
Mixed Practice
Mixed sets under section timing (2 min/question). Keep an error log: concept, reading or calculation.
Weeks 8–9
Full Mocks
One full 65-question CEnT-S mock per week with real section timers; review every wrong and every guessed answer.
Week 10
Final Polish
Re-do your error log, revise traps, and practise the skip-or-guess rule for the −0.25 penalty.