Each of D, P, M, Q, T, Y and Z has an exam on a different day of a week starting from Monday and ending on Sunday of the same week. T has an exam on Saturday. Only 4 people have an exam between P and M, neither of whom has an exam on Monday. Z has an exam immediately after Q and D has an exam immediately before Q. M has an exam after Z. Who has an exam on Sunday?

Appeared in: NCL (Northern Coalfields Limited)-NO

Explanation

The clue 'Only 4 people have an exam between P and M, neither of whom has an exam on Monday' establishes that P and M must have their exams on Tuesday and Sunday.
The block of D → Q → Z is formed from the clues 'Z has an exam immediately after Q' and 'D has an exam immediately before Q'.
The condition 'M has an exam after Z' confirms that P must be on Tuesday and M must be on Sunday.
Placing the D-Q-Z block from Wednesday to Friday and T on Saturday leaves Sunday for M.

Option A: Z has an exam on Friday. The D → Q → Z block is placed from Wednesday to Friday.
Option C: D has an exam on Wednesday. D is the first person in the D → Q → Z block.
Option D: T has an exam on Saturday, as explicitly stated in the first clue.

Visual 1: Table - A 7-day weekly schedule table to fill in the names as you solve the puzzle. This helps visualize the placements and remaining slots.
Visual 2: Flowchart - A flowchart showing the decision-making process, starting with the most concrete clue (T on Saturday) and branching based on the possibilities for P and M, then using other clues to eliminate incorrect paths.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Logical Reasoning and Arrangement as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
This question tests logical deduction and the ability to process multiple constraints simultaneously, skills that are useful in complex problem-solving.
While not a clinical question, the systematic approach required is similar to the diagnostic process or care planning, where a nurse must consider various pieces of patient data to arrive at a conclusion.
What if the clue was 'Only 3 people have an exam between P and M'? This would mean their exams are 4 days apart (e.g., Mon-Fri, Tue-Sat, Wed-Sun). This change would alter the entire schedule arrangement.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify all the entities (people) and the timeline (days of the week). Create a table with days as rows and leave a column for the person.
Look for the most definite piece of information to use as an anchor. Here, it is 'T has an exam on Saturday'. Place 'T' in the table.
Next, analyze clues that give relative positions and constraints. The clue about '4 people between P and M' is a strong constraint. Determine the possible day pairings (Tuesday and Sunday).
Identify any fixed blocks of entities. The clues about D, Q, and Z create a D-Q-Z block.
Use the remaining clues to test the possible arrangements. The clue 'M has an exam after Z' helps eliminate one of the possibilities for P and M's positions.
Fill in the schedule based on your deductions. The final empty slot can be filled with the last remaining person.

Concept Tested & Keywords

QByZcxPcuX-JgSQWTM6jsf

Practise the full NCL (Northern Coalfields Limited)-NO

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.