Find the value of following Mathematical expression which has 27 terms in the specific order. 3 + 5 - 6 + 2 - 4 + 3 + 5 - 6 + 2 - 4 + 3 + 5 - 6 ............
This MPSC previous-year question is drawn from Group B Mains 2024 - General Studies & Intelligence Test (Set A). It belongs to the Aptitude section under the topic Number System & Simplification and is reproduced here in English exactly as it appeared in the official Maharashtra Public Service Commission paper, along with the four options, the official Set A answer key and a compact explanation of why the correct option is correct.
Correct answer: B
Explanation
The examiner has marked option B. The block 3 + 5 − 6 + 2 − 4 equals zero, and that five-term cycle repeats; 27 terms means five full cycles plus 3 + 5 at the end, giving 8.
Why this question matters
The Maharashtra Public Service Commission recycles aptitude question patterns across its main five recruitment examinations. Solving a PYQ from one paper substantially increases your accuracy on adjacent papers because the underlying facts and the option-craft are identical. That cross-transfer is the strongest argument for prioritising PYQ practice over generic textbook review.
How to attempt this in the exam
Watch for negation traps — words like "not", "except", "incorrect" that flip the intent of the question. MPSC deliberately embeds them in number system & simplification items to catch aspirants who read the question in a hurry. Re-read the stem with a mental highlight on any negation word before selecting an option.
Subject-specific tip
Tip: revise this question with the rest of the section on our subject-wise practice mode and pair the review with the relevant study guide to lock the concept into long-term memory.
MPSC exam ecosystem — a compact map
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Beyond the classic five, MPSC also conducts specialised examinations for RTO Assistant Motor Vehicle Inspector (AMVI), Excise Sub-Inspector, Tax Assistant, Sales Tax Inspector (STI) and Assistant Section Officer (ASO). Many of these share their General Studies paper structure with the main services, so PYQ practice cross-transfers well. Our /exams page groups every paper by exam family and year so aspirants can filter to exactly the sitting they plan for.
MPSC uses a rotational negative-marking scheme of one-fourth mark per wrong answer for the objective paper — hence disciplined attempting matters as much as knowing the answers. Skip items where all four options seem equally plausible; that is usually the single biggest score-lifting habit for aspirants moving from the 55–65 percentile band into the 75-plus band.
Source and editorial process
Source: Group B Mains 2024 - General Studies & Intelligence Test (Set A). This question, its four options and the marked correct answer are transcribed verbatim from the official Maharashtra Public Service Commission Set A paper. Our editorial team cross-checks each question against the original PDF released on mpsc.gov.in and against the corresponding official answer key.
We never paraphrase the wording. Where MPSC has issued a revised key after an objection round, the answer highlighted above reflects the revised key and the revision is logged in our internal change-log. If you spot a discrepancy, please email us at dontknowacademy@gmail.com — we acknowledge every report within 24 hours and push a fix within 48 hours.
Related study material
Deepen your preparation on this topic with our long-form MPSC study guides. Every guide is written specifically for the Maharashtra Public Service Commission preliminary syllabus and takes twelve to sixteen minutes to read in full.
- MPSC Exam PatternGroup B, Group C, PSI, Gazetted CS & TS prelims — marks, syllabus, negative marking, cut-offs.
- MPSC Preparation Strategy6-month plan, book list, daily routine, PYQ usage, mock-test strategy.
- Indian Polity for MPSCConstitution, Fundamental Rights, DPSPs, Parliament, state government, key amendments.
Practice the full subject
Group B Mains 2024 - General Studies & Intelligence Test (Set A)
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