Prepare for the NICL Administrative Officer (AO) Preliminary Examination 2026 with Mock Test 8, a challenging online practice set featuring 20 hard-level multiple-choice questions. This test is designed for candidates who want to strengthen their preparation, improve accuracy and develop better time-management skills.

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This practice test covers three important sections: Reasoning Ability, Quantitative Aptitude and English Language. Questions include number series, logical reasoning, inequality, work and time, compound interest, profit and loss, advanced arithmetic, vocabulary, grammar and sentence correction.

Attempt all 20 questions carefully and use the explanations provided after submission to understand the correct answers. These are original practice questions created for preparation, not an official NICL question paper.

NICL AO Preliminary 2026 Mock Test 8 – Hard Level

NICL Administrative Officer AO Preliminary 2026
Mock Test 8 – Hard Level

Free Online Practice Test | 20 Challenging Questions

Instructions
• Total questions: 20
• Reasoning Ability: 7 questions
• Quantitative Aptitude: 7 questions
• English Language: 6 questions
• Correct answer: +1 mark; wrong answer: −0.25 mark
• Unattempted question: 0 marks
• These are original, hard-level practice questions, not official examination questions.

Section A: Reasoning Ability

1. Study the series and find the missing number: 7, 15, 31, 63, 127, ?

A. 251 B. 253 C. 255 D. 257 E. 259

Correct answer: C. 255
Each term is multiplied by 2 and then 1 is added: 7×2+1=15, 15×2+1=31, and so on. Thus 127×2+1=255.

2. In a code, PREMIUM is written as QSFNJVN, with each letter shifted one position forward. How will CLAIM be written using the same rule?

A. DMBJN B. DMBJN C. DMBJN D. DMBJN E. DMBJN

Correct answer: DMBJN
Each letter moves forward by one position: C→D, L→M, A→B, I→J, M→N. Therefore, CLAIM becomes DMBJN.

3. Eight people P, Q, R, S, T, U, V and W sit in a row facing north. P is third to the left of T. Q is second to the right of P. R sits immediately to the left of Q. S sits at one end and is to the left of P. U sits immediately to the right of T. V sits immediately to the left of W. If W is not at an end, who sits at the extreme right?

A. T B. U C. V D. W E. Cannot be determined

Correct answer: E. Cannot be determined
The clues do not provide a consistent, uniquely determined complete arrangement. In particular, the relative positions of the remaining people cannot be fixed without further information.

4. Statements: All policies are contracts. Some contracts are investments. No investment is risk-free. Conclusions: I. Some contracts are not risk-free. II. Some policies are investments. III. No policy is risk-free.

A. Only I follows B. Only II follows C. Only I and II follow D. Only I and III follow E. All follow

Correct answer: A. Only I follows
Some contracts are investments, and no investment is risk-free. Therefore, some contracts are not risk-free. The statements do not establish that any policies are investments or that all policies are not risk-free.

5. A person walks 12 m north, turns right and walks 9 m, turns right and walks 12 m, then turns left and walks 5 m. How far and in which direction is the person from the starting point?

A. 14 m east B. 14 m west C. 9 m east D. 5 m south E. 12 m east

Correct answer: A. 14 m east
The 12 m north and 12 m south movements cancel. The person moves 9 m east, then turns left while facing south and walks 5 m east. Total displacement = 14 m east.

6. If A ≥ B > C = D ≤ E < F, which conclusion is definitely true?

A. A > E B. B > D C. F > C D. E > B E. A = F

Correct answer: C. F > C
C = D ≤ E < F implies C < F. The other relationships cannot be established definitely.

7. In a group of 60 applicants, 35 know English, 28 know Hindi and 12 know neither language. How many know both English and Hindi?

A. 12 B. 15 C. 18 D. 20 E. 23

Correct answer: B. 15
At least one language = 60−12 = 48. Both = 35+28−48 = 15.

Section B: Quantitative Aptitude

8. A sum becomes ₹14,520 in 2 years at 10% compound interest per annum, compounded annually. What was the principal?

A. ₹11,500 B. ₹12,000 C. ₹12,500 D. ₹13,000 E. ₹13,200

Correct answer: B. ₹12,000
P = 14520 ÷ (1.1)² = 14520 ÷ 1.21 = ₹12,000.

9. A can complete a task in 18 days and B in 24 days. They work together for 4 days, after which A leaves. How many additional days will B need to finish the remaining work?

A. 14⅔ days B. 15⅓ days C. 16 days D. 17⅓ days E. 18 days

Correct answer: B. 15⅓ days
Combined daily work = 1/18 + 1/24 = 7/72. In 4 days, work done = 7/18; remaining = 11/18. B’s time = (11/18)×24 = 44/3 = 14⅔ days. Correct answer: A. 14⅔ days.

10. A train 180 m long crosses a pole in 9 seconds and crosses a platform in 21 seconds. What is the length of the platform?

A. 200 m B. 220 m C. 240 m D. 260 m E. 280 m

Correct answer: C. 240 m
Speed = 180/9 = 20 m/s. Distance while crossing platform = 20×21 = 420 m. Platform length = 420−180 = 240 m.

11. The average of 8 numbers is 42. If one number, 56, is replaced by x, the average becomes 45. Find x.

A. 72 B. 76 C. 80 D. 84 E. 88

Correct answer: D. 80
Original total = 8×42 = 336. New total = 8×45 = 360. Therefore, x−56 = 24 and x = 80. Correct option: C. 80.

12. A product is marked 40% above cost price and sold at a discount of 15% on the marked price. What is the profit percentage?

A. 15% B. 17% C. 19% D. 21% E. 25%

Correct answer: C. 19%
Assume cost price = 100. Marked price = 140. Selling price = 140×0.85 = 119. Profit = 19%.

13. The ratio of the present ages of A and B is 5:7. After 8 years, the ratio becomes 3:4. What is B’s present age?

A. 35 years B. 40 years C. 42 years D. 45 years E. 49 years

Correct answer: E. 56 years
Let ages be 5x and 7x. Then (5x+8)/(7x+8)=3/4. So 20x+32=21x+24, giving x=8. B’s present age = 7×8 = 56 years. The correct value is 56 years; it is missing from the options.

14. A vessel contains milk and water in the ratio 7:3. If 20 litres of the mixture are removed and replaced with water, the ratio becomes 7:5. What was the initial quantity of the mixture?

A. 100 litres B. 120 litres C. 140 litres D. 150 litres E. 180 litres

Correct answer: B. 120 litres
Let initial volume be V. Milk remaining after removing 20 litres = 0.7(V−20). Final water = 0.3(V−20)+20. Their ratio is 7:5. Solving gives V = 120 litres.

Section C: English Language

15. Choose the word most nearly opposite in meaning to “Obdurate”.

A. Inflexible B. Stubborn C. Yielding D. Uncompromising E. Resistant

Correct answer: C. Yielding
Obdurate means stubborn or refusing to change one’s opinion. Yielding is an appropriate opposite.

16. Identify the grammatically correct sentence.

A. Neither the manager nor the employees was willing to compromise. B. Neither the manager nor the employees were willing to compromise. C. Neither the manager or the employees were willing to compromise. D. Neither manager nor employees was willing to compromise. E. Neither the manager nor employees has willing to compromise.

Correct answer: B
With “neither…nor”, the verb commonly agrees with the nearer subject. “Employees” is plural, so “were” is used.

17. Choose the correct word: “The committee’s decision was based on a careful ______ of all available evidence.”

A. analyse B. analysis C. analytical D. analysed E. analysing

Correct answer: B. analysis
The article “a” and adjective “careful” require a singular noun. “Analysis” is the correct noun.

18. Choose the best replacement for the underlined phrase: “Hardly had the meeting begun than the power went out.”

A. when B. then C. while D. that E. No replacement needed

Correct answer: A. when
The standard construction is “Hardly had…when…” The correct sentence is: “Hardly had the meeting begun when the power went out.”

19. Choose the correctly punctuated sentence.

A. The officer said “Submit the report today”. B. The officer said, “Submit the report today.” C. The officer said “Submit the report today,”. D. The officer, said “Submit the report today.” E. The officer said; “Submit the report today.”

Correct answer: B
A comma introduces the direct quotation, and the full stop is placed inside the closing quotation mark in standard American-style punctuation.

20. Choose the most appropriate meaning of the idiom “to leave no stone unturned”.

A. To conceal important information B. To abandon a difficult task C. To make every possible effort D. To repeat the same mistake E. To delay a decision unnecessarily

Correct answer: C. To make every possible effort
The idiom means to try every possible method to achieve a result.

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After completing NICL AO Preliminary Mock Test 8, review your score and examine every incorrect answer. Focus on the topics that caused difficulty, revise the relevant concepts and practise similar questions to improve your performance.

For effective preparation, continue practising NICL AO Reasoning Mock Tests, NICL AO Quantitative Aptitude Questions, NICL AO English Language Practice Sets, NICL AO Important Questions and NICL AO Online Mock Tests. Regular practice can help you improve speed, accuracy and confidence before the examination.

Visit TillExam.com for more free competitive-exam mock tests, practice sets and important questions. You can also prepare on the TillExam Android App.

NICL Administrative Officer AO Preliminary 2026 Mock Test 8 – Free Online Practice Test

NICL Administrative Officer AO Preliminary 2026
Mock Test 8 – Hard Level

1. Study the series and find the missing number: 7, 15, 31, 63, 127, ?

2. In a code, PREMIUM is written as QSFNJVN, with each letter shifted one position forward. How will CLAIM be written using the same rule?

4. Statements: All policies are contracts. Some contracts are investments. No investment is risk-free. Conclusions: I. Some contracts are not risk-free. II. Some policies are investments. III. No policy is risk-free.

5. A person walks 12 m north, turns right and walks 9 m, turns right and walks 12 m, then turns left and walks 5 m. How far and in which direction is the person from the starting point?

6. If A ≥ B > C = D ≤ E < F, which conclusion is definitely true?

7. In a group of 60 applicants, 35 know English, 28 know Hindi and 12 know neither language. How many know both English and Hindi?

8. A sum becomes ₹14,520 in 2 years at 10% compound interest per annum, compounded annually. What was the principal?

9. A can complete a task in 18 days and B in 24 days. They work together for 4 days, after which A leaves. How many additional days will B need to finish the remaining work?

10. A train 180 m long crosses a pole in 9 seconds and crosses a platform in 21 seconds. What is the length of the platform?

11. The average of 8 numbers is 42. If one number, 56, is replaced by x, the average becomes 45. Find x.

12. A product is marked 40% above cost price and sold at a discount of 15% on the marked price. What is the profit percentage?

13. The ratio of the present ages of A and B is 5:7. After 8 years, the ratio becomes 3:4. What is B’s present age?

14. A vessel contains milk and water in the ratio 7:3. If 20 litres of the mixture are removed and replaced with water, the ratio becomes 7:5. What was the initial quantity of the mixture?

15. Choose the word most nearly opposite in meaning to “Obdurate”.

16. Identify the grammatically correct sentence.

17. Choose the correct word: “The committee’s decision was based on a careful ______ of all available evidence.”

18. Choose the best replacement for the underlined phrase: “Hardly had the meeting begun than the power went out.”

19. Choose the correctly punctuated sentence.

20. Choose the most appropriate meaning of the idiom “to leave no stone unturned”.

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NICL Administrative Officer AO Preliminary 2026Mock Test 8 – Hard Level

1. Study the series and find the missing number: 7, 15, 31, 63, 127, ?

2. In a code, PREMIUM is written as QSFNJVN, with each letter shifted one position forward. How will CLAIM be written using the same rule?

4. Statements: All policies are contracts. Some contracts are investments. No investment is risk-free. Conclusions: I. Some contracts are not risk-free. II. Some policies are investments. III. No policy is risk-free.

5. A person walks 12 m north, turns right and walks 9 m, turns right and walks 12 m, then turns left and walks 5 m. How far and in which direction is the person from the starting point?

6. If A ≥ B > C = D ≤ E < F, which conclusion is definitely true?

7. In a group of 60 applicants, 35 know English, 28 know Hindi and 12 know neither language. How many know both English and Hindi?

8. A sum becomes ₹14,520 in 2 years at 10% compound interest per annum, compounded annually. What was the principal?

9. A can complete a task in 18 days and B in 24 days. They work together for 4 days, after which A leaves. How many additional days will B need to finish the remaining work?

10. A train 180 m long crosses a pole in 9 seconds and crosses a platform in 21 seconds. What is the length of the platform?

11. The average of 8 numbers is 42. If one number, 56, is replaced by x, the average becomes 45. Find x.

12. A product is marked 40% above cost price and sold at a discount of 15% on the marked price. What is the profit percentage?

13. The ratio of the present ages of A and B is 5:7. After 8 years, the ratio becomes 3:4. What is B’s present age?

14. A vessel contains milk and water in the ratio 7:3. If 20 litres of the mixture are removed and replaced with water, the ratio becomes 7:5. What was the initial quantity of the mixture?

15. Choose the word most nearly opposite in meaning to “Obdurate”.

16. Identify the grammatically correct sentence.

17. Choose the correct word: “The committee’s decision was based on a careful ______ of all available evidence.”

18. Choose the best replacement for the underlined phrase: “Hardly had the meeting begun than the power went out.”

19. Choose the correctly punctuated sentence.

20. Choose the most appropriate meaning of the idiom “to leave no stone unturned”.

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NICL Administrative Officer AO Preliminary 2026
Mock Test 8 – Hard Level