Odd One Out
Classification & Grouping: Odd One Out
Odd One Out
Odd One Out
What you'll learn
- Look at a group of words and find the one that does not belong.
- Spot the common feature shared by most items (fruit, animal, shape, colour, etc.).
- Explain why the odd item is different.
Key concepts
Step 1 — Find what is common
Look at three of the four items first. What do they have in common? Are they all fruits? All animals? All shapes?
Step 2 — Check the fourth item
Does the fourth item share that same common feature? If not, it is the odd one out.
Step 3 — Say the reason
A good answer always explains the reason, e.g. "Carrot is the odd one out because the others are fruits and Carrot is a vegetable."
NCERT anchor: CBSE Class 4 logical reasoning; EVS 4 classification of living and non-living things, plants and animals
Worked example
Which word does NOT belong? Apple, Mango, Banana, Carrot
Step 1 — Apple, Mango and Banana are all fruits.
Step 2 — Carrot is a vegetable, not a fruit.
Answer: **Carrot**
Which word does NOT belong? Dog, Cat, Cow, Chair
Step 1 — Dog, Cat and Cow are all animals.
Step 2 — Chair is furniture, not an animal.
Answer: **Chair**
Common mistakes
| Mistake | Why it happens | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Picking a random item | Not checking what the other three share | Always find the common feature first |
| Ignoring the category | Focusing on spelling or length instead of meaning | Ask "what group does each word belong to?" |
| Wrong reason | Guessing without checking each item | Test your answer against all four items |
| Missing hidden categories | Not seeing a less obvious link (e.g. all start underground) | Think about colour, use, place, or category |
Quick check
- Which word does NOT belong? Rose, Lily, Lotus, Table
- Which word does NOT belong? Sparrow, Crow, Parrot, Bat
- Which word does NOT belong? January, March, May, Monday
- Stretch: Why is Bat the odd one out among Sparrow, Crow, Parrot and Bat, even though it can fly?
Revision tip: Always find the common link among three items before deciding which one is odd.
Open the Practice tab for graded questions on Odd One Out.
Key Takeaways (TL;DR)
- What you'll learn
- Key concepts
- Worked example
- Common mistakes
Master this topic with Drishti OS
Get unlimited mock tests, AI-powered mentorship, and complete video courses when you join.
Start Free Practice