🎯 RankerClub is 100% Free — 97 full-length mock tests with an instant all-India rank. Register Free →
RankerClub
Log in Get Started Free
Log in Register Free

UPSC Civil Services Speed, Time & Distance Questions with Answers & Explanations

20 Speed, Time & Distance questions from the Basic Numeracy & Data Interpretation section of UPSC Civil Services, each with the correct answer and a worked explanation. Try each question first, then tap Show answer to check. When you're ready, take the timed chapter-wise test to see your all-India rank.

Take the Basic Numeracy & Data Interpretation test → UPSC Civil Services full mocks
Question 1

A train 130 m long running at 54 km/h crosses a platform in 21 seconds. What is the length of the platform?

  1. A315 m
  2. B215 m
  3. C185 m
  4. D165 m
Show answer
Answer: (C) 185 m Distance covered = 15 × 21 = 315 m = train + platform, so platform = 185 m.
Question 2

A train 270 m long is running at 108 km/h. How long will it take to cross a pole?

  1. A7 seconds
  2. B8 seconds
  3. C9 seconds
  4. D10 seconds
Show answer
Answer: (C) 9 seconds Speed = 108 × 5/18 = 30 m/s; time = 270 ÷ 30 = 9 s.
Question 3

A person travels from P to Q at 60 km/h and returns at 40 km/h. What is the average speed for the whole journey?

  1. A45 km/h
  2. B50 km/h
  3. C53 km/h
  4. D48 km/h
Show answer
Answer: (D) 48 km/h For equal distances, average speed = 2ab/(a + b) = 48 km/h.
Question 4

A train 170 m long running at 36 km/h crosses a platform in 29 seconds. What is the length of the platform?

  1. A290 m
  2. B100 m
  3. C150 m
  4. D120 m
Show answer
Answer: (D) 120 m Distance covered = 10 × 29 = 290 m = train + platform, so platform = 120 m.
Question 5

A boat goes 48 km downstream in 3 hours and 30 km upstream in 3 hours. What is the speed of the stream?

  1. A13 km/h
  2. B3 km/h
  3. C4 km/h
  4. D6 km/h
Show answer
Answer: (B) 3 km/h Downstream speed = 16, upstream = 10; stream = (downstream − upstream)/2 = 3 km/h.
Question 6

A speed of 216 km/h is equal to

  1. A55 m/s
  2. B65 m/s
  3. C777.6 m/s
  4. D60 m/s
Show answer
Answer: (D) 60 m/s Multiply by 5/18: 216 × 5/18 = 60 m/s.
Question 7

A train 210 m long is running at 54 km/h. How long will it take to cross a pole?

  1. A14 seconds
  2. B13 seconds
  3. C16 seconds
  4. D10 seconds
Show answer
Answer: (A) 14 seconds Speed = 54 × 5/18 = 15 m/s; time = 210 ÷ 15 = 14 s.
Question 8

A train 110 m long running at 54 km/h crosses a platform in 29 seconds. What is the length of the platform?

  1. A435 m
  2. B355 m
  3. C305 m
  4. D325 m
Show answer
Answer: (D) 325 m Distance covered = 15 × 29 = 435 m = train + platform, so platform = 325 m.
Question 9

A boat goes 39 km downstream in 3 hours and 27 km upstream in 3 hours. What is the speed of the stream?

  1. A3 km/h
  2. B2 km/h
  3. C11 km/h
  4. D9 km/h
Show answer
Answer: (B) 2 km/h Downstream speed = 13, upstream = 9; stream = (downstream − upstream)/2 = 2 km/h.
Question 10

A speed of 108 km/h is equal to

  1. A388.8 m/s
  2. B30 m/s
  3. C25 m/s
  4. D54 m/s
Show answer
Answer: (B) 30 m/s Multiply by 5/18: 108 × 5/18 = 30 m/s.

Ready for the real thing?
Timed Basic Numeracy & Data Interpretation test · 25 questions · instant rank

Start free test
Question 11

A train 175 m long is running at 90 km/h. How long will it take to cross a pole?

  1. A3 seconds
  2. B10 seconds
  3. C7 seconds
  4. D5 seconds
Show answer
Answer: (C) 7 seconds Speed = 90 × 5/18 = 25 m/s; time = 175 ÷ 25 = 7 s.
Question 12

A person travels from P to Q at 36 km/h and returns at 45 km/h. What is the average speed for the whole journey?

  1. A45 km/h
  2. B40 km/h
  3. C37 km/h
  4. D40.5 km/h
Show answer
Answer: (B) 40 km/h For equal distances, average speed = 2ab/(a + b) = 40 km/h.
Question 13

A train 160 m long running at 36 km/h crosses a platform in 35 seconds. What is the length of the platform?

  1. A170 m
  2. B220 m
  3. C190 m
  4. D350 m
Show answer
Answer: (C) 190 m Distance covered = 10 × 35 = 350 m = train + platform, so platform = 190 m.
Question 14

A boat goes 57 km downstream in 3 hours and 33 km upstream in 3 hours. What is the speed of the stream?

  1. A15 km/h
  2. B11 km/h
  3. C4 km/h
  4. D8 km/h
Show answer
Answer: (C) 4 km/h Downstream speed = 19, upstream = 11; stream = (downstream − upstream)/2 = 4 km/h.
Question 15

A speed of 54 km/h is equal to

  1. A20 m/s
  2. B15 m/s
  3. C194.4 m/s
  4. D10 m/s
Show answer
Answer: (B) 15 m/s Multiply by 5/18: 54 × 5/18 = 15 m/s.
Question 16

A train 540 m long is running at 108 km/h. How long will it take to cross a pole?

  1. A14 seconds
  2. B15 seconds
  3. C17 seconds
  4. D18 seconds
Show answer
Answer: (D) 18 seconds Speed = 108 × 5/18 = 30 m/s; time = 540 ÷ 30 = 18 s.
Question 17

A train 90 m long running at 36 km/h crosses a platform in 25 seconds. What is the length of the platform?

  1. A140 m
  2. B190 m
  3. C250 m
  4. D160 m
Show answer
Answer: (D) 160 m Distance covered = 10 × 25 = 250 m = train + platform, so platform = 160 m.
Question 18

A speed of 162 km/h is equal to

  1. A40 m/s
  2. B583.2 m/s
  3. C45 m/s
  4. D81 m/s
Show answer
Answer: (C) 45 m/s Multiply by 5/18: 162 × 5/18 = 45 m/s.
Question 19

A train 170 m long running at 72 km/h crosses a platform in 15 seconds. What is the length of the platform?

  1. A110 m
  2. B130 m
  3. C160 m
  4. D300 m
Show answer
Answer: (B) 130 m Distance covered = 20 × 15 = 300 m = train + platform, so platform = 130 m.
Question 20

A boat goes 45 km downstream in 3 hours and 21 km upstream in 3 hours. What is the speed of the stream?

  1. A5 km/h
  2. B7 km/h
  3. C8 km/h
  4. D4 km/h
Show answer
Answer: (D) 4 km/h Downstream speed = 15, upstream = 7; stream = (downstream − upstream)/2 = 4 km/h.

These are RankerClub practice questions written in the UPSC Civil Services pattern. They are not official SSC/IBPS/RRB papers.

More Basic Numeracy & Data Interpretation topics

Data Interpretation 30 Qs Number System 26 Qs Profit, Loss & Discount 23 Qs Mensuration 21 Qs Simple & Compound Interest 19 Qs Ratio & Proportion 18 Qs Simplification & Approximation 18 Qs Average 17 Qs

All UPSC Civil Services topics →