Xavier Aptitude Test 2025 Paper

Concept:A row or column is completed only when all $4$ cells in it are marked.To delay the end, keep every row and every column incomplete.Explanation:There are $4$ rows and $4$ columns in the grid.If no row is completed, each row can contain at most $3$ marked cells.So the maximum number of cells that can be marked without finishing the game is:$$4 \times 3 = 12$$This is possible by leaving exactly one cell unmarked in each row, arranged so that each column also has one unmarked cell.Thus the first $12$ moves can be made without any full row or column.On the $13$th press, one more cell must be marked.By then, at least one row will receive its $4$th mark, so the game must end.Therefore, the latest possible finishing move is the $13$th press.Answer:The maximum possible number of button presses needed to finish the game is $13$, which is Option D.