REASONING - COMPLETE

GUIDE TO CODING DECODING

Chapter 1: The Foundation of Logic
In any competitive exam (SSC, Banking, UPSC), Coding-Decoding is the backbone of the
Reasoning section. To solve these in under 30 seconds, you must treat the alphabet as
numbers.

1. ALPHABET POSITION MATRIX

Ltr Fwd Bwd Opp Mnemonic Ltr Fwd Bwd Opp Mnemonic

A 1 26 Z Azad N 14 13 M Man

B 2 25 Y Boy O 15 12 L Love

C 3 24 X Crux P 16 11 K Kanpur

D 4 23 W Dew Q 17 10 J Jack-Q

E 5 22 V EVening R 18 9 I [Link]

F 6 21 U Full S 19 8 H Hi-Sch

G 7 20 T GT Road T 20 7 G GT Road

H 8 19 S Hi-Sch U 21 6 F Full

I 9 18 R [Link] V 22 5 E EVening

J 10 17 Q Jack-Q W 23 4 D Dew

K 11 16 P Kanpur X 24 3 C Crux

L 12 15 O Love Y 25 2 B Boy

M 13 14 N Man Z 26 1 A Azad

1.1 Forward & Backward Positions

Memorize these 'Anchor' formulas to quickly calculate any letter's position:

Formula Positions Trick

EJOTY 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 Multiples of 5
CFILORUX 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24 The 'Cough Syrup' (Multiples of 3)
VQLG 22, 17, 12, 7 Backward Multiples of 5 (Approx)

The Rule of 27: The sum of a letter's forward and backward position is always 27. If you
know K is 11, its position from the end is 27 - 11 = 16.
1.2 The Opposite Letter Pairs
Pairs like A-Z and B-Y are called 'Opposites' because their positions add up to 27. You
must memorize them using these mnemonics:

A-Z Azad / Amazon H-S High School

B-Y Boy / Bye I-R Indian Railway
C-X Crux / Six J-Q Jack & Queen
D-W Dew / Drink Water K-P Kanpur / Kurta Pajama
E-V EVening / LOVE L-O LOVE / Light Off
F-U Full / Unfair M-N Man / Moon
G-T GT Road --- ---

Chapter 2: Letter Coding Patterns

Pattern 1: Fixed Shifting

Pattern 2: Reverse Order Coding

The word is simply reversed or shifted from the back.

Example: 'BOMBAY' -> 'YABMOB'. Logic: Full Reverse.

Pattern 3: Cross/Diagonal Shifting

This is the 'Level 2' of coding. The word is split into parts.

■ SHORT TRICK: Check the first and last letter of the code. If they relate to the
second and second-to-last letter of the word, it's a cross pattern.
Chapter 3: Number & Symbol Coding
Type A: Sum of Positions
Example: If CAT = 24 and SAD = 24, then SHE = ?

Logic: C(3)+A(1)+T(20) = 24. S(19)+A(1)+D(4) = 24.

SHE: S(19)+H(8)+E(5) = 32.

Type B: Multiple/Factor Logic

Example: If GO = 32 and SHE = 49, then SOME = ?

Logic: This doesn't match standard sums (G=7, O=15, Sum=22). Try Reverse!
G(Reverse=20), O(Reverse=12). 20+12=32.
S(8), H(19), E(22). 8+19+22=49.
SOME: S(8)+O(12)+M(14)+E(22) = 56.

Chapter 4: Substitution Coding

These are the easiest but most confusing. Look for keywords 'Is Called' or 'Means'.

Scenario 1: 'Is Called' Pattern

Question: If 'Rain' is 'Water', 'Water' is 'Road', 'Road' is 'Cloud', 'Cloud' is 'Sky', where do
planes fly?

Trick: Planes fly in 'Sky'. Since 'Sky' has no 'is called' after it, look for the word that
'is called' Sky. No, wait!
Rule: If 'X is Y', your answer is the word NEXT to the real answer.
Real Answer = Sky. But 'Cloud is Sky'. So the answer is Sky? No. The logic flows
forward.
Wait: In 'A is B', B is the code.
If 'Sky' is 'Sea', then planes fly in 'Sea'.

Chapter 5: Chinese Coding (Message Coding)

Commonly asked in Banking Exams (5-mark sets).

Example:
1. 'cloud is blue' = 'pa ma la'
2. 'sky is blue' = 'la ma ka'
3. 'blue looks good' = 'la ze po'

Approach (Elimination):
- Compare 1 & 2: 'is blue' is common. Codes 'pa ma la' vs 'la ma ka'. 'la' and 'ma'
are common.
- Compare 2 & 3: 'blue' is common. Code 'la' is common.
- Conclusion: 'blue' = 'la'. Therefore, in 1 & 2, 'is' = 'ma'.
 Chapter 6: New Pattern Logical Coding
Typical of SBI PO/IBPS PO Mains. Here, every word is coded into a Letter, a Symbol, and
a Number.

Example Code: 'GARDEN' coded as '7%14'

How to crack the code:

1. Number 7: Position of the first letter 'G'.

2. Symbol %: Represents that the word has 6 letters (Even).
3. Number 14: Position of the last letter 'N'.
■ CRACKING THE SYMBOL: Usually symbols depend on:
- Number of vowels
- Total length of word (Odd/Even)
- Starting letter category.

Chapter 7: Conditional Coding

You are given a table of Letters and Numbers, followed by specific conditions.

Example Table:
Letter P A U K E R
Code 7 2 @ 9 # 5
Conditions:

1. If first letter is a vowel and last is a consonant, both are coded as *.

2. If first and last letters are consonants, they are interchanged.

Question: Code for 'PUKE'?

Check Conditions: P (Consonant), E (Vowel). No condition applies.

Direct Code: P=7, U=@, K=9, E=#. Ans: 7@9#
Chapter 8: The Exam Strategy
1. The 5-Second Scan: Look at the options first. If all options start with different letters,
you only need to decode the first letter of the word.

2. The Logic Flow: If +1, +2 doesn't work, immediately check for Opposites. If that fails,
check for Cross-pattern.

3. Skip Rule: If a coding logic doesn't strike you in 40 seconds, mark it for review and
move on. Coding logic is often 'binary'—either you see it or you don't.
 Contents

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1 Reasoning Coding Decoding Prac- 50 3

tice Questions

⇒ Click on any chapter name above to jump directly to that section.

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 Reasoning Coding Decoding Practice Questions

1. In a certain code language, ‘FRI- 4. In a code language, ’you can start’

DAY’ is written as ‘KTHACF’ and is written as ’sent room dark’, ’can
‘MOSTLY’ is written as ‘UQOANV’. you read’ is written as ’room sent less’,
How will ‘GINGER’ be written in that and ’you are good’ is written as ’tyre
language? room spin’. What is the code for the
word ’can’ in this language?
A. PKITFI
B. TGIOKI A. room
C. PKITGI B. sent
D. PKIUHJ C. spin
D. dark
2. In a certain code language, ‘JAC-
CUZI’ is written as ‘KZDBVYJ’ and 5. In a certain code language, ’ROBOT’
‘QUIZZER’ is written as ‘RTJYADS’. is written as ’BOTOR’ and ’BRING’
How will ‘BUZZWIG’ be written in is written as ’INGRB’. How will ’PANTS’
that language? be written in that language?

A. ZVAAXJK A. STNAP
B. CTAYXHH B. NAPTS
C. ZTAXJHH C. NTSAP
D. DVBYYIJ D. NTSPA

3. In a code language, ’TRUCKS’ is 6. In a code language, ’sign up for

written as ‘GIFXPH’ and ‘WASTE’ is sports’ is written as ’kri rit vin gab’,
written as ‘DZHGV’. How will ’FAN- ’the sign post fell’ is written as ’pri
TASY’ be written in that language? dan rit nei’, ’the post is closed’ is writ-
ten as ’dan sha fal pri’. What is the
A. UZGMZHB
code for the word ’fell’ in this lan-
B. UZMGZHB
guage?
C. UZMGHZB
D. UZMZGHB A. pri
B. nei
C. fal
D. rit

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7. In a certain code language, ’TROU- C. mel
BLE’ is written as ’93’ and ’COM- D. tes
MUTE’ is written as ’90’. How will
11. In a code language, ’sky is blue’ is
’FRACTION’ be written in that lan-
written as ’mud pot sum’, ’i like blue’
guage?
is written as ’mud man log’, and ’I am
A. 86 sky’ is written as ’man red pot’.What
B. 76 is the code for the word ’is’ in this
C. 56 language?
D. 96
A. sum
8. In a code language, VACCINE is B. mud
written as 132
7
and MASKS is written C. red
72
as 5 . How will SANITIZE be written D. man
in that language?
12. In a code language, ’PARENT’
113
A. 8 is written as ‘11, 26, 9, 22, 13, 7’ and
89
B. 7 ‘DUMPSTER’ is written as ‘23, 6, 14,
113
C. 7 11, 8, 7, 22, 9’. How will ‘FLASK’ be
89
D. 8 written in that language?

9. In a certain code language, ’CHART’ A. 16, 8, 26, 15, 21

is written as ’GDASS’ and ’EMPTY’ B. 21, 15, 8, 26, 16
is written as ’LFPXU’. How will ’IN- C. 16, 8, 15, 26, 21
DEX’ be written in that language? D. 21, 15, 26, 8, 16

A. MIDWF 13. In a certain code language, LUC-

B. MJDWF KNOW is written as 6 and PATANA
C. MDJWF is written as
D. MWDJF 5. How will RAJASTHAN be writ-
ten in that language?
10. In a code language, ’trek to the
mountain’ is written as ’tes mel fern A. 8
lor’, ’the mountain is high’ is written B. 7
as ’lor max fern ani’, ’high to the sky’ C. 9
is written as ’tes ani sav fern’. What D. 6
is the code for the word ’trek’ in this
language?

A. fern
B. max

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14. In a certain code language, ‘GRANTED’
18. In a certain code language, ’ANY-
is written as ‘HPBLUCE’ and ‘FRAG- WAY’ is written as ’YNAYAW’ and
MENT’ is written as ‘GPBENCOR’. ’BATTLE’ is written as ’TABELT’. How
How will ‘IGNORE’ be written in that will ’COSTLY’ be written in that lan-
language? guage?

A. JFMPSC A. SOCYLT
B. JIOQTG B. SCTOLY
C. KHLNPC C. OCTSLY
D. JEOMSC D. YLTSOC

15. In a certain code language, ‘MOUN- 19. In a certain code language, ’CAS-
TAIN’ is written as ‘MNIATNUO’ and TLE’ is written as ’IFWWNF’ and
‘SENTENCE’ is written as ‘SECNETNE’. ’DRIVER’ is written as ’JWMYGS’.
How will ‘BIRTHDAY’ be written in How will ’FEMALE’ be written in that
that language? language?

A. BYADHTRI A. MKPDOF
B. BIYDHATR B. KKQEMG
C. YADHTRIB C. MJRDNO
D. YBIRHTDA D. LJQDNF

16. In a certain code language, ‘CRUDE’ 20. In a code language, ’WINNER’ is

is written as ‘5421183’ and ‘BOSTON’ written as ’XJOOFS’ and ’RALLY’ is
is written as ‘14152019152’. How will written as ’SBMMZ’. How will ’CAR-
‘DOCKET’ be written in that language? TOON’ be written in that language?

A. 815611520 A. DBSOPPU
B. 401022630 B. CAPTOON
C. 169251202 C. DBSUPPO
D. 205113154 D. CAPNOOT

17. In a certain code language, ‘COURT’ 21. In a code language, ’food is fresh’
is written as ‘ERWUV’, and ‘DANCE’ is coded as ’dy in pq’, ’bring fresh
is written as ‘FDPFG’. How will ‘EARTH’ food’ is coded as ’tq pq dy’, and ‘food
be written in that language? is hot’ is coded as ’dy in to’. What is
the code for the word ’fresh’?
A. GDTWJ
B. GDTWK A. In
C. GDTVJ B. to
D. GDTXJ C. pq

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D. dy 26. In a certain code language, ‘ALSO’
is coded as ‘8693’ and ‘SALE’ is coded
22. In a certain code language, ‘FROM’
as ‘2836’. What is the code for ‘E’ in
is coded as ‘4935’ and ‘MORE’ is coded
the given code language?
as ‘3154’. What is the code for ‘E’ in
the given code language? A. 9
B. 3
A. 5
C. 2
B. 1
D. 8
C. 9
D. 3 27. In a certain code language, ‘to-
wards the end’ is coded as ‘mb rh gp’
23. In a certain code language, ‘NUMB’
and ‘end it here’ is coded as ‘hk mb
is coded as ‘4618’ and ‘BUNT’ is coded
bl’. What is the code for ‘end’ in the
as ‘6438’. What is the code for ‘T’ in
given code language?
the given code language?
A. gp
A. 8
B. hk
B. 3
C. mb
C. 6
D. bl
D. 4
28. In a certain code language, ’PLOW’
24. In a certain code language, ‘FEND’
is coded as ’7164’ and ’WOLF’ is coded
is coded as ‘9735’ and ‘FEUD’ is coded
as ’1564’. What is the code for ’F’ in
as ‘3769’. What is the code for ‘U’ in
the given code language?
the given code language?
A. 6
A. 7
B. 1
B. 6
C. 5
C. 3
D. 7
D. 9
29. In a certain code language, ‘climb
25. In a certain code language, ‘AR-
the mountains’ is coded as ‘js bg md’
GOT’ is coded as ‘12497’ and ‘GRAFT’
and ‘climb the tree’ is coded as ‘bg cx
is coded as ‘29743’. What is the code
js’. What is the code for ‘tree’ in the
for ‘F’ in the given code language?
given code language?
A. 7
A. bg
B. 3
B. cx
C. 2
C. js
D. 4
D. md

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30. In a certain code language, ‘lost 34. In a certain code language, ‘DOTH’
in space’ is coded as ‘vp de ez’ and is coded as ‘3764’ and ‘HOLD’ is coded
‘never get lost’ is coded as ‘gb ez cy’. as ‘7943’. What is the code for ‘T’ in
What is the code for ‘lost’ in the given the given code language?
code language?
A. 6
A. gb B. 7
B. dc C. 4
C. vp D. 3
D. ez
35. In a certain code language, ‘SKATE’
31. In a certain code language, ‘LOBE’ is coded as ‘35186’ and ‘TAKER’ is
is coded as ‘2653’ and ‘BORE’ is coded coded as ‘51623’. What is the code
as ‘6823’. What is the code for ‘L’ in for ‘R’ in the given code language?
the given code language?
A. 1
A. 3 B. 3
B. 5 C. 2
C. 2 D. 6
D. 8
36. In a certain code language, ‘know
32. In a certain code language, ‘KNEW’ me better’ is coded as ‘jf bu pd’ and
is coded as ‘4682’ and ‘KINE’ is coded ‘better know something’ is coded as
as ‘6238’. What is the code for ‘I’ in ‘bu jf ls’. What is the code for ‘some-
the given code language? thing’ in the given code language?

A. 6 A. ls
B. 3 B. pd
C. 2 C. bu
D. 8 D. jf

33. In a certain code language, ‘fair 37. In a certain code language, ‘big
weather friend’ is coded as ‘kl ph gb’ small average’ is coded as ‘22 33 55’,
and ‘best friend ever’ is coded as ‘ju ‘small treat party’ is coded as ‘55 44
fv kl’. How is ‘friend’ coded in the 77’, and ‘party average people’ is coded
given language? as ‘77 22 99’. What is the code for
‘people’ in the given code language?
A. gb
B. ph A. 99
C. kl B. 22
D. fv C. 55

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D. 77 D. 8

38. In a certain code language, ‘SOLVE’ 42. In a certain code language, ‘GLOBE’
is coded as ‘36598’, ‘STORE’ is coded is coded as ‘84315’, ‘GRADE’ is coded
as ‘39164’, and ‘WHOLE’ is coded as as ‘89265’, and ‘BAKED’ is coded as
‘27689’. What is the code for ‘V’ in ‘12756’. What is the code for ‘R’ in
the given code language? the given code language?
A. 9 A. 9
B. 5 B. 8
C. 8 C. 6
D. 3 D. 2

39. In a certain code language, ‘GIRL’ 43. In a certain code language, ‘CODE’
is coded as ‘1539’ and ‘ROSE’ is coded is coded as ‘5739’ and ‘LEGS’ is coded
as ‘6825’. What is the code for ‘R’ in as ‘4256’. What is the code for ‘E’ in
the given code language? the given code language?
A. 5 A. 6
B. 8 B. 5
C. 6 C. 2
D. 3 D. 9

40. In a certain code language, ‘PING’ 44. In a certain code language, ‘HAIR’
is coded as ‘7953’ and ‘NOSE’ is coded is coded as ‘9715’ and ‘AGED’ is coded
as ‘4638’. What is the code for ‘N’ in as ‘8612’. What is the code for ‘A’ in
the given code language? the given code language?
A. 5 A. 1
B. 6 B. 2
C. 3 C. 8
D. 4 D. 7

41. In a certain code language, ‘MEANS’ 45. In a certain code language, ‘MOUSE’
is coded as ‘75821’, ‘RANGE’ is coded is coded as ‘74651’, ‘SPOKE’ is coded
as ‘84592’, and ‘PRIME’ is coded as as ‘52418’, and ‘PROUD’ is coded as
‘64237’. What is the code for ‘G’ in ‘26394’. What is the code for ‘K’ in
the given code language? the given code language?
A. 5 A. 2
B. 4 B. 8
C. 9 C. 5

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D. 1 D. ee

46. In a certain code language, ‘bright 50. In a certain code language, ‘NICE’
as day’ is coded as ‘cb mn ju’ and ‘day is coded as ‘2468’ and ‘CARS’ is coded
and night’ is coded as ‘mn fd rs’. How as ‘1235’. What is the code for ‘C’ in
is ‘day’ coded in the given language? the given code language?
A. fd A. 2
B. cb B. 1
C. ju C. 5
D. mn D. 6

47. In a certain code language, ‘RUIN’ Answer Key — Reasoning Coding De-
is coded as ‘3719’ and ‘RUNG’ is coded coding Practice Questions
as ‘7916’. What is the code for ‘G’ in
1. (C) 2. (B) 3. (B) 4. (B) 5. (C)
the given code language? 6. (B) 7. (A) 8. (A) 9. (B) 10. (C)
A. 7 11. (A) 12. (D) 13. (A) 14. (D) 15. (A)
B. 6 16. (D) 17. (A) 18. (A) 19. (D) 20. (C)
C. 9 21. (C) 22. (B) 23. (B) 24. (B) 25. (B)
D. 1 26. (C) 27. (C) 28. (C) 29. (B) 30. (D)
31. (B) 32. (B) 33. (C) 34. (A) 35. (C)
48. In a certain code language, ‘MEND’ 36. (A) 37. (A) 38. (B) 39. (A) 40. (C)
is coded as ‘3186’ and ‘MINE’ is coded 41. (C) 42. (A) 43. (B) 44. (A) 45. (B)
as ‘1623’. What is the code for ‘I’ in 46. (D) 47. (B) 48. (D) 49. (B) 50. (A)
the given code language?
A. 3
B. 6
C. 1
D. 2

49. In a certain code language, ‘cafe

hotel room’ is coded as ‘aa bb ee’,
‘room kitchen hall’ is coded as ‘ff aa
bb’, and ‘hall hotel garden’ is coded
as ‘ee ff tt’. What is the code for ‘gar-
den’ in the given code language?
A. bb
B. tt
C. ff