ALPHABET POSITION REFERENCE (A=1 … Z=26)

A B C D E F G H I J K L M

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

■ EJOTY TRICK — Memorise positions in multiples of 5: E=5 J=10 O=15 T=20 Y=25 (saves time in
exam!)

Opposite Letter Rule (A↔Z, B↔Y, C↔X … position + opposite = 27)

Letter Position Opposite (27-pos) Opposite Letter

A 1 26 Z

B 2 25 Y

C 3 24 X

D 4 23 W

E 5 22 V

F 6 21 U

G 7 20 T

H 8 19 S

I 9 18 R

J 10 17 Q

K 11 16 P

L 12 15 O

M 13 14 N
SECTION 1 — TYPES OF CODING-DECODING

Type 1: Letter Shift Coding

Each letter of the word is shifted forward (+n) or backward (−n) by a fixed number of positions in the alphabet.
This is the most common type in CSAT.

Sub-type Rule Original Coded

Forward +1 Each letter +1 CAT DBU

Forward +2 Each letter +2 CAT ECV

Backward −1 Each letter −1 CAT BZS

Backward −3 Each letter −3 MANGO JXKLE

Opposite Letter A↔Z, B↔Y… CAT XZG

Reverse of Word Reverse letters CAT TAC

Skip Alternate +2/+3 Odd +2, Even +3 CODE ERIH

Q: If COLD = DPME, then WARM = ? [+1 shift] C+1=D O+1=P L+1=M D+1=E ✓ W+1=X A+1=B
R+1=S M+1=N → Answer: XBSN

Type 2: Number Coding

Letters are replaced by numbers according to their position, reverse position, or a custom numeric key.

Method Rule Example

Direct Position A=1, B=2 … Z=26 CAT = 3-1-20

Reverse Position A=26, B=25 … Z=1 CAT = 24-26-7

Position + k A=2, B=3… (k=1) CAT = 4-2-21

Custom Key Given in question A=4, B=7 etc.

Sum of Positions Word → sum CAT = 3+1+20 = 24

Product Word → product ACE = 1×3×5 = 15

Q: If CAT = 24, DOG = ?, using sum of positions C=3 A=1 T=20 → 24 ✓ D=4 O=15 G=7 →
4+15+7 = 26 → Answer: 26

Type 3: Symbol / Substitution Coding

Letters or words are replaced by symbols, special characters, or other letters according to a key given in the
question. Purely memory/mapping based.

Q: In a code: A=@, B=#, C=*, D=& → What is BAD? B=# A=@ D=& → Answer: #@& Q: If
'apple' = 'mango', 'mango' = 'grape', 'grape' = 'lemon'… What is the colour of mango?
→ colour of mango = grape → Answer: grape
Type 4: Conditional / Replacement Coding
Special rules apply based on the first and last letters of the word, or based on vowels/consonants. Very common
in CSAT from 2015 onward.

Condition Action

First letter = vowel Code for first and last letters are interchanged

Last letter = consonant Last letter is coded as the next letter

Both first and last = vowels Both coded as #

Both first and last = consonants Both coded as @

Middle letter = vowel Coded as * (or specified symbol)

Given codes: A=2, B=7, C=9, D=3, E=6, F=5, G=4 Condition: If word starts with vowel →
interchange 1st and last letter codes Q: Code for ADGE? Normal: A=2, D=3, G=4, E=6 →
2346 Starts with vowel (A) → swap 1st & last codes → 6342 → Answer: 6342
 Type 5: Matrix / Table Coding
A 5×5 matrix is given with letters. Each letter is coded as (row, column). Two matrices are usually given — one
for the first half of the alphabet and one for the second half.

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

0 A B C D E 5 Z A B C D

1 F G H I J 6 E F G H I

2 K L M N O 7 J K L M N

3 P Q R S T 8 O P Q R S

4 U V W X Y 9 T U V W X

Q: Using the matrix above, code for BAD: B → row 0, col 1 → code: 01 A → row 0, col 0
→ code: 00 D → row 0, col 3 → code: 03 Answer: 01, 00, 03

Type 6: Mixed / Rearrangement Coding

Letters of the word are rearranged (reversed, scrambled, or skipped) and then shifted. Identify whether
rearrangement happens before or after shifting.

Type Description Example

Reverse + Shift Reverse word, then shift letters CAT → TAC → UBD (+1)

Shift + Reverse Shift letters, then reverse CAT → DBU → UBD

Alternate Reversal Reverse odd/even positioned letters ABCDE → BADCE

Skip + Shift Take alternate letters + shift CODING → C,D,N +1 → D,E,O

Number + Letter Mix Digits and letters follow sep. rules 2B4D → 3C5E (+1)

Q: If PAINT is coded as RCKPV, what is the code for BRUSH? P+2=R A+2=C I+2=K N+2=P
T+2=V ✓ (each letter +2) B+2=D R+2=T U+2=W S+2=U H+2=J → Answer: DTWUJ
Type 7: Word / Sentence Coding
Complete words are assigned codes. Two or more coded sentences are given. Identify common words across
sentences to decode a specific word.

Given: 'sky is blue' = 'pa ta ja' 'sea is deep' = 'ta na ka' 'blue sea water' = 'ja na
ra' Find code for 'blue': 'blue' appears in sentences 1 & 3 → common codes: 'ja'
Answer: ja Find code for 'is': 'is' appears in sentences 1 & 2 → common codes: 'ta'
Answer: ta

Type 8: Number-to-Letter Coding

Numbers are coded as letters based on the alphabet position. Often involves operations like adding/subtracting
from number, then converting.

Q: If 1=A, 2=B … 26=Z, decode 20-5-19-20: 20=T 5=E 19=S 20=T → Answer: TEST Q: If 3=Z,
4=Y, 5=X … (reverse), decode 22-26-20: 22=E 26=A 20=K → Answer: EAK

Type 9: Symbol-as-Operation Coding

Mathematical symbols are redefined. A question uses these new definitions and asks for the result. Very
common in recent CSAT papers.

Definitions: A @ B = A + B + AB A # B = A² − B Q: Find 3 @ 2 =? 3 + 2 + (3×2) = 5 + 6 =

11 → Answer: 11 Q: Find 4 # 3 =? 4² − 3 = 16 − 3 = 13 → Answer: 13
SECTION 2 — STEP-BY-STEP SOLVING METHODS

Method
Check for Letter Shift (+n or −n)
1
Compare corresponding letters of the original and coded word. Find the consistent difference. Apply same shift
to decode/encode the new word.

Example: COLD → DPME: C→D(+1) O→P(+1) L→M(+1) D→E(+1) ✓ Shift = +1 WARM + 1 = XBSN

Method
Check Opposite Letter Pattern
2
Check if each letter pairs with its opposite (A↔Z, B↔Y…). Sum of positions = 27.

Example: CAT → XZG: C(3)+X(24)=27 ✓ A(1)+Z(26)=27 ✓ T(20)+G(7)=27 ✓ Opposite!

Method
Check if Word is Reversed
3
See if the coded word is simply the original written backwards.

Example: STEP → PETS (reverse) FLOW → WOLF (reverse)

Method
Position Value Conversion
4
Convert each letter to A=1…Z=26. Check if numbers in the code match positions, reverse positions, or positions
± constant.

Example: CAT = 3-1-20 (direct) or CAT = 24-26-7 (reverse: 26−pos+1)

Method
Common Word Method (Sentence Coding)
5
List all sentences. Identify words appearing in multiple sentences and their common code. Eliminate possibilities
systematically.

Example: If word X appears in sentences 1 & 3, its code = common code in both coded
sentences.

Method
Matrix Lookup
6
Locate each letter in the matrix. Note (row, column) as the code. For decoding, find (row, col) in matrix and read
the letter.

Example: A at (0,0) → code 00 M at (2,2) → code 22 T at (3,4) → code 34

Method
Conditional Rule Application
7
Read ALL conditions carefully. Check first letter (vowel/consonant), last letter, and any other conditions. Apply
rules in the given priority order.

Example: If first=vowel: swap 1st & last codes. Else apply normal codes. ALWAYS check
conditions BEFORE applying the basic code.

Method
Decompose Mixed Coding
8
Split into: (a) rearrangement step, (b) shift step. Determine which step comes first by testing both possibilities.

Example: If ABCD → DCBA → EDCB: first reversed (ABCD→DCBA), then +1 each (DCBA→EDCB)
 SECTION 3 — QUESTION FORMATS IN CSAT

Format Description Approach

Encode a new word Given a code pattern, apply it to a new word. Find the rule from the example, apply to new word.

Decode a coded word Given a coded word, find the original. Reverse the rule (if +3 was used, apply −3).

Find the code for a letter What is the code for the letter X? Apply shift/position rule to that single letter.

Find meaning of a code What does code 'ta' mean? Use common-word elimination across sentences.

Identify the rule Which coding system is used? Test +1,+2,−1,−2,opposite,reverse systematically.

Conditional multi-step Apply multiple conditions to find code. Check all conditions, apply in priority order.

Odd one out Which word follows a different pattern? Find the rule, identify the exception.

Matrix coding Use a given matrix to encode/decode. Locate letter in matrix → note (row,col).

SECTION 4 — SOLVED PRACTICE QUESTIONS

Q1 [Letter Shift]

If PENCIL is coded as RGPEKN, what is the code for ERASER?

Solution: P→R(+2) E→G(+2) N→P(+2) C→E(+2) I→K(+2) L→N(+2) ✓ Shift = +2 E+2=G R+2=T
A+2=C S+2=U E+2=G R+2=T → Answer: GTCUGT

Q2 [Opposite Letters]

If MANGO is coded as NZMTL, what rule is being used?

Solution: M(13)→N(14) +1? A(1)→Z(26) opposite? N(14)→M(13) −1? Check: A→Z (opp), N→M
(−1), G→T (opp), O→L (−3)? Not consistent. Recheck: M→N(+1) A→Z(opp) N→M(−1)
G→T(+13=opp) O→L(−3)? Try opposite: M(13) opp=N(14)✓ A(1) opp=Z(26)✓ N(14) opp=M(13)✓
G(7) opp=T(20)✓ O(15) opp=L(12)✓ Rule: Opposite letters! → ERASER: V-I-Z-H-V-I → Answer:
VIZIVI

Q3 [Number Coding]

If ROSE = 45, LOTUS = 75, then LILY = ?

Solution: R(18)+O(15)+S(19)+E(5) = 57 ≠ 45. Try: R=18,O=15,S=19,E=5 → sum=57 Try position

sum differently: R=9,O=15/2?, Try: each letter position ÷2? Simpler: Number of letters ×
something? ROSE(4)×?=45, LOTUS(5)×?=75 45/4≠int. Try: sum of positions − something. 57−12=45
✓ L(12)+O(15)+T(20)+U(21)+S(19)=87, 87−12=75 ✓ LILY: L(12)+I(9)+L(12)+Y(25)=58, 58−12=46 →
Answer: 46
Q4 [Sentence Coding]

'Star is bright' = 'la da pa' | 'Moon is round' = 'da sa ka' | 'Star or Moon' = 'la ka ra' What is the code for 'bright'?

Solution: 'Star' in S1 & S3 → common code = 'la' ✓ 'Moon' in S2 & S3 → common code = 'ka'
✓ 'is' in S1 & S2 → common code = 'da' ✓ In S1: Star=la, is=da → bright must be = 'pa'
Answer: pa

Q5 [Conditional Coding]

Code: A=1 B=2 C=3 D=4 E=5 F=6 G=7 H=8 Rule: If word starts AND ends with consonant → swap their codes
Find code forBACH.

Solution: Normal: B=2 A=1 C=3 H=8 → 2138 B(consonant) and H(consonant) → swap 1st and last
codes 2138 → swap 2 and 8 → 8132 Answer: 8132
 SECTION 5 — EXAM TIPS & COMMON MISTAKES

■ Always memorise A=1…Z=26 and the EJOTY rule (E=5, J=10, O=15, T=20, Y=25).

■ For letter shift: compare FIRST two letters of both words. The difference is the shift.

■ If shift is not consistent — try Opposite Letters rule (sum = 27).

■ For sentence coding: always solve in 3+ sentences. The more sentences, the more certain the code.

■ For conditional coding: READ ALL conditions before applying. Don't rush.

■ For matrix coding: double-check row vs column. Row comes FIRST in the code (row, col).

■ If no pattern found in 30 seconds → try: (a) reversed word, (b) alternate letters coded, (c) two-step coding.

■ Symbol-as-operation questions: substitute values immediately, don't try to simplify symbols abstractly.

■ Never assume the shift is +1 — always verify with at least 2-3 letters.

■ In CSAT, 2-3 coding questions appear. They are usually moderate difficulty — do NOT skip them.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake Correct Approach

Forgetting Z wraps around to A (+1 of Z = A) Always treat alphabet as circular when shift > remaining letters

Confusing row and column in matrix Row index always comes FIRST in (row, col) format

Applying shift in wrong direction Verify direction with at least 2 letter pairs

Not checking all conditions in conditional coding Read all rules before solving

Assuming rearrangement = reverse Rearrangement could be skip-1, alternate, etc.