CSAT Classes For Prelims 2026
Reasoning - #002
CODING DECODING, CHARACTER PUZZLE
# BASE CONCEPTS – QUICK REVISION
CODING DECODING
Coding means to hide the meaning of any message and decoding means to understand
the actual meaning of that message.
In questions based on coding-decoding, a word or sentence is coded in a particular way
and the candidates are asked to code other word or sentence in the same way or to
decode the word or sentence.
Letter/ Number coding
• Letters of a word are replaced by certain other letters or numbers according to a
specific pattern/rule to form a code
• The letters can have same coding and follow a certain pattern.
o Example: In a certain code language, ‘VIRGO’ is written as ‘OGRIV’ and
‘ARIES’ is written as ‘SEIRA’. How will ‘LIBRA’ be written in the same code?
(Answer: ARBIL)
• Either numerical code values are assigned to a word or alphabetical code letters
are assigned to the numbers in these questions.
o Clearly, letters and numbers are correlated to each other in no other way
except in relation to the position of the letters in the English alphabet. So,
either this relation holds or the coding has to be done as per a set of given
rules.
Type 1 – Same letter coding
• Coding pattern where each letter is replaced by a letter or group of letters a
certain number of positions ahead in the word itself. Eg. Eg – PENCIL is coded as
‘EPCNLI after half reversal of every group of two alphabets in the word (PE, NC,
IL).
• This can also be:
o Backward shift where each letter is replaced by a letter a certain number
of positions behind in the word. Eg – PENCIL be coded as ‘NEPLIC’
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CSAT Classes For Prelims 2026
Reasoning - #002
o Reversal where the entire word or its individual letters are reversed. Eg –
PENCIL is coded as ‘LICNEP’
Type 2 - Different Letter coding
• Coding pattern where the same original letter is replaced by the same coded letter
throughout the message.
• This can be:
o Direct mapping where a specific letter always maps to the same coded
letter. Same as Direct Letter coding below.
o Opposite Letter Coding where the letters are paired with their
corresponding End-Pairs in the alphabet. (A – Z, B – Y, C – X, D - W)
o Positional coding where code of a letter is determined by its position
within the alphabet or the word itself. Eg – A letters position can be
directly used for variation or with addition/Subtraction with a fixed
number. (Recall class on series)
Type 3 - Direct Letter coding
• Coding where a specific letter always maps to the same coded letter. Eg – If ‘A’ is
always coded as ‘X’ and ‘B’ as ‘Y’ and so on; then ‘CAB’ would be coded as ‘ZXY’.
Type 4 - Letter to number coding
• Coding where letters are assigned corresponding numerical values.
• This can be:
o Values assigned based on its position in the alphabet (A=1, B=2), etc.)
o Code wherein letters are replaced by numerical codes or symbols that are
provided in the problem..
Type 5 - Number to number coding
• Coding where numbers are shifted in a pattern, and question is to apply the
pattern observation to given number and find the answer. Eg. 327 is written as
237, and 230 as 320. Then 862 will be 862.
Type 6 – Sentence coding or Character Puzzle
• Coding where an entire word is replaced by another word that fits a certain logical
pattern.
• It can also be code substitution, where letters are encrypted with a special code
word based on a specific rule or are simply assigned certain substitution names.
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CSAT Classes For Prelims 2026
Reasoning - #002
Eg - On another planet, the local terminology for 'earth', 'water', 'light', 'air' and
'sky' are 'sky', 'light', 'air', 'water' and 'earth' respectively.
• To analyse such codes, any two messages bearing a common word are picked up.
The common code-word will thus represent that word.
Position of Letters in English Alphabet
• Sometimes a word or a sentence is coded by changing the position of English
alphabet letters according to a definite pattern.
Going Forward 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
Alphabet A B C D E F G H I J K L M
Going back from Z 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14
Going Forward 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26
Alphabet N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Going back from Z 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Note: If we have to find the letter one placed forward to A, then the letter will be
B. However, when one is asked to find the letter which is one letter backward of A
(Z is one letter backward A) or one letter forward of Z (A is the one letter forward
Z), then only circular arrangement gives such results.
Method to Remember the Position of Letters in English Alphabet
Some method/techniques are given to remember the positions of English alphabets
in forward or backward order.
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CSAT Classes For Prelims 2026
Reasoning - #002
1. By using EJOTY and CFILORUX formulae, we can easily remember the position of
letters
of English alphabet in forward order.
Note:
Backward order position of a letter = 27 - Forward order position of letter
e.g. Backward order position of B = 27 - Forward order position of B = 27 - 2 = 25
2. By Using V Q L G B and X U R O L I F C, we can easily remember the position of
letters of English alphabet is reverse order.
# LET’S SOLVE
# BEGINNER
1. Using a particular code ‘HILTON’ is encrypted as ‘IHTLNO’. Choose the right option
for ‘BILLION’ coded in the same form?
(a) IBLLION
(b) IBOILLN
(c) IBLLOIN
(d) IBLOILN
2. If in a certain language, MADRAS is coded as NBESBT, how is BOMBAY coded in
that code?
(a) CPNCBX
(b) CPNCBZ
(c) CPOCBZ
(d) CQOCBZ
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CSAT Classes For Prelims 2026
Reasoning - #002
3. In a certain code, TRIPPLE is written as SQHOOKD. How is DISPOSE written in that
code?
(a) CHRONRD
(b) DSOESPI
(c) ESJTPTF
(d) ESOPSID
4. If BROWN is written as ‘ZPMUL’, then VIOLET is coded as
(a) TGMJCR
(b) SGMJCQ
(c) TGMJCQ
(d) TGWCQ
5. If CHAIR is written as ‘12345’, RENT is written as ‘5678’, and then REAR is
written as
(a) 5635
(b) 5356
(c) 5365
(d) 5653
6. In A certain code language, '234' means 'spark and fire', '456' means 'spork is
cause' and '258' means 'fire is effect'. Which of the following numerals is used
for 'cause'?
(a) 3
(b) 4
(c) 5
(d) 6
z AIR
7. If in a code language, COULD is written as BNTKC and MARGIN is written as
LZQFHM, how will MOULDING be written in that code?
(a) CHMFINTK
(b) LNKTCHMF
(c) LNTKCHMF
(d) NITKHCMF
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CSAT Classes For Prelims 2026
Reasoning - #002
8. In a code language, STARK is written as LBFMG and MOBILE is written as TNRSPJ.
How is BLAME written in that code?
(a) TSFRJ
(b) RPFTJ
(c) NJFTP
(d) TSFGJ
9. In a certain code, '786' means 'study very hard', '958' means 'hard work pays'
and '645' means 'study and work'. which of the following is the code for 'very'?
(a) 8
(b) 6
(c) 7
(d) cannot be determined
10. If GOODNESS is coded as HNPCODTR, then how GREATNESS can be written in that
code?
(a) HQZSMFRT
(b) HQFZUFRTM
(c) HQFZUODTR
(d) HQFZUMFRT
# PRO
11. If FRAGRANCE is written as SBHSBODFG, how can IMPOSING be written?
(a) NQPTJHOJ
(b) NQPTJOHI
(c) NQTPJOHJ
(d) NQPTJOHJ
12. If 'WORK' is coded as '4-12-9-16', then how will you code 'WOMAN'?
(a) 4-12-14-26-13
(b) 4-26-14-13-12
(c) 23-12-26-14-13
(d) 23-15-13-1-14
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CSAT Classes For Prelims 2026
Reasoning - #002
13. Suppose that a particular ‘TIGER’ is written as ‘QDFHS’. Find out how ‘FISH’ will be
written in the same code?
(a) GERH
(b) GRHE
(c) GREH
(d) GHRE
14. In a certain code, DECEMBER is written as ERMBCEDE. Which word will be written
as ERMBVENO in that code?
(a) AUGUST
(b) SEPTEMBER
(c) OCTOMBER
(d) NOVEMBER
15. If GRASP is code as TIZHK, what will be code as OVTZXB?
(a) LEGATE
(b) LEAGUE
(c) LEGACY
(d) LEDGER
16. If BAG = 71, then VICE = ?
(a) 69
(b) 70
(c) 75
(d) 90
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CSAT Classes For Prelims 2026
Reasoning - #002
# KNOW YOUR PYQ
CODING, DECODING
1. If NO is coded as 210, NOT is coded as 4200 and NOTE is coded as 21000, then how
is NOTES coded? (2025)
(a) 399000
(b) 420000
(c) 440000
(d) 630000
2. If FRANCE is coded as 654321 and GERMANY is coded as 9158437, then how is
YEMEN coded? (2025)
(a) 54321
(b) 81913
(c) 71913
(d) 71813
3. In a certain code if 64 is written as 343 and 216 is written as 729, then how is
512 written in that code? (2025)
(a) 1000
(b) 1331
(c) 1728
(d) 2197
4. If in a certain code, 'ABCD' is written as 24 and 'EFGH' is written as 1680, then
how is IJKL' written in that code? (2024)
(a) 11880
(b) 11240
(c) 7920
(d) 5940
5. If in a certain code, 'POT' is written as ATOP and 'TRAP' is written as APART, then
how is 'ARENA' written in that code? (2024)
(a) AARENA
(b) AANREA
(c) AANEAR
(d) AANERA
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Reasoning - #002
6. In some code, letters P, Q, R, S, T represent numbers 4, 5, 10, 12, 15. It is not known
which letter represents which number. If Q-S =2S and T = R+S+ 3, then what is
the value of P + R - T? (2024)
(a) 1
(b) 2
(c) 3
(d) Cannot be determined due to insufficient data
7. If 'ZERO' is written as 'CHUR', then how is 'PLAYER' written? (2023)
(a) SOCAGT
(b) SODBGT
(c) SODBHT
(d) SODBHU
8. In a code language 'MATHEMATICS' is written as LBSIDNZUHDR. How is
'CHEMISTRY written in that code language? (2021)
(a) DIDLHRSSX
(b) BIDNHTSSX
(c) BIDLHTSSX
(d) DGFLIRUQZ
9. The letters from A to Z are numbered from 1 to 26 respectively. If GHI = 1578 and
DEF = 912, then what is ABC equal to? (2020)
(a) 492
(b) 468
(c) 262
(d) 246
10. LSJXVC is the code for MUMBAI, the code for DELHI is (2018)
(a) CCIDD
(b) CDKGH
(c) CCJFG
(d) CCIFE
11. If RAMON is written as 12345 and DINESH as 675849, then HAMAM will be
written as (2018)
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Reasoning - #002
(a) 92233
(b) 92323
(c) 93322
(d) 93232
12. A military code writes SYSTEM as SYSMET and NEARER as AENRER. Using the
same code, FRACTION can be written as: (2016)
(a) CARFTION:
(b) FRACNOIT
(c) NOITCARF
(d) CARFNOIT
13. What is the missing number X' of the series 7, X, 21, 31, 43? (2015)
(a) 11
(b) 12
(c) 13
(d) 14
CHARACTER PUZZLE
14. If 7 f 9 f 10 = 8, 9 f 11 f 30 = 5, 11 f 17 f 21 = 13,
what is the value of 23 f 4 f 15？ (2023)
(a) 6
(b) 8
(c) 13
(d) 15
15. What is the middle term of the sequence
Z, Z, Y, Y, Y, X, X, X, X, W, W, W, W, W,..., A? (2023)
(a) H
(b) I
(c) J
(d) M
16. If the order of the letters in the English alphabet is reversed and each letter
represents the letter whose position it occupies, then which one of the following
represents LUCKNOW? (2022)
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CSAT Classes For Prelims 2026
Reasoning - #002
(a) OGXPMLD
(b) OGXQMLE
(c) OFXPMLE
(d) OFXPMLD
17. Following is a matrix of certain entries. The entries follow a certain trend row-
wise. Choose the missing entry (?) accordingly. (2021)
7B 10A 3C
3C 9B 6A
10A 13C ?
(a) 9B
(b) 3A
(c) 3B
(d) 3C
18. Consider the following sequence of numbers:
51473985726315
863852243496
How many odd numbers are followed by the odd number in the above sequence?
(2020)
(a) 5
(b) 6
(c) 7
(d) 8
19. In a certain code, 256’ means ‘red colour chalk’, ‘589’ means ‘green colour flower’
and 254’ means ‘white colour chalk’. The digit in the code that indicates ‘white’
is (2020)
(a) 2
(b) 4
(c) 5
(d) 8
20. What is the missing term @ in the following? ACPQ: BESU :: MNGI : @ (2020)
(a) NPJL
(b) NOJM
(c) NPIL
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Reasoning - #002
(d) NPJM
21. Consider the following pattern of numbers:
8 10 15 13
6 5 7 4
4 6 8 8
6 11 16 ?
What is the number at ? in the above pattern? (2018)
(a) 17
(b) 19
(c) 21
(d) 23
22. Consider the following matrix:
3 8 10 2 ? 1
6 56 90 2 20 0
What is the missing number at "?' in the matrix? (2015)
(a) 5
(b) 0
(c) 7
(d) 3
23. Consider the following: (2023)
I. A+ B means A is neither smaller nor equal to В.
II. A-B means A is not greater than В.
III. A× B means A is not smaller than B.
IV. A/B means A is neither greater nor equal to B.
V. A± B means A is neither smaller nor greater than B.
Statement: PxQ, P-T, T/R, R±S
Conclusion-1: Q±T
Conclusion-2: S+Q
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above Statement and the
Conclusions?
(a) Only Conclusion-1 follows from the Statement.
(b) Only Conclusion-2 follows from the Statement.
(c) Both Conclusion-1 and Conclusion-2 follow from the Statement.
(d) Neither Conclusion-1 nor Conclusion-2 follows from the Statement.
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CSAT Classes For Prelims 2026
Reasoning - #002
# ANSWERS - Sequence and Series
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Canal Road, Patna, Bihar 800001 | Hyderabad - 1st & 2nd Floor, SM Plaza, RTC X Rd, Indira Park Road, Jawahar Nagar, Hyderabad, Telangana 500020
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