Short Note on Alphabet Test in Reasoning Section

By Gaurav Mohanty|Updated : December 8th, 2021

The Reasoning section of every competitive exam includes questions from the topic “Alphabet Test”. This topic is considered to be quite important and every year a good number of questions are asked about this topic. We are providing you with Basic Concepts & Tricks to Alphabet Test-related Questions in Reasoning which will surely help you in the upcoming  SSC and other competitive Exams.

Basic Concepts & Tricks to Alphabet Test

In this type, the question asked is based on finding an English letter to the left or right of another English letter in alphabetical order. Sometimes the Question is based on finding the number of English letter(s) between two different English letters.

This type of question varies on the arrangement of alphabetical order. For example, it can be Backward, first half backward, second half backward, multiple letter segments in changed order etc. Some of the questions asked are based on finding the middle letter of two specified letters, and in some questions, it is asked which letters do not change their place after alphabet arrangement.

So, the detailed explanation with examples is as follow:

1. Place a letter in a forwarding order

In this type of question, the exact letter has to be found out with the help of the direction of the question. The example discussed below will give you a better idea about this type of question.

Ex 1:  Find the 11th letter to the left of the 20th letter from the left in the English alphabet.

(a) D

(b) J

(c) K

(d) I

Solution: (d)

Let us see

Notes on Alphabet Test in Reasoning Section

Hence, the 11th letter to the left of the 20th letter from the left is I.

Alternate Method

In the English alphabet, 11th letter to the left of 20th letter of your left =(20-11) th letter from the left=9th letter from the left =I

2. Place Of Letter in Completely Backward Order

In such questions, the order of letters is completely reversed, or they are counted from Z to A, and then the place of the letter is asked with the help of direction.

Ex 2:   If the English alphabet is written in backward order, then what will be the 13th letter to the left of the 3rd letter from right?

(a) P

(b) N

(c) R

(d) Q

Solution: (a)

Backward order is written as

Notes on Alphabet Test in Reasoning Section

Now, the 13th letter to the left of the 3rd letter from the right is P.

Alternate Method 

In backward order of the alphabet,13th letter to the left of the 3rd letter of your right =(3+13)th letter from right =16th letter from right P.

3. Place of a Letter When First Half is in Backward Order

In such type of question, only the 1st half of the order of alphabetical series is reversed. The remaining are left unaltered, i.e., the order of A to M is reversed, and then questions related to the latter's position are asked.

Ex 3:  If 1st half of the English alphabet is written in backward order, what will be the 7th letter to the left the 10th letter from your right?

(a) C

(b) E

(c) D

(d) J

Solution: (c)

Let us see

Notes on Alphabet Test in Reasoning Section

The 7th letter to the left of the 10th letter from our right is D.

4. Place of a Letter When Second Half is in Backward Order

In such types of questions, the 2nd half is reversed, i.e., from N to Z and remaining are kept as it is, and then questions related to the place of the English alphabet are asked.

Ex 4:  If 2nd half of the English alphabet is written in backward order, what will be the 7th letter to the right of the 13th letter from your left?

(a) T

(b) U

(c) V

(d) S

Solution: (a)               

Let us see

Notes on Alphabet Test in Reasoning Section

The 7th letter to the right of the 13th letter from our left is T.

5. Multiple Letter Segment in Backward Order

In such types of questions, no specified order of change is followed in alphabetical order. Instead, they are changed according to the condition given in a particular question.

Ex 5:  If the first four letters of the English alphabet are written in reverse order; again next 5 letters are written in reverse order; again next 6 letters are written in reverse order; next 7 letters are written in reverse order and finally, the remaining letters are also written in reverse order, then what will be the 7th letter to the left of the 8th letter from right?

(a)M

(b) N

(c) O

(d) L

Solution: (a)

Let us see the arrangement

Notes on Alphabet Test in Reasoning Section

 

The 7th letter to the 8thth letter from the right is M.

6. Number of Letter in the Middle of Two Letters

In this particular type, the question asked to calculate the total number of English letters between any two specified letters as directed in the question.

Four situations can be created under these types of problems

Notes on Alphabet Test in Reasoning Section

Ex 6: How many letters are there between the 8th letter from left and the 7th letter right in the English alphabet?

(a) 7

(b) 11

(c) 8

(d) 9

Solution: (b)

Let us see

Notes on Alphabet Test in Reasoning Section

There are 11th letters between the 8th letter from left and the 7th letter from right.

Alternate Method

Total number of letters in the English alphabet =26

Required number of letters =26-(8+7) =11

7. Middle Letter between Two letters

In these types of questions, it is asked to find the middle letter of the two specified letters of the English alphabet.

Ex 7: Which letter is in the middle of the 7th letter from the left and the 10th letter from the right in the English alphabet?

(a) L

(b) P

(c) M

(d) Q

Solution: (a)

Let us see

Notes on Alphabet Test in Reasoning Section

Letters between G and Q is L.

Alternate Method

10th letter from right =27-10 =17th letter from left.

Required middle letter =7+(17-7)/2 =24/2 =12th letter from left =L

8. Same Position of Alphabet after Arranging Alphabetically

A word is given in this type of question and then asked how many letters remain the same in their position if they are arranged in alphabetical order.

Ex 8: How many such letters are there in the word ‘CADMP’ which remain the same in their position if they are arranged in alphabetical order?

(a) One

(b) Two

(c) Three

(d) Four

Solution: (c)

Notes on Alphabet Test in Reasoning Section

So, such types of letters are D, M and P.

 

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