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Verbal Reasoning · Guide 1 of 8

Letter codes and alphabet positions

Every letter has a number: A is 1 and Z is 26. Once you know where each letter sits, letter codes become simple counting.

  • Ages 9 to 11
  • 11+ Verbal Reasoning
  • Worked examples

What is it?

In a letter code question, a word is turned into a code by moving each letter along the alphabet. You work out the rule from one example, then use it to code (or decode) another word.

Most codes move every letter the same number of places, but some move each letter a different amount (+1, +2, +3…) or swap each letter for its mirror letter (A and Z, B and Y).

A typical question

If CAT is written in code as DBU, what is the code for DOG?

  1. A1
  2. B2
  3. C3
  4. D4
  5. E5
  6. F6
  7. G7
  8. H8
  9. I9
  10. J10
  11. K11
  12. L12
  13. M13
  14. N14
  15. O15
  16. P16
  17. Q17
  18. R18
  19. S19
  20. T20
  21. U21
  22. V22
  23. W23
  24. X24
  25. Y25
  26. Z26

How to spot it

  • The question gives a word and its code in capital letters, e.g. CAT → DBU.
  • It asks you to code a new word, or to work out what a code means.
  • Some ask for one letter only: 'Which letter is the 13th letter of the alphabet?'
  • Mirror codes: the first letters of the alphabet turn into the last ones (A → Z).

Step-by-step method

  1. Step 1: Write the alphabet out with the numbers 1 to 26 underneath (or learn them: E = 5, J = 10, O = 15, T = 20 are useful landmarks).
  2. Step 2: Line up the word and its code letter by letter.
  3. Step 3: Count how far each letter moves, forwards (+) or backwards (−). Write the move above each letter.
  4. Step 4: Check the pattern: are all the moves the same, going up (+1, +2, +3), or a mirror (each pair adds up to 27)?
  5. Step 5: Apply exactly the same moves, in the same order, to the new word.
  6. Step 6: Decoding? Do the moves backwards. Then read your answer to check it.

Worked examples

Example 1: the same move for every letter

Question: If CAT is written as DBU, what is the code for DOG?
  1. Step 1: C → D is +1, A → B is +1, T → U is +1. Every letter moves forward one place.
  2. Step 2: Move each letter of DOG forward one: D → E, O → P, G → H.

Answer: EPH

Example 2: a growing move

Question: If FISH is written as GKVL, what is the code for BIRD?
  1. Step 1: F → G is +1, I → K is +2, S → V is +3, H → L is +4. The move grows by one each letter.
  2. Step 2: Apply +1, +2, +3, +4 to BIRD: B → C, I → K, R → U, D → H.

Answer: CKUH

Example 3: a mirror code

Question: In a code, A is written as Z, B as Y and C as X. What is the code for DOG?
  1. Step 1: This is a mirror code: each letter swaps with the letter the same distance from the other end. Their positions add up to 27.
  2. Step 2: D is 4, and 27 − 4 = 23, which is W. O is 15, and 27 − 15 = 12, which is L. G is 7, and 27 − 7 = 20, which is T.

Answer: WLT

Common traps

  • Running off the end of the alphabet

    After Z, go back to A. So Y moved forward 3 places is B (Y → Z → A → B).

  • Coding when you should decode

    Read whether the question gives you the word or the code. To decode, move the letters the opposite way.

  • Checking only the first letter

    A code can change partway through (+1, +2, +3…). Work out the move for every letter, not just the first one.

  • Miscounting

    Count the jumps between letters, not the letters themselves: from C to F is 3 jumps (D, E, F).

Top tips

  • Learn the landmarks EJOTY: E = 5, J = 10, O = 15, T = 20, Y = 25.
  • Learn the mirror pairs too: A–Z, B–Y, C–X, D–W, E–V, M–N.
  • Write the moves (+1, +2…) above each letter so you can see the pattern.
  • Decoded answers are usually real words: if yours isn't, check your counting.

Practice questions

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