ZestExam

Series Completion

AFCAT · Logical Reasoning

Also prepare for:NDA CDS Agniveer Agni Army

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Core Concept

Read this first — the foundation of the topic

→Core Concept

Every series has a hidden logic or pattern. Your job is to crack this pattern and find the next or missing term. The pattern can be based on alphabetical order, numerical gaps, positional values, or combinations

🔑Alphabetical Position Rule

A=1, B=2, C=3...

📋Gap Pattern

Fixed gaps between consecutive letters 3

📋Reverse Pattern

Series going backwards in alphabet 4

📋Alternate Pattern

Two different patterns running together 5

📋Position-based Pattern

Even/odd positions follow different rules

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Formula Block

Memorise — at least one formula appears in every paper

- Alphabetical Position: Letter Position = (Letter ASCII value - 64) for capitals

- Gap Formula: Next term = Current term + Fixed gap

- Alternate Series: Odd positions follow Pattern A, Even positions follow Pattern B

- Reverse Counting: Z=1, Y=2, X=3... A=26

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Exam Patterns

What examiners ask — read before attempting PYQs

→Count positions

A to D = gap of 3, D to G = gap of 3. If gaps match, you've found your pattern

✏️Worked Example 1

1

Break into individual letters: A-C, F-H, K-M, P-R

2

Find gaps in first letters: A(1) to F(6) = +5, F(6) to K(11) = +5, K(11) to P(16) = +5

3

Find gaps in second letters: C(3) to H(8) = +5, H(8) to M(13) = +5, M(13) to R(18) = +5

4

Pattern confirmed - both positions have +5 gap

5

Next term = P(16)+5 = U(21), R(18)+5 = W(23) Answer: UW Shortcut Trick #2 - The 'Alphabet Skip Method': When you see letters with big gaps, convert to numbers immediately. It's faster to work with 1,6,11,16 than A,F,K,P

✏️Worked Example 2

1

Identify pattern structure - Letter+Number+Letter

2

First letters: B,D,F,H (gap of +2 each)

3

Last letters: D,F,H,J (gap of +2 each)

4

Middle numbers: 2,6,18,54

5

Number pattern: 2×3=6, 6×3=18, 18×3=54, 54×3=162

6

Next first letter: H+2=J, Next last letter: J+2=L Answer: J162L Shortcut Trick #3 - The 'Reverse Psychology': If normal alphabetical order doesn't work, try reverse order where A=26, B=25, etc. Many SSC questions use this trick

⚠️#1 Most Common Trap

Students often miss that a series has TWO separate patterns running simultaneously. They solve for one pattern and ignore the other. Always check if odd and even positions follow different rules. For example, in series ACF, BEH, the first letters follow +2 gap (A,B) while the second and third letters follow different patterns. Another major mistake is confusing alphabetical positions

💡Remember

A=1, not A=0. This single error can derail your entire solution

💡Time Management Tip

Spend maximum 90 seconds per series question. If pattern isn't clear in 30 seconds, try the reverse approach or skip and return later.

🔑 Key Points

Every letter series follows a hidden pattern - find the logic first, then apply
Convert letters to numbers using A=1, B=2... Z=26 for faster calculation
Gap Pattern Formula: Check if consecutive terms have fixed gaps (+2, +3, +4)
Reverse Pattern Formula: Sometimes A=26, B=25... Z=1 is used
Alternate Series Rule: Odd and even positions may follow completely different patterns
5-Second Gap Check: Immediately verify if gaps between consecutive letters are consistent
Alphabet Skip Method: Work with numbers (1,6,11,16) instead of letters (A,F,K,P)
Two-pattern trap: Most errors occur when students miss that series has dual patterns
Time limit: Maximum 90 seconds per question, skip if pattern unclear in 30 seconds
Position counting: A=1 not A=0, this basic error ruins entire calculations

📌 Exam Facts

A=1, B=2, C=3... Z=26 is the standard alphabetical position formula used in SSC
Most SSC series use gaps of +2, +3, +4, or +5 between consecutive terms
Reverse alphabetical counting follows Z=1, Y=2, X=3... A=26 pattern
ASCII value formula: Capital letter position = ASCII value - 64
Gap Pattern Formula: Next term = Current term + Fixed gap value
Alternate Series Formula: Position 1,3,5 follow Pattern A; Position 2,4,6 follow Pattern B
Common SSC gaps: +1,+3,+5 (odd gaps) or +2,+4,+6 (even gaps) in same series
Mixed series format: Letter+Number+Letter combinations appear in 30% of SSC questions

🚀 60-Second Revision

Remember: Convert letters to numbers immediately - A=1, B=2... Z=26
Formula: Gap Pattern = Current term + Fixed gap for next term
Trap: Always check if odd and even positions have different patterns
Shortcut: 5-second gap check - verify consistent gaps between consecutive terms
Time: Maximum 90 seconds per question, skip if no pattern in 30 seconds
Pattern: Most SSC series use +2, +3, +4 gaps or reverse alphabetical order
Error: Never confuse A=1 with A=0, this basic mistake ruins calculations

🎯

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