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SBI Clerk Coding Decoding

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This page covers SBI Clerk Coding Decoding with complete concept notes, 15 graded practice MCQs, key points and exam-specific tips. Free to study.

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Concept Notes

Coding Decoding— Rules & Concept

1.Core Concept

Read this first — the foundation of the topic

In coding, each letter or word is replaced by another letter, number, or symbol following a fixed rule. In decoding, you reverse this process to find the original word or its coded form

Letter Shift Coding

Each letter moves forward or backward by a fixed number in the alphabet. 2. Number/Position Coding: Letters are replaced by their position numbers in alphabet. 3

Substitution Coding

Specific letters are replaced by other specific letters. 4

Mixed Letter Coding

Combination of different coding methods

Formula for Letter Shift Coding

If A=1, B=2, C=3... Z=26 Forward Shift: New Position = (Original Position + Shift Value) Backward Shift: New Position = (Original Position - Shift Value) If result > 26, subtract 26. If result < 1, add 26.

2.Exam Patterns

What examiners ask — read before attempting PYQs
Recognition

SSC CGL typically asks 1-2 questions on coding decoding

Common formats include

- If CAT = DOG, then BAT = ? - In a code language, CHAIR is written as FKDLU. How is TABLE written? - If MONDAY is coded as 123456, then SUNDAY is coded as?

3.Shortcuts

Use these to save 30–60 seconds per question

#1 - Position Gap Method: Find the gap between original and coded letters for first 2-3 letters. Apply same gap to remaining letters. This works for 80% of shift coding questions.

4.Worked Example

Solve this step-by-step before moving on
1
Step 1

Find the pattern H → K (H=8, K=11, difference = +3) O → R (O=15, R=18, difference = +3) R → U (R=18, U=21, difference = +3) S → V (S=19, V=22, difference = +3) E → H (E=5, H=8, difference = +3)

2
Step 2

Pattern identified = Each letter shifts +3 positions

3
Step 3

Apply to TIGER T → W (T=20, +3=23=W) I → L (I=9, +3=12=L) G → J (G=7, +3=10=J) E → H (E=5, +3=8=H) R → U (R=18, +3=21=U) Answer: TIGER = WLJHU Worked Example 2: Question: If in a certain code, BRAIN is written as CQBJO, how is SMILE written?

1
Step 1

Analyze each position B → C (+1) R → Q (-1) A → B (+1) I → J (+1) N → O (+1)

2
Step 2

Pattern = +1, -1, +1, +1, +1 (mostly +1 except 2nd position)

3
Step 3

Apply to SMILE S → T (+1) M → L (-1) I → J (+1) L → M (+1) E → F (+1) Answer: SMILE = TLJMF Shortcut Trick #2 - Reverse Alphabet Method: If A→Z, B→Y, C→X pattern appears, use formula: Coded Letter Position = 27 - Original Letter Position. Shortcut Trick #3 - Number Coding Quick Check: For number codes, first check if numbers represent alphabetical positions (A=1, B=2...). If not, look for arithmetic progression patterns. #1 Most Common Trap/Mistake: Students often assume the same shift applies to all letters without checking each position carefully. Many codes use different shifts for different positions (like Example 2 above). Always verify the pattern for at least 3 letters before applying to the answer. Additional exam tip: If the pattern seems too complex, try working backwards from answer options - this often saves precious time in competitive exams.

Key Points to Remember

  • Coding Decoding involves finding patterns in letter/number substitutions
  • Most common pattern: Each letter shifts by same number of positions in alphabet
  • Formula: New Position = Original Position + Shift Value (adjust for alphabet limits)
  • Always check pattern in first 3 letters before applying to entire word
  • Reverse alphabet coding: A=Z, B=Y, use 27 minus original position
  • Number codes often represent alphabetical positions (A=1, B=2, C=3)
  • Mixed patterns have different shifts for different letter positions
  • Position Gap Method works for 80% of shift coding questions
  • If pattern is complex, work backwards from answer options to save time
  • SSC CGL typically includes 1-2 coding decoding questions per paper

Exam-Specific Tips

  • A=1, B=2, C=3... Z=26 is the standard alphabetical position formula
  • Forward shift formula: New Position = Original Position + Shift Value
  • Backward shift formula: New Position = Original Position - Shift Value
  • Reverse alphabet coding formula: Coded Position = 27 - Original Position
  • If coded position exceeds 26, subtract 26 to get correct alphabet position
  • If coded position is less than 1, add 26 to get correct alphabet position
  • Common shift values in SSC exams are +3, +2, +1, -1, -2, -3
  • Mixed position patterns typically alternate between +1 and -1 shifts
Practice MCQs

Coding Decoding — Practice Questions

15graded MCQs · easy to hard · full solution & trap analysis

All MCQs →
Practice 1easy

In a code language, vowels are replaced by the next vowel in sequence (A→E, E→I, I→O, O→U, U→A), and consonants remain unchanged. What is the code for the word 'BRAIN'?

Practice 2easy

In a certain code, each letter is replaced by the letter that comes 3 positions after it in the English alphabet. For example, A is coded as D, B is coded as E, and so on. If the word 'HELLO' is coded using this rule, what will be the code?

Practice 3easy

In a certain code, each letter's position in the alphabet is replaced by its corresponding number (A=1, B=2, C=3, ... Z=26). What is the numeric code for 'CAT'?

Practice 4easy

In a certain code, the position of letters in a word is reversed, and then each letter is replaced by the letter 1 position before it in the alphabet (B→A, C→B, D→C, etc.). What is the code for 'JUMP'?

Practice 5easy

In a certain coding system, each letter is replaced by the letter that comes 3 positions ahead of it in the English alphabet. For example, A is coded as D, B is coded as E, and so on. If a letter reaches beyond Z, it wraps around to the beginning (so X→A, Y→B, Z→C). Using this rule, what is the code for the word 'PRINT'?

Practice 6medium

In a certain coding system, each letter is replaced by the letter that comes 3 positions ahead in the alphabet (with Z wrapping to C). Using this rule, what is the code for the word 'BANK'?

Practice 7medium

In a code, the word 'LOGIC' is written as '12-15-7-9-3' where each letter is replaced by its position number in the alphabet. If 'REASON' is coded using the same rule, what is its code?

Practice 8medium

In a certain code, vowels are replaced by the next vowel in sequence (A→E, E→I, I→O, O→U, U→A), and consonants remain unchanged. What is the code for 'FRIEND'?

Practice 9medium

In a code, each letter is replaced by a symbol as follows: A=@, E=%, I=&, O=*, U=#, and all consonants are replaced by their position number in the alphabet. What is the code for 'COMPUTER'?

Practice 10medium

In a code, the word 'SILENT' becomes 'TKNFOV' where each letter is replaced by the letter 2 positions ahead, except the last letter which is replaced by the letter 3 positions ahead. Using this rule, what is the code for 'MARKET'?

Practice 11medium

In a certain coding system, each letter is replaced by the letter that comes 3 positions after it in the English alphabet, and the position wraps around (Z wraps to C). Additionally, vowels are replaced by the number corresponding to their position in the alphabet (A=1, E=5, I=9, O=15, U=21). Using this code, what is the encoding of the word 'PHONE'?

Practice 12hard

In a mirror-code system, letters are first converted to numbers (A=1, B=2, ..., Z=26), then the entire sequence is mirrored (reversed), and finally each number is replaced by its complement to 27 (i.e., 27 minus the number). For the word 'LOGIC', what is the final code?

Practice 13hard

In a hybrid code, consonants are shifted forward by 3 positions in the alphabet, vowels are replaced by their reverse position (A=26, E=22, I=18, O=8, U=4), and then the entire result is written in reverse order. What is the code for 'STRENGTH'?

Practice 14hard

A code uses the following rule: Replace each letter with the number of letters that come AFTER it in the alphabet (e.g., A=25 because 25 letters follow A; Z=0 because no letters follow Z). Then, sum all numbers and divide by the count of letters. Round down to the nearest integer. What is the code for 'BRAIN'?

Practice 15hard

In a coding system, each letter is replaced by the number representing its position in the alphabet, then each number is reversed (written backwards). Finally, all reversed numbers are added together. For example, if the word is 'CAB', then C=3, A=1, B=2. After reversing: 3→3, 1→1, 2→2. Sum = 3+1+2 = 6. Using this rule, what is the code for the word 'PRIZE'?

60-Second Revision — Coding Decoding

  • Remember: Check pattern in first 3 letters before solving completely
  • Formula: Shift coding = Original Position ± Shift Value
  • Trap: Don't assume same shift for all positions - verify each letter
  • Shortcut: Use Position Gap Method for quick pattern recognition
  • Technique: Work backwards from options if pattern seems complex
  • Quick check: A=1 to Z=26 for number-based coding questions
  • Time saver: Reverse alphabet uses 27 minus original position formula
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