Core ConceptRead this first — the foundation of the topic
Each letter has a fixed position
A=1, B=2, C=3... Questions can ask about positions from left (A=1) or right (Z=1, Y=2, X=3). Most SSC questions use left-side positioning
Key Rules
First, memorize that A=1 and Z=26 from the left. From the right, A=26 and Z=1. The formula for right position is: Right Position = 27 - Left Position. For example, M is 13th from left, so from right it's 27-13=14th position
Common question types include
finding positions of letters, arranging letters in alphabetical order, identifying middle letters in sequences, finding letters at specific positions after rearrangement, and determining which letter comes before or after a given letter.
ShortcutsUse these to save 30–60 seconds per question
Worked ExampleSolve this step-by-step before moving on
1
Step 1
Write down the letters in PLANET: P, L, A, N, E, T
2
Step 2
Arrange these letters alphabetically by comparing their positions in the alphabet:
A=1, E=5, L=12, N=14, P=16, T=20
3
Step 3
Alphabetical order becomes: A, E, L, N, P, T
4
Step 4
Count positions: 1st=A, 2nd=E, 3rd=L
5
Step 5
Answer is L
Another Shortcut: For finding positions quickly, remember these landmark letters: E=5, J=10, O=15, T=20, Y=25. These help you estimate nearby letter positions without counting from A.
Exam PatternsWhat examiners ask — read before attempting PYQs
SSC typically asks 1-2 alphabet test questions. Common formats include word arrangement, finding missing letters in sequences, and position-based problems. Questions often combine alphabet knowledge with logical sequences.
Exam TrapsCommon mistakes students make — avoid these
Students often confuse left and right positions. Always clarify whether the question asks for position from left (standard) or right. Another mistake is miscounting when arranging letters - always double-check your alphabetical order.
Practice writing the alphabet backward to strengthen right-position calculations.
Key Points to Remember
English alphabet has 26 letters with A=1, B=2... Z=26 from left side
Right position formula: 27 - Left position (A=26, Z=1 from right)
If the letters of the English alphabet are written in reverse order (Z, Y, X, ..., B, A), which letter will be the 7th letter from the left?
Practice 2easy
If you count from the right side of the alphabet, which letter is at the 5th position?
Practice 3easy
In the English alphabet, how many letters are there between M and V (excluding both M and V)?
Practice 4easy
Starting from B and counting every 3rd letter (B, E, H, K, ...), which letter will you reach after counting 6 letters in this sequence?
Practice 5medium
In the English alphabet, if you skip one letter and write the next, starting from A, which letter will appear at the 9th position in this new sequence?
Practice 6medium
In the English alphabet, if every alternate letter starting from B is removed, which letter will be at the 7th position in the remaining sequence?
Practice 7medium
If the alphabet is written in reverse order and every 3rd letter is marked, which letter will be the 5th marked letter?
Practice 8medium
In a certain code, letters are numbered as: A=1, B=2, C=3... Z=26. If a word's code is found by adding the position values of all its letters, what is the code for the word 'LOGIC'?
Practice 9medium
If you count from Z backwards to A, and mark every letter whose position from Z is a multiple of 4, which of the following letters will be marked?
Practice 10hard
If the alphabet is written in reverse order (Z, Y, X, ..., B, A) and we count 7 positions to the right from the 5th letter in this reversed sequence, which letter do we land on? Then, find the position of that letter in the normal alphabet.
Practice 11hard
In a modified alphabet where every vowel is replaced by the next consonant and every consonant is replaced by the previous vowel, what is the code for 'STRENGTH'?
Practice 12hard
If we write the alphabet in groups of 3 (ABC, DEF, GHI, JKL, MNO, PQR, STU, VWX, YZ), and then reverse each group individually, what is the position of the letter 'R' in the new sequence?
Practice 13hard
In a code, the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, ... letters of a word are shifted forward by 2 positions in the alphabet, while the 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th, ... letters are shifted backward by 3 positions. What is the code for 'PLATFORM'?
Practice 14hard
In a certain code language, the positions of letters in the English alphabet are used to create a cipher. If we reverse the alphabet (Z=1, Y=2, X=3, ... A=26), and then apply a +3 shift to each reversed position value, what will be the code for the word 'ZEBRA'?
Practice 15hard
In a certain code language, if we reverse the alphabet (A↔Z, B↔Y, C↔X, etc.), what will be the code for the word 'REASONING'?
60-Second Revision — Alphabet Test
Remember: A=1, Z=26 from left; reverse for right positions
Formula: Right position = 27 - Left position
Landmark: E=5, J=10, O=15, T=20, Y=25 for quick positioning
Method: Always arrange letters alphabetically before counting positions
Trap: Check if question asks left or right position
Practice: Write alphabet backward for right-position speed
Focus: Word arrangement questions are most common in SSC