ZE
ZESTEXAM

SSC CHSL Coding Decoding

Study Material — 1 PYQs (2019–2019) · Concept Notes · Shortcuts

SSC CHSL Coding Decoding is a frequently tested subtopic — 1 previous year questions from 2019–2019 papers are included below with concept notes, key rules and shortcut tricks.

1 PYQs
2019–2019
27 Practice
MCQs
10 Key Points
to remember
Free
no login needed
Take Free Mock →Full Practice Set
Also for:CGLMTSGDCPO
PYQs
1
Practice
27
Key Points
10
Access
Free
Previous Year Questions

SSC CHSL Coding Decoding — Past Exam Questions

1 questions from actual SSC CHSL papers · all shown free · click option to reveal solution

Exam Q 12019Previous Year Pattern

In a certain code, each letter is replaced by its position number in the English alphabet, and then the digits of each number are added together if the number has two digits (e.g., 14 → 1+4 = 5). Finally, the entire sequence of resulting numbers is reversed. Using this rule, what is the code for 'MIST'?

Concept Notes

Coding Decoding— Rules & Concept

Core ConceptRead this first — the foundation of the topic
Core Concept

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.

Exam PatternsWhat 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?

ShortcutsUse 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.

Worked ExampleSolve 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

27graded MCQs · easy to hard · full solution & trap analysis · showing 20 of 27

All MCQs →
Practice 1easy

In a certain code, the position of each letter in the word is replaced by a number: A/E/I/O/U = 1, B/C/D/F/G = 2, H/J/K/L/M = 3, N/P/Q/R/S = 4, T/V/W/X/Y/Z = 5. What is the code for 'DESK'?

Practice 2easy

In a code, every alternate letter starting from the first is shifted backward by 1 position (A→Z, B→A, C→B, etc.), while other letters remain unchanged. What is the code for 'PENCIL'?

Practice 3easy

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. What is the code for the word 'HELLO'?

Practice 4easy

In a code language, each letter is replaced by the letter that is 2 positions before it in the English alphabet, with A wrapping to Y and B wrapping to Z. What is the code for 'GIFT'?

Practice 5easy

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 'BRAIN'?

Practice 6easy

In a certain coding system, each letter is replaced by the letter that comes 3 positions after it in the English alphabet (with Z wrapping to C, Y wrapping to B, X wrapping to A). Using this rule, what is the code for the word 'HELLO'?

Practice 7easy

In a certain code, each letter is replaced by the letter that comes 2 positions before it in the English alphabet (with wrapping: A→Y, B→Z). What is the code for 'JUMP'?

Practice 8easy

In a code language, vowels are replaced by the number representing their position in the vowel sequence (A=1, E=2, I=3, O=4, U=5), and consonants remain unchanged. Using this rule, what is the code for the word 'FRIEND'?

Practice 9easy

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 is the code?

Practice 10easy

In a code language, each word is written by reversing it and then replacing each vowel with the next vowel in sequence (A→E, E→I, I→O, O→U, U→A). What is the code for 'MAKE'?

Practice 11medium

In a code, the position of each letter in the word is noted (1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.), and each letter is replaced by the letter that is as many positions forward in the alphabet as the letter's position in the word. For example, in 'BAT': B (position 1) → C (1 position forward), A (position 2) → C (2 positions forward), T (position 3) → W (3 positions forward). Result: 'CCW'. Using this rule, what is the code for 'HELP'?

Practice 12medium

In a code, each letter is replaced by a number based on its position in the alphabet (A=1, B=2, ..., Z=26). Then, each number is multiplied by 2. What is the numeric code for 'BRAIN'?

Practice 13medium

In a certain code, each letter is replaced by the letter that comes 3 positions after it in the English alphabet. For example, A → D, B → E, and so on. Z wraps around to C. Using this rule, what is the code for the word 'LOGIC'?

Practice 14medium

In a code, consonants are replaced by the consonant that comes 2 positions after them in the consonant sequence (B, C, D, F, G, H, J, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, X, Y, Z), and vowels are replaced by the vowel that comes 1 position after them in the vowel sequence (A, E, I, O, U). For example, B→D, A→E. What is the code for 'BRIGHT'?

Practice 15medium

In a certain code, each letter is assigned a number: A=1, B=2, C=3, ..., Z=26. A word is encoded by replacing each letter with its number, then summing all numbers. If the sum is greater than 50, subtract 50; if the sum is less than or equal to 50, add 10. What is the code for 'CAT'?

Practice 16medium

In a code, vowels (A, E, I, O, U) 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 'DREAM'?

Practice 17medium

In a 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 18medium

In a certain code, the position of each letter in the word is numbered from left to right starting at 1. Each letter is replaced by the letter at position (original position + 2) in the alphabet, wrapping around if necessary. What is the code for 'MASTER'?

Practice 19medium

In a certain code, each letter is replaced by the letter that comes 3 positions after it in the English alphabet. For example, A→D, B→E, C→F, and so on. Z wraps around to C. Using this code, what is the encoding of the word 'LOGIC'?

Practice 20hard

A hybrid code uses this rule: consonants are shifted forward by 3 positions in the alphabet, vowels are replaced by their position number (A=1, E=5, I=9, O=15, U=21), and then the entire result is reversed. For example, 'BAT' → B(+3=E), A(=1), T(+3=W) → E-1-W → W-1-E. What is the code for 'STUDENT'?

7 more practice questions in the Study Panel

Difficulty-graded, bookmarkable, with timed mode. Free account — no credit card.

Create Free Account →Browse Questions

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
Studied the notes? Now test yourself
See how Coding Decoding appears in the real SSC CHSL paper
Full timed mock · Instant All-India percentile · Free
Free forever for basic prepNo app downloadReal exam-pattern questions12,000+ aspirants
Test Coding Decoding under exam conditions
Free SSC CHSL mock · instant rank · no login
Free Mock →