Study Material โ 9 PYQs (2023โ2023) ยท Concept Notes ยท Shortcuts
SSC CPO Alphabet Test is a frequently tested subtopic โ 9 previous year questions from 2023โ2023 papers are included below with concept notes, key rules and shortcut tricks.
9 questions from actual SSC CPO papers ยท all shown free ยท click option to reveal solution
Exam Q 12023Previous Year Pattern
If the letters of the English alphabet are written in reverse order (Z, Y, X, W, ..., C, B, A), then which letter will be the 7th letter from the left in this reversed sequence?
Exam Q 22023Previous Year Pattern
If all vowels in the word 'REASONING' are replaced by the next letter in the alphabet, and all consonants are replaced by the previous letter in the alphabet, what will be the resulting code?
If the alphabet is split into two halves (A-M and N-Z), and within each half the letters are reversed, what will be the 5th letter from the left in the new arrangement?
Exam Q 42023Previous Year Pattern
In a row of letters arranged as: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z, if we remove every 3rd letter starting from the left, which letter will be at the 5th position in the remaining sequence?
Exam Q 52023Previous Year Pattern
If the letters of the English alphabet are written in reverse order (Z, Y, X, ..., B, A), then which letter will be the 7th letter to the right of the 10th letter from the left?
Exam Q 62023Previous Year Pattern
In the English alphabet, if every alternate letter starting from B is removed, which letter will occupy the 8th position in the remaining sequence?
Exam Q 72023Previous Year Pattern
In a certain code language, the positions of letters in the word MATHEMATICS are rearranged as follows: First, all vowels are moved to the left in alphabetical order, then all consonants are moved to the right in reverse alphabetical order of their appearance in the original word. What is the 7th letter from the left in the coded word?
Exam Q 82023Previous Year Pattern
In the English alphabet, if we count backwards from Z and forwards from A simultaneously, meeting at the middle, which two letters will meet at the 8th step?
Exam Q 92023Previous Year Pattern
If the alphabet is written in reverse order (Z, Y, X, ..., B, A) and we pick every 3rd letter starting from Z, which letter will be at the 5th pick?
Concept Notes
Alphabet Testโ Rules & Concept
๐ก
Core Concept
Read this first โ the foundation of the topic
โEach 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
๐กKey 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
โCommon 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.
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.
๐
Exam Patterns
What examiners ask โ 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.
Common Mistake: 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)