20 example problems with explanations for the Alphabet Coding-Decoding Test, a popular topic in reasoning sections of competitive exams. These test your ability to recognize patterns in how letters or words are coded based on alphabet positions, reversals, shifts, or other logic.
🔹 Problem 1
Q: If CAT is coded as DBU, how is DOG coded?
Solution:
Each letter is shifted +1
C → D, A → B, T → U
DOG → D(+1)=E, O(+1)=P, G(+1)=H
✅ Answer: EPH
🔹 Problem 2
Q: If BALL is coded as YZOO, how is CALL coded?
Solution:
B = 2 → Y (27-2), A = 1 → Z, L = 12 → O
So reverse position used: A = Z, B = Y, L = O
CALL → C=3 → X, A=1 → Z, L=12 → O
✅ Answer: XZOO
🔹 Problem 3
Q: In a certain code, TRAP is written as GSZK. How is STOP written?
Solution:
T=20→G (27-20=7), R=18→S, A=1→Z, P=16→K
Pattern: reverse position for each letter
S=19 → H, T=20 → G, O=15 → L, P=16 → K
✅ Answer: HGLK
🔹 Problem 4
Q: If MOBILE is coded as NPCKMF, how is LAPTOP coded?
Solution:
Shift letters alternately +1 and -1:
M(+1)=N, O(-1)=N, B(+1)=C, I(-1)=H, L(+1)=M, E(-1)=D
L(+1)=M, A(-1)=@ (invalid) → Z, P(+1)=Q, T(-1)=S, O(+1)=P, P(-1)=O
✅ Answer: MZQSPO
🔹 Problem 5
Q: If APPLE is coded as ELPPA, how is HOUSE coded?
Solution:
Reverse the word
HOUSE → ESUOH
✅ Answer: ESUOH
🔹 Problem 6
Q: If ROAD is coded as URDG, how is PATH coded?
Solution:
Each letter is shifted +3
R→U, O→R, A→D, D→G
P→S, A→D, T→W, H→K
✅ Answer: SDWK
🔹 Problem 7
Q: If KING is coded as 15-18-17-13, how is LION coded?
Solution:
K=11→11+4=15, I=9→+9=18, N=14→+3=17, G=7→+6=13
Pattern: Add increasing values (4,9,3,6)
L=12+4=16, I=9+9=18, O=15+3=18, N=14+6=20
✅ Answer: 16-18-18-20
🔹 Problem 8
Q: If CRY is coded as XIB, how is JOY coded?
Solution:
C→X (26-3+1), R→I (26-18+1), Y→B (26-25+1)
Same logic:
J=10 → Q, O=15 → K, Y=25 → B
✅ Answer: QKB
🔹 Problem 9
Q: If SWEET is coded as TVFFU, how is HONEY coded?
Solution:
Each letter +1
S→T, W→X, E→F, E→F, T→U
H→I, O→P, N→O, E→F, Y→Z
✅ Answer: IPOFZ
🔹 Problem 10
Q: If DELHI is coded as EDKGH, how is MUMBAI coded?
Solution:
D→E(+1), E→D(-1), L→K(-1), H→G(-1), I→H(-1)
So pattern: 1st +1, rest -1
M→N, U→T, M→L, B→A, A→Z, I→H
✅ Answer: NTLAZH
🔹 Problem 11
Q: If STAR is coded as UVCT, how is MOON coded?
Solution:
S(+1)=T, T(+1)=U, A(+1)=B, R(+1)=S → but actual code is UVCT
So each letter is +2
Apply same to MOON:
M→O, O→Q, O→Q, N→P
✅ Answer: OQQP
🔹 Problem 12
Q: If RAJU is coded as IZQF, how is AMAN coded?
Solution:
R→I (-17), A→Z (-1), J→Q (+7), U→F (-15)
No consistent shift. Let’s use reverse alphabet positions:
R=18 → I (27-18=9), A=1 → Z (27-1=26), J=10 → Q (27-10=17), U=21 → F (27-21=6)
Try for AMAN:
A=1→Z, M=13→N, A=1→Z, N=14→M
✅ Answer: ZNZM
🔹 Problem 13
Q: If TABLE is coded as GZOVV, how is CHAIR coded?
Solution:
Use reverse position logic:
T=20→7, A=1→26, B=2→25, L=12→15, E=5→22
So code = GZOVV
CHAIR:
C=3→24=X, H=8→19=S, A=1→26=Z, I=9→18=R, R=18→9=I
✅ Answer: XSZRI
🔹 Problem 14
Q: If COLD is coded as DPME, how is HEAT coded?
Solution:
C→D (+1), O→P (+1), L→M (+1), D→E (+1)
Each letter is shifted +1
H→I, E→F, A→B, T→U
✅ Answer: IFBU
🔹 Problem 15
Q: If FISH is coded as URHS, how is BOAT coded?
Solution:
F → U (F=6, U=21 → reverse = 27-6 = 21),
I → R (I=9, R=18 → reverse = 27-9 = 18)
Same pattern: reverse alphabet positions
B=2 → 25 = Y, O=15 → 12 = L, A=1 → 26 = Z, T=20 → 7 = G
✅ Answer: YLZG
🔹 Problem 16
Q: If WORK is written as XPUL, how is PLAY written?
Solution:
W→X (+1), O→P (+1), R→U (+3), K→L (+1)
Pattern may vary
Try same:
P→Q, L→M, A→D (+3), Y→Z
✅ Answer: QMDZ
🔹 Problem 17
Q: If PAPER is coded as QBQFS, how is PEN coded?
Solution:
Each letter +1
P→Q, A→B, P→Q, E→F, R→S
P→Q, E→F, N→O
✅ Answer: QFO
🔹 Problem 18
Q: If LEMON is written as MFNPO, how is GRAPE written?
Solution:
L→M, E→F, M→N, O→P, N→O → each letter +1
G→H, R→S, A→B, P→Q, E→F
✅ Answer: HSBQF
🔹 Problem 19
Q: If KING is coded as KJOF, how is QUEEN coded?
Solution:
K→K (same), I→J (+1), N→O (+1), G→F (-1)
Check pattern is mixed, but assume:
Q→Q, U→V, E→F, E→F, N→M
✅ Answer: QVFFM
🔹 Problem 20
Q: If FAST is coded as UZHG, how is SLOW coded?
Solution:
F=6 → U (reverse = 27-6), A=1 → Z, S=19 → H, T=20 → G
Same pattern: reverse positions
S=19 → 8 = H
L=12 → 15 = O
O=15 → 12 = L
W=23 → 4 = D
✅ Answer: HOLD
