Number Codes: Practice Set 2
Number Codes (Practice Set 2) continues the same 11+ verbal reasoning question type as the first set: a word is turned into a number code by a hidden rule, usually based on each letter's position in the alphabet (A=1, B=2, up to Z=26), sometimes with a number added, subtracted, doubled, or counted from the opposite end. This second set uses fresh example words and codes so pupils can practise spotting the rule again from scratch. It remains a common question type in GL Assessment-style 11+ verbal reasoning papers.
Method
- Compare the example word with its number code letter by letter, matching each letter to its number in order.
- Check first whether the rule is simply each letter's position in the alphabet, since this is the simplest and most common rule.
- If it is not simple alphabet position, check whether a number has been added, subtracted, doubled, or counted backwards from Z instead.
- Where two example words and codes are given, test your rule against both, since a rule that only fits one word by chance is the wrong rule.
- Apply the confirmed rule letter by letter to build a new code, or apply it in reverse, one number at a time, to turn a code back into letters.
- Double-check the first and last numbers or letters of your answer, since these are the easiest place to make a careless slip.
Worked example
If the code for DOG is 4-15-7, what is the code for CAT?
- Compare DOG with its code: D=4, O=15, G=7.
- This matches each letter to its position in the alphabet (A=1, B=2, and so on), so the rule is simply alphabet position.
- Apply the rule to CAT: C is the 3rd letter, A is the 1st letter, T is the 20th letter.
- Write the numbers in the same order as the letters: 3-1-20.
- Final answer: 3-1-20.
Practice questions
Type your answer and press Check to be marked straight away, or reveal the answer and mark yourself.
Q1If the code for FOX is 6-15-24, what is the code for HEN?Show answer
Answer: 8-5-14 (H=8, E=5, N=14, using alphabet position)
Q2Using the rule where A=1, B=2, up to Z=26, which word does the code 19-20-1-18 represent?Show answer
Answer: STAR (19=S, 20=T, 1=A, 18=R)
Q3In this code, each letter's alphabet position has 3 added to it. If the code for FOX is 9-18-27, what is the code for PIG?Show answer
Answer: 19-12-10 (P=16+3=19, I=9+3=12, G=7+3=10)
Q4In this code, each letter's alphabet position has 4 taken away from it. If the code for SUN is 15-17-10, which word does the code 4-11-16 represent?Show answer
Answer: HOT (add 4 back to each number: 4+4=8=H, 11+4=15=O, 16+4=20=T)
Q5In this code, each letter's alphabet position is doubled. If the code for CAT is 6-2-40, what is the code for DOG?Show answer
Answer: 8-30-14 (D=4x2=8, O=15x2=30, G=7x2=14)
Q6In this code, letters are counted from the end of the alphabet, so Z=1, Y=2, and so on (for example, BIG has the code 25-18-20). Which word does the code 24-6-11 represent?Show answer
Answer: CUP (subtract each number from 27: 27-24=3=C, 27-6=21=U, 27-11=16=P)
Exam-style questions
Written in the style of a 11+ exam paper, with a full mark scheme.
The code for FOX is 6-15-24. Using the same alphabet-position rule, what is the code for LAMB? Show your working.
Show mark scheme
Tick each line you got. Your score builds from the marks on the scheme.
Nothing ticked yet - 2 available
In a code, each letter's alphabet position has 5 added to it. The code for FOX is 11-20-29. Which word does the code 7-14-19 represent? Show your working.
Show mark scheme
Tick each line you got. Your score builds from the marks on the scheme.
Nothing ticked yet - 3 available
If DOG = 6-17-9 and CAT = 5-3-22, using the same rule for both words, what is the code for PEN? Show your working.
Show mark scheme
Tick each line you got. Your score builds from the marks on the scheme.
Nothing ticked yet - 4 available
Free printable worksheet
Want more practice on paper? Download the number codes: practice set 2 worksheet pack - 9 pages of exam-style questions with a full mark scheme. One email opens every download in this browser for 14 days - no account, no card. Print it for personal and classroom use.
This topic is chapter 10 of 11+ Verbal Reasoning Workbook 2, the whole course as one free printable PDF.
Next topics
Not quite what you needed?
Tell us what is missing on number codes: practice set 2, or which topic to write up next. Every request is read, and we reply to every one.
Build a full practice pack.
This topic is one of hundreds in the library - pick the ones a student needs and generate a printable PDF in minutes.