Verbal Reasoning: Codes Set 4
Verbal Reasoning: Codes Set 4 is a focused practice set on letter codes and number codes at a deeper level, covering two-step rules such as an alphabet-position shift combined with a swap of letters, or a multiplication combined with an addition or subtraction, as well as decoding a number sequence back into a word. These deeper codes appear in the harder sections of GL Assessment and CEM style 11+ papers, where a single-step rule would be too easy to spot from the demonstration word alone.
Method
- Compare the given word with its code letter by letter, working out exactly how far each letter has moved, or what has happened to its alphabet position number.
- Check whether the same single rule applies to every letter; if it does not, look for a pattern based on position, such as odd-position letters following one rule and even-position letters following another.
- For codes described as a two-step rule, apply the steps in the exact order given, since applying them in the wrong order produces a different, wrong code.
- Watch for wraparound near the end of the alphabet: if a shift takes a letter past Z, continue counting from A again.
- For number codes, write the alphabet position of each letter first, then apply the stated arithmetic rule to each number in turn.
- To decode a number code back into a word, reverse each step of the rule in the opposite order to how it was applied, then convert the resulting numbers back into letters.
Worked example
In this code, letters in odd positions (1st, 3rd, 5th) move 1 place forward in the alphabet, and letters in even positions (2nd, 4th, 6th) move 3 places forward. If the code for GARDEN is HDSGFQ, what is the code for FLOWER, using the same rule?
- Check the rule against GARDEN: G (1st, odd) + 1 = H; A (2nd, even) + 3 = D; R (3rd, odd) + 1 = S; D (4th, even) + 3 = G; E (5th, odd) + 1 = F; N (6th, even) + 3 = Q, giving HDSGFQ, which matches.
- Apply the same rule to FLOWER letter by letter: F (1st, odd) + 1 = G; L (2nd, even) + 3 = O.
- Continue: O (3rd, odd) + 1 = P; W (4th, even) + 3 = Z; E (5th, odd) + 1 = F; R (6th, even) + 3 = U.
- Write the coded letters in order: G, O, P, Z, F, U.
- Final answer: GOPZFU.
Practice questions
Try each question, then tap to reveal the answer.
Q1If the code for XYZ is ZAB, what is the code for VWX, using the same rule (each letter moves 2 places forward, wrapping round the alphabet if needed)? A) XYZ B) WXY C) YZA D) XZY E) ZXYShow answer
Answer: A) XYZ - each letter moves 2 places forward (V to X, W to Y, X to Z)
Q2In this code, each letter's alphabet position is doubled, then 1 is subtracted. If the code for CAB is 5-1-3, what is the code for FED, using the same rule? A) 12-10-8 B) 11-9-7 C) 11-10-7 D) 10-9-8 E) 11-9-8Show answer
Answer: B) 11-9-7 - F is the 6th letter, 6x2-1=11; E is the 5th letter, 5x2-1=9; D is the 4th letter, 4x2-1=7
Q3P=4, Q=20, R=8, S=15, T=48. Work out (Q - R) x P. Which letter has this value?Show answer
Answer: T - (Q - R) x P = (20 - 8) x 4 = 12 x 4 = 48, and T = 48
Q4Using the rule where each letter's alphabet position has 5 added to it, which word does the code 8-6-25 represent?Show answer
Answer: CAT - subtract 5 from each number: 8-5=3=C, 6-5=1=A, 25-5=20=T
Q5In this code, every letter moves 1 place forward in the alphabet, then the first and last letters of the result are swapped. If the code for LAMP is QBNM, what is the code for WIND, using the same rule? A) XJOE B) EJOX C) EJOE D) XJOX E) EOJXShow answer
Answer: B) EJOX - shift WIND forward 1 place to get XJOE, then swap the first and last letters to get EJOX
Q6In this code, each letter's alphabet position is multiplied by 3. If the code for BEG is 6-15-21, what is the code for FAD, using the same rule? A) 18-3-12 B) 21-3-12 C) 18-6-12 D) 15-3-12 E) 18-3-15Show answer
Answer: A) 18-3-12 - F is the 6th letter (6x3=18), A is the 1st letter (1x3=3), D is the 4th letter (4x3=12)
Exam-style questions
Written in the style of a 11+ exam paper, with a full mark scheme.
In this code, letters in odd positions (1st, 3rd, 5th) move 2 places forward in the alphabet, and letters in even positions (2nd, 4th) move 1 place back. If the code for PLANT is RKCMV, what is the code for GHOST, using the same rule? Show your working.
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In this code, each letter's alphabet position is tripled, then 2 is added. If the code for DOG is 14-47-23, which word does the code 41-5-62 represent? Show your working.
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Free printable worksheet
Want more practice on paper? Download the verbal reasoning: codes set 4 worksheet pack - 13 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 37 of 11+ Verbal Reasoning Workbook 2, the whole course as one free printable PDF.
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