Verbal Reasoning: Letter Series
A letter series question shows four or five letters, or pairs of letters, that follow a hidden alphabet rule, and asks for the letter or pair that continues the pattern. It tests the ability to spot a constant or changing step between letters in their alphabet positions, similar to a number sequence but using the alphabet instead of numbers. This is a standard GL Assessment-style 11+ verbal reasoning question type.
Method
- Convert each letter to its position in the alphabet in your head, A=1 up to Z=26, if the jump size is not obvious just by looking.
- Find the gap between the first two letters, then check whether that same gap applies between the second and third, and the third and fourth.
- If the gap is constant, simply add or subtract that same number of places to find the next letter.
- If the gap changes, look for a pattern in how it changes, such as growing by 1 each time, or alternating between two different jumps.
- For two-letter pairs, work out the rule for the first letter and the rule for the second letter separately, since they often move by different amounts.
- Count carefully through the alphabet on scrap paper if you lose track, especially near tricky stretches like ...W, X, Y, Z.
Worked example
Find the letter that continues the series: E, H, K, N, ( ? )
- Find the gap between the first two letters: E to H is a move of 3 places forward in the alphabet, E, F, G, H.
- Check the gap between the next pair: H to K is also 3 places forward, and K to N is 3 places forward too, so the rule is add 3 places every time.
- Apply the same rule to the last letter, N: counting forward 3 places from N gives N, O, P, Q.
- The next letter in the series is Q.
Practice questions
Try each question, then tap to reveal the answer.
Exam-style questions
Written in the style of a 11+ exam paper, with a full mark scheme.
Find the pair of letters that continues the series: DF, FH, HJ, JL, ( ? ) A) LM B) LN C) KM D) MN E) LO
Find the pair of letters that continues the series: BY, CX, DW, EV, ( ? ) A) FU B) GU C) FT D) EU E) GT
Find the pair of letters that continues the series: CD, EG, GJ, IM, ( ? ) A) KP B) JO C) KO D) LP E) KQ
Free printable worksheet
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