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Letter & Alphabet Series

Letter patterns, positions and alphabet tests.

45 solved questions · 15 easy · 20 medium · 10 hard

Take a 10-question quiz on Letter & Alphabet Series, no login

Shortcuts & formulas

  • Positions: A=1, B=2, ... M=13, N=14, ... Z=26. Remember EJOTY = 5, 10, 15, 20, 25.
  • Position from the right = 27 - position from the left. Opposite (mirror) letters add to 27: A-Z, B-Y, C-X, ... M-N.
  • Letter series are usually +/- constant steps or steps that grow by 1 (+1, +2, +3 ...); convert letters to numbers to see the pattern.
  • For paired or grouped series, treat each position separately: first letters form one series, second letters another.
  • Letters between two letters at positions p and q = |p - q| - 1. Letter midway = (p + q) / 2.
  • Repeating-pattern series (a b _ d a b c _): find the repeating block and fill each gap from the block.
  • In coding questions, apply the same shift to every letter and wrap around Z to A (Z + 1 = A).

Solved examples

Try each one first, then open the answer and the step-by-step solution.

Easy questions

Q1.

What is the position of the letter M from the left end of the English alphabet?

  1. A13
  2. B12
  3. C14
  4. D15
Show answer & solution

Answer: A. 13

Solution

A=1, B=2 ... M is the 13th letter. Answer: 13

Q2.

What is the position of the letter K from the right end of the English alphabet?

  1. A11
  2. B16
  3. C15
  4. D17
Show answer & solution

Answer: B. 16

Solution

Position from right = 27 - position from left = 27 - 11 = 16. Answer: 16

Shortcut: Right position = 27 - left position.

Q3.

Which letter is the opposite (mirror) of F when the alphabet is reversed (A with Z, B with Y, ...)?

  1. AT
  2. BV
  3. CU
  4. DE
Show answer & solution

Answer: C. U

Solution

F is 6th from the left, so its mirror is 6th from the right: 27 - 6 = 21, the letter U. Answer: U

Q4.

Find the next letter: A, C, E, G, ?

  1. AH
  2. BJ
  3. CK
  4. DI
Show answer & solution

Answer: D. I

Solution

Positions 1, 3, 5, 7: each +2. Next 9 = I. Answer: I

Q5.

Find the next letter: B, D, F, H, ?

  1. AJ
  2. BI
  3. CK
  4. DL
Show answer & solution

Answer: A. J

Solution

Positions 2, 4, 6, 8: each +2. Next 10 = J. Answer: J

Q6.

Find the next letter: Z, X, V, T, ?

  1. AS
  2. BR
  3. CQ
  4. DP
Show answer & solution

Answer: B. R

Solution

Positions 26, 24, 22, 20: each -2. Next 18 = R. Answer: R

Q7.

Find the next letter: A, B, D, G, ?

  1. AJ
  2. BL
  3. CK
  4. DH
Show answer & solution

Answer: C. K

Solution

Positions 1, 2, 4, 7: differences +1, +2, +3. Next difference +4: 7 + 4 = 11 = K. Answer: K

Q8.

How many letters are there between D and J in the English alphabet?

  1. A6
  2. B4
  3. C3
  4. D5
Show answer & solution

Answer: D. 5

Solution

D = 4, J = 10. Letters between = 10 - 4 - 1 = 5 (E, F, G, H, I). Answer: 5

Q9.

Which letter is the 5th to the right of H in the alphabet?

  1. AM
  2. BL
  3. CN
  4. DO
Show answer & solution

Answer: A. M

Solution

H = 8. 8 + 5 = 13 = M. Answer: M

Q10.

Which letter is the 4th to the left of R in the alphabet?

  1. AM
  2. BN
  3. CO
  4. DP
Show answer & solution

Answer: B. N

Solution

R = 18. 18 - 4 = 14 = N. Answer: N

Q11.

Find the next group: AB, CD, EF, GH, ?

  1. AHI
  2. BJK
  3. CIJ
  4. DIK
Show answer & solution

Answer: C. IJ

Solution

Each group has two consecutive letters and the next group starts where the last ended. After GH come I, J: IJ. Answer: IJ

Q12.

Find the next letter: A, Z, B, Y, C, ?

  1. AW
  2. BD
  3. CV
  4. DX
Show answer & solution

Answer: D. X

Solution

Two series: A, B, C (+1) and Z, Y, ? (-1). The next is in the second series: after Y comes X. Answer: X

Q13.

Which letter is exactly midway between C and K?

  1. AG
  2. BF
  3. CH
  4. DI
Show answer & solution

Answer: A. G

Solution

C = 3, K = 11. Midpoint = (3 + 11)/2 = 7 = G. Answer: G

Q14.

Find the next group: ACE, BDF, CEG, ?

  1. ADEG
  2. BDFH
  3. CCFH
  4. DEGI
Show answer & solution

Answer: B. DFH

Solution

Each group has letters +2 apart, and each group shifts one step forward. ACE -> BDF -> CEG -> DFH. Answer: DFH

Q15.

Which letter is the 10th from the right end of the English alphabet?

  1. AP
  2. BR
  3. CQ
  4. DJ
Show answer & solution

Answer: C. Q

Solution

Position from left = 27 - 10 = 17 = Q. Answer: Q

Shortcut: Left position = 27 - right position.

Medium questions

Q16.

Find the next group: AZ, BY, CX, DW, ?

  1. AEW
  2. BFV
  3. CDV
  4. DEV
Show answer & solution

Answer: D. EV

Solution

First letters: A, B, C, D, so E (+1). Second letters: Z, Y, X, W, so V (-1). Next: EV. Answer: EV

Q17.

Find the next group: ABD, EFH, IJL, ?

  1. AMNP
  2. BMNO
  3. CMOP
  4. DNOQ
Show answer & solution

Answer: A. MNP

Solution

Each group follows the pattern of two consecutive letters, then skip one: A B (C skipped) D. Group starts: A, E, I, so next M (+4). M N (O skipped) P: MNP. Answer: MNP

Q18.

Find the next letter: B, E, I, N, ?

  1. AS
  2. BT
  3. CU
  4. DR
Show answer & solution

Answer: B. T

Solution

Positions 2, 5, 9, 14: differences +3, +4, +5. Next difference +6: 14 + 6 = 20 = T. Answer: T

Q19.

Find the next group: ZA, YB, XC, WD, ?

  1. AVD
  2. BUE
  3. CVE
  4. DWE
Show answer & solution

Answer: C. VE

Solution

First letters go backwards: Z, Y, X, W, V. Second letters go forwards: A, B, C, D, E. Next: VE. Answer: VE

Q20.

Find the odd one out: CE, GI, KM, OR, SU

  1. ACE
  2. BKM
  3. CSU
  4. DOR
Show answer & solution

Answer: D. OR

Solution

Check the gap between the two letters in each pair. CE: 5-3 = 2, GI: 9-7 = 2, KM: 13-11 = 2, OR: 18-15 = 3, SU: 21-19 = 2. OR is the odd one. Answer: OR

Q21.

In the word STUDENT, how many pairs of adjacent letters are consecutive in the alphabet (in either order)?

  1. A3
  2. B2
  3. C4
  4. D1
Show answer & solution

Answer: A. 3

Solution

Check adjacent pairs: ST (S,T consecutive, yes), TU (yes), UD (no), DE (yes), EN (no), NT (no). Pairs: ST, TU, DE = 3. Answer: 3

Q22.

If the letters of the word DEFINITE are arranged in alphabetical order, which letter is third from the right?

  1. AN
  2. BI
  3. CF
  4. DE
Show answer & solution

Answer: B. I

Solution

Alphabetical order: D, E, E, F, I, I, N, T. From the right: T (1st), N (2nd), I (3rd). Answer: I

Q23.

If the alphabet is written in reverse order (Z, Y, X, ...), which letter is the 7th from the left?

  1. AS
  2. BU
  3. CT
  4. DG
Show answer & solution

Answer: C. T

Solution

7th letter in the reversed alphabet = 7th from the right of the normal alphabet. 27 - 7 = 20 = T. Answer: T

Q24.

If A = 1, B = 2, ... Z = 26, what is the sum of the letter values in the word FACE?

  1. A14
  2. B16
  3. C17
  4. D15
Show answer & solution

Answer: D. 15

Solution

F = 6, A = 1, C = 3, E = 5. Sum = 6 + 1 + 3 + 5 = 15. Answer: 15

Q25.

In a certain code, CAT is written as ECV. How is DOG written in that code?

  1. AFQI
  2. BEPH
  3. CFPI
  4. DFQH
Show answer & solution

Answer: A. FQI

Solution

C -> E, A -> C, T -> V: each letter is moved 2 steps forward. D -> F, O -> Q, G -> I. DOG = FQI. Answer: FQI

Q26.

If A is coded as Z, B as Y, C as X and so on, how is BAD coded?

  1. AYZV
  2. BYZW
  3. CZYW
  4. DXZW
Show answer & solution

Answer: B. YZW

Solution

Each letter is replaced by its mirror (position p becomes 27 - p). B (2) -> 25 = Y, A (1) -> 26 = Z, D (4) -> 23 = W. BAD = YZW. Answer: YZW

Q27.

Find the next group: AB, DE, GH, JK, ?

  1. ALM
  2. BMO
  3. CMN
  4. DNO
Show answer & solution

Answer: C. MN

Solution

Each group has two consecutive letters; the first letters jump A, D, G, J (+3). Next first letter M, so MN. Answer: MN

Q28.

Find the next group: CF, FI, IL, LO, ?

  1. ANQ
  2. BPS
  3. COQ
  4. DOR
Show answer & solution

Answer: D. OR

Solution

Each group's second letter is 3 ahead of the first, and the next group begins with the previous second letter. CF, FI, IL, LO, OR. Answer: OR

Q29.

Find the next letter: A, C, F, J, O, ?

  1. AU
  2. BT
  3. CV
  4. DS
Show answer & solution

Answer: A. U

Solution

Positions 1, 3, 6, 10, 15: differences +2, +3, +4, +5. Next difference +6: 15 + 6 = 21 = U. Answer: U

Q30.

Find the next group: AZB, CYD, EXF, ?

  1. AGXH
  2. BGWH
  3. CHWG
  4. DGWI
Show answer & solution

Answer: B. GWH

Solution

First letters: A, C, E, G (+2). Middle letters: Z, Y, X, W (-1). Last letters: B, D, F, H (+2). Next: GWH. Answer: GWH

Q31.

Fill the blanks in the series so that the pattern repeats: a b _ d a b c _ a _ c d

  1. Ac, c, b
  2. Bd, d, b
  3. Cc, d, b
  4. Dc, d, c
Show answer & solution

Answer: C. c, d, b

Solution

The repeating block is abcd. Series: a b (c) d | a b c (d) | a (b) c d. Blanks: c, d, b. Answer: c, d, b

Q32.

Find the next letter: B, D, G, K, P, ?

  1. AU
  2. BW
  3. CT
  4. DV
Show answer & solution

Answer: D. V

Solution

Positions 2, 4, 7, 11, 16: differences +2, +3, +4, +5. Next difference +6: 16 + 6 = 22 = V. Answer: V

Q33.

Which letter is the 5th to the left of the 7th letter from the right end of the alphabet?

  1. AO
  2. BN
  3. CP
  4. DT
Show answer & solution

Answer: A. O

Solution

7th from the right = 27 - 7 = 20 = T. 5th to the left of T: 20 - 5 = 15 = O. Answer: O

Q34.

Which letter is exactly midway between D and R?

  1. AJ
  2. BK
  3. CL
  4. DM
Show answer & solution

Answer: B. K

Solution

D = 4, R = 18. Midpoint = (4 + 18)/2 = 11 = K. Answer: K

Q35.

How many letters lie in the alphabet between the 8th letter from the left and the 8th letter from the right?

  1. A9
  2. B11
  3. C10
  4. D12
Show answer & solution

Answer: C. 10

Solution

8th from the left = H (8). 8th from the right = 27 - 8 = 19 = S. Letters between = 19 - 8 - 1 = 10. Answer: 10

Hard questions

Q36.

In the word REASON, the 1st and 2nd letters are swapped, then the 3rd and 4th, then the 5th and 6th. Which letter is 4th from the right in the new arrangement?

  1. AA
  2. BN
  3. CE
  4. DS
Show answer & solution

Answer: D. S

Solution

REASON: swap RE -> ER, AS -> SA, ON -> NO. New word: E R S A N O. From the right: O (1st), N (2nd), A (3rd), S (4th). Answer: S

Q37.

In the reverse alphabet series Z, Y, X, ..., A, which letter is the 8th to the right of the 12th letter from the left?

  1. AG
  2. BF
  3. CH
  4. DO
Show answer & solution

Answer: A. G

Solution

The 12th letter from the left in Z, Y, X... is at term 12. 8th to its right = term 20. Term n of the reverse series is the letter 27 - n: 27 - 20 = 7 = G. Answer: G

Q38.

How many letters are there in the English alphabet between the 10th letter from the left and the 9th letter from the right?

  1. A8
  2. B7
  3. C6
  4. D9
Show answer & solution

Answer: B. 7

Solution

10th from the left = J (10). 9th from the right = 27 - 9 = 18 = R. Letters between J and R = 18 - 10 - 1 = 7 (K, L, M, N, O, P, Q). Answer: 7

Q39.

Find the next group: AZ, CX, FU, JQ, ?

  1. AOM
  2. BPL
  3. COL
  4. DNL
Show answer & solution

Answer: C. OL

Solution

First letters: A(1), C(3), F(6), J(10): differences +2, +3, +4, so next +5 = 15 = O. Second letters: Z(26), X(24), U(21), Q(17): differences -2, -3, -4, so next -5 = 12 = L. Next group: OL. Answer: OL

Q40.

Find the odd one out: ACE, FHJ, KMO, PRU

  1. AACE
  2. BFHJ
  3. CKMO
  4. DPRU
Show answer & solution

Answer: D. PRU

Solution

Check the gaps within each group. ACE: 2, 2. FHJ: 2, 2. KMO: 2, 2. PRU: R-P = 2, U-R = 3. PRU breaks the pattern. Answer: PRU

Q41.

One letter is wrong in the series: B, E, H, K, N, Q, S, W. Which one?

  1. AS
  2. BN
  3. CQ
  4. DW
Show answer & solution

Answer: A. S

Solution

Positions: B2, E5, H8, K11, N14, Q17, S19, W23. The rule is +3, so after Q (17) must come 20 = T, not S. Then T + 3 = 23 = W fits. Wrong letter: S. Answer: S

Q42.

If the letters of the word ORANGE are arranged in alphabetical order, how many letters keep the same position as in the original word?

  1. A0
  2. B1
  3. C2
  4. D3
Show answer & solution

Answer: B. 1

Solution

ORANGE: O R A N G E Alphabetical: A E G N O R Compare position by position: O/A, R/E, A/G, N/N (same), G/O, E/R. Only 1 letter (N) is in the same place. Answer: 1

Q43.

In a code, the letters at odd positions are moved one step forward and those at even positions one step backward. How is SCORE written in this code?

  1. ATDPSF
  2. BRBNQD
  3. CTBPQF
  4. DTBPSF
Show answer & solution

Answer: C. TBPQF

Solution

S (1st) +1 = T C (2nd) -1 = B O (3rd) +1 = P R (4th) -1 = Q E (5th) +1 = F SCORE = TBPQF. Answer: TBPQF

Q44.

If A = 1, B = 2, ... Z = 26, what is the sum of the letter values in the word ALGEBRA?

  1. A45
  2. B47
  3. C48
  4. D46
Show answer & solution

Answer: D. 46

Solution

A = 1, L = 12, G = 7, E = 5, B = 2, R = 18, A = 1. Sum = 1 + 12 + 7 + 5 + 2 + 18 + 1 = 46. Answer: 46

Q45.

Find the next letter: Z, W, S, N, H, ?

  1. AA
  2. BB
  3. CC
  4. DY
Show answer & solution

Answer: A. A

Solution

Positions: 26, 23, 19, 14, 8. Differences: -3, -4, -5, -6. Next difference -7: 8 - 7 = 1 = A. Answer: A

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