Coding-Decoding Concept, Tips & Questions for Practice- Download PDF

Coding-decoding Concept

In these questions, you need to understand the methodology/ logic behind coding the given information in the question and answer the question accordingly. The quickly you can understand the logic and are able to accurately implement the logic in another set of information, the better marks you can score. To start with, there can be 4 types of coding-decoding questions:

• Alphabet Coding
• Numerical Coding/ Symbol Based Coding
• Alphabet-Symbol-Numerical Coding
• Substitution Coding

Alphabet Coding

Here alphabets are coded in a specific pattern. Let’s understand it better with the help of an example:

Alphabet Coding Example

In a certain code, ABSORB is written as LIYZYH. How will be BRACES written in the same code?

When the letters of the alphabet are counted in normal order (starting from A) and in reverse order (starting from Z), then A and Z have the same ranks (1), B and Y have the same ranks (2), C and X have the same ranks (3), and so on. The below chart will be helpful in solving these kinds of coding:

A	Z
B	Y
C	X
D	W
E	V
F	U
G	T
H	S
I	R
J	Q
K	P
L	O
M	N
N	M
O	L
P	K
Q	J
R	I
S	H
T	G
U	F
V	E
W	D
X	C
Y	B
Z	A

In this coding, all the letters are not coded serially. The word is first split into two, i.e., ABS and ORB and their positions are interchanged and then they are coded:

ABS ORB => ORB ABS => LIY ZYH

Similarly BRA CES => CES BRA => XVH YIZ

So XVHYIZ is the correct answer.

Numerical Coding/Symbol Coding

In numerical coding or symbol coding, instead of alphabets, numbers or symbols are used. The logic of coding can be found in the question itself. Let’s check an example.

Numerical Coding/Symbol Coding Example

FACES has been coded as 2)^18 and TEN is coded as +1$ in a language. How will be CEAT coded in the same language?

In the above example, we can see that random numbers/ symbols have been assigned to different letters. We can sort it out as per the below distribution:

F 2

A )

C ^

E 1

S 8

T +

N $

Likewise, CEAT will be coded as ^1)+.

Substitution Coding

Here the words in a sentence are substituted by other elements. These elements can be other letters/ words/ numbers/ symbols. Check the below example to help it better:

Answer the questions on the basis of the following information. 

Substitution Coding Example

In a certain code language,

(i) ‘word that spell magic’ is coded as ‘ku tu pu lu’.

(ii) ‘that in the spell’ is coded as ‘mu nu ku tu’.

(iii) ‘word that air without’ is coded as ‘Iu ju ku fu’.

(iv) ‘air the saying any’ is coded as ‘nu du su fu’ 

Which among the following may be the code for ‘that any’? 

A. ku ju

B. ku lu

C. du su

D. ku du

E. fu tu

With the help of the given information, we can easily conclude the below codes:

word	lu
that	ku
is	tu
magic	pu
in	mu
the	nu
air	fu
without	ju
saying	du/su
any	su/du
spel	tu

So option D. is correct.

Coding-Decoding Tips & Shortcuts

Now that we have got an idea about coding-decoding questions after observing the above examples, let’s have a look at some tips & shortcuts of coding-decoding which will be pretty useful in answering these questions.

1. Don’t be afraid of these questions. Take a shot at these and see if you are able to solve them. If you have done enough practice beforehand, you can easily solve them and gain brownie points over others.
2. Read the question carefully and try writing down the codes of the elements once you have cracked it.
3. If you sense some new pattern of coding-decoding questions, don’t get scared. Remember! The new pattern is for all the aspirants. Take a moment to see what information is provided and what the question is trying to ask.
4. Sometimes, these questions may be combined with some other concepts for eg. blood relation or direction sense. You need to keep in mind that no matter how many concepts are involved, the basic concept remains the same. Evaluate how much time the questions might take and then take a call on answering the questions.
5. Remember! It’s only practice which can help you evaluate how much time a question is going to take. The more questions you solve, the more expertise you gain.
6. Try memorizing the alphabets’ positions forward & backward. A good way to do this is to remember the words EJOTY & VQLGB (Check the usage below).

Alpahabet	Position (Forward)	Alpahabet	Position (Backward)
E	5	V	5
J	10	Q	10
O	15	L	15
T	20	G	20
Y	25	B	25

Coding-Decoding Questions for Practice

After understanding the concept and going through the examples and tips, it’s time to roll up one’s sleeves and get into the practicing mode. We are providing you the below questions which you can practice. For answers & detailed explanation, we encourage you to download the free PDF.

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Download Free PDF- Coding-Decoding Tips, Examples & Questions for Practice

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Directions (1-5): Answer the questions based on the information given below:

In a certain language,

‘master in computer science’ is coded as ‘sp, rk, pk, kp’

‘computer mandatory in school’ is coded as ‘kr, pk, ps, sp’

‘school to master life’ is coded as ‘rk, ak, kr, mk’

‘science is mandatory subject’ is coded as ‘km, kp, ps, ka’

Question 1: Which of the following is the code for “life” in the given language?

a. ak

b. kr

c. either (a) or (d)

d. mk

e. None of these

Answer: For Detailed Solutions, Download the Free PDF

Question 2: Which of the following words is coded as “kr” in the given language?

a. in

b. school

c. computer

d. to

e. None of these

Answer: For Detailed Solutions, Download the Free PDF

Question 3: Which of the following is coded as “kp”?

a. master

b. in

c. science

d. either (b) or (c)

e. None of these

Answer: For Detailed Solutions, Download the Free PDF

Question 4: What is the code of the word ‘subject’?

a. ka

b. either (a) or (c)

c. km

d. kp

e. either (c) or (d)

Answer: For Detailed Solutions, Download the Free PDF

Question 5: Which of the following is coded as “is mandatory”?

a. km ps

b. pk km

c. kr rk

d. ps ka

e. either (a) or (d)

Answer: For Detailed Solutions, Download the Free PDF

Directions (6-10): Answer the questions based on the information given below:

In a certain language,

‘paper publication in journals’ is coded as ‘blue, black, green, red’

‘scopus journals for paper’ is coded as ‘black, yellow, red, orange’

‘good paper for publication’ is coded as ‘red, pink, orange, blue’

‘scopus journals in publication’ is coded as ‘yellow, blue, green, black’

Question 6: Which of the following is coded as “orange”?

a. for

b. paper

c. good

d. scopus

e. either (a) or (d)

Answer: For Detailed Solutions, Download the Free PDF

Question 7: Which of the following is the code for “publication” in the given language?

a. black

b. green

c. pink

d. yellow

e. None of these

Answer: For Detailed Solutions, Download the Free PDF

Question 8: Which of the following words is coded as “black” in the given language?

a. in

b. journals

c. scopus

d. paper

e. None of these

Answer: For Detailed Solutions, Download the Free PDF

Question 9: Which of the following is coded as “pink”?

a. paper

b. for

c. good

d. publication

e. None of these

Answer: For Detailed Solutions, Download the Free PDF

Question 10: What is the code of the word ‘in’?

a. green

b. blue

c. red

d. yellow

e. either (c) or (d)

Answer: For Detailed Solutions, Download the Free PDF

Directions (1-5): Answer the questions based on the information given below:

In a certain language,

‘followed the traffic rules’ is coded as ‘dc, bc, cd, ab’

‘rules must be followed’ is coded as ‘ab, df, dc, ed’

‘traffic police followed him’ is coded as ‘ba, ab, cd, cb’

‘police charged him’ is coded as ‘de, ba, cb’

Question 11: Which of the following is the code for “police” in the given language?

a. either (b) or (d)

b. cb

c. either (b) or (e)

d. ab

e. ba

Question 12: Which of the following words is coded as “dc” in the given language?

a. rules

b. the

c. must

d. be

e. None of these

Answer: For Detailed Solutions, Download the Free PDF

Question 13: Which of the following is coded as “cd”?

a. followed

b. him

c. police

d. traffic

e. None of these

Answer: For Detailed Solutions, Download the Free PDF

Question 14: What is the code of the word ‘the’?

a. cb

b. cd

c. bc

d. ab

e. either (c) or (d)

Answer: For Detailed Solutions, Download the Free PDF

Question 15: Which of the following is coded as “df”?

a. must

b. be

c. followed

d. either (a) or (b)

e. either (a) or (c)

Answer: For Detailed Solutions, Download the Free PDF

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Download Free PDF- Coding-Decoding Tips, Examples & Questions for Practice

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We hope that the above PDF is helpful in your preparation.