Coding Decoding Questions

Coding decoding is an interesting topic to begin your preparations for competitive exams, especially the Quantitative Aptitude section. It can be simply understood as a set of questions that are based on certain hidden rules, finding which students have to decode the message and deliver the right answer. Coding decoding questions appear in the logical reasoning section of examinations. Through this blog, we are bringing you a detailed analysis of the concept of coding and decoding along with a wide range of practice questions that can help you ace your exam with flying colours.

What is Coding Decoding?

In simple terms, coding is actually a process in which a word or a series of numbers of encrypted in a specific code or pattern designed on a certain set of rules. On the other hand, decoding is the opposite which aims to decrypt a particular code based on finding a common pattern or structure.

Types of Coding Decoding

There are various types of coding and decoding questions that you will find in competitive exams. Mentioned below are some of the popular types:

Letter to Letter Coding

The alphabet of a word is coded using various operations such as addition, subtraction, interchanging, and so on in this method of coding and decoding. Candidates must use the same methods to decode the code of another word.

Letter to Number Coding 

In this form of coding-decoding, a word is allocated numerical code values or a number is assigned alphabetical code letters.

Substitutional Coding 

Words are encrypted or coded with the appropriate term in this form of coding-decoding.

Chinese Coding

A few statements containing the same words but in a different order will be coded as words, symbols, or characters in this form of coding and decoding. Candidates must locate the codes of words by looking for common terms in several sentences, as the code of a word will be the same in both.

LSN Coding 

Words from various statements are coded with letters, symbols, and numbers utilizing various procedures in this form of coding and decoding. Candidates must deduce the reasoning behind the employment of letters, symbols, and numbers.

Conditional Coding

A few procedures will be presented in this form of coding-decoding, and applicants must apply all of the supplied requirements to get the code of a particular word.

Clock Coding

Numbers from 1 to 12 are coded in this form of coding-decoding, and questions are answered according to clock time.

Binary Coding 

Binary values such as 0 and 1 are used to encode decimal numbers in this form of coding-decoding.

Usage of Alphabetical Order in Coding Decoding

You can memorise English alphabets and their corresponding number values to increase your speed. The position of the letter in the English Alphabet is deemed to be the value of the alphabet in coding decoding questions based on letter series. 

EJOTY Technique

The EJOTY Technique is very useful in finding the position of the alphabet. For instance, if you want to locate the position of the alphabet ‘R’, then as we can see that ‘T’ is 20, so ‘R’ is 20 – 2 = 18.

Position of an Alphabet from the End

You can spot the position of an alphabet from the end by subtracting its value from the number 27. For instance, the position of E from the end is 27 – 5 (as E is the 5th alphabet) = 22. This is useful when you have to encounter a type of coding decoding question that requires you to consider the position of the alphabet from the end.

Tips and Tricks to Solve Coding Decoding Questions

During your preparation regarding the topic of coding decoding, it is important to be familiar with certain tips that will help you salt questions quickly. Refer to the below-mentioned techniques for the same:

• Begin by reading the question carefully and jot down all the important words along with their given codes.
• Try to analyse the pattern of the code that is given to you. You can apply the hit-and-trial method and check for various rules.
• You can also use the elimination method to simplify the quote and remove the unnecessary values. 
• It is important to note that the coding decoding questions can be solved using more than one trick. 
• Solving a bunch of questions will be helpful for you in your preparation. 

Coding and Decoding Questions with Explanations

Now that you know what coding decoding means, let’s explore some of the basic problems of this topic and how they can be solved.

1. Suppose that a particular ‘TIGER’ is written as ‘QDFHS’. Find out how ‘FISH’ will be written in the same code.

1. GERH
2. GRHE
3. GREH 
4. GHRE
5. GEHR

Explanation: To solve this coding-decoding question, you have to reverse the word and move each letter -1. The reverse order of FISH is HSIF,  now subtract 1 from each alphabet of HSIF. The code for FISH is GRHE.

2. Using a particular code ‘HILTON’ is encrypted as ‘IHTLNO’. Choose the right option for ‘BILLION’ coded in the same form. 

1. IBLLION 
2. IBOILLN
3. IBLLOIN
4. IBLOILN
5. IBOLLIN 

Explanation: Firstly letters are grouped together in a pair of two such as BI, LL, IO, N. The position of the respective letters is changed in all the pairs which make them IB, LL, OI, N. Hence, the code for BILLION becomes IBLLOIN.

3. If ‘FROZEN’ is decoded as ‘OFAPSG’. Tick the right option that depicts ‘MOLTEN’ written in this way.

1. OFPOMN
2. OFSMPN 
3. OFUMPN 
4. OFUNPN
5. OFUMON

Explanation: The simple trick to solve this question is- to reverse the word and +1 to each letter. The alphabetical reverse of MOLTEN is NETLOM. Now if we add 1 to each letter, the code for MOLTEN becomes OFUMPN.   

Must Read: Types of Reasoning Questions

Before you try your hands on the below-mentioned questions, here is a useful video for you to get a hold of some important tips and tricks-

Coding Decoding Practice MCQs

Here is a list of a varied range of coding decoding questions for your practice, so write down your answers in the comments below and we’ll let you know if you are correct or not!

1. Using a particular pattern, ‘ROAR’ is coded as ‘URDU’. Select the right option for how ‘URDU’ will be written based on the same code.

1. VXDQ
2. XUGX
3. ROAR
4. VSOV
5. VZCP

2. If ‘LIMCA’ gets encrypted into a code as ‘HJLDZ’. Tick the right selection if the same code is encrypted as ‘IFWJBP’.

1.  MEXICO
2. MERCURY
3. JAPAN 
4. MIDNIGHT 
5. HONDUS

3. Taking the alphabetical order in English, if every alternate letter beginning from B onwards is specifically coded into smaller letters and if others get coded into capital letters, then find out how you will write the 3rd day from Tuesday in this code.

1. W e D N e S d A Y
2. W E d n E S d A Y
3. T H U R S d A Y 
4. T h U r S d A Y
5. f r I d A Y

3. If the letters in ‘CYLINDER’ are put in a different order of alphabets, find out the letter which would be farthest from the first letter of this word.

1. N
2. E
3. Y
4. R
5. None of these 

4. In a certain code, ‘CERTAIN’ is coded as ‘BFQUZJM’. Select the right option for ‘MUNDANE’ put together using the same code.

1. LVMEZOD
2. NTCOMBF
3. NTOCNBF
4. LTMCZOF
5. None of these

Now, other than these basic problems, we have also listed some coding decoding questions at an increased level of difficulty.

5. If ‘PURPOSE’ is coded in a certain way as ‘UPPRSOE’. Choose the option for ‘WATER’ coded in the same form.

1. WATRE
2. AWTRE
3. AWETR
4. WEATR
5. TRWAE

6. In ‘FORGIVE’ is coded in a certain pattern as ‘DPPHGWC’. Select the right option for ‘REQUEST’ coded the same way.

1. PFOVCUR
2. TFOVCRU
3. POFCVUR
4. TOFCVUR
5. None of these

7. If ‘RATIONAL’ is coded as ‘TARNOILA’ then how ‘BRUTAL’ will be encrypted in this code?

1. UBRTAL
2. URBLAT 
3. UBRATL 
4. URBTAL 
5. None of these 

8. If ‘MEANDER’ is coded as ‘4515459’, then ‘MATHEMATICS’ is coded as 

1. 67250623070
2. 41285412931
3. 45038401854
4. 57159413955
5. None of these 

9. Using a particular code of numbers and letters, 
‘134’ stands for ‘good and tasty’
‘478’ stands for ‘see good pictures’ and 
‘729’ stands for ‘pictures are faint’

Which of the following digits are used to code ‘see’?

1. 9
2. 2
3. 1
4. 8

10. Taking a particular code, PREACH is coded as 961473, ROSE is written as 6821, CHAIR is encrypted as 73456, then how will you write SEARCH?

1. 246173
2. 214673
3. 214763
4. 216473

11. Using a particular code of numbers and letters,
‘Pit na som’ stands for ‘bring me water‘
‘Na jo tod’ stands for ‘water is life’
‘Tub od pit’ stands ‘give me toy’ 

‘Jo lin kot’ gets coded as ‘life and death’, then find out which one of the following depicts ‘is’ in this pattern of coding and decoding.

1. Jo 
2. Na 
3. Tod
4. Lin 

12. Using numbers for  Z= 2197 and R= 729. How can we denote ‘J’  in that code?

1. 216
2. 512
3. 124 
4. 125

13. Using coding and decoding in a particular pattern, a word is encrypted in capital letters, with one letter underlined. For each letter in a particular word, a certain coding pattern is utilised. This code is put together by either 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 using the same order. Now, find out the right code of the underlined letter in the word. The number of that code will represent the answer. 

F  L I E S 

1. N
2. P
3. C
4. G
5. F

14. In this coding-decoding question, refer to the below-mentioned code for questions 1-5:

‘Wrong and sharp’ is written as 476
‘Light is very sharp’ is written as 8243
‘Right is very wrong’ is written as 2817 
‘Knife is sharp’ is written as 548

i. ‘Knife’ will be written as?

1. 3
2. 4
3. 5
4. 6

ii. ‘Wrong’ will be written as? 

1. 4
2. 6
3. 5
4. 7

iii. ‘Very’ will be written as?

1. 3
2. 4
3. 2
4. 1

iv. ‘Wrong Knife’ will be written as?

1. 47
2. 45
3. 75
4. 85

v. ‘Sharp’ will be written?

1. 3
2. 4
3. 5
4. 6

Must Read: Syllogism Questions

Coding Decoding Questions PDF

Coding Decoding Worksheet [Download]

Now that you have practised ample questions, here is a worksheet for you-

Also read: Logical Reasoning For Competitive Exams

Books for Coding and Decoding Reasoning Section

The below-mentioned books for the reasoning section contain dedicated sections on the topic of coding and decoding:

Books	Links to buy
A new approach to Reasoning By B.S. Sijwali & S. Sijwali Arihant	Buy here
Analytical Reasoning by M.K Pandey	Buy here
Multi-Dimensional Reasoning by Mishra & Kumar Dr Lal	Buy here
Reasoning Book for Competitive Examinations by Pearson	Buy here
General Reasoning Ability for Competitive Exams – SSC/Banking/Defence/Railway/Insurance	Buy here
Shortcuts in Reasoning (Verbal, Non-Verbal, Analytical & Critical) for Competitive Exams	Buy here

Also Read: Logical Reasoning Books for All Competitive Exams

FAQs

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