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Letter/Alphabet Analogy (Advanced)

General Intelligence & Reasoning · Analogy (Similarity)

Useful for: SSC CGL

Overview

Letter analogies use alphabet positions, fixed shifts and opposite letters; knowing positions instantly is the key skill.

Key points

EJOTY trick: E = 5, J = 10, O = 15, T = 20, Y = 25.
Opposite letters add up to 27: A–Z, B–Y, C–X, M–N.
Common rules: +1/+2 shift, alternate shifts (+1, −1), reversal, skipping letters.
Reverse position = 27 − position (e.g. D = 4 ↔ W = 23).
Work letter by letter and write the shift above each.

Explanation

Shifts can differ for each letter position (+1, +2, +3).
Some analogies pair a word with its reverse or with opposite letters.
When stuck, write all positions as numbers and look for an arithmetic pattern.
Wrap-around: after Z comes A when shifting forward.

Step by step

Find the exact relationship in the given pair or pattern.
Apply the same relationship to the question part.
Check the chosen option against every condition.

Examples

ACE : BDF :: GIK : HJL (each letter + 1).
AZ : BY :: CX : DW (opposite-letter pairs).
CAT : DCW :: DOG : ? → shifts +1, +2, +3 → EQJ.

Traps and advanced points

Trap: Counting positions slowly instead of using EJOTY.
Trap: Assuming the same shift for every letter.
Trap: Forgetting the wrap-around after Z.

Quick revision

EJOTY = 5, 10, 15, 20, 25.
Opposites sum to 27.
Write shifts above each letter.

Practice MCQs

AB : CD :: EF : ?
1. HI
2. GI
3. GH
4. FG
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Answer: (c) GH. AB → CD: har letter +2 (A→C, B→D).
ACE : BDF :: GIK : ?
1. HIL
2. GJL
3. HKM
4. HJL
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Answer: (d) HJL. ACE → BDF: har letter +1 (A→B, C→D, E→F).
AZ : BY :: CX : ?
1. CW
2. DW
3. DV
4. EW
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Answer: (b) DW. Pattern: first letter +1 (A→B→C→D), second letter -1 (Z→Y→X→W).
BEH : KNQ :: TWZ : ?
1. DFI
2. CFI
3. DGJ
4. CEI
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Answer: (b) CFI. Within group gap +3 (B,E,H).
DF : HJ :: LN : ?
1. PR
2. OQ
3. PQ
4. QS
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Answer: (a) PR. DF → HJ: each letter +4 (D→H, F→J).
MAN : NBO :: RED : ?
1. SFE
2. SEF
3. TFE
4. SFD
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Answer: (a) SFE. MAN → NBO: each letter +1 (M→N, A→B, N→O).
AZ : ZA :: BY : ?
1. XB
2. YB
3. YA
4. ZB
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Answer: (b) YB. AZ → ZA: letters ka order reverse ho gaya (positions swapped).
CAT : DBU :: DOG : ?
1. EPH
2. EPG
3. FPH
4. EQH
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Answer: (a) EPH. CAT → DBU: each letter +1 (C→D, A→B, T→U).
If FRIEND is coded as GSJFOE, then MOTHER is coded as:
1. NQUIFS
2. MPUIFS
3. NPUIFS
4. NPUIFT
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Answer: (c) NPUIFS. Each letter +1: F→G, R→S, I→J, E→F, N→O, D→E.
AEIOU has how many letters between A and U in the English alphabet?
1. 21
2. 19
3. 20
4. 18
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Answer: (b) 19. A=1, U=21.