SSC General Intelligence & Reasoning Alphabet Series tips and tricks questions and answers for online test prepare and practice set
What is the Alphabet Series?
Alphabet Series is a part of the reasoning section where questions are based on a sequence of letters following a logical pattern or rule. These can include missing letters, shifting positions, reverse orders, or mixed patterns.
Types of Alphabet Series Questions
Simple Alphabet Series
Skipping Letters Series
Reversing Series
Position-Based Series (Forward/Backward)
Mixed Letter Series
Double/Triple Alphabet Logic
Embedded Series in Words
Formulae & Basic Rules
👉 Each letter in the English alphabet has a position:
A = 1, B = 2, C = 3, …, Z = 26
👉 Reverse Position (Z = 1):
Z = 1, Y = 2, …, A = 26
👉 To find difference between letters:
Difference = Position(Later Letter) – Position(Earlier Letter)
👉 Circular Logic: After Z (26), it continues again from A (1).
Tips and Tricks
Write positions on paper – Helps visualize quickly.
Look for patterns in jumps – +1, +2, -1, etc.
Check alternate or skipping patterns.
Odd-Even positions logic – Often used in SSC.
Backward/Reverse Series – Watch out for traps!
Group letters logically in 2s or 3s if needed.
Practice visualization of alphabet positions mentally.
Example Questions with Solutions
1: Simple Alphabetic Series
Q1. Find the next term: A, C, E, G, ?
Solution:
Positions: A(1), C(3), E(5), G(7) → +2 every time
Next letter = I (9)
Answer: I
2: Skipping Letters
Q2. What comes next in the series: B, E, H, K, ?
Solution:
Positions: B(2), E(5), H(8), K(11) → +3 each time
Next letter = N (14)
Answer: N
3: Reversed Alphabet Series
Q3. Identify the next letter: Z, X, V, T, ?
Solution:
Positions: Z(26), X(24), V(22), T(20) → -2 every time
Next = R (18)
Answer: R
4: Alternate Skipping
Q4. Find the missing term: A, D, G, J, ?
Solution:
Positions: A(1), D(4), G(7), J(10) → +3 every time
Next = M (13)
Answer: M
5: Complex Pattern
Q5. Complete the series: D, F, I, M, R, ?
Solution:
Let’s calculate differences: D(4) → F(6) → +2
F(6) → I(9) → +3
I(9) → M(13) → +4
M(13) → R(18) → +5
Next → +6 → R(18) + 6 = X(24)
Answer: X
6: Letter Position-Based Option
Q6. If the pattern is A = 1, B = 2…Z = 26, what comes next in the series: 3C, 6F, 9I, ?
Solution:
Breakdown:
Numbers: 3, 6, 9 → +3 each
Letters: C(3), F(6), I(9) → +3 each
Next: 12L (12 and L(12))
Answer: 12L
7: Mixed Letter Series
Q7. AZ, BY, CX, ?
Solution:
1st letters: A → B → C → D
2nd letters: Z → Y → X → W
Next: D, W
Answer: DW
8: Reverse Position Logic
Q8. What is the next in the series: Z, Y, W, T, P, ?
Solution:
Z(26), Y(25), W(23), T(20), P(16) → -1, -2, -3, -4
Next → -5 → P(16) – 5 = K(11)
Answer: K
How to Master Alphabet Series?
Memorize A–Z with positions (1 to 26).
Daily Practice of 10–15 questions from different types.
Use tricks and pattern recognition to reduce solving time.
Practice both forward and backward letter shifts.
Prepare with SSC CGL/CHSL/Bank PO previous year papers.
Practice Questions (Try Yourself)
B, E, H, K, ?
M, K, I, G, ?
C, F, J, O, ?
D, H, M, S, ?
X, U, R, O, ?
Answers:
N
E
U
Z
L
some questions and answers
Question 1:
What comes next in the series:
A, C, E, G, ?
A. H
B. I
C. J
D. K
✅ Question 2:
What comes next in the series:
Z, X, V, T, ?
A. R
B. Q
C. S
D. U
✅ Question 3:
Find the next term in the series:
B, E, H, K, ?
A. M
B. N
C. O
D. P
✅ Question 4:
Find the next in the pattern:
AZ, BY, CX, ?
A. EV
B. DW
C. DU
D. FW
✅ Question 5:
Complete the series:
D, F, I, M, R, ?
A. U
B. X
C. W
D. Y
✅ Question 6:
What comes next in the series:
A = 1, B = 2 … Z = 26
3C, 6F, 9I, ?
A. 12L
B. 15M
C. 13K
D. 12M
✅ Question 7:
What is the next in the series:
C, F, J, O, ?
A. S
B. T
C. U
D. V
✅ Question 8:
What comes next:
M, K, I, G, ?
A. E
B. D
C. F
D. C
✅ Question 9:
Find the missing term:
D, H, M, S, ?
A. Y
B. X
C. Z
D. W
✅ Question 10:
What comes next in the series:
X, U, R, O, ?
A. L
B. K
C. J
D. M
Answer Key:
- B. I
- A. R
- B. N
- B. DW
- B. X
- A. 12L
- C. U
- A. E
- C. Z
- A. L
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