Letter codes questions — free 11+ verbal reasoning practice

If HEN is written in code as GDM, how is DESK written in the same code?

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The answer is D. Compare the two words letter by letter: H becomes G, E becomes D, N becomes M. Every letter moves back 1 place in the alphabet. Do the same to DESK: D becomes C, E becomes D, S becomes R, K becomes J. So DESK is written CDRJ. Moving the letters the wrong way would give EFTL, which is why the direction matters. Say the alphabet aloud from the letter you are on rather than starting at A each time.

If MOON is written in code as JLLK, how is TREE written in the same code?

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The answer is C. Compare the two words letter by letter: M becomes J, O becomes L, O becomes L, N becomes K. Every letter moves back 3 places in the alphabet. Do the same to TREE: T becomes Q, R becomes O, E becomes B, E becomes B. So TREE is written QOBB. Moving the letters the wrong way would give WUHH, which is why the direction matters. If the answer looks like a real word, be suspicious: codes rarely spell anything.

If SHIP is written in code as UJKR, how is FISH written in the same code?

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The answer is D. Compare the two words letter by letter: S becomes U, H becomes J, I becomes K, P becomes R. Every letter moves forward 2 places in the alphabet. Do the same to FISH: F becomes H, I becomes K, S becomes U, H becomes J. So FISH is written HKUJ. Moving the letters the wrong way would give DGQF, which is why the direction matters. Say the alphabet aloud from the letter you are on rather than starting at A each time.

If FOX is written in code as ENW, how is TREE written in the same code?

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The answer is B. Compare the two words letter by letter: F becomes E, O becomes N, X becomes W. Every letter moves back 1 place in the alphabet. Do the same to TREE: T becomes S, R becomes Q, E becomes D, E becomes D. So TREE is written SQDD. Moving the letters the wrong way would give USFF, which is why the direction matters. Say the alphabet aloud from the letter you are on rather than starting at A each time.

If HEN is written in code as EBK, how is MOON written in the same code?

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The answer is B. Compare the two words letter by letter: H becomes E, E becomes B, N becomes K. Every letter moves back 3 places in the alphabet. Do the same to MOON: M becomes J, O becomes L, O becomes L, N becomes K. So MOON is written JLLK. Moving the letters the wrong way would give PRRQ, which is why the direction matters. Say the alphabet aloud from the letter you are on rather than starting at A each time.

If CORN is written in code as AMPL, how is OWL written in the same code?

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The answer is B. Compare the two words letter by letter: C becomes A, O becomes M, R becomes P, N becomes L. Every letter moves back 2 places in the alphabet. Do the same to OWL: O becomes M, W becomes U, L becomes J. So OWL is written MUJ. Moving the letters the wrong way would give QYN, which is why the direction matters. If the answer looks like a real word, be suspicious: codes rarely spell anything.

If MOON is written in code as OQQP, how is OWL written in the same code?

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The answer is C. Compare the two words letter by letter: M becomes O, O becomes Q, O becomes Q, N becomes P. Every letter moves forward 2 places in the alphabet. Do the same to OWL: O becomes Q, W becomes Y, L becomes N. So OWL is written QYN. Moving the letters the wrong way would give MUJ, which is why the direction matters. If the answer looks like a real word, be suspicious: codes rarely spell anything.

If NEST is written in code as LCQR, how is COW written in the same code?

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The answer is A. Compare the two words letter by letter: N becomes L, E becomes C, S becomes Q, T becomes R. Every letter moves back 2 places in the alphabet. Do the same to COW: C becomes A, O becomes M, W becomes U. So COW is written AMU. Moving the letters the wrong way would give EQY, which is why the direction matters. If the answer looks like a real word, be suspicious: codes rarely spell anything.

If GATE is written in code as JDWH, how is DESK written in the same code?

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The answer is A. Compare the two words letter by letter: G becomes J, A becomes D, T becomes W, E becomes H. Every letter moves forward 3 places in the alphabet. Do the same to DESK: D becomes G, E becomes H, S becomes V, K becomes N. So DESK is written GHVN. Moving the letters the wrong way would give ABPH, which is why the direction matters. Always work the rule out from the pair you are given before touching the new word.

If SHIP is written in code as TIJQ, how is RAT written in the same code?

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The answer is C. Compare the two words letter by letter: S becomes T, H becomes I, I becomes J, P becomes Q. Every letter moves forward 1 place in the alphabet. Do the same to RAT: R becomes S, A becomes B, T becomes U. So RAT is written SBU. Moving the letters the wrong way would give QZS, which is why the direction matters. Check the direction on a second letter before you commit: one letter can be a coincidence.

If DESK is written in code as ABPH, how is SHIP written in the same code?

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The answer is E. Compare the two words letter by letter: D becomes A, E becomes B, S becomes P, K becomes H. Every letter moves back 3 places in the alphabet. Do the same to SHIP: S becomes P, H becomes E, I becomes F, P becomes M. So SHIP is written PEFM. Moving the letters the wrong way would give VKLS, which is why the direction matters. Say the alphabet aloud from the letter you are on rather than starting at A each time.

If TREE is written in code as QOBB, how is MILK written in the same code?

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The answer is A. Compare the two words letter by letter: T becomes Q, R becomes O, E becomes B, E becomes B. Every letter moves back 3 places in the alphabet. Do the same to MILK: M becomes J, I becomes F, L becomes I, K becomes H. So MILK is written JFIH. Moving the letters the wrong way would give PLON, which is why the direction matters. If the answer looks like a real word, be suspicious: codes rarely spell anything.

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