Example 1
In the English alphabet, which letter is 3rd to the right of the 13th letter from the left?
Answer: A) P
The 13th letter is M; 3 places to its right is the 16th letter, P.
Alphabet Test reasoning questions for competitive exams: rules, worked examples and practice
Alphabet test questions ask for a letter by its position, or the position of a letter. Knowing the letter numbers saves time.
Key rules and formulas
- A=1 … Z=26; reverse position = 27 − position.
- Memory aid: E=5, J=10, O=15, T=20, Y=25.
- The kth letter from the right is letter number 27 − k.
- The middle of A–Z falls between M (13) and N (14).
Common traps
- Counting from the wrong end.
- Off-by-one when counting "between" two letters.
Where Alphabet Test is asked
- IBPS Clerk Prelims (Reasoning Ability)
- IBPS PO Prelims (Reasoning Ability)
- RRB Group D (General Intelligence & Reasoning)
- RRB NTPC CBT 1 (General Intelligence & Reasoning)
- SBI Clerk Prelims (Reasoning Ability)
- SBI PO Prelims (Reasoning Ability)
- SSC CGL Tier 1 (General Intelligence & Reasoning)
- SSC CGL Tier 2 (General Intelligence, Reasoning & General Intelligence)
- SSC CHSL Tier 1 (General Intelligence)
Worked examples
Example 2
In the English alphabet, which letter is 9th to the right of the 15th letter from the left?
Answer: B) X
The 15th letter is O; 9 places to its right is the 24th letter, X.
Example 3
In the English alphabet, which letter is 8th to the right of the 11th letter from the left?
Answer: A) S
The 11th letter is K; 8 places to its right is the 19th letter, S.
Frequently asked questions
What is Alphabet Test in competitive exams?
Alphabet test questions ask for a letter by its position, or the position of a letter. Knowing the letter numbers saves time.
Which exams ask Alphabet Test questions?
On MockBazaar, Alphabet Test questions appear in IBPS Clerk Prelims, IBPS PO Prelims, RRB Group D, RRB NTPC CBT 1, SBI Clerk Prelims, SBI PO Prelims, SSC CGL Tier 1, SSC CGL Tier 2, SSC CHSL Tier 1.
What is the most common mistake in Alphabet Test?
Counting from the wrong end.