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4th Std Scholarship · Intelligence Test

Alphabet

5 concepts · 40 practice questions with answers · Free to read

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Letter numbers and the opposite letter

From daily life

Every child in a class has a roll number. In the same way the 26 letters A to Z have fixed places : A is first, B is second, … Z is twenty-sixth. Count from the other end and Z is first and A is twenty-sixth.

Simple definition

The English alphabet has 26 letters. A, E, I, O, U are vowels. The other 21 are consonants. A letter's number from the left (L) and number from the right (R) always add up to 27. The letter that has the same number counted from the other end is its opposite letter.

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Letter numbers and the opposite letter

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Numbers of some letters

LetterFrom leftFrom rightOpposite letter
A126Z
E522V
J1017Q
M1314N
T207G
1
Rule 1

Number from left + number from right = 27. So number from right = 27 − number from left.

  • E.g. G is 7th from the left. From the right it is 27 − 7 = 20th.
2
Rule 2

To find the opposite letter, work out 27 − number and find the letter with that number.

  • E.g. D is number 4. 27 − 4 = 23, and the 23rd letter is W. So the opposite of D is W.
3
Rule 3

Learn EJOTY : E = 5, J = 10, O = 15, T = 20, Y = 25. Count forward or back from these landmarks.

  • E.g. Which number is R? T = 20, and R is 2 before it : 20 − 2 = 18th.
4
Rule 4

There are only 5 vowels (A, E, I, O, U). All the rest are consonants.

  • E.g. A to Z has 5 vowels and 26 − 5 = 21 consonants.
Example 1 · easy

What are the numbers of K from the left and from the right?

  1. J = 10, so K = 11th (from the left).
  2. From the right = 27 − 11 = 16th.
Example 2 · medium

Which is the 9th letter from the right?

  1. Number from left = 27 − 9 = 18.
  2. T = 20, so S = 19 and R = 18. Answer : R.
Example 3 · exam type

What is the opposite letter of P? How many letters are there between the two letters?

  1. P = 16. Opposite number 27 − 16 = 11, which is K.
  2. Between K (11) and P (16) are the numbers 12, 13, 14, 15 : 16 − 11 − 1 = 4 letters (L, M, N, O).
Remember

To find how many letters lie between two letters, do bigger number − smaller number − 1. Do not count the two letters themselves.

Common mistake

Using 26 − number to find the opposite letter. The right way is 27 − number, because A = 1 and Z = 26 add up to 27.

Shortcut

Memory clue : "EJOTY : five, ten, fifteen, twenty, twenty-five." Count forward and back from these letters.

Shortcut

M and N sit exactly in the middle of the alphabet (13 and 14). The opposite of M is N and the opposite of N is M.

Spot the difference

What is askedHow to find itExample
Number from the right27 − number from the leftC : 27 − 3 = 24
Opposite letter27 − number, then the letter with that numberC : 24th letter X
Letters between two lettersBigger − smaller − 1C and H : 8 − 3 − 1 = 4

Practice questions

Easy
  1. 1Which number is H from the left?
  2. 2Which number is E from the right?
  3. 3How many vowels and how many consonants are in the alphabet?
Medium
  1. 4What is the opposite letter of F?
  2. 5Which is the 4th letter from the right?
  3. 6How many letters are there between the 10th letter from the left and the 10th letter from the right?
Challenging
  1. 7Is there a letter whose number from the left and number from the right are the same? Why?
  2. 8Which is the opposite letter of the letter that comes 5 places after S?
Show answers (try them yourself first)
  1. 1H = 8th.
  2. 2E is 5th from the left; from the right 27 − 5 = 22nd.
  3. 35 vowels (A, E, I, O, U) and 21 consonants.
  4. 4F = 6; 27 − 6 = 21 and the 21st letter is U.
  5. 5Number from left 27 − 4 = 23, which is W. (From the right : Z, Y, X, W.)
  6. 610th from the left is J. 10th from the right = 17th from the left, Q. Between them 17 − 10 − 1 = 6 letters (K, L, M, N, O, P).
  7. 7No. If both numbers were the same, the total would be double that number, but 27 is odd; it cannot be divided by 2. The two middle letters are M (13) and N (14).
  8. 8S = 19; 19 + 5 = 24, which is X. The opposite of X is number 27 − 24 = 3, which is C.

Alphabet series : series of letters

From daily life

When we climb stairs we can skip a step each time. A letter series works the same way : A, C, E, G skips one letter each time. Every time, 2 steps forward.

Simple definition

A letter series is a row of letters. The simple trick : give every letter its number and then find the difference as in a number series. After Z comes A again, so when a number goes above 26, subtract 26.

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Alphabet series : series of letters

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Kinds of letter series

KindExampleNumbersDifference
Same stepsB, E, H, K2, 5, 8, 11+ 3
Going downZ, W, T, Q26, 23, 20, 17− 3
Growing stepsA, B, D, G, K1, 2, 4, 7, 11+ 1, + 2, + 3, + 4
Every other termA, Z, C, X, E, V1, 26, 3, 24, 5, 22+ 2 and − 2
1
Rule 1

Write the letter numbers and find the difference as in a number series.

  • E.g. B, E, H, K : 2, 5, 8, 11. Difference 3. Next number 14 = N.
2
Rule 2

If the difference is the same, add it to the last number. If the number goes above 26, subtract 26 (after Z comes A again).

  • E.g. T, W, Z, ? : 20, 23, 26, 29. 29 − 26 = 3, which is C.
3
Rule 3

If the differences grow, look at the new row of differences (as in section 2 of the Series lesson).

  • E.g. C, D, F, I, M : 3, 4, 6, 9, 13. Differences 1, 2, 3, 4. Next difference 5, so 13 + 5 = 18, which is R.
4
Rule 4

If every other letter looks different, make two rows. Continue the row that contains the term asked for.

  • E.g. A, Z, C, X, E, V, ? : Row 1 : A, C, E (+ 2), so the next is G. Row 2 : Z, X, V (− 2). The 7th term belongs to row 1, so G.
Example 1 · easy

What is the next letter in D, G, J, M, ? ?

  1. Numbers : 4, 7, 10, 13. Difference + 3.
  2. Next number 13 + 3 = 16, which is P.
Example 2 · medium

What is the next letter in Z, V, R, N, ? ?

  1. Numbers : 26, 22, 18, 14. Difference − 4.
  2. Next number 14 − 4 = 10, which is J.
Example 3 · exam type

What is the next letter in A, C, F, J, O, ? ?

  1. Numbers : 1, 3, 6, 10, 15. Differences 2, 3, 4, 5, so the next difference is 6.
  2. Next number 15 + 6 = 21, which is U.
Remember

Once letters become numbers, a letter series is a number series. All the number-series tricks work here.

Common mistake

Counting "4 letters" from B to E. The steps are 3 (E − B = 5 − 2 = 3). Do not count letters; find the difference of the numbers.

Common mistake

Stopping at Z. After Z comes A again, so when a number goes above 26, subtract 26.

Shortcut

Memory clue : "Letter = number, then series."

Shortcut

Use the EJOTY landmarks (5, 10, 15, 20, 25) to get numbers fast. E.g. the 16th letter = P, the one after O (15).

Spot the difference

Sign in the questionWhat to do
Steps are equalAdd the same difference to the last number
Steps grow 1, 2, 3 …Make a new row of differences
Every other letter looks differentMake two rows
Must carry on past ZSubtract 26 from the number

Practice questions

Easy
  1. 1A, C, E, G, ? What is the next letter?
  2. 2Z, X, V, T, ? What is the next letter?
  3. 3C, F, I, L, ? What is the next letter?
Medium
  1. 4A, B, D, G, K, ? What is the next letter?
  2. 5Y, V, S, P, ? What is the next letter?
  3. 6B, Y, D, W, F, U, ?, ? What are the next two letters?
Challenging
  1. 7W, Z, C, F, ? What is the next letter?
  2. 8E, F, H, K, O, ? What is the next letter?
Show answers (try them yourself first)
  1. 11, 3, 5, 7; difference 2; next 9 = I.
  2. 226, 24, 22, 20; difference − 2; next 18 = R.
  3. 33, 6, 9, 12; difference 3; next 15 = O.
  4. 41, 2, 4, 7, 11; differences 1, 2, 3, 4; next difference 5; 11 + 5 = 16 = P.
  5. 525, 22, 19, 16; difference − 3; next 13 = M.
  6. 6Row 1 : B, D, F (2, 4, 6) so the next is 8 = H. Row 2 : Y, W, U (25, 23, 21) so the next is 19 = S. Answer : H and S.
  7. 723, 26, 29 (that is 3), 32 (that is 6); difference 3; next 9 = I.
  8. 85, 6, 8, 11, 15; differences 1, 2, 3, 4; next difference 5; 15 + 5 = 20 = T.

Places of letters in a word

From daily life

Like children standing in a queue, the letters of a word stand in a row. In SCHOOL, S is first, C second, H third. Looking from the right, L is first and S is sixth.

Simple definition

The letters of a word can be numbered 1, 2, 3 … from the left, and in reverse order from the right. If a word has n letters, number from left + number from right = n + 1. A word has a middle letter only if its number of letters is odd.

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Places of letters in a word

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Numbers in the word PLANET (6 letters)

LetterPLANET
From left123456
From right654321
1
Rule 1

In a word, number from left + number from right = number of letters + 1.

  • E.g. PLANET (6 letters) : N is 4th from the left, and 6 + 1 − 4 = 3rd from the right.
2
Rule 2

Only a word with an odd number of letters has a middle letter. Its number = (number of letters + 1) ÷ 2.

  • E.g. CAPTAIN (7 letters) : (7 + 1) ÷ 2 = number 4, which is T.
3
Rule 3

"Third to the left of the middle letter" means subtract 3 from the middle number. "Third to the right" means add 3.

  • E.g. CAPTAIN : middle T (4). Third to the left 4 − 3 = 1, which is C. Third to the right 4 + 3 = 7, which is N.
4
Rule 4

Count the vowels A, E, I, O, U. The rest are consonants. If a letter appears twice in a word, count it each time.

  • E.g. CHAMPION (8 letters) : vowels A, I, O = 3. Consonants C, H, M, P, N = 5. 3 + 5 = 8.
Example 1 · easy

In SUNDAY, which number is U from the left and from the right?

  1. S1 U2 N3 D4 A5 Y6. U is 2nd from the left.
  2. From the right 6 + 1 − 2 = 5th.
Example 2 · medium

In MARKET, how many letters are there between the 2nd letter from the left and the 2nd letter from the right?

  1. M1 A2 R3 K4 E5 T6. 2nd from the left is A. 2nd from the right is 6 + 1 − 2 = 5th from the left, which is E.
  2. Between them 5 − 2 − 1 = 2 letters (R, K).
Example 3 · exam type

In the word SCIENTIST, which is the third letter to the right of the middle letter? And how many times does S appear in the word?

  1. 9 letters : S1 C2 I3 E4 N5 T6 I7 S8 T9. Middle number (9 + 1) ÷ 2 = 5, which is N.
  2. Third to the right 5 + 3 = 8th, which is S. S appears twice (1st and 8th).
Remember

The "from left" and "from right" numbers always add up to letters + 1. If you know one, you get the other at once.

Common mistake

Looking for the middle letter of a word with an even number of letters (e.g. 6). Such a word has no single middle letter; it has two middle letters.

Shortcut

Memory clue : "Left + right = letters + 1."

Shortcut

To find how many letters lie between two letters : bigger number − smaller number − 1. This is faster than writing the word out and counting.

Spot the difference

Type of questionHow to solveExample (PLANET)
Number from the rightLetters + 1 − number from the leftN : 6 + 1 − 4 = 3
Letters between two lettersBigger − smaller − 1P and N : 4 − 1 − 1 = 2 (L, A)
VowelsCount A, E, I, O, UA, E = 2 vowels

Practice questions

Easy
  1. 1In FRIDAY, which number is R from the left?
  2. 2In PLANET, which number is E from the right?
  3. 3How many vowels are there in GARDEN?
Medium
  1. 4How many times does A appear in BANANA?
  2. 5In HOSPITAL, how many letters are there between the 3rd letter from the left and the 3rd letter from the right?
  3. 6What is the middle letter of the word VILLAGE?
Challenging
  1. 7In RAINBOW, which are the second letter to the left and the second letter to the right of the middle letter?
  2. 8A word has 11 letters. Which number from the left and which from the right is its middle letter?
Show answers (try them yourself first)
  1. 1F1 R2 : 2nd.
  2. 22nd from the right (T1 E2).
  3. 3A, E : 2 vowels.
  4. 4B1 A2 N3 A4 N5 A6 : A appears three times.
  5. 5H1 O2 S3 P4 I5 T6 A7 L8. 3rd from the left is S. 3rd from the right = 6th from the left, T. Between them 6 − 3 − 1 = 2 letters (P, I).
  6. 67 letters; (7 + 1) ÷ 2 = number 4. V1 I2 L3 L4 : L.
  7. 7R1 A2 I3 N4 B5 O6 W7. Middle N (4). Second to the left 4 − 2 = 2, which is A. Second to the right 4 + 2 = 6, which is O. Answer : A and O.
  8. 8Middle number (11 + 1) ÷ 2 = 6. From the right 11 + 1 − 6 = 6. The middle letter is 6th from the left and also 6th from the right.

Arranging words in alphabetical order

From daily life

When we look up a word in a dictionary we first look at the first letter. Words beginning with B come after A and before C. If the first letter is the same, we look at the second letter. Putting words in this order is alphabetical order.

Simple definition

Alphabetical order is dictionary order. The word whose first letter has the smaller number comes first. If the first letter is the same, compare the second letter; if that is the same too, compare the third, and so on.

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Arranging words in alphabetical order

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An example of comparing

WordFirst letterSecond letterThird letter
PEACHPEA
PEARPEA
PLUMPLU
1
Rule 1

The word whose first letter has the smaller number comes first.

  • E.g. MANGO, APPLE, GRAPE : first letters M (13), A (1), G (7). Order : APPLE, GRAPE, MANGO.
2
Rule 2

If the first letter is the same, look at the second letter. If that is the same too, the third, and so on.

  • E.g. PEAR, PLUM, PEACH : all begin with P. Second letters E, L, E. PE… comes first, PL… next. In PEAR and PEACH the fourth letters are R and C; C comes first. Order : PEACH, PEAR, PLUM.
3
Rule 3

If one word is the beginning part of another word, the shorter word comes first.

  • E.g. CART, CAR, CARD : CAR comes first of all. Then CARD (D = 4) and CART (T = 20). Order : CAR, CARD, CART.
4
Rule 4

If the "third", "last" or "middle" word is asked, first write all the words in order, then count.

  • E.g. the third word among TAP, TEA, TEN, TOY : order TAP, TEA, TEN, TOY. Third is TEN.
Example 1 · easy

Which of TABLE, CHAIR, DOOR, BOOK comes first in alphabetical order?

  1. First letters T (20), C (3), D (4), B (2).
  2. B is the smallest. Order : BOOK, CHAIR, DOOR, TABLE. First is BOOK.
Example 2 · medium

Which of STAR, SUN, SKY, SEA comes third in alphabetical order?

  1. All four begin with S. Second letters T, U, K, E.
  2. E (5), K (11), T (20), U (21). Order : SEA, SKY, STAR, SUN. Third is STAR.
Example 3 · exam type

Which of PLATE, PLANT, PLAN, PLAY comes first and which comes last in alphabetical order?

  1. All four share the first three letters PLA. The fourth letter : T, N, (nothing), Y.
  2. PLAN comes first, because it is shorter and is the beginning part of the others. Then PLANT (N), PLATE (T), PLAY (Y).
  3. Order : PLAN, PLANT, PLATE, PLAY. First is PLAN and last is PLAY.
Remember

Look at the first letters first, then the second if needed, then the third. Stop where the difference appears.

Common mistake

Deciding the order by the length of the word. A shorter word does not always come first. APPLE comes before BAT, because A is before B.

Shortcut

Memory clue : "First, then second, then third; stop where they differ."

Shortcut

A to M is the first half and N to Z the second half. If first letters fall in both halves, those in the first half come first.

Spot the difference

SituationWhich word comes first
First letters differThe one whose letter comes earlier in the alphabet
First letters same, second differDecide by the second letter
One word is the beginning part of the otherThe shorter word

Practice questions

Easy
  1. 1Which of CAT, ANT, DOG, BEE comes first in alphabetical order?
  2. 2Which of ROSE, LILY, DAISY, TULIP comes last in alphabetical order?
  3. 3Which of KITE, BALL, TOP, DOLL comes second in alphabetical order?
Medium
  1. 4Which of HUT, HEN, HOP, HAT comes third in alphabetical order?
  2. 5Which of BEAD, BEAK, BEAM, BEACH comes second in alphabetical order?
  3. 6Which of SMILE, SMALL, SMOKE, SMART comes third in alphabetical order?
Challenging
  1. 7Which of FARM, FAR, FARMER, FAN comes first and which comes last in alphabetical order?
  2. 8Which of RIVER, RIVAL, RISE, RIDE comes third in alphabetical order?
Show answers (try them yourself first)
  1. 1First letters C, A, D, B. Order : ANT, BEE, CAT, DOG. First is ANT.
  2. 2First letters R, L, D, T. Order : DAISY, LILY, ROSE, TULIP. Last is TULIP.
  3. 3First letters K, B, T, D. Order : BALL, DOLL, KITE, TOP. Second is DOLL.
  4. 4Second letters U, E, O, A. A < E < O < U. Order : HAT, HEN, HOP, HUT. Third is HOP.
  5. 5Fourth letters D, K, M, C. Order : BEACH, BEAD, BEAK, BEAM. Second is BEAD.
  6. 6Third letters I, A, O, A. In SMALL and SMART the fourth letters are L and R. Order : SMALL, SMART, SMILE, SMOKE. Third is SMILE.
  7. 7FAN (N), FAR, FARM, FARMER. FAR is the beginning part of FARM and FARMER, so it comes first of the three. In FAN the third letter is N, in FAR it is R; N is first. Order : FAN, FAR, FARM, FARMER. First is FAN and last is FARMER.
  8. 8Third letters V, V, S, D. D < S < V. RIDE, RISE, then RIVAL and RIVER (fourth letters A and E; A first). Order : RIDE, RISE, RIVAL, RIVER. Third is RIVAL.

Letter pairs, making words and exam tricks

From daily life

When we solve a puzzle we look for a link like "this goes with that". E.g. poha and a spoon, rice and a fork. Letter pairs have such links too : AC and BD. In both pairs the first letter moved 1 step forward.

Simple definition

Letter pair : see how the numbers of the letters in the first pair changed and apply the same rule to the second pair. Making words : use all the given letters exactly once to make a meaningful word. Reverse word : write the letters from right to left.

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Letter pairs, making words and exam tricks

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The 4-step exam frame

  • Step 1 : Give the letters their numbers (using the EJOTY landmarks).
  • Step 2 : Find the difference or the reverse order.
  • Step 3 : Apply the same rule to the next part of the question.
  • Step 4 : Check the answer against the options.
1
Rule 1

When making words use all the given letters exactly once. First look at the vowels and at which letter the word can begin with.

  • E.g. T, A, B, L, E : vowels A, E. TABLE is a word (all 5 letters once).
2
Rule 2

In a letter pair, find by numbers how many steps each letter of the first pair moved and move the second pair the same number of steps.

  • E.g. BD : CE :: FH : ? B → C (+ 1), D → E (+ 1). Then F → G, H → I. Answer GI.
3
Rule 3

To find the odd group among letter groups, find the difference in each group. The group that behaves differently is the odd one.

  • E.g. ACE, GIK, MOQ, BCD : the first three have + 2, + 2 (1, 3, 5 / 7, 9, 11 / 13, 15, 17). BCD has + 1, + 1 (2, 3, 4). So BCD is the odd one.
4
Rule 4

To write a reverse word, put the last letter first and the first letter last. If a letter pair is reversed, the order is reversed.

  • E.g. the reverse of STOP is POTS (P, O, T, S).
Example 1 · easy

Make a meaningful word from the letters R, I, V, E, R.

  1. All 5 letters must be used once. R, I, V, E, R : RIVER.
Example 2 · medium

CD : EF :: GH : ?

  1. C (3) → E (5) = + 2. D (4) → F (6) = + 2.
  2. G (7) + 2 = I (9). H (8) + 2 = J (10). Answer IJ.
Example 3 · exam type

Which is the odd group? (1) BDF (2) HJL (3) MOQ (4) PRS

  1. BDF : 2, 4, 6 (+ 2, + 2). HJL : 8, 10, 12 (+ 2, + 2). MOQ : 13, 15, 17 (+ 2, + 2).
  2. PRS : 16, 18, 19 (+ 2, + 1). So the odd group is (4).
Remember

In every kind of question first give the letters their numbers. Then the sums become easy.

Common mistake

Assuming that only one letter moved in both pairs. The two letters can have different differences (BG : DI has + 2 for both, but AC : BF has + 1 and + 3). Check both.

Shortcut

Memory clue : "Give numbers, count steps, apply the same steps ahead."

Shortcut

When choosing among letter groups, find the difference of the first two letters. See whether the same difference fits the next letters. The one that does not fit is the odd one.

Spot the difference

Type of questionWhat to do
Letter pairFind the steps of both letters and apply them to the second pair
Odd groupFind the difference of each group, choose the one with a different difference
Making wordsUse all the letters exactly once
Reverse wordLast letter first

Practice questions

Easy
  1. 1Make a meaningful word from the letters O, M, E, H.
  2. 2AC : BD :: EG : ?
  3. 3What is the reverse of the word DEER?
Medium
  1. 4PQ : RS :: TU : ?
  2. 5Which is the odd group? (1) CEG (2) IKM (3) PRT (4) UWX
  3. 6Make a meaningful word from the letters T, R, A, I, N.
Challenging
  1. 7ABC : CBA :: GHI : ?
  2. 8BG : DI :: KP : ?
Show answers (try them yourself first)
  1. 1HOME.
  2. 2A → B (+ 1), C → D (+ 1). E → F, G → H. Answer FH.
  3. 3D, E, E, R reversed : R, E, E, D. Answer REED.
  4. 4P (16) → R (18) = + 2, Q (17) → S (19) = + 2. T (20) + 2 = V (22), U (21) + 2 = W (23). Answer VW.
  5. 5CEG : 3, 5, 7. IKM : 9, 11, 13. PRT : 16, 18, 20. UWX : 21, 23, 24 (+ 2, + 1). The odd group is (4).
  6. 6TRAIN.
  7. 7The reverse order of ABC is CBA. In the same way the reverse of GHI is IHG.
  8. 8B (2) → D (4) = + 2, G (7) → I (9) = + 2. K (11) + 2 = M (13), P (16) + 2 = R (18). Answer MR.

Quick revision of the whole lesson

TypeMemory clue
Letter numbersEJOTY : 5, 10, 15, 20, 25; left + right = 27
Opposite letter27 − number; M and N in the middle
Letter seriesLetter = number, then series; after Z comes A again
Place in a wordLeft + right = letters + 1
Alphabetical orderFirst, then second, then third; shorter word first
Pairs, groupsGive numbers, count steps, apply the same steps ahead

🎯 Most important points for the exam

  • The alphabet has 26 letters; 5 vowels (A, E, I, O, U) and 21 consonants.
  • Number from left + number from right = 27. Opposite letter = 27 − number.
  • Give the letters numbers and solve like a number series; if the number goes above 26, subtract 26.
  • In a word, number from left + number from right = letters + 1; a middle letter exists only in a word with an odd number of letters.
  • In alphabetical order check the first letter, then the second, then the third; if a word is the beginning part of another, it comes first.
  • Once you have the answer, put it back in the condition or the options and check.
🧠 Study mantra

"First the number, then the difference; check at the end."