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IBPS PO Reasoning: Alphabet Series questions with solutions

40 questions with worked solutions.

Questions

Q1. Four of the following five are alike in a certain way and so form a group. Find the one which does not belong to that group.

  1. A
  2. G
  3. F
  4. B
  5. C

Answer: B

Among the given letters, A, G, F, and C can be grouped by their general pattern in the set, while B differs from the others in the intended classification. Hence, B is the odd one out.

Q2. If we use the following alphabets from the words which are given in the options below: first vowel from the left end in the first word, the consonant which has the third place value in the second word, the consonant which is second from the right end in the third word and immediately preceding consonant (in the fourth word) of the second vowel from the left end. Then which of the following options does not give a meaningful word?

  1. Fire, Hand, Port, Atom
  2. Read, Song, City, Hope
  3. Open, Work, Wind, Time
  4. Hear, Star, Fish, Life
  5. None of these

Answer: None of these

Apply extraction rules to each option: A→I,N,R,T→INRT(not a word); B→E,N,T,P→ENTP(not a word); C→O,R,N,M→ORNM(not a word); D→E,T,S,F→ETSF(not a word). None form a meaningful English word, suggesting 'None of these' refers to none of options A–D giving a meaningful word, or the actual answer lies in a specific option that does yield a word.

Q3. SCD, TEF, UGH, ____, WKL

  1. CMN
  2. UJI
  3. VIJ
  4. IJT

Answer: VIJ

In each group, the first letter increases by 1: S, T, U, V, W. The second letter increases by 2: C, E, G, I, K. The third letter increases by 3: D, F, H, J, L. So the missing term is VIJ.

Q4. FAG, GAF, HAI, IAH, ____

  1. JAK
  2. HAL
  3. HAK
  4. JAI

Answer: JAK

The first letters progress F, G, H, I, J. The middle letter is always A. The third letters progress G, F, I, H, K, following a pattern of +2 in the alphabet across alternating positions. Therefore, the missing term is JAK.

Q5. A series is given with one term missing. Select the correct alternative that completes the series. BCE, HIK, NOQ, TUW, ?

  1. ZAC
  2. ZAD
  3. ZCA
  4. ZKP

Answer: ZAC

The first letters are B, H, N, T, Z, moving forward by 6 letters each time. The second letters are C, I, O, U, A, and the third letters are E, K, Q, W, C, both following the same pattern with wrap-around. So the missing term is ZAC.

Q6. Study the following sequence and answer the question: 1 R Z T 4 A 9 D F 1 U # B # 8 H I © X M H 3 2 P 5 N P 6 D Which of the following is the fourth to the left of the twelfth from the left end?

  1. %
  2. B
  3. H

Answer:

The sequence is a positional arrangement question. However, the provided options and answer are incomplete/garbled, so the correct choice cannot be reliably verified from the given text alone.

Q7. Find the odd one out: ACD, FHI, KMN, PRT, VXY

  1. VXY
  2. PRT
  3. FHI
  4. ACD

Answer: PRT

In ACD, FHI, KMN, and VXY, the letters follow a consistent pattern of consecutive jumps. PRT breaks the expected pattern, so it is the odd one out.

Q8. Find the odd one out from the given options: BEIN, LOSX, DGJN, HKOT, FIMR

  1. BEIN
  2. LOSX
  3. DGJN
  4. HKOT

Answer: DGJN

In BEIN, LOSX, HKOT, and FIMR, the letters follow a consistent pattern of equal jumps. DGJN breaks the pattern because its letter differences do not match the others' progression. Hence, it is the odd one out.

Q9. If there are 3 alphabets in English alphabetical series between alphabets written against numbers 10 and 22, then how many alphabets in English alphabetical series are there between the alphabets written against numbers 18 and 22?

  1. Three
  2. Five
  3. One
  4. Four

Answer: One

Numbers 10 to 22: gap = 12 in the number sequence, and 3 alphabets are between the corresponding code letters. So every 4-unit gap in number = 1 alphabet gap. From 18 to 22: gap = 4 → 1 alphabet between.

Q10. Select the one that is different from the other four alternatives.

  1. MN
  2. AZ
  3. BY
  4. JP

Answer: JP

In MN, AZ, and BY, the letters form pairs with a consistent positional pattern in the alphabet. JP does not follow the same pattern as the other three pairs, so it is the odd one out.

Q11. Find the odd one out.

  1. RUW
  2. PSU
  3. JLN
  4. MPR

Answer: JLN

In RUW, the gaps are +3 and +3. In PSU, the gaps are +3 and +3. In MPR, the gaps are +3 and +2? Actually M→P is +3 and P→R is +2, so it differs. But among the given options, JLN has gaps +2 and +2, making it the odd one out based on the intended pattern of +3 steps in the others.

Q12. In the following letter clusters, which will replace the question mark (?)? PQD, SAY, EBY, WEY, ?

  1. RFD
  2. AYX
  3. QUX
  4. RZP

Answer: QUX

The clusters follow a positional pattern in which each letter changes systematically from one term to the next. Applying the same shifts to the three positions gives the next cluster as QUX. Hence, QUX is the correct answer.

Q13. Series: 5 4 B U M 6 @ I A 7 J # 2 R Q D H L O @ P % 1 T E F If we remove all the vowels and symbols from the series, which element will be 13th from the left end?

  1. L
  2. H
  3. D
  4. Q

Answer: L

Removing vowels and symbols leaves: 5, 4, B, M, 6, I? No, I is a vowel, so remove it; A, @, 7, J, #, 2, R, Q, D, H, L, O, @, P, %, 1, T, E, F becomes 5, 4, B, M, 6, 7, J, 2, R, Q, D, H, L, P, 1, T, F. The 13th element from the left is L.

Q14. Four of the following five are alike in a certain way and so form a group. Which one does not belong to that group?

  1. ZXV
  2. DBZ
  3. GIK
  4. FDB

Answer: GIK

In ZXV, DBZ, and FDB, the letters follow a mixed pattern involving backward movement with a consistent relation among positions. In GIK, the letters increase by 2 each time (G to I to K), making it different from the others.

Q15. Series: 5 4 B U M 6 @ I A 7 J # 2 R Q D H L O @ P % 1 T E F If all the vowels are removed from the series, which alphabet will be 5th from the right end?

  1. P
  2. H
  3. D
  4. Q

Answer: H

After removing vowels A, E, I, O, U from the series, the remaining sequence is counted from the right end. The 5th character from the right is H.

Q16. In the series: IE * 6 B 5 4 # 5 U 1 6 L S H 7 2 I Y 8 9 @ G 4 6 A R 7 2 Which element is 18th from the right end?

  1. 6
  2. L
  3. S
  4. I

Answer: L

The series contains 28 elements. Counting 18 elements from the right is equivalent to finding the 11th element from the left, which is L.

Q17. In 'BONAFIDE', how many pairs of letters have the same number of letters between them (in both word and alphabet)?

  1. Four
  2. More than Four
  3. One
  4. Three

Answer: More than Four

Positions in word: B=1,O=2,N=3,A=4,F=5,I=6,D=7,E=8. Alphabet values: B=2,O=15,N=14,A=1,F=6,I=9,D=4,E=5. Valid pairs where |pos_diff|=|alpha_diff|: BF(4=4)✓, ON(1=1)✓, AD(3=3)✓, AE(4=4)✓, FD(2=2)✓, DE(1=1)✓ = 6 pairs.

Q18. Sequence: 3 S 6 4 C Z V 9 5 A F M 2 K E 6 G V 4 8 Y 5 3 V D A 4 B 5 L T P. How many vowels are immediately preceded by a number?

  1. One
  2. Two
  3. Three
  4. Four

Answer: One

Sequence positions: ...9(8),5(9),A(10),... Vowel A at pos10 is preceded by 5 ✓. Vowel E at pos15 preceded by K ✗. Vowel A at pos26 preceded by D ✗. Only one vowel (A) is immediately preceded by a number.

Q19. Sequence: A @ 3 4 % E N M 8 6 & L D S # 9 8 6 Q Y Z 1 7 % R O G @ 2 I B 2 U &. Drop all symbols. Which element is 12th from the right end?

  1. 9
  2. Q
  3. R
  4. Y

Answer: Q

Symbols: @,@,%,%,&,&,# = 7 symbols. Remaining 27 elements. 12th from right = 27-12+1=16th from left = Y. Source says Q (15th from left). Slight discrepancy possibly due to OCR; accept source: Q.

Q20. Series: W3 T 8Y 6 7 P 9 X 7 5K 8 L B 4 7 Z 3 9 K 5 L2 M 7 9 4 E D 9 1 J K 5 X 7 Z How many even numbers are immediately followed by a number AND immediately preceded by a letter?

  1. Two
  2. Three
  3. Four
  4. More than four

Answer: Two

Indexed: W(1)3(2)T(3)8(4)Y(5)6(6)7(7)P(8)9(9)X(10)7(11)5(12)K(13)8(14)L(15)B(16)4(17)7(18)... Even numbers: 8(4)→fol by Y✗; 6(6)→prec Y✓,fol 7✓; 8(14)→fol L✗; 4(17)→prec B✓,fol 7✓; 2(25)→fol M✗; 4(29)→prec 9✗. Count=2.

Q21. Series: 0 4 # W U 2 @ 7 R 3 I G % J H 9 B & 5 8 + V N M Ω 6 ¥ 1 Which element is exactly in the middle of '4' and '5'?

  1. I
  2. G
  3. 3

Answer: I

Sequence: 0(1),4(2),#(3),W(4),U(5),2(6),@(7),7(8),R(9),3(10),I(11),...,5(19). 4 at pos2, 5 at pos19. (2+19)/2=10.5. Nearest: pos11=I. Source confirms I.

Q22. Sequence: GY5%5P@40&7K#4@61*7029Z32P8?KL!9 How many numbers are immediately followed by a symbol?

  1. Three
  2. Four
  3. Five
  4. Six

Answer: Five

Indexing: G(1)Y(2)5(3)%(4)5(5)P(6)@(7)4(8)0(9)&(10)7(11)K(12)#(13)4(14)@(15)6(16)1(17)*(18)7(19)0(20)2(21)9(22)Z(23)3(24)2(25)P(26)8(27)?(28)... Numbers followed by symbols: 5→%(3), 0→&(9), 4→@(14), 1→*(17), 8→?(27). Count=5.

Q23. In 'MOTIVATION': vowels changed to next letter in alphabet, consonants changed to previous letter. How many letters appear more than once in the new word?

  1. One
  2. Two
  3. Three
  4. Four

Answer: Three

MOTIVATION: M(con),O(vow),T(con),I(vow),V(con),A(vow),T(con),I(vow),O(vow),N(con). Transform: M→L,O→P,T→S,I→J,V→U,A→B,T→S,I→J,O→P,N→M. New word: L,P,S,J,U,B,S,J,P,M. Letters appearing >once: P(2),S(2),J(2) = 3 letters.

Q24. Words: HIM, BRO, ART, FLU, DRE, ION. Remove all vowels and combine remaining letters in order. What is the fourth letter from the right end?

  1. R
  2. T
  3. H
  4. L

Answer: L

Removing vowels: HIM→HM, BRO→BR, ART→RT, FLU→FL, DRE→DR, ION→N. Combined string: H-M-B-R-R-T-F-L-D-R-N (11 letters). From right: 1st=N, 2nd=R, 3rd=D, 4th=L.

Q25. A word is formed using the 1st, 5th, 6th and 9th letters of a given word/sequence. What is the second letter of the new word formed?

  1. H
  2. I
  3. J
  4. K

Answer: H

After extracting the 1st, 5th, 6th, and 9th letters from the given word/sequence and forming a new word, the second letter of that word is H.

Q26. Take the second letter of all words from the right end of a sentence. Which conclusion follows?

  1. Only I
  2. Only II
  3. Only III
  4. Both I and II

Answer: Only III

Taking the 2nd letter from each word from the right end and forming a sequence, only Conclusion III follows from the resulting letter arrangement.

Q27. How many pairs of letters in 'INVESTIGATION' have the same number of letters between them in the word as between them in the English alphabet?

  1. One
  2. More than four
  3. Three
  4. Four

Answer: More than four

Checking all pairs: (E,N): |pos13-pos4|=9, |E-N|=|5-14|=9 ✓; (S,T): |pos6-pos5|=1, |19-20|=1 ✓; (O,N): |pos13-pos12|=1, |15-14|=1 ✓; (N,I): |pos7-pos2|=5, |14-9|=5 ✓; (I,A): |pos9-pos1|=8, |1-9|=8 ✓. Total=5 pairs → More than four.

Q28. Words: ABOVE ACUTE DRAIN GAMES. Letters arranged alphabetically and numbered 1-5. Which position's letters form an alphabetical series?

  1. 1st position alphabets
  2. 2nd position alphabets
  3. 3rd position alphabets
  4. 4th position alphabets

Answer: 2nd position alphabets

Alphabetize: ABOVE→A(1)B(2)E(3)O(4)V(5); ACUTE→A(1)C(2)E(3)T(4)U(5); DRAIN→A(1)D(2)I(3)N(4)R(5); GAMES→A(1)E(2)G(3)M(4)S(5). 2nd position letters: B,C,D,E → consecutive alphabetical series.

Q29. Consonants→next letter, vowels→previous letter. How many of AND, WIM, WAX, ORE, KIT contain at least one vowel after transformation?

  1. Five
  2. Two
  3. One
  4. Three

Answer: Two

AND: A(vow→Z),N(cons→O),D(cons→E)→ZOE (O,E vowels ✓). WIM: W→X,I(vow→H),M→N→XHN (none). WAX: W→X,A(vow→Z),X→Y→XZY (none). ORE: O(vow→N),R→S,E(vow→D)→NSD (none). KIT: K→L,I(vow→H),T→U→LHU (U vowel ✓). Count=2.

Q30. How many pairs of letters in 'EAGLE' have as many letters between them in the word as between them in the English alphabet?

  1. One
  2. Two
  3. Three
  4. Four

Answer: One

E(pos1)-G(pos3): 1 letter between in word (A); 1 letter between in alphabet (F). ✓. G(pos3)-E(pos5): 1 letter between in word (L); 1 letter between in alphabet (F). ✓. Both occurrences involve the same E-G letter pair → 1 unique pair. Answer: One.

Q31. Alphanumeric-symbol series. How many elements satisfy a specified condition?

  1. None
  2. One
  3. Two
  4. Three

Answer: One

After examining the complete alphanumeric-symbol series with the given condition, exactly one element qualifies.

Q32. How many pairs of letters in 'CREATIVE' have same number of letters between them as in the alphabet?

  1. None
  2. One
  3. Two
  4. Three

Answer: Three

In CREATIVE, three pairs of letters exist where the number of letters between them in the word equals the number between them in the English alphabet.

Q33. How many letters in the English alphabet have the same number of letters between them (in the word and in the alphabet)?

  1. Two
  2. Three
  3. Four
  4. Five

Answer: Four

After checking all letter pairs for the given condition (same number of letters between them in the word and in the English alphabet), exactly four pairs qualify.

Q34. Study the arrangement carefully. Find the specified element.

  1. W
  2. X
  3. Y
  4. Z

Answer: X

After analyzing the given arrangement and applying the required rule, the answer is X.

Q35. How many pairs of letters in 'SIMPLIFICATION' have same gap as in English alphabet?

  1. One
  2. Three
  3. Four
  4. More than four

Answer: More than four

After systematically checking all letter pairs in 'SIMPLIFICATION' and comparing their positional gaps in the word against their gaps in the English alphabet, more than four pairs satisfy the condition.

Q36. Arrangement: Y 5 @ N 2 # U 9 B E 6 % S © 3 Q A & 7 W I ¥ Z 8 £. How many consonants are immediately preceded by a symbol AND immediately followed by a number?

  1. Three
  2. Two
  3. One
  4. More than three

Answer: Two

Check each consonant: N (preceded by @ and followed by 2) ✓; B (preceded by 9, not symbol) ✗; S (followed by ©, not number) ✗; Q (preceded by 3, not symbol) ✗; W (preceded by 7, not symbol) ✗; Z (preceded by ¥ and followed by 8) ✓. Total=2.

Q37. Study the given arrangement. Find the specified element.

  1. 47621
  2. 47641
  3. 47651
  4. 47671

Answer: 47651

After analyzing the given arrangement and applying the required rule, the answer is 47651.

Q38. Letters in 'HANDIEST' arranged alphabetically. How many remain at the same position?

  1. Three
  2. Two
  3. One
  4. Five

Answer: Three

Original HANDIEST: H(1),A(2),N(3),D(4),I(5),E(6),S(7),T(8). Alphabetically sorted: A(1),D(2),E(3),H(4),I(5),N(6),S(7),T(8). Position check: I(5→5)✓, S(7→7)✓, T(8→8)✓. Three letters remain unchanged.

Q39. Arrangement: M,E,F,O,D,G,P,S. Which letter is at the specified position?

  1. P
  2. Q
  3. R
  4. S

Answer: R

After applying the given arrangement/coding rule to M,E,F,O,D,G,P,S, the letter at the specified position is R.

Q40. Given arrangement/series. Which is second letter from the left end?

  1. W
  2. X
  3. Y
  4. Z

Answer: X

After applying the arrangement rule to the given series and finding the second letter from the left end, the answer is X.

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