🧠 CODING-DECODING – Banking Exam Notes
✅ What is it?
In Coding-Decoding, a word, number, or sentence is written in a coded form using a specific logic (e.g., alphabet
shifting, symbol substitution, numeric patterns). You’re required to identify the logic and decode/encode
accordingly.
🔍 TYPES OF CODING
1. Letter Coding
A word is coded as another word using some alphabet logic.
Example:
TRUTH → USVUI
Each letter is +1 in the alphabet: T→U, R→S, etc.
🔑 Identify alphabet positions (A=1, Z=26), apply shifts.
2. Number Coding
Words are coded using numbers based on positions, letter counts, or word patterns.
Example:
CAR → 3 1 18
(C=3, A=1, R=18) → direct alphabet positions
Or more complex:
BIG → 19
(B=2, I=9, G=7) → 2 + 9 + 7 = 18
🔑 Check for: sum of letter positions, even/odd logic, positional shifts.
3. Substitution Coding
Each word stands for something else.
Example:
“If ‘apple’ is called ‘banana’, and ‘banana’ is called ‘grape’, then what is the color of ‘apple’?”
🔑 Don’t go with the actual meaning—go by the substitution rule.
4. Fictitious Language (Language Coding)
Statements are given in a coded language.
Example:
Statement 1: “Sky is blue” → “na pa zi”
Statement 2: “Blue is deep” → “pa zi ka”
Q: What is the code for “blue”?
🔑 Compare common words and common codes:
● "is" and "blue" common in both → “pa” and “zi” common ⇒ "blue" = "zi" or "pa"
● Use elimination logic.
5. Coding Based on Letter Position (Reverse/Skip/Pattern)
Example:
DOG → WRL
(D=4 → W=23), (O=15 → R=18), (G=7 → L=12)
Possibly: Reverse alphabet (Z=1, A=26), or alternating logic.
🔑 Check both normal (A=1 to Z=26) and reverse positions (Z=1 to A=26)
6. Mathematical/Logical Coding
Numbers in the word might be manipulated mathematically.
Example:
BALL → 2+1+12+12 = 27
CALL → 3+1+12+12 = 28
Pattern: Sum of letter positions.
7. Forward-Backward Coding
Split the word, code one half in forward sequence, other in reverse.
Example:
TRAIN → First 3 letters shift +1, last 2 shift -1
🔑 Look for symmetry, splitting, alternating logic.
🛠️ STRATEGIES TO CRACK
1. Write alphabet positions (A=1…Z=26) quickly at the top of scratch pad
2. Check difference in positions when letters change
3. Compare common words/codes across multiple statements
4. Test simple logic first (like +1, reverse, vowel/consonant logic)
5. Don’t assume random logic — there’s always a rule, even if indirect
6. Work backwards if stuck (e.g., see if decoding the options helps)
⚠️ COMMON TRICKS USED
● Alphabetical reverse (Z=1, Y=2, … A=26)
● Skip letters (alternate positions)
● Vowels vs consonants logic
● Letter mirror image (A ↔ Z, B ↔ Y…)
● Multiple-step logic (e.g., reverse word + shift letters)
● Code letters as numbers, manipulate, then re-code
🧪 SAMPLE PRACTICE
Q1:
If FLOW → GMPX, then what is ROAD?
→ F→G (+1), L→M (+1), O→P (+1), W→X (+1)
So, R→S, O→P, A→B, D→E ⇒ SPBE
Q2:
If in a certain code, MONKEY is written as 123456, and DONKEY is written as 723456, then what is the code for
MONK?
→ M=1, O=2, N=3, K=4 ⇒ Code = 1234
🎯 EXAM TIPS
● Don't overthink the logic. Most are basic: +1, -1, reverse, mirror, sum
● If a word seems long or difficult, focus on first and last letters first
● In language coding, matching statements side-by-side works best
● Time management: If stuck, skip and come back
