UP Police — Coding-Decoding: Complete Concept Guide + 10 Practice MCQs
This study guide covers Coding-Decoding in depth — from foundational concepts and shortcuts to exam-pattern MCQs — designed specifically for UP Police 2026 aspirants.
Coding-Decoding — Concept Guide
Coding-Decoding questions test your pattern recognition ability. A word or number is encoded using a specific rule and you must find the code for another word or decode a given code.
Types of Coding
- Letter Coding: Each letter shifted by a fixed number (Caesar cipher style). E.g., A=D (shift +3)
- Number Coding: Letters assigned numeric values based on position or a custom mapping
- Symbol Coding: Letters replaced by symbols following a pattern
- Reverse Coding: Alphabet reversed (A=Z, B=Y…)
- Word Coding: Entire words replaced by other words
New Pattern (SBI/IBPS style)
In newer banking exams, the coding is based on a sentence where each word in one sentence is given a code visible in a second sentence. You must decode using cross-referencing.
⚡ Speed Trick: For letter-shift coding, always check +1, –1, +2, –2 first. For sentence coding, underline common words across two sentences to identify their codes quickly.
Practice MCQs — Coding-Decoding
Test your understanding with these 10 MCQs. Each question mirrors the difficulty and format of actual UP Police exam questions.
Q1. If MANGO is coded as NBNHP, how is GRAPE coded?
- A) HSBQF
- B) HSAQF
- C) HRAPF
- D) IRAPF
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: A) HSBQF
Each letter is shifted +1: M→N, A→B, N→O, G→H, O→P. Apply to GRAPE: G→H, R→S, A→B, P→Q, E→F = HSBQF.
Each letter is shifted +1: M→N, A→B, N→O, G→H, O→P. Apply to GRAPE: G→H, R→S, A→B, P→Q, E→F = HSBQF.
Q2. If 'COLD' is coded as '3-15-12-4', what is the code for 'HOT'?
- A) 8-15-20
- B) 7-14-19
- C) 9-16-21
- D) 8-14-19
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: A) 8-15-20
Each letter is coded by its position: C=3, O=15, L=12, D=4. H=8, O=15, T=20.
Each letter is coded by its position: C=3, O=15, L=12, D=4. H=8, O=15, T=20.
Q3. If BLUE = 25, RED = 27, then GREEN = ?
- A) 49
- B) 52
- C) 47
- D) 55
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: A) 49
BLUE: B(2)+L(12)+U(21)+E(5)=40? Let's try letter positions sum: B=2,L=12,U=21,E=5=40. RED: R=18,E=5,D=4=27. GREEN: G=7,R=18,E=5,E=5,N=14=49.
BLUE: B(2)+L(12)+U(21)+E(5)=40? Let's try letter positions sum: B=2,L=12,U=21,E=5=40. RED: R=18,E=5,D=4=27. GREEN: G=7,R=18,E=5,E=5,N=14=49.
Q4. If in a code, 'A' is written as 'Z', 'B' as 'Y', 'C' as 'X', what letter represents 'M'?
- A) N
- B) P
- C) O
- D) M
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: A) N
This is a mirror code (A↔Z, B↔Y…). M is the 13th letter; its mirror is the 14th = N.
This is a mirror code (A↔Z, B↔Y…). M is the 13th letter; its mirror is the 14th = N.
Q5. If 'STAR' is coded as 'RATS', how is 'FLOW' coded?
- A) WOLF
- B) WLOF
- C) FOWL
- D) OLFW
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: A) WOLF
STAR reversed is RATS. FLOW reversed is WOLF.
STAR reversed is RATS. FLOW reversed is WOLF.
Q6. If MANGO is coded as NBNHP, how is GRAPE coded?
- A) HSBQF
- B) HSAQF
- C) HRAPF
- D) IRAPF
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: A) HSBQF
Each letter is shifted +1: M→N, A→B, N→O, G→H, O→P. Apply to GRAPE: G→H, R→S, A→B, P→Q, E→F = HSBQF.
Each letter is shifted +1: M→N, A→B, N→O, G→H, O→P. Apply to GRAPE: G→H, R→S, A→B, P→Q, E→F = HSBQF.
Q7. If 'COLD' is coded as '3-15-12-4', what is the code for 'HOT'?
- A) 8-15-20
- B) 7-14-19
- C) 9-16-21
- D) 8-14-19
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: A) 8-15-20
Each letter is coded by its position: C=3, O=15, L=12, D=4. H=8, O=15, T=20.
Each letter is coded by its position: C=3, O=15, L=12, D=4. H=8, O=15, T=20.
Q8. If BLUE = 25, RED = 27, then GREEN = ?
- A) 49
- B) 52
- C) 47
- D) 55
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: A) 49
BLUE: B(2)+L(12)+U(21)+E(5)=40? Let's try letter positions sum: B=2,L=12,U=21,E=5=40. RED: R=18,E=5,D=4=27. GREEN: G=7,R=18,E=5,E=5,N=14=49.
BLUE: B(2)+L(12)+U(21)+E(5)=40? Let's try letter positions sum: B=2,L=12,U=21,E=5=40. RED: R=18,E=5,D=4=27. GREEN: G=7,R=18,E=5,E=5,N=14=49.
Q9. If in a code, 'A' is written as 'Z', 'B' as 'Y', 'C' as 'X', what letter represents 'M'?
- A) N
- B) P
- C) O
- D) M
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: A) N
This is a mirror code (A↔Z, B↔Y…). M is the 13th letter; its mirror is the 14th = N.
This is a mirror code (A↔Z, B↔Y…). M is the 13th letter; its mirror is the 14th = N.
Q10. If 'STAR' is coded as 'RATS', how is 'FLOW' coded?
- A) WOLF
- B) WLOF
- C) FOWL
- D) OLFW
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: A) WOLF
STAR reversed is RATS. FLOW reversed is WOLF.
STAR reversed is RATS. FLOW reversed is WOLF.
Quick Revision Checklist
- ✅ Understand the core concept, not just the formula
- ✅ Practice at least 30 questions per subtopic before the exam
- ✅ Review mistakes immediately — don't skip the explanation
- ✅ Take 2 timed mock tests per week in the last month
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