| The Coding Decoding is a crucial topic within the Logical reasoning section of the General Science and Ability syllabus for the CSS written exams. The Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) has consistently tested candidates on this topic in various ways including in the CSS MCQs-Based Preliminary Test (MPT) test. Students must make a concerted effort to dedicate sufficient time on these given resources to understanding and practising this essential topic. |
Coding & Decoding:
Coding and Decoding involves transforming information into a particular language using specific rules. In other words, it is a process of encrypting or decrypting any word, letter, or sentence in a set pattern or code based on some set of rules. Coding and Decoding of information is thus done with various rules or patterns, so that only the right person can decipher it. This process helps to protect sensitive data and can also enhance logical reasoning skills and abilities.
- Coding is the process of transforming information into a particular language, making it unintelligible to anyone except the intended recipient.
- Decoding is the reverse process, where the encrypted message is translated back from the given codes into its original form.
Positions of letter are majorly used to find the logical pattern, which are in the following table (called, forward and backward number-alphabet table):
TYPE 1: CODING WITH ALPHABETS
In such questions, the “ALPHABETS” of a word are substituted by some other “DOSKDEHWV”. You have to find logical patterns to the coding and thereby decode the question. For examples:
- If TAP is coded as SZO. then how is FREEZE coded?
a. EQDFYG
b. ESDFYF
c. GQFDYF
d. EQDDYD- Explanation: Each letter in the given word is moved one step backward to obtain the corresponding letter of the code.
- In a certain code, FORGE is written as FPTJI. How is CULPRIT written in that code?
a. CSJNPGR
b. CVMQSTU
c. CVNSVNZ
d. CXOSULW- Explanation: First letter remains the same and other letters move one, two, three and four steps forward to obtain the corresponding letters of the code.
TYPE 2: CODING WITH NUMBERS
In this type of questions, alphabets are replaced with numbers or digits. Common operations involved in coding with numbers:
- Addition of numbers for each alphabet
- Multiplication of numbers for each alphabet
- Reverse order of number for each alphabet
You need to recognise which one is being used in any given question and solve accordingly. For examples:
- In a certain code, NEWYORK is written as 111, how is NEWJERSEY written in that code?
a. 104
b. 124
c. 134
d. 114- Explanation: Each letter is replaced by its corresponding numerical value based on its position in the alphabet (A=1, B=2, C=3, …, Z=26). In NEWYORK (N = 14, E = 5, W = 23, Y = 25, O = 15, R = 18, K = 11). Add up the values: 14 + 5 + 23 + 25 + 15 + 18 + 11 = 111. Likewise for NEWJERSEY, add up the values: 14 + 5 + 23 + 10 + 5 + 18 + 19 + 5 + 25 = 124.
- If ROSE is coded as 6821, CHAIR is coded as 73456 and PREACH is coded as 961473, what will be the code for SEARCH?
a. 276413
b. 214763
c. 214673
d. 246173- Explanation:
| R O S E ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ 6 8 2 1 | C H A I R ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ 7 3 4 5 6 | S E A R C H ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ 2 1 4 6 7 3 |
TYPE 3: DIRECT CODING
Letters or symbols are assigned as code. These questions are relatively easy as each alphabet is directly coded as a separate symbol.
For example, If “LOINESS”: “*? #@! $$’ “MEN”: “^! @” then, “MISSION”: _______
You simply need to write down the corresponding symbols for each alphabet and solve such type of questions.
Type 4: CODING WITH SUBSTITUTION
In these questions, a word is replaced by an alternative (substitute). You must then use the substitute as the original word and solve the question. For examples:
- If ‘cook’ is called ‘butler’, ‘butler’ is called ‘manager’, ‘manager’ is called ‘teacher’, ‘teacher’ is called ‘clerk’ and ‘clerk’ is called ‘principal’, who will teach in a class?
- Explanation: A teacher teaches in a class and as given ‘teacher’ is called ‘clerk’. So a ‘clerk’ will teach in the class.
- If ‘eye’ is called ‘hand’, ‘hand’ is called ‘mouth’, ‘mouth’ is called ‘ear’, ‘ear’ is called ‘nose’ and ‘nose’ is called ‘tongue’, with which of the following would a person hear?
- Explanation: A person hears with his ‘ears’ but ‘ear’ is called ‘nose’. So a person will hear with the ‘nose’.
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