Alpha-numeric, as the name implies, is a series generated by mixing both alphabets and numerals.

Tips and Tricks

Alphabet-Number-Symbol: These questions could also be asked in a format where a sequence of alphabets, numbers, and various types of symbols (such as &, *, $, and so on) are shown and questions are asked depending on them.

Only Alphabetic Series: Only English Alphabets and no numerals, placed in a certain pattern, may be asked in series with either missing elements or questions containing sub-parts.

Only Numerical Series: The exam may have only numerical series set in a certain pattern. This type of question can be asked in the form of rearranging numbers or digits in any sequence, ascending, descending, or otherwise.

Missing Series: A series of alphabets and numbers are given in a specified pattern. Identify that pattern to find the missing element.

Here are some tips to help you prepare for the alphanumeric series topic:

• Analyse the alphanumeric pattern and try to crack that pattern for the pattern-based series. Generally, these questions consist of changes in the ascending or descending order of the pattern.
• There is no pattern in the short series, which mainly comprises alphabets, numbers, and symbols. In these, check the questions and straightway answer them.
• In the missing number series, check the entire series to find the answer and recheck the series to ensure there is no error.

Alphanumeric Series: Types With Tricks

Study the following letter-number-symbol sequence and answer the questions following it:

P % R 1 5 H * M T E 3 B $ V N 4 K A 8 W I 6 2 G # U H 7 . J Q 9 L Y

1. How many such vowels are there in the above arrangement each of which is immediately preceded by a consonant and immediately followed by a number?

Preceded: It means before
Followed: It means after

Here one has to find Consonant – Vowel – Number.

Common Mistake: Most of the candidates do this mistake in this kind of alphanumeric series by following the sequence. But the correct method should be to find the character that is least in the series, which is vowels (A, E, I, O, U).

So, the pairs would be TE3, KA8, WI6.

2. Which of the following is the seventh to the right of the twentieth from the right in the above arrangement?

Concept:

• When you find two times right, subtract the place values.
• Here, 20 – 7 = 13, so count the 13th from the right end.
• If there is a combination of left and right or right and left, then add the place values.
• If you have a doubt about which direction to start counting from, start from the second element.

3. What should come in place of the question mark in the following series based on the above arrangement?

5*T, 3$N, K8I, ? , .QL

Answer: 2#H

Concept:
When finding the missing element, try to crack the logic. In the above series, there is a pattern where there is a gap of one element between the two characters given above.

4. Four of the following five are alike in a certain way with regard to their position in the above arrangement. Which is the one that does not belong to that group?

GUI, W64, 7J#, HMR, BVT

When you find the word “alike” in such a question, you must find the odd one out.

Answer: W64

5. If we remove all the vowels in the series, then which of the following element will be 7th from the right end?

Given Series:
M 6 * I A 7 $ J # 5 4 B U 2 R Q D H L O @ P T E F

Concept:
Some candidates make a mistake by writing the series after dropping the vowels and then counting the elements. You don’t have to follow this approach.

Instead, just imagine that vowels are not present and count the elements directly.

6. If words are arranged according to the alphabetical series from left to right, which word is third from the left?

YOM, MJK, UGJ, IMX, KQZ

Common mistake: Due to exam pressure, some candidates start arranging the letters in each word alphabetically. But we need to arrange words, not letters.

Simple Concept:

• The first word will be the one whose first letter comes before the others.
• Arrange all the words based on this rule.

Answer: MJK

EXAMPLES

Read the following information carefully and answer the questions given below from question 1 to 5.

D 8 @ N G # T 9 U * L $ K I 6 A % 4 W O ^ V 5 C & 0 1 E + 3

1) Which of the following element is exactly between “K” and “+” in the given series?

A. ^
B. V
C. O
D. W
E. 4

Answer: A

2) Which of the following is the fourth symbol to the left of the eighth element from the right end in the given series?

A. @
B. #
C. *
D. $
E. %

Answer: C

3) Which of the following is the next pair in the following series?

DNG, T*L, KA% ____

A. 4^V
B. OC&
C. WV5
D. 64W
E. I%4

Answer: C

4) What is the position of “6” with respect to “V” in the given series?

A. Seventh to the left
B. Eighth to the left
C. Eighth to the right
D. Seventh to the right
E. Ninth to the left

Answer: A

5) How many symbols are there in the given series each of which is immediately preceded and immediately followed by a letter?

A. Two
B. One
C. Four
D. Three
E. None

Answer: C

Coding Based Questions

6) MESMERISING

A. 5$€5$£8€86#
B. 5$€5$£8€865
C. #$€5$£8€865
D. #$€5$£8€86#
E. None of these

Answer: D

7) AGGLUTINATE

A. 1##4β¥861¥$
B. $##4β¥861¥$
C. 1##4β¥861¥1
D. $##4β¥861¥1
E. None of these

Answer: C

8) INFLAMATION

A. 698¥1514&68
B. 86&4151¥896
C. 86&4151¥898
D. 66&4151¥896
E. None of these

Answer: A

9) DETERMINE

A. 3$¥$£586$
B. ¥$£5863    C. $685£$¥$3      D. ¥$£586$
E. None of these

Answer: B