CAT Questions | CAT Reasoning Questions: Coding-Decoding Questions

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CAT Verbal Ability

What is Coding and Decoding?

Coding-Decoding, as the name suggests, is based on the candidate’s intellectual ability to decode a complex question given in the form of codes or conditions and answer questions based on it.

Importance of Coding-Decoding in Various Exams

It is a part of logical reasoning and analytical questions in many MBA exams like CAT, XAT, SNAP, CMAT and MAH-CET. MBA exams for CET Maharashtra, as well as CMAT, ask Coding and Decoding questions which are tricky and lengthy. There is a least possibility of those questions coming in CAT exam but Non-CAT Exam constitutes 2-3 questions every year, which makes it a very integral part of the syllabus

Frequency of this topic in different MBA exams is given below:

CAT

Coding-Decoding
Year	No of Questions		Good attempt	Difficulty
2019	Slot 1	1	–	Difficult
2019	Slot 2	2	1	Difficult
2018	Slot 1	1	1	Easy
2018	Slot 2	0	–	–
2017	Slot 1	2	1/2	Easy
2017	Slot 2	1	1	Easy

MAH-CET

Coding-Decoding
Year	No of Questions	Good attempt	Difficulty
2020	9	7	Moderate

2018	7	7	Easy

CMAT

Coding-Decoding
Year	No of Questions	Good attempt	Difficulty
2020	2	1	Tricky/Moderate

2018	2	2	Easy

SNAP

Coding-Decoding
Year	No of Questions	Good attempt	Difficulty
2019	2	2	Easy-Moderate

2017	3	2	Moderate

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Major Types of Coding-Decoding Logics:

Coding and Decoding problems comprise of many concepts that require analytical and logical thinking. Practice is the only formula to get through these questions. To get a better understanding, we have mentioned below some coding decoding reasoning tricks that are used while solving these problems:

Constant addition/subtraction in the position of letters.
Denoting the position of letters in the whole alphabetical order.
Adding positions of all the letters to make code for the word.
Square of the number of letters in the word.
Alphabetical arrangement of the letters.
Arranging letters of the given word in reverse order & interchanging each pair of the letters, in the given word.
Constant addition and then reversal of the letters to form the final word

Coding and Decoding Examples from previous papers of various exams:

Below you will find certain coding and decoding aptitude questions along with the solutions for your understanding:

1) SNAP 2020

In a certain code language “CONSTRUCTION” is written as “EMPQVPWAVGQL”. What will be the code for “DESTRUCTION” in the same language?

I. FCURTSERKMP

II. EFTVSVDVJPO

III. FCURTSFSLOQ

IV. None of the above

V. Cannot be determined

Show Answer

For each word, the code is alphabet position +2 followed by -2 for the next alphabet in the word. So as seen for CONSTRUCTION similarly DESCTRUCTION will be coded as FCUAVPWARGQL. Since this code is not there in the options, the answer will be None of the above i.e Option IV

2) SNAP 2019

Directions: Study the data given below and answer the following questions:

1. ‘Royal Monarch Regal’ is written as @ # *,

2. ‘Regal legacy Gold’ is written as * % ?,

3. ‘Hope Gold Life’ is written as % & $,

4. ‘Regal Monarch Morals’ is written as # * ∀

Question: What will be the code for Regal?

I. %

II. *

III. $

IV. #

V. ?

Show Answer

Code for Regal is * as seen clearly from statement 1 & 2 where the common word is regal and common symbol is also “*”, so the answer is option II.

3) NMAT 2020

Directions: The data given below represents a coded language for different colours, analyze it and answer the questions following it:

1. “black orange yellow purple blue” is written as “set jet let get bet”

2. “grey green red purple” is written as “get pet wet vet”

3. “purple blue red silver” is written as “vet set get tet”

4. “grey orange pink” is written as ” bet ret pet”

Question: Based on the information given above, what is the code for red?

I. Vet

II. Pet

III. Ret

IV. Wet

V. Get

Show Answer

checking for common words in 1 & 2 purple will be coded as “get”, from 1 & 3 blue will be coded as “set”, from 2 & 3 red will be coded as “vet”, so the answer is option 1.

4) NMAT 2019

Directions: Study the information and answer the following questions: In a certain code language

1. “who claimed form government” is coded as “U%7 V%14 Y*23 E*12 ”

2. “the support legislator massive” is coded as “ O*22 P%9 I*7 H*22”

3. “won the test with” is coded as “ E%19 H%7 H*22 E*13”

Question: What is the code for ‘formation’ in the given code language

I. V*13

II. V%13

III. V*14

IV. U*13

V. None of these

Show Answer

The correct answer is V*13 i.e option I, since for “formation” V= Immediate successive alphabet in reverse order, *=total letters in formation are odd and 13=numerical value of reverse of the last letter.

How to deal with Coding-Decoding preparation

Level 1

• Students are supposed to have basic knowledge of all types of coding and decoding reasoning logics. For this, we recommend using the MBAP CAT E-Book (Concept Theory) study material.

• They should have analytical ability and mindset to solve the questions logically. If you find difficulty understanding the concepts, use the MBAP Live Lecture Recording (Basic) on Basic Concepts.

• Skills acquired by practice to identify the steps in the coding questions and solve them step by step.

• Go through multiple coding decoding practice set and read the questions carefully as sometimes minute changes in the question may change the answer.

• To get better clarity on Coding-Decoding, use MBAP CAT E-Book (Practice Questions) and solve all the relevant practice questions. Also, solve the MBAP lecture assignment to complete the basics.

Level 2

• Avoid solving lengthy questions in the beginning and mark them for review and solve in the end based on the level of difficulty.

• Plan time needed to solve a question to save unnecessary time wasted on difficult questions.

• Practice questions similar to the examples given above to get acquainted with all types and all difficulty levels of questions.

• It will be way easier for you to attempt the questions by solving previous year papers. They are all readily available if you use MBAP Topic Wise Previous Year CAT Questions.

Level 3

Practice questions of coding-decoding from the advanced level of previous CAT papers, NMAT, XAT, SNAP, mock tests and materials. Attempt these questions taking the time into account. Taking too much time for advanced level questions will hamper the performance in exams. For further advancement on this topic, use MBAP CAT Advance E-Books and solve the MBAP Previous Year CAT paper.

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CAT Questions | CAT Reasoning Questions: Coding-Decoding Questions

CAT Quantitative Aptitude

CAT DILR

CAT Verbal Ability

What is Coding and Decoding?

Importance of Coding-Decoding in Various Exams

Frequency of this topic in different MBA exams is given below:

CAT

Major Types of Coding-Decoding Logics:

Coding and Decoding Examples from previous papers of various exams:

How to deal with Coding-Decoding preparation

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

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Words From Our Students

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