How to Solve 11+ Letter Codes (with Examples)

Letter code questions are a Verbal Reasoning favourite — and they look far harder than they are. With a simple method, most children can crack them quickly. Here’s how.

The idea behind letter codes

In a letter code, each letter of a word is shifted a fixed number of places through the alphabet. Your job is to work out the shift from an example, then apply it. It helps to picture the alphabet as numbered positions: A=1, B=2, C=3, and so on.

A worked example

Say CAT is coded as DBU. Compare letter by letter:

• C → D (moved forward 1)
• A → B (moved forward 1)
• T → U (moved forward 1)

The shift is +1. Now apply it to a new word, say DOG: D→E, O→P, G→H, giving EPH.

Watch for different shifts

Shifts can be larger (+3, +5), backwards (−2), or even different for each letter (a “+1, +2, +3” pattern). Always check the example carefully before assuming the pattern.

Handling the ends of the alphabet

If a shift takes you past Z, wrap around to the start (Z +1 = A). Teaching this “wrap-around” avoids a common mistake.

The reliable method

1. Line up the example word and its code, letter by letter.
2. Work out the shift for each position.
3. Apply the same shift to the target word.
4. Double-check by re-coding one letter.

Try letter codes and other Verbal Reasoning types in our free 11+ practice test, or read our overview of every VR question type.