Tricks to solve Alphabet set for competitive exams

Tricks for Alphabet Set

In this type, the question asked are based on finding the place of an English letter to the left or right of another English letter in the alphabetical order. Sometimes the Question are based on finding the number of English letter(s) between two different English letters.
This type of question vary on the arrangement of alphabetical order. It can be Backward, first half backward, second half backward, multiple letter segments in changed order etc. Some of the question asked are based on finding the middle letter of two specified letters and in some questions it is asked that which letters do not change their place after alphabet arrangement.
So, the detailed explanation with examples is as follow:
1. Place of letter in forward order
In this type of questions the exact letter has to be found out with the help of direction of place given in the question. The example discussed as below will give you a better idea about this type of questions.
Ex 1:  Find the 11^th letter to the left of 20^th letter from left in the English alphabet.
(a) D
(b) J
(c) K
(d) I
Solution: (d)
Let us see

Hence, 11^th letter to the left of 20^th letter from left is I.
Alternate Method
In English alphabet 11^th letter to the left of 20^th letter of your left =(20-11) th letter from the left=9^th letter from the left =I
2. Place Of Letter in Completely Backward Order
In such questions the order of letters is completely reversed or they are counted from Z to A and then the place of letter is asked with the help of direction.
Ex 2:   If English alphabet is written in backward order, then what will be 13^th letter to the left of the 3^rd letter from right?
(a) P
(b) N
(c) R
(d) Q
Solution: (a)
Backward order is written as

Now, the 13^th letter to left of the 3rd letter from right is P.
Alternate Method 
In backward order of alphabet,13^th letter to the left of the 3^rd letter of your right =(3+13)th letter from right =16^th letter from right P.
3. Place of a Letter When First Half is in Backward Order
In such type of question, only the 1^st half of the order of alphabetical series is reversed and remaining are left unaltered i.e., order of A to M is reversed and then questions related to position of latter are asked.
Ex 3:  If 1^st half of the English alphabet is written in backward order, then what will be the 7^th letter to the left the 10^th letter from your right?
(a) C
(b) E
(c) D
(d) J
Solution: (c)
Let us see

The 7^th letter to the left of 10^th letter from our right is D.
4. Place of a Letter When Second Half is in Backward Order
In such type of questions the 2^nd half is reversed i.e., from N to Z and remaining are kept as it is and then questions related to place of English alphabet are asked.
Ex 4:  If 2^nd half of the English alphabet is written in backward order, then what will be the 7^th letter to the right of 13^th letter from your left?
(a) T
(b) U
(c) V
(d) S
Solution: (a)               
Let us see

The 7^th letter to the right of 13^th letter from our left is T.
5. Multiple Letter Segment in Backward Order
In such type of questions, no specified order of change is followed in alphabetical order. The are changed according to the condition given in particular question.
Ex 5:  If first four letters of the English alphabet are written in reverse order; again next 5 letters are written in reverse order ;again next 6 letter s are written in reverse order ; next 7 letter are written in reverse order and finally, the remaining letters are also written in reverse order, then what will be the 7^th letter to the left of the 8^th letter from right?
(a)M
(b) N
(c) O
(d) L
Solution: (a)
Let us see the arrangement


The 7^th letter to the 8^thth letter from right is M.
6. Number of Letter in the Middle of Two Letters
In this particular type, question asked to calculated the total number of English letters between any two specified letter as directed in the question.
Four situations can be created under these type of problems

Ex 6: How many letters are there between 8^th letter from left and 7^th letter right in the English alphabet?
(a) 7
(b) 11
(c) 8
(d) 9
Solution: (b)
Let us see

There are 11^th letters between 8^th letter from left and 7^th letter from right.
Alternate Method
Total number of letter in the English alphabet =26
Required number of letters =26-(8+7) =11
7. Middle Letter between Two letters
In these types of questions, it is asked to find the middle letter the two specified letters of English alphabet.
Ex 7: Which letter is in the middle of 7^th letter from left and 10^th letter from right in the English alphabet?
(a) L
(b) P
(c) M
(d) Q
Solution: (a)
Let us see

Letters between G and Q is L.
Alternate Method
10^th letter from right =27-10 =17^th letter from left.
Required middle letter =7+(17-7)/2 =24/2 =12^th letter from left =L
8. Same Position of Alphabet after Arranging Alphabetically
In this type of questions, a word is given and then asked how many letters remain same in their position, if they are arranged in alphabetical order.
Ex 8: How many such letters are there in the word ‘CADMP’ which remain same in their position, if they are arranged in alphabetical order?
(a) One
(b) Two
(c) Three
(d) Four
Solution: (c)