Using an alphabet-position strip to solve letter-gap and reverse-position questions, plus rules for valid word formation from given letters.
📖 ~11 min read🧩 SSC Reasoning
Introduction
Alphabet Test questions test your fluency with letter positions (forward and reversed), while Word
Formation checks whether a valid word can be built using only the letters available in a given word.
Diagram — Alphabet Position Strip (Forward & Reverse)
e.g., M's forward position is 13; its reverse position (from Z) = 27−13 = 14.
Key Formula — Reverse Position
Formula
Reverse position of a letter = 27 − (Forward position)
Q. Which letter is 5th from the right end of the English alphabet?
Reverse position 5 → Forward position = 27−5 = 22 → V
Letters Equidistant From Both Ends
Q. Which letter is exactly midway between A and Z?
Midpoint position = (1+26)/2 = 13.5 → between the 13th and 14th letters → M and N
"How Many Letters Between X and Y" Pattern
Q. How many letters are there between H and P in the English alphabet?
H=8, P=16 → letters between = 16−8−1 = 7 letters
Word Formation Rules
💡 Key Rule: A letter from the given word can be used in the new word only as many times as it appears in the original word — this is the single most common trap in Word Formation questions.
Q. Using the letters of the word "GENERATION" (only once each occurrence available), can you form the word "RATION"?
GENERATION has letters: G,E,N,E,R,A,T,I,O,N
RATION needs: R,A,T,I,O,N — checking availability: R✓, A✓, T✓, I✓, O✓, N✓ (available) Yes, RATION can be formed.
"Cannot Be Formed" Pattern
Q. From the letters of "MOUNTAIN," can the word "MOTION" be formed?
MOUNTAIN has letters: M,O,U,N,T,A,I,N
MOTION needs: M,O,T,I,O,N — but MOUNTAIN has only one O, while MOTION needs two O's No, MOTION cannot be formed.
✅ Practice Focus: Reverse position formula (27−forward position) · Midpoint letter pair (M,N) · Letters-between counting (subtract 1 for exclusive count) · Word formation letter-availability check (count repeated letters carefully).