Alphabet series questions appear 3–5 times in every SBI PO Prelims Reasoning paper and should be among the fastest questions you attempt. Yet most aspirants spend 40–60 seconds mentally reciting A, B, C... from the beginning each time — an approach that works but kills your overall section time.
The right alphabet series shortcuts reduce every question to a 10–15 second mechanical calculation. No recitation. No counting on fingers. Just direct position mapping from two memorised anchor systems.
This guide covers every shortcut you need to solve any SBI PO alphabet series question at full speed.
- Alphabet series questions appear 3–5 times in SBI PO Prelims Reasoning
- The EJOTY shortcut (E=5, J=10, O=15, T=20, Y=25) gives instant position values for any letter
- The reverse alphabet shortcut (A=26, B=25... Z=1) solves mirror-position questions without recalculation
- Skip-pattern series (every 2nd or 3rd letter) require counting from the nearest EJOTY anchor, not from A
- Five days of daily practice (20 questions/day) is sufficient to master all alphabet series types
Source: SBI PO 2024 official exam pattern — sbi.co.in
The EJOTY Shortcut: Your Primary Speed Tool
The EJOTY method is the single most impactful alphabet series shortcut for SBI PO reasoning. Memorise these five anchor positions and you can find any letter's position in 2–3 seconds without counting from A.
E = 5 | J = 10 | O = 15 | T = 20 | Y = 25
To find any letter's position, locate the nearest EJOTY anchor and count forward or backward from there. Finding M? O=15, count back 2 = M=13. Finding R? T=20, count back 2 = R=18. Finding W? Y=25, count back 2 = W=23.
Aryan from Surat cleared SBI PO 2024 after spending just three days drilling EJOTY: "I used to take 45 seconds on alphabet questions. EJOTY brought that down to 12 seconds. It's the one shortcut I'd tell every aspirant to memorise first."
The Reverse Alphabet Shortcut
Many SBI PO alphabet series questions involve reverse alphabetical sequences or ask for a letter's position from the end of the alphabet. Recalculating from scratch each time wastes critical seconds.
Reverse position = 27 − Forward position
So A (forward position 1) has reverse position 26. M (forward position 13) has reverse position 14. Z (forward position 26) has reverse position 1.
This formula works instantly in both directions. If a question gives you a reverse position and asks for the letter — subtract from 27 to get the forward position, then use EJOTY to name the letter.
Opposite Letter Pairs to Memorise
SBI PO frequently tests opposite letter pairs (letters that together add to 27). Knowing the most common pairs saves the calculation step entirely:
- A ↔ Z, B ↔ Y, C ↔ X, D ↔ W, E ↔ V
- F ↔ U, G ↔ T, H ↔ S, I ↔ R, J ↔ Q
- K ↔ P, L ↔ O, M ↔ N
SBI PO Alphabet Series Question Types: Quick Reference
| Question Type | Shortcut to Apply | Time Target |
|---|---|---|
| Find position of a letter | EJOTY anchor + count | 5 seconds |
| Find letter at a position | EJOTY anchor + count | 5 seconds |
| Reverse position question | 27 − forward position formula | 8 seconds |
| Skip-pattern series (every 2nd/3rd) | EJOTY anchor + skip count | 12 seconds |
| Middle letter between two letters | (Position A + Position B) ÷ 2 | 10 seconds |
Source: SBI PO 2022–2024 paper analysis, bankersadda.com
The Middle Letter Shortcut
A common SBI PO alphabet series question asks: "What is the letter exactly midway between letters X and Y in the alphabet?" Most students count laboriously. The shortcut: add both positions and divide by 2.
Example: Midway between F (6) and P (16) = (6+16) ÷ 2 = 11 = K. Done in 5 seconds.
If the sum is odd, there is no exact middle letter — the question will usually be structured to avoid this, but flag it if you get a non-integer result.
Your 5-Day Mastery Plan
Day 1: Memorise EJOTY perfectly. Drill 20 forward-position questions using only EJOTY anchors — no recitation from A allowed.
Day 2: Add reverse position questions. Practise the 27-minus formula until it's automatic. Memorise the 13 opposite letter pairs.
Day 3: Skip-pattern series (every 2nd, 3rd, 4th letter). Use EJOTY to count skips rather than reciting the full alphabet.
Days 4–5: Mixed timed practice — 20 questions in 5 minutes. Any question exceeding 15 seconds needs isolated revision by type.
In our analysis of 500+ PrepGrind students, those who memorised EJOTY and the 27-minus formula in their first week of preparation solved alphabet series questions 3x faster than those who relied on full-alphabet recitation (PrepGrind internal data, 2024).
People Also Search For
How to solve alphabet series questions in reasoning easily?
Candidates should remember alphabetical positions from A to Z and observe patterns like forward shift, backward shift, or alternate series. Writing positions of letters helps in identifying the rule quickly. Practising different types of alphabet series improves speed and accuracy. Regular revision strengthens logical understanding.
What is the fastest way to solve reasoning questions in bank exams?
The fastest way is to attempt easier questions first and avoid spending too much time on lengthy puzzles. Learning shortcut techniques after understanding concepts helps save time. Regular mock test practice improves time management and question selection. Analysing mistakes after each test boosts overall performance.
How to improve reasoning score for SBI PO exam?
Candidates should focus on concept clarity in topics like puzzles, syllogism, inequality, and alphabet or number series. Daily sectional tests help in improving speed and accuracy. Mock test analysis is important for identifying weak areas. Consistent revision and practice increase overall reasoning marks.
What types of alphabet reasoning questions are asked in bank exams?
Common questions include alphabet series completion, missing letter identification, letter coding patterns, and mixed alphabet-number sequences. Candidates must carefully analyse the sequence and apply logical steps. Practising previous year papers helps in understanding difficulty level. Regular practice improves confidence.
Why is alphabet series a scoring topic in reasoning section?
Alphabet series questions are usually short and concept-based, allowing candidates to solve them quickly. This helps in increasing overall attempts within limited exam time. Strong basics and regular practice improve accuracy. Mastering this topic boosts confidence in the reasoning section.
Conclusion: Your Next Step
Alphabet series shortcuts for SBI PO reasoning reduce every question type to a fast, reliable calculation. Memorise EJOTY for forward positions, use the 27-minus formula for reverse positions, and apply the addition shortcut for middle letters. Five days of deliberate practice is all this topic requires.
Ready to build complete SBI PO Reasoning mastery? Explore PrepGrind's SBI PO Reasoning module — featuring 300+ alphabet series drills across all question types, timed mock sets, and expert video solutions built specifically for Bank PO aspirants.