Reverse Coding

Reverse Coding problems involve reversing the order of letters in a word (e.g., 'CAT' becomes 'TAC'). This is the simplest pattern-based coding. You must identify that the code is the original word written backwards and apply the same operation to new words.

10Worksheets
200+Practice Questions
BeginnerDifficulty
30-45 minutesHours to Master

Introduction to Reverse Coding

Reverse Coding problems involve reversing the order of letters in a word (e.g., 'CAT' becomes 'TAC'). This is the simplest pattern-based coding. You must identify that the code is the original word written backwards and apply the same operation to new words.

Prerequisites

Understanding of string reversal Basic word manipulation Pattern recognition Letter order concepts
Why This Matters: Reverse Coding problems appear in 1-2 questions in SSC CGL and Banking PO exams. They test pattern recognition and reversal operations.

How to Solve Reverse Coding Problems

1

Step 1: Compare the given word and its coded version

2

Step 2: Check if the code is the reverse of the original word

3

Step 3: Verify that reversing the code gives back the original

4

Step 4: For the target word, write its letters in reverse order

5

Step 5: Ensure the reversal is exact (no other transformations)

6

Step 6: Present the reversed word as the answer

Pro Strategy: Reverse coding is pure reversal. Write the word and read it backwards. No letter transformations, no shifts, no substitutions. Just reverse the sequence.

Example Problem

Example: If 'TABLE' is coded as 'ELBAT', how is 'CHAIR' coded? Solution: Step 1: TABLE → ELBAT (reverse order) Step 2: CHAIR reversed = RIAHC Answer: RIAHC

Pro Tips & Tricks

  • To reverse a word, write it from last letter to first
  • The length of the word remains the same
  • Common reversed words: CAT→TAC, DOG→GOD, PEN→NEP
  • Palindromes (MADAM, LEVEL) remain unchanged when reversed
  • For multi-word phrases, reverse the entire string including spaces
  • Check if the problem uses 'reverse' or 'write backwards' terminology

Shortcut Methods to Solve Faster

Reverse = word[::-1] in programming terms
First letter becomes last, last becomes first
The middle letter (if odd length) stays in the middle
For even length words, all letters change positions

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Reversing each letter individually (e.g., A→Z, B→Y) instead of reversing order
Confusing reverse coding with mirror/opposite letter coding
Forgetting to reverse the entire word
Misreading the direction (forward vs backward)

Exam Importance

Reverse Coding is an important topic for various competitive exams. Here's how frequently it appears:

SSC CGL
1-2 questions
BANKING PO
1-2 questions
RAILWAYS RRB
2-3 questions
CAT
0-1 questions
INSURANCE
1-2 questions

Ready to Master Reverse Coding?

Start with Worksheet 1 and work your way up to expert level! Each worksheet includes:

20 practice questions
Detailed solutions
Step-by-step explanations
Start Practicing Now