11+ Letter Sequences
Letter sequences are alphabet patterns in disguise. Writing the alphabet (or counting steps) turns them into simple arithmetic.
Letter sequence questions give a run of letter pairs or groups that change by a fixed rule, and ask for the next term. The trick is to convert letters to their position in the alphabet if needed.
Look for the step size between letters (e.g. +1, +2) and whether two letters in each group follow different rules. Many sequences alternate or move one letter forward while another moves backward.
Writing out the alphabet across the top of your rough working makes counting steps fast and accurate, especially near the ends (W, X, Y, Z).
Worked examples
Q. What comes next: AB, CD, EF, GH, ___ ?
Each pair moves forward two letters. After GH comes IJ.
Q. What comes next: AZ, BY, CX, ___ ?
The first letter goes forward (A, B, C → D) and the second goes backward (Z, Y, X → W). So the next term is DW.
Common mistakes
- Miscounting steps near the end of the alphabet.
- Assuming both letters follow the same rule when they alternate.
- Not writing the alphabet down for reference.
FAQs
Should my child memorise letter positions?+
Knowing rough positions helps, but writing the alphabet on the paper and counting is faster and more reliable under exam pressure.
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