📖Definition
In these questions you are given a word and the 'code' for it. You need to work out the code and then apply it to another word OR use it to find a word from a given code.
✏️Example
If the code for PLAN is ONZP,
what is the code for YEAR?
Knowledge Required
This is another test where you need to know your alphabet forwards AND backwards!
You need to be able to count accurately in either direction along the alphabet and through each end of the alphabet.
And, as if all that wasn't enough, our old friends Mirror Pairs crop up from time to time.
Diagram
You'll always be given an alphabet as above but, if possible, learn the mirror pairs in the table below. A good way to do this is to make up memorable word pairs.
A list is given but you might find it helpful to make up your own. If you can make a word pair that you can picture in your head, that will help you to remember them.
Failing that, write out the mirror table in the exam.
And don't forget, Mirror Pairs work both ways, that is, BY and YB are both mirror pairs.
Diagram
✅How To Answer
First you need to work out how the word in the example is changed into the coded word OR how the code is deciphered into a word.
To decide which way to look, see what it is that you have to find. If you're given a normal word and have to find its code, work out how to get from the Word to the Code.
If you're given a code and asked to find out what the word is, work out how to get from the Code to the Word.
As with the Letter Connection questions, there are two basic types of question. One type uses Mirror Pairs and the other doesn't! ALWAYS, ALWAYS check for Mirror Pairs first.
Method 1
Looking at the example above, we're asked to find the Code for the Word YEAR, so we need to see how to get from PLAN to ONZP.
First, look for any Mirror Pairs.
To do this, write down the mirror partners for the letters in the first word.
P - K
L - O
A - Z
N - M
As the code isn't KOZM, it's not a mirror code.
So now, we need to get counting. Work out how much each letter in the first word moves forward or back to become the equivalent letter in the coded word.
Diagram
P to O is back 1, L to N is forward 2, A to Z is back 1 (round the end of the alphabet) and N to P is forward 2.
So, our code pattern is -1, +2, -1, +2.
Now we need to apply that to the given word, YEAR
Diagram
So, our answer is XGZT.
✏️Example
If the code for DUCK is WFXP,
what is TIZEB the code for?
As ever, start off by looking for Mirror Pairs.
The Mirror Pairs for the letters in the first word are as follows:
D - W
U - F
C - X
K - P
and WFXP is our code so this is a Mirror Code.
Because Mirror Pairs work both ways (that is, D is the Mirror partner of W and W is the Mirror Partner of D), to find the word for which TIZEB is the code, simply find the Mirror Pairs of the letters.
T - G
I - R
Z - A
E - V
B - Y
So, our answer is GRAVY
You'll notice that the word and code we were given were 4 letters long but the code we were asked to decipher was 5 letters long. Don't worry about that. Just apply the same rule.
✏️Example
If the code for FIRE is EISG,
what is KOBPV the code for?
As usual, start off by looking for Mirror Pairs.
F - U
I - R
R - I
E - G
This is NOT a mirror code so we need to get counting.
BUT... before we do that, take a look at what we've been asked for. We've been given a Code and asked to find the Word SO... in the example, let's see how to get from the Code to the Word.
Diagram
Do you see the pattern here? To get from the Code to the Word, the letters move +1, +0, -1, -2.
We will need to apply that to our coded word for the answer. But, our coded word is 5 letters long.
Looking at the rule for the code, we can extend the pattern to +1, +0, -1, -2, -3
Diagram
And the answer is LOANS.