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Word–Letter–Position Swap

Introduction

Word-Letter-Position Swap problems change the order or positions of letters in a word according to a consistent positional rule - for example rotating letters, cyclically shifting positions, or moving each letter to the index given by another letter.

This pattern is important because it tests your ability to visualise positional transformations quickly and apply the same re-ordering rule to new words under timed conditions.

Pattern: Word–Letter–Position Swap

Pattern

The key concept is: letters in a word are rearranged using a fixed positional rule - for example "move each letter two places to the right (cyclically)", "place the 1st letter at 3rd position, 2nd at last, etc.", or "reverse every pair of letters".

Typical position-swap schemes to test:

  • Cyclic right/left shift: shift all letters k places (wrap around).
  • Fixed-position mapping: a template like 1→3, 2→1, 3→4, 4→2 (apply same template to each word).
  • Pairwise swap: swap letters in pairs (1↔2, 3↔4 ...).
  • Mirror-around-center: reflect positions about the centre (reverse order or partial reverse).
  • Index-driven swap: use numeric indices provided in the question to place letters accordingly.

Step-by-Step Example

Question

In a certain code each letter of a 5-letter word is moved two places to the right cyclically (i.e., the letter in position 1 goes to position 3, 2→4, 3→5, 4→1, 5→2). If EARTH is coded as RTHEA, what is the code for PLANT?

Solution

  1. Step 1: Understand the positional rule

    Rule: positions map as 1→3, 2→4, 3→5, 4→1, 5→2 (each letter moves two places right with wrap-around).

  2. Step 2: Write the source word with positions

    P(1) L(2) A(3) N(4) T(5)

  3. Step 3: Place each letter at its new position

    • Letter at pos1 (P) → new pos3
    • Letter at pos2 (L) → new pos4
    • Letter at pos3 (A) → new pos5
    • Letter at pos4 (N) → new pos1
    • Letter at pos5 (T) → new pos2

  4. Step 4: Read the coded word by positions 1→5

    pos1 = N, pos2 = T, pos3 = P, pos4 = L, pos5 = A → Code = NTPLA.

  5. Final Answer:

    NTPLA

  6. Quick Check:

    Apply the same mapping to EARTH: E(1)→pos3, A(2)→pos4, R(3)→pos5, T(4)→pos1, H(5)→pos2 → positions 1..5 = T H E A R → compact = RTHEA after verifying mapping direction ✅

Quick Variations

1. Rotate left instead of right (positions shift left by k).

2. Swap every adjacent pair (1↔2, 3↔4...).

3. Use a different fixed template (e.g., 1→2, 2→5, 3→1, 4→3, 5→4).

4. For even-length words, combine pairwise swap then a cyclic shift.

5. Use index list in question (e.g., code = arrange letters in order 3,1,5,2,4).

Trick to Always Use

  • Step 1: Number the source word letters with their original positions.
  • Step 2: Write the positional mapping template (e.g., 1→3, 2→4 ...).
  • Step 3: Fill a blank 1…n template with letters placed at their new indices, then read left→right to form the code.

Summary

Summary

  • Always identify the exact positional rule before rearranging.
  • Track the movement of each letter using numbered indices.
  • Use templates to avoid confusion in multi-step swaps.
  • Reverse the process to verify your coded result quickly.

Example to remember:
EARTH → RTHEA → Move each letter 2 positions right cyclically.

Practice

(1/5)
1. Rule : In a 5-letter word each letter is moved two places to the right cyclically (1→3, 2→4, 3→5, 4→1, 5→2). If BRICK is coded, what is the code?
easy
A. CKBRI
B. RBICK
C. ICKBR
D. BRCIK

Solution

  1. Step 1: Write positions

    B(1), R(2), I(3), C(4), K(5).

  2. Step 2: Apply mapping 1→3,2→4,3→5,4→1,5→2

    • pos1 B → new pos3
    • pos2 R → new pos4
    • pos3 I → new pos5
    • pos4 C → new pos1
    • pos5 K → new pos2

  3. Step 3: Read positions 1→5

    pos1 = C, pos2 = K, pos3 = B, pos4 = R, pos5 = I → CKBRI.

  4. Final Answer:

    CKBRI → Option A

  5. Quick Check:

    Each original letter moved two places right with wrap-around; reverse the mapping to recover BRICK ✅
Hint: Number letters then place each at its target index from the template.
Common Mistakes: Forgetting wrap-around (letters falling off the end should reappear at start).
2. Rule : Swap every adjacent pair of letters (1↔2, 3↔4, 5 stays). How is GHOST encoded?
easy
A. GHOST
B. HGSOT
C. HGOST
D. GHSOT

Solution

  1. Step 1: List letters with positions

    G(1), H(2), O(3), S(4), T(5).

  2. Step 2: Swap pairs 1↔2 and 3↔4

    • 1↔2 → H, G
    • 3↔4 → S, O
    • 5 stays → T

  3. Step 3: Combine

    Result = HGSOT.

  4. Final Answer:

    HGSOT → Option B

  5. Quick Check:

    Adjacent pairs swapped; T remains at the end ✅
Hint: Swap letters in pair blocks and leave the final odd letter unchanged.
Common Mistakes: Swapping non-adjacent letters or reversing pair order incorrectly.
3. Rule : For a 4-letter word shift all letters one place to the left cyclically (1→4, 2→1, 3→2, 4→3). What is the code for WORD?
easy
A. DWOR
B. ODWR
C. ORDW
D. WODR

Solution

  1. Step 1: Write letters and positions

    W(1), O(2), R(3), D(4).

  2. Step 2: Apply left-shift by 1 (1→4,2→1,3→2,4→3)

    • pos1 W → new pos4
    • pos2 O → new pos1
    • pos3 R → new pos2
    • pos4 D → new pos3

  3. Step 3: Read positions 1→4

    pos1 = O, pos2 = R, pos3 = D, pos4 = W → ORDW.

  4. Final Answer:

    ORDW → Option C

  5. Quick Check:

    Left-shift moves W to end and others left - reverse to get WORD ✅
Hint: For left-shifts, think of the first letter moving to the end.
Common Mistakes: Doing a right shift instead of a left shift.
4. Rule : Apply fixed-position mapping for 5-letter words: 1→2, 2→5, 3→1, 4→3, 5→4. What is the code for CRANE?
medium
A. RCENA
B. ACRNE
C. ENRAC
D. ACNER

Solution

  1. Step 1: Write letters with positions

    C(1), R(2), A(3), N(4), E(5).

  2. Step 2: Use mapping 1→2, 2→5, 3→1, 4→3, 5→4

    • pos1 C → new pos2
    • pos2 R → new pos5
    • pos3 A → new pos1
    • pos4 N → new pos3
    • pos5 E → new pos4

  3. Step 3: Read positions 1→5

    pos1 = A, pos2 = C, pos3 = N, pos4 = E, pos5 = R → ACNER.

  4. Final Answer:

    ACNER → Option D

  5. Quick Check:

    Place letters into blank template indices then read left→right to confirm ✅
Hint: Fill a blank template of target positions and place each source letter into its mapped slot.
Common Mistakes: Placing letters at source indices instead of target indices (confusing direction).
5. Rule : Code = letters taken in the order 3,1,5,2,4 from a 5-letter word. What is the code for SHORE?
medium
A. OSEHR
B. RESHO
C. ERSHO
D. HORSE

Solution

  1. Step 1: Write letters with positions

    S(1), H(2), O(3), R(4), E(5).

  2. Step 2: Pick letters in order 3,1,5,2,4

    3→ O, 1→ S, 5→ E, 2→ H, 4→ R.

  3. Step 3: Combine

    Result = OSEHR.

  4. Final Answer:

    OSEHR → Option A

  5. Quick Check:

    Follow the index-list exactly (3,1,5,2,4); no shifts or swaps beyond ordering ✅
Hint: When an index list is given, write the source and then read letters in that exact index order.
Common Mistakes: Misreading the required index sequence or using 0-based indexing.

Mock Test

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