Letter Pair Sequence Puzzles Practice Test Worksheets
Letter pair sequence questions ask you to continue a pattern made from two-letter blocks. The key is to track the first letters and second letters separately, then combine the two next letters into one answer.
For students who can use alphabet positions, but lose marks when letter-pair patterns move in two directions at once.
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What Do Letter Pair Sequence Questions Look Like?
Letter pair sequence questions present a series of two-letter pairs that follow consistent alphabetical patterns. The challenge is that each letter in the pair usually follows its own independent rule—either moving forwards, backwards, or alternating. Here is a worked example.
Find the pair of letters that continues each sequence in the best way. Use the alphabet to help you.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Track the First and Second Letters Separately
Question: BG CI DK EM ( ________ )
Worked Method
The first letters are B, C, D, E. They move forward 1 letter each time, so the next first letter is F.
The second letters are G, I, K, M. They move forward 2 letters each time, so the next second letter is O.
Answer: FO. Tip: Write the first-letter line and the second-letter line separately if the pattern is not obvious.
Rules to Help You Solve Letter Pair Sequence Questions
Each pair contains two separate alphabet sequences. Use these core rules to break down letter pair sequence questions systematically.
🔀 Rule 1: Split the pair into two sequences
The first letters may follow one rule while the second letters follow a different rule.
Example: BG, CI, DK, EM gives first letters B, C, D, E and second letters G, I, K, M.
➡️ Rule 2: Count alphabet shifts
Some sequences use a fixed forward or backward shift, such as +1, +3, -2, or -4.
Example: UK, SI, QG, OE moves both letters back 2 each time, so the next pair is MC.
↔️ Rule 3: Watch for alternating moves
A sequence may switch between two rules, such as forward 3 then back 2, repeated across the line.
Example: PL, SM, QN, TO uses +3, -2, +3 in the first letters and +1 each time in the second letters.
📈 Rule 4: Some jumps increase step by step
The jump size can grow by one each time, either forwards (+1, +2, +3, +4) or backwards (-1, -2, -3, -4).
Example: HQ, IP, JN, KK, LG has first letters moving +1 each time. The second letters move backwards by 1, then 2, then 3, then 4 places—the backward jump grows by one each time.
Two More Worked Examples
Combine an Alternating Rule with a Steady Rule
Question: PL SM QN TO ( ________ )
Worked Method
The first letters are P, S, Q, T. They move forward 3, then back 2, then forward 3. The next move is back 2, so T becomes R.
The second letters are L, M, N, O. They move forward 1 letter each time, so the next second letter is P.
Answer: RP. Tip: Alternating rules often show up when a sequence seems to move in both directions.
Following Increasing Backward Shifts
Question: HQ IP JN KK LG ( ________ )
Worked Method
The first letters are H, I, J, K, L. They move forward 1 letter each time, so the next first letter is M.
The second letters are Q, P, N, K, G. The moves are -1, -2, -3, -4, so the next move is -5. G back 5 is B.
Answer: MB. Tip: If a fixed jump fails, check whether the jump size is growing or shrinking each step.
