11+ Letter Sequences: How to Find the Next Letters in a Series
By Simply Eleven Plus · Updated 25 October 2026 · 4 min read
In letter sequence questions, your child sees a series of letters or letter pairs and works out what comes next. The trick is to treat each position separately and look for a simple pattern in the jumps.
The method
- Write the alphabet out with positions (A = 1 … Z = 26).
- For pairs, split them: look at all the first letters, then all the second letters.
- Write the jump between each letter above the series (+2, +2, +2 or +2, +3, +4).
- Continue the pattern, and remember to wrap around after Z.
Example
What comes next? CF EH GJ ?
First letters: C, E, G, so +2 each time → I. Second letters: F, H, J, so +2 → L.
Answer: IL
Example
What comes next? B D G K ?
The jumps are +2, +3, +4, so the next jump is +5. K is 11, and 11 + 5 = 16 = P.
Answer: P
Example
What comes next? AZ BY CX ?
First letters go forward (A, B, C → D). Second letters go backward (Z, Y, X → W).
Answer: DW
Common traps
- The two letters in a pair can follow different rules, or even move in opposite directions.
- Some series alternate between two patterns. If the jumps don’t make sense, look at every other letter.
- Count jumps carefully: from C to F is +3, not +4.
Number sequences use exactly the same idea. See our guide to 11+ number sequences.
Practise it
The method only sticks with practice. Try letter sequence questions on Simply Eleven Plus, free to start, with instant marking and an explanation for every answer, or sit a free live mock exam to practise under real exam conditions.
Free 11+ live mock exams
Let your child sit a real-time, timed mock paper online, then go through the trickiest questions together. It’s free.