In each of the following questions, a group of three numbers/symbols is given in each option. Identify the group that does NOT follow the same pattern as the others.

Correct — D.
Rule: each number is its letter's position + 1, and the letters step +2.

A2 : C4 : E6 → A 1 + 1, C 3 + 1, E 5 + 1.
B3 : D5 : F7 and C4 : E6 : G8 pair up the same way.

D5 : G9 : J13 steps its letters by 3 (D, G, J).
G is 7th and J is 10th, so + 1 would give G8 and J11, not G9 and J13 → option (d).

Why the others are wrong

• (a)
  A2@ : C4# : E6$ — A2@ : C4# : E6$ keeps both parts of the rule: each number is one above its letter's position, and A, C, E step by 2.
• (b)
  B3% : D5^ : F7& — B3% : D5^ : F7& fits: B 2 + 1 = 3, D 4 + 1 = 5, F 6 + 1 = 7, with the letters two apart.
• (c)
  C4* : E6( : G8) — The group starting C4 fits as well: C, E and G are 3rd, 5th and 7th, each one below its number 4, 6 or 8, and two letters apart.

A letter-number group tests two things: how each number relates to its own letter, and how the letters step from one pair to the next. Check both.

The first group sets the rule here: A2 (A = 1), C4 (C = 3), E6 (E = 5). The pairing is position + 1 and the step is +2.

Key facts

• Number = letter position + 1 here: A2, B3, C4, D5, E6, F7, G8.
• The regular groups step their letters by 2: A, C, E.
• G is the 7th letter and J the 10th, so G9 and J13 miss the + 1 pairing.

Common traps

• Judging D5 : G9 : J13 by itself, where its steady +3 and +4 steps look like a pattern
• Assuming number = plain position, which makes every group fail since A is 1, not 2

No directly related past PYQ was found.