Using the reverse code (Z=1 to A=26), what is the sum of the reverse positions of the first and last letters of "KNOWLEDGE"?

Correct — C.
Rule: reverse position = 27 − forward position, because a letter's two positions always add to 27 (A is 1 and 26, Z is 26 and 1).

First letter of KNOWLEDGE: K, forward 11 → 27 − 11 = 16.
Last letter: E, forward 5 → 27 − 5 = 22.

Sum: 16 + 22 = 38 → option (c).

Why the others are wrong

• (a)
  25 — 25 matches neither reading of the two letters. Forward positions give K + E = 11 + 5 = 16. Reverse positions give 16 + 22 = 38.
• (b)
  30 — 30 is 8 short of the reverse total. Early letters score high on the reverse scale: E is 5th from the front, so it counts 22 here, and K counts 16.
• (d)
  32 — 32 is 6 short of 38. Recheck the last letter: E is 5th from A, so its reverse value is 27 − 5 = 22, and 16 + 22 = 38.

A reverse alphabet code numbers the letters from Z: Z = 1, Y = 2 … A = 26. You never need to count backwards. Take the letter's ordinary position and subtract it from 27.

The item also tests reading. It wants only the first and last letters of KNOWLEDGE, K and E, not the value of the whole word.

Key facts

• Forward and reverse positions of any letter add to 27: K is 11 and 16, E is 5 and 22.
• E, J, O, T, Y are 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 forward and 22, 17, 12, 7, 2 in reverse.
• M and N are the middle pair: M is 13 forward and 14 in reverse, N the other way round.

Common traps

• Using 26 − position instead of 27 − position, which puts every reverse value one too low
• Adding the values of the whole word when the stem asks for the first and last letters only

No directly related past PYQ was found.