Substitution Coding (Item Coding): Rules, Tricks and Solved Examples of Called As Questions for SSC Reasoning

Substitution coding (also called item coding or “called as” questions) gives a list of substitutions, such as “if red is called blue, blue is called green”, and asks you to answer a question using the new names. They look confusing but are very easy if you follow one simple method. This guide on substitution coding for SSC explains the method, the common traps and solved examples, with practice questions and FAQs.

The Method

1. Write the substitutions in a list or a chain: A → B means A is called B.
2. Find the real answer to the question from the general knowledge, in the actual language (for example, “The colour of the sky is blue”).
3. Look up this real answer in the list and write down what it is called now.
4. The called-name is the final answer; do not substitute again unless the question says to.

Golden Rules

• Use the real answer first and then the code. Do not mix the order.
• Read the question statement carefully: the words in the question are the real words.
• A word is changed only once: “A is called B” does not mean that B also becomes C unless that is stated separately as “B is called C”. The answer is the first-level code of the real word.
• If the answer is not in the list, the real answer is the final answer.

Solved Examples

Example 1. If green is called blue, blue is called red, red is called yellow, yellow is called white and white is called orange, what is the colour of human blood?
The real colour of blood is red. Red is called yellow.

Example 2. If sky is called sea, sea is called water, water is called air, air is called cloud and cloud is called river, where do the birds fly?
Birds fly in the air. Air is called cloud.

Example 3. If a pen is called a book, a book is called a bag, a bag is called a table and a table is called a chair, what do we use to write?
We use a pen. A pen is called a book.

Example 4. If milk is called water, water is called tea, tea is called coffee and coffee is called juice, what do we drink in the morning for refreshment?
The real answer is tea. Tea is called coffee.

Example 5. If Monday is called Tuesday, Tuesday is called Wednesday and so on, up to Sunday is called Monday, what day is the day after tomorrow if today is Thursday?
The real day after tomorrow is Saturday. Saturday is called Sunday.

Example 6. If 1 is called 2, 2 is called 3, 3 is called 4 and 4 is called 5, what is 1 + 2 + 3?
The real sum is 1 + 2 + 3 = 6, which is not in the list, so the answer is 6. If the question asks “What is 2 + 2?”, the real answer is 4, and 4 is called 5.

Another Type: Substitution of Mathematical Signs

In some questions the signs are substituted: “If + means ×, × means − and − means ÷…”. Replace the signs in the given expression with their real meaning and solve using BODMAS. See the notes on mathematical operations.

Common Mistakes

• Answering with the real word without converting it.
• Substituting twice by following the chain.
• Mixing up the direction of the arrow (A called B versus B called A).
• Not reading the question as real words.

Quick Tips

• Find the real answer first and then convert it.
• Never follow the chain twice.
• Write the substitutions as arrows.
• Read the direction of the substitution carefully.

Quick Revision Points

• Real answer first, then its code.
• Do not substitute twice.
• A is called B means A → B.
• If the real answer has no code, it stays the same.
• Words in the question are the real words.

Practice Questions With Answers

1. If white is called black, black is called red and red is called green, what is the colour of the milk?
   Answer: Black
2. If a cat is called a dog, a dog is called a cow, a cow is called a goat and a goat is called a lion, which animal gives milk and is in the barn?
   Answer: Goat (cow is called goat)
3. If a table is called a chair and a chair is called a bed, on what do we sit?
   Answer: Bed
4. If rain is called snow, snow is called fog and fog is called wind, what falls from the clouds in the monsoon?
   Answer: Snow
5. If an apple is called a mango, a mango is called a banana and a banana is called a grape, what is a yellow fruit eaten by monkeys called?
   Answer: Grape
6. If north is called south, south is called east and east is called west, in which direction does the sun rise?
   Answer: West
7. If a school is called a hospital and a hospital is called a bank, where do students study?
   Answer: Hospital
8. If red is called green, green is called blue and blue is called white, what is the colour of grass?
   Answer: Blue
9. If a bus is called a car, a car is called a bike and a bike is called a cycle, which vehicle has two wheels and a motor?
   Answer: Cycle
10. If Sunday is called Monday, Monday is called Tuesday and Tuesday is called Wednesday, which day is a holiday for most offices?
    Answer: Monday

How to Practise This Chapter

Practise 10 questions every day and write the steps on paper. Then attempt timed sets from our practice papers and the previous year papers page. See all topics on the Verbal Reasoning notes page, read the previous topic Sentence Ordering and Jumbled Sentences and the next topic Letter Pair Counting and Alphabet Patterns.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is substitution coding?

A question type in which the names of the objects are changed and the answer is given in the new names.

How do I solve a called-as question?

Find the real answer first and then replace it with its new name.

Do I have to follow the chain of substitutions?

No. Take only the first-level substitution of the real answer.

What if the real answer is not in the list?

Then the real answer itself is the final answer.

Is this topic asked in SSC?

Yes. Item coding questions are asked in SSC CGL, CHSL and MTS.

How much time should I take?

About 20 seconds per question.

What is the most common mistake?

Substituting twice or answering without converting.

Are the words in the question the real words?

Yes. The question is in the real language.

What is the difference between this and letter coding?

Here the names of the objects change; in letter coding the letters of a word change.

Can the substitution include numbers and days?

Yes, with the same method.

How can I check my answer?

Read the question again with the new names and see if it makes sense.

Is the answer always from the list?

Yes, if the real answer has a code in the list.