Matrix and Word Formation — SSC CGL Reasoning
Two unrelated question types share this slot. Matrix coding gives two 5×5 grids; every letter sits in both, so it carries two possible codes (row-then-column), and you pick the option that spells the target word. Word formation asks which word can — or cannot — be assembled from a given set of letters. Neither needs cleverness; both need patient, exact letter-by-letter checking.
1. What SSC actually asks
Tier 1: 1–2 Q · Tier 2: ~1 Q. Matrix: "which set of coordinates represents the word X?" Word formation: "which word can be formed from the letters of Y?", "which cannot?", "rearrange these letters into a meaningful word", and "how many meaningful words can be formed from these letters?".
2. Matrix coding — the setup
A letter is located by row number first, then column number. Each letter appears once in Matrix I (rows/columns 0–4) and once in Matrix II (rows/columns 5–9), so it has two valid codes.
Matrix I
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | M | O | N | E | Y |
| 1 | R | A | T | S | B |
| 2 | C | D | F | G | H |
| 3 | I | J | K | L | P |
| 4 | Q | U | V | W | X |
Matrix II
| 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | A | E | I | O | U |
| 6 | B | C | D | F | G |
| 7 | H | J | K | L | M |
| 8 | N | P | Q | R | S |
| 9 | T | V | W | X | Z |
- M = 00 (Matrix I) or 79 (Matrix II); A = 11 or 55; T = 12 or 90.
- A valid code for "MAT" is 00, 11, 90 — or 79, 55, 12, mixing matrices freely.
- To check an option, decode each pair back to a letter and confirm the string.
3. Matrix — the method
- Read each coordinate pair as (row, column) and find the letter.
- Spell out the option; the one that reads the target word is the answer.
- Because letters repeat across matrices, more than one option may look plausible — decode fully, don't stop at the first letter.
4. Word formation — availability check
To decide whether a word can be built from a source word's letters, check each letter is present in sufficient quantity:
- From KNOWLEDGE (K,N,O,W,L,E,D,G,E) you can make LODGE, KNEE (two E's available), GLOW — but not WINDOW (needs a second W and an I, neither available).
- Anagrams are the neat case: INTEGRAL uses exactly the letters of TRIANGLE; STREAM is an anagram of MASTER.
- Watch repeated letters: NATION needs two N's, so it can't come from STATIONERY (one N).
5. Counting meaningful words
"How many meaningful words from E, A, T (each once)?" — list systematically: EAT, ATE, TEA (and ETA). Report the count the question expects, sticking to common dictionary words.
6. Solved PYQ-style examples
Q1. Which word can be formed from the letters of TRIANGLE? Solution. INTEGRAL — an exact anagram (T,R,I,A,N,G,L,E rearranged).
Q2. Which word cannot be formed from the letters of KNOWLEDGE? Solution. WINDOW — it needs a second W and an I, neither present.
Q3. Rearrange P, L, A, E, P into a meaningful word. Solution. APPLE (A,P,P,L,E).
Q4. Using the matrices above, which set represents "MAT"? Solution. 00, 11, 90 — M(00), A(11), T(90). (79, 55, 12 is an equally valid mixed-matrix code.)
Q5. Which word cannot be formed from the letters of GOVERNMENT? Solution. TARGET — GOVERNMENT contains no letter A.
7. Exam protocol
- Matrix: decode every pair to a letter before judging an option — don't stop early.
- Remember each letter has two codes (one per matrix); mixing matrices is allowed.
- Word formation: tick off each required letter against the source, counting repeats.
- Anagram-style options (same letters, reordered) are usually the intended "can be formed".
- A single missing or under-supplied letter rules a word out — that's the fastest disqualifier.
