Dictionary-order questions appeared in ASO 2021 (three) and ASO 2025 (three). Compare the words letter by letter, and the first letter that differs decides the order.
Method
- Group the words by their first letter, then by the second letter, and so on.
- When one word is the start of another (Plan, Plane), the shorter word comes first.
- Write the final order using the Roman numerals and match it with the options. Usually checking the first two positions is enough to rule out three options.
ASO 2025: Racket, Radar, Radiate, Radical, Radius. "Rac" comes before "Rad". Among the "Rad" words, compare the 4th letter: a < i < i, then the 5th letter: a < c (Radiate before Radical), and Radius comes last.
Word-change questions
For example: "Change the 2nd letter of each word to the next letter. How many words have no vowel?" Write each new word, then count. LAP, BUT, CAR, SON, HID → LBP, BVT, CBR, SPN, HJD → all five (ASO 2025).
Position from the left or right
Sort the words, then count from the side asked. The question may say "from the right", so read it twice.