In the last lesson you learnt about the SIMPLE STEP CODE.

In this lesson you're going to learn about something much harder - COMPLEX STEP CODES. Only the smartest kids in the world can understand COMPLEX STEP CODES!

But before we go any further, tell me what you'd like me to call you. Use the keypad to enter your name and press the 'Submit' button.

For this lesson you are going to need:

A PENCIL
A RUBBER
A PENCIL SHARPENER
A RULER
A NOTEBOOK OR SOME PAPER
A DICTIONARY

Have you got all these?

Yes, I've got everything.
No, I'll go and get them now.
No, I can't be bothered.
In the codes you've seen so far, if A means B in the first letter of the word, A also means B for the second letter, the third letter and so on.

But in COMPLEX STEP CODES this is not the case, which makes them MUCH HARDER.

In a SIMPLE STEP CODE the step is the same for each letter of the word: for instance +1, +1, +1, +1, or -2, -2, -2, -2.

But in a COMPLEX STEP CODE the step is different for each letter and makes a SEQUENCE or PATTERN.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z



Let's work through an example.

If the code for EEL is FGO, what is the code for COD?.

Write down the word EEL on a sheet of paper, with FGO below. Now above the letters of EEL write down how we get to FGO.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

You should have written this:

+1+2+3
E E L

F G O


Do you see the pattern?

For the first letter we step forward 1, then 2 for the second letter and so on.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z


So now we apply the same rule to COD.

For the first letter we step forward 1 - from C to D. For the second letter we step forward 2 - from O to Q. And for the third letter we step forward 3 - from D to G.

So in this code, COD becomes DQG.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z


Let's try another example:

If the code for GULL is HUKJ what does EOUC mean?

This time try to work it out for yourself before reading on.

Work out the distances between each letter. This time we're DECODING rather than ENCODING so to find out the answer we need to use the REVERSE of the rule to get the answer.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z


You should first of all have written down this:

+1+0-1-2
G U L L

H U K J

So our STEP SEQUENCE is +1 +0 -1 -2.

As we are DECODING we take each letter in turn and move in the OPPOSITE direction.

E - back 1 gives us D
O - stay the same gives us O
U - forward 1 gives us V
C - forward 2 gives us E

So the answer is DOVE.

OK, kiddo. Are you sure you understand COMPLEX STEP CODES?


Of course not. My name's not Einstein.
Sorry. Could you repeat the question?.
I didn't really understand - can I try again?
It's complicated but I think I get it.
In that case, kiddo, you won't mind doing an exam.

Will you?

Nah - I really can't be bothered.
I'm afraid of stabbing myself with my pencil.
I'm a hero so I'll have a go.
I'm the smartest kid in the world. I love exams.
Before you start, a few pieces of advice.

1. Use a pencil and paper to note down how you get from the starting letter to the coded letter. Is it FORWARDS or BACKWARDS, and how many steps do you move?

2. Remember that if you are ENCODING a real word you follow the SAME rule for each letter in turn to get your answer. If you are DECODING a nonsense word you follow the OPPOSITE rule for each letter in turn to get your answer.

3. If you are DECODING a nonsense word your answer must be a REAL word. If you're not sure, look it up in your dictionary. If it's not there you've made a mistake: try again.


Use the on-screen keypad to enter your answer. If you make a mistake press 'CLEAR' to start again. When you're sure you have the right answer press 'SUBMIT'. If you get it wrong you can try again but only your first answer counts towards your score. 		A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Question 1. If the code for DEER is EGHV what is the code for FAWN?

Use the keypad below to enter your answer.


Use the on-screen keypad to enter your answer. If you make a mistake press 'CLEAR' to start again. When you're sure you have the right answer press 'SUBMIT'. If you get it wrong you can try again but only your first answer counts towards your score. 		A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Question 2. If the code for PAWN is LXUM what does GFLF mean?

Use the keypad below to enter your answer.


Use the on-screen keypad to enter your answer. If you make a mistake press 'CLEAR' to start again. When you're sure you have the right answer press 'SUBMIT'. If you get it wrong you can try again but only your first answer counts towards your score. 		A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Question 3. If the code for LAMB is KBPG what is the code for BEEF?

Use the keypad below to enter your answer.


Use the on-screen keypad to enter your answer. If you make a mistake press 'CLEAR' to start again. When you're sure you have the right answer press 'SUBMIT'. If you get it wrong you can try again but only your first answer counts towards your score. 		A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Question 4. If the code for TRAIN is USCKQ what does MPTTB mean?

Use the keypad below to enter your answer.


Use the on-screen keypad to enter your answer. If you make a mistake press 'CLEAR' to start again. When you're sure you have the right answer press 'SUBMIT'. If you get it wrong you can try again but only your first answer counts towards your score. 		A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Question 5. If the code for BLACK is ZKADM what is the code for WHITE?

Use the keypad below to enter your answer.


Use the on-screen keypad to enter your answer. If you make a mistake press 'CLEAR' to start again. When you're sure you have the right answer press 'SUBMIT'. If you get it wrong you can try again but only your first answer counts towards your score. 		A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Question 6. If the code for TIGER is RHEDP what does AZKDJ mean?

Use the keypad below to enter your answer.


Use the on-screen keypad to enter your answer. If you make a mistake press 'CLEAR' to start again. When you're sure you have the right answer press 'SUBMIT'. If you get it wrong you can try again but only your first answer counts towards your score. 		A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Question 7. If the code for ORANGE is TQFMLD what is the code for PURPLE?

Use the keypad below to enter your answer.


Use the on-screen keypad to enter your answer. If you make a mistake press 'CLEAR' to start again. When you're sure you have the right answer press 'SUBMIT'. If you get it wrong you can try again but only your first answer counts towards your score. 		A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Question 8. If the code for SPRING is VTWOUO what does DYYATV mean?

Use the keypad below to enter your answer.


Use the on-screen keypad to enter your answer. If you make a mistake press 'CLEAR' to start again. When you're sure you have the right answer press 'SUBMIT'. If you get it wrong you can try again but only your first answer counts towards your score. 		A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Question 9. If the code for HADDOCK is BWBDQGQ what is the code for HERRING?

Use the keypad below to enter your answer.


Use the on-screen keypad to enter your answer. If you make a mistake press 'CLEAR' to start again. When you're sure you have the right answer press 'SUBMIT'. If you get it wrong you can try again but only your first answer counts towards your score. 		A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Question 10. If the code for HUNDRED is FYLHPIB what does KMJPGSL mean?

Use the keypad below to enter your answer.

You have now completed the COMPLEX STEP CODE EXAM.
You now know how to make a COMPLEX STEP CODE, and how to decode messages written in a COMPLEX STEP CODE.

Messages using a COMPLEX STEP CODE are much harder to decode than SIMPLE STEP CODES!

Unless you have the key it's really very difficult. Think of all the fun you can have with your friends if you use a code like this!