Name & Number Comparison - Cheat Sheet
Your last-minute revision companion for Name & Number Comparison - the ultimate quick reference for spotting differences and achieving accuracy under time pressure.
Comparison Formats & Answer Types
Important facts
- CSE gives 10-15 seconds per comparison pair
- Differences are deliberately subtle - single character changes
- Three-column questions test A↔B, B↔C, A↔C relationships
- Answer choices: All Same, 1&2 Only, 2&3 Only, All Different
Key definitions
All Identical
Example
Maria Cruz ↔ Maria Cruz
Both items match exactly across all columns
One Pair Differs
Example
12345 vs 12435 (digits 3&4 swapped)
Items are different - identify which specific pair
Three-Column Format
Example
A=B only, B=C only, or all different
Compare items across three columns - choose matching pairs
Number Comparison Traps
Important facts
- Look-alike digits: 0/O, 1/l/I, 5/S, 6/b/G, 8/B
- Decimal placement errors: 1,234.50 vs 12,345.0
- Leading zeros matter: 01234 ≠ 1234
- Mid-sequence changes hardest to spot
Key definitions
Transposition
Example
78902 vs 78092 (0 and 9 switched)
Two adjacent digits swapped positions
Single Digit Change
Example
456789 vs 456769 (8→6 in position 5)
One digit replaced with another digit
Length Difference
Example
1234 vs 12345 (extra 5)
Extra or missing digit in sequence
Diagrams to know
- Number chunking visualization (break 8-digit into 4+4)
- Position-by-position comparison chart
Name Comparison Traps
Important facts
- Filipino name patterns: de la, del, ng, mga prefixes
- Suffix differences: Jr./Sr., II/III, MD/RN
- Hyphenation: Dela-Cruz vs Dela Cruz vs DelaCruz
- Accent marks: José vs Jose (count as different)
- Look-alike letters: a/d, m/n/nn, u/v, ll/II
Key definitions
Letter Substitution
Example
Santos vs Sanlos (t→l)
One letter replaced with similar-looking letter
Capitalization Error
Example
dela Cruz vs Dela Cruz
Difference in upper/lowercase letters
Word Order Change
Example
Maria Santos vs Santos, Maria
First name and last name positions swapped
Diagrams to know
- Name component breakdown diagram
- Common Filipino name variations chart
Speed Strategies
Formulas
Chunk Method: Break long sequences into 3-4 character groups
Meaning
12345678 → 1234|5678 for easier comparison
Watch out
Don't chunk differently between items being compared
When to use
Numbers or names longer than 6 characters
Common values
Value
10-12 seconds
Symbol
s/pair
Quantity
Target Speed Simple Pairs
Value
15-20 seconds
Symbol
s/pair
Quantity
Target Speed Complex Pairs
Value
30 seconds
Symbol
s/pair
Quantity
Maximum Time Limit
Important facts
- Compare position-by-position, not as whole words
- Take micro-pauses every 10 items to refocus
- Skip difficult items - flag and return if time allows
- Never spend more than 30 seconds on one pair
Key definitions
Mental Reading
Example
B-A-U-T-I-S-T-A vs B-A-U-L-I-S-T-A
Silently pronounce each character to catch differences
Position Tracking
Example
Keep horizontal alignment when comparing rows
Use finger or pencil to stay aligned across columns
Common Error Patterns
Important facts
- Adjacent transposition (easiest to miss): Ramirez vs Ramriez
- Mid-word substitution: Beneficio vs Benefcio
- Extra character after vowels: Reyes vs Reyesa
- Spacing differences: San Juan vs SanJuan
- Font-dependent confusion: rn vs m, cl vs d
Diagrams to know
- Error frequency by position chart
- Look-alike character identification guide
Must remember
- Always compare character-by-character, never scan as whole words
- Look-alike pairs: 0/O, 1/l/I, 5/S, 6/b/G, 8/B, a/d, m/n, u/v
- Adjacent digit/letter swaps are the most common trap
- Filipino names: watch de la, del, mga, Jr./Sr., accent marks
- Three-column format: compare A↔B, B↔C relationships separately
- Speed targets: 10-12 seconds simple, 15-20 seconds complex, 30 max
- Mid-word changes harder to spot than beginning/end changes
- Capitalization differences count as different in formal records
- Use chunking for long sequences: break into 3-4 character groups
- Mental pronunciation catches differences visual scanning misses
Last minute tips
- Practice with actual CSE sample items - timing is crucial for this section
- Blink frequently during long comparison sequences to prevent eye fatigue
- If stuck on three-column question, eliminate impossible combinations first
- Address comparisons are trickiest - street numbers and postal codes change most
- Never change your first answer unless you're 100% certain - gut instinct is usually right
Comparison tables
Look-Alike Characters Reference
| Character | Common Confusions | Context Clues |
|---|---|---|
| 0 (zero) | O (letter O) | Usually in number sequences |
| 1 (one) | l (lowercase L), I (uppercase i) | Check surrounding digits/letters |
| 5 (five) | S (letter S) | Number vs letter context |
| 6 (six) | b, G | Font-dependent, check alignment |
| 8 (eight) | B (letter B) | Number vs letter context |
Three-Column Answer Patterns
| Comparison Result | Answer Choice | Example |
|---|---|---|
| All three identical | All Same | ABC | ABC | ABC |
| A matches B only | 1 and 2 Only | ABC | ABC | ACB |
| B matches C only | 2 and 3 Only | ABC | ACB | ACB |
| All different | All Different | ABC | ACB | BAC |
Diagrams
Name & Number Comparison Strategy Map
Complete overview of all comparison strategies and common error types
Three-Column Comparison Process
Step-by-step process for handling three-column comparison questions efficiently
Character-by-Character Verification
Systematic approach to verify each character position to avoid missing subtle differences