Systems, methods and apparatus to determine a programming mode of a set of memory cells that store an indicator of the programming mode. In response to a command to read the memory cells in a memory device, a first read voltage is applied to the memory cells to identify a first subset of the memory cells that become conductive under the first read voltage. The determination of the first subset is configured as an operation common to different programming modes. Based on whether the first subset of the memory cell includes one or more predefined memory cells, the memory device determines a programming mode of memory cells. Once the programming mode is identified from the common operation, the memory device can further execute the command to determine a data item stored, via the programming mode, in the memory cells.