60-second revision
- An analogy question is solved by naming the exact relationship in the first pair, then finding the pair that shares it.
- Make the relation a sentence: "A thermometer measures temperature" is sharper than "related to".
- Common word relations: instrument–measure, unit–quantity, young one–adult, group–member, study–subject, worker–tool.
- Number analogies usually hide n², n³, n² ± 1, n³ ± 1, n × (n + 1) or a fixed multiple.
- Letter positions: A=1 ... Z=26. Opposite letter = 27 minus position (A–Z, M–N).
- EJOTY: E=5, J=10, O=15, T=20, Y=25 — a quick anchor for any letter position.
- When two options seem to fit, the one that keeps the same order and same specificity as the first pair wins.
What an analogy question asks
An analogy gives one related pair (A : B) and asks for a second pair with the same relationship (C : ?). The symbol "::" is read as "as". So "Pen : Write :: Knife : ?" reads "pen is to write as knife is to ?" and the answer is "cut". SSC and RRB papers set three kinds: word (semantic) analogies, number analogies and letter analogies. Figural analogies are the same idea applied to shapes.
The single biggest skill is stating the relationship precisely. "Both are related to hospitals" is too vague and lets several options fit. "A nurse works in a hospital" or "a stethoscope is a tool used by a doctor" narrows the answer to one option.
Word analogies — the relations exams repeat
| Relation | Example pair | Another pair with the same relation |
|---|---|---|
| Instrument : what it measures | Barometer : Atmospheric pressure | Anemometer : Wind speed |
| Unit : quantity | Newton : Force | Watt : Power |
| Young one : adult | Foal : Horse | Cygnet : Swan |
| Group : member | Herd : Cattle | Swarm : Bees |
| Study : subject | Seismology : Earthquakes | Mycology : Fungi |
| Worker : tool | Carpenter : Saw | Tailor : Needle |
| Worker : workplace | Teacher : School | Chef : Kitchen |
| Product : raw material | Paper : Pulp | Cloth : Yarn |
| Part : whole | Petal : Flower | Page : Book |
| Cause : effect | Fire : Smoke | Virus : Infection |
| Synonym / antonym | Brave : Courageous | Ancient : Modern |
Learn short lists for the high-frequency groups. Instruments: hygrometer (humidity), lactometer (density of milk), odometer (distance travelled), ammeter (current), voltmeter (potential difference), sphygmomanometer (blood pressure). Units: volt (potential difference), joule (energy), pascal (pressure), hertz (frequency), coulomb (charge), kelvin (temperature). Studies: ichthyology (fish), herpetology (reptiles and amphibians), etymology (origin of words), pedology (soil), numismatics (coins), philately (stamp collecting).
Number analogies — test these patterns in order
- Square or cube: 6 : 36, 4 : 64.
- Square or cube plus/minus 1: 7 : 50 (7² + 1), 3 : 26 (3³ − 1).
- Product form: 5 : 30 (5 × 6), 9 : 72 (9 × 8).
- Fixed multiple or multiple plus a constant: 8 : 27 (8 × 3 + 3), 11 : 36 (11 × 3 + 3).
- Digit operations: 47 : 11 (4 + 7), 63 : 18 (6 × 3), 52 : 25 (digits reversed).
Worked example: 9 : 80 :: 11 : ? — 80 is 9² − 1, so the answer is 11² − 1 = 120. Check the rule against the first pair only; it must fit exactly, not approximately.
Worked example ("choose the pair"): which pair is like 2 : 9? 9 = 2³ + 1, so look for n³ + 1 — 4 : 65 fits (64 + 1), while 3 : 9 (3²) and 4 : 16 (4²) do not.
Letter analogies
Write the alphabet positions or use EJOTY (E 5, J 10, O 15, T 20, Y 25) to find any letter quickly. Then compare the first pair letter by letter: is each letter shifted by the same step, by increasing steps, or replaced by its opposite?
| Pattern | Example | Apply to |
|---|---|---|
| Same shift for every letter | PEN : RGP (+2 each) | BOX : DQZ |
| Increasing shifts | DOG : EQJ (+1, +2, +3) | CUP : DWS |
| Opposite letters (sum 27) | BAD : YZW | CAB : XZY |
| Reversal then shift | RAT : UBS (TAR, +1) | CAN : OBD (NAC, +1) |
A 20-second routine
- Read only the first pair and state the relation as a sentence.
- If two relations are possible, keep both and let the options decide.
- Check the order: Worker : Tool is not the same as Tool : Worker.
- For numbers and letters, write the rule as a formula and test it on the given pair before applying it.
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