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SSC CGL Analogy

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This page covers SSC CGL Analogy with complete concept notes, 51 graded practice MCQs, key points and exam-specific tips. Free to study.

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Concept Notes

Analogy— Rules & Concept

Core ConceptRead this first — the foundation of the topic
Think of it like this

If 'Doctor treats Patient', then 'Teacher teaches Student'. The relationship is the same — a professional and the person they serve

Word Analogy

Word A is to Word B :: Word C is to ? 2

Number Analogy

4 : 16 :: 5 : ? 3

Letter Analogy

AC : EG :: BD : ? --- KEY RULES TO FOLLOW Rule 1 — Identify the exact relationship first. Never guess. Rule 2 — The order matters. If A leads to B, then C must lead to D in the same way. Rule 3 — Always apply the SAME logic to both pairs. Rule 4 — Do not pick an answer just because the words 'seem related'. The relationship type must match exactly. --- TYPES OF RELATIONSHIPS (

Exam PatternsWhat examiners ask — read before attempting PYQs
Tool and User — Scalpel

Surgeon :: Chisel : Carpenter 2

Product and Source — Wool

Sheep :: Silk : Silkworm 3

Part and Whole — Page

Book :: Leaf : Tree 4

Cause and Effect — Virus

Disease :: Drought : Famine 5

Worker and Workplace — Chef

Kitchen :: Judge : Courtroom 6

Word and Intensity — Cool

Cold :: Warm : Hot 7

Antonym Pair — Day

Night :: Joy : Sorrow 8

Synonym Pair — Brave

Courageous :: Smart : Intelligent 9. Number/Math Relationship — 3 : 9 :: 4 : 16 (square pattern) 10

Letter Position Relationship — AC

BD :: EG : FH ---

Formula BlockMemorise — at least one formula appears in every paper

For Number Analogy:

If A : B :: C : D

Find the operation: B divided by A, or B minus A, or B = A squared

Apply the SAME operation to C to get D.

For Letter Analogy:

Convert each letter to its alphabet position number (A=1, B=2 ... Z=26)

Find the gap between positions.

Apply the SAME gap to the second pair.

Shortcut Formula — Alphabet Position:

Opposite letter of any letter = 27 minus its position number
Example: Opposite of A (position 1) = 27 - 1 = 26 = Z

---

ShortcutsUse these to save 30–60 seconds per question
Trick 1 — The 'Relationship Label' Trick

Before looking at options, write a one-line label for the relationship

Example

'Pen : Ink' — Label = 'Tool uses this substance to work' Now match your label with the options. This removes confusion fast

Trick 2 — Elimination by Direction
1

Is B = A squared?

2

Is B = A x 2 or A x 3?

3

Is B = A + fixed number?

4

Is B = A cubed or A + prime number? Stop at the first one that works. Apply to C to get D. ---

Worked ExampleSolve this step-by-step before moving on

— Word Analogy Question: Painter : Brush :: Carpenter : ? Options: A) Nail B) Wood C) Saw D) Hammer Step 1 — Label the relationship: 'A Painter uses a Brush as their PRIMARY TOOL' Step 2 — Apply to Carpenter: 'A Carpenter uses ___ as their primary cutting/shaping tool' Step 3 — Check options: Nail is a material. Wood is raw material. Saw is the primary tool for cutting.

Hammer is secondary. Answer: C) Saw Key Insight: Always pick the PRIMARY tool, not just any related object. --- WORKED EXAMPLE 2 — Number Analogy Question: 7 : 56 :: 9 : ? Options: A) 72 B) 81 C) 63 D) 90 Step 1 — Find the operation: 56 divided by 7 = 8. So B = A x 8? Check: 7 x 8 = 56.

Yes. Step 2 — But wait, is there a pattern? 7 x 8 = 56. Now, 8 = 7 + 1. Step 3 — So the rule is: A x (A+1) = B Step 4 — Apply to 9: 9 x (9+1) = 9 x 10 = 90 Answer: D) 90 This is a classic SSC CGL trap — simple multiplication hides an elegant pattern. ---

Exam TrapsCommon mistakes students make — avoid these

— THE NUMBER 1 TRAP Students find a word that is ASSOCIATED with the third word and pick it as the answer — without checking if the RELATIONSHIP TYPE matches. Example Trap: Question: Doctor : Hospital :: Teacher : ? Wrong answer chosen: Student (because Teacher and Student are related) Correct answer: School (because the relationship is Worker : Workplace, NOT Worker : Person they serve) ALWAYS verify: Is the relationship TYPE identical, not just the topic?

Key Points to Remember

  • Analogy tests if you can identify and replicate an identical relationship between two pairs of words, numbers, or letters.
  • Always label the relationship in one line before looking at answer options — this is the fastest filtering method.
  • The direction of the relationship must match exactly — General to Specific in pair 1 must be General to Specific in pair 2.
  • Shortcut: For Number Analogy, test in order — square, then multiply, then add, then cube — and stop at first match.
  • Shortcut: Alphabet position formula — Opposite letter = 27 minus position number (e.g., D = position 4, opposite = Z - 3 = W, i.e., 27-4=23=W).
  • Shortcut: Convert letters to numbers (A=1 to Z=26), find the gap, apply the same gap to the second pair.
  • Top relationship types: Tool-User, Part-Whole, Cause-Effect, Worker-Workplace, Product-Source, Degree of Intensity.
  • Trap: Never pick a word just because it is associated — the relationship TYPE must be identical to the first pair.
  • In word analogy, always identify whether the relationship is functional, hierarchical, spatial, causal, or categorical.
  • Number Analogy pattern A x (A+1): example 7 x 8 = 56, so 9 x 10 = 90 — a frequently repeated SSC CGL trick.

Exam-Specific Tips

  • In SSC CGL Tier-1, Analogy typically carries 3 to 5 questions out of 25 in the Reasoning section.
  • The most frequently tested analogy type in SSC CGL is Worker-Workplace (e.g., Pilot : Cockpit :: Captain : Bridge).
  • Alphabet position formula: A=1, B=2, C=3 ... Z=26. Total letters in English alphabet = 26.
  • Opposite letter rule: Position of a letter + Position of its opposite letter = 27 (e.g., A+Z = 1+26 = 27).
  • Middle letter of the alphabet: M is the 13th letter and N is the 14th letter — both considered 'middle' in different question contexts.
  • In Number Analogy, the pattern A squared (A^2) is the single most tested operation in SSC CGL history.
  • The analogy format 'A : B :: C : ?' was introduced in SSC exams as a standard Reasoning item type from 1999 onward and appears in every paper since.
  • EJOTY rule for quick letter-number conversion: E=5, J=10, O=15, T=20, Y=25 — memorise these 5 anchor points to find any letter's position fast.
Practice MCQs

Analogy — Practice Questions

51graded MCQs · easy to hard · full solution & trap analysis · showing 20 of 51

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Practice 1easy

Pen is to Write as Knife is to ___?

Practice 2easy

Flower is to Fragrance as Lemon is to ___?

Practice 3easy

Pen is to Writer as Brush is to ___?

Practice 4easy

Doctor is to Hospital as Teacher is to ___?

Practice 5easy

Book is to Author as Film is to ?

Practice 6easy

Flower is to Plant as Feather is to ?

Practice 7easy

Book : Library :: Weapon : ?

Practice 8easy

Knife is to Cut as Pen is to ?

Practice 9easy

Doctor is to Hospital as Teacher is to ?

Practice 10easy

Cold is to Winter as Hot is to ?

Practice 11easy

Lion is to Roar as Snake is to ___?

Practice 12easy

Pen is to Writing as Knife is to ___?

Practice 13easy

Lion is to Roar as Dog is to ?

Practice 14easy

Cold is to Winter as Hot is to ?

Practice 15easy

Doctor is to Hospital as Teacher is to ?

Practice 16easy

Book is to Author as Painting is to ?

Practice 17easy

Pen is to Writing as Hammer is to ?

Practice 18easy

Flower is to Garden as Fish is to ?

Practice 19easy

Pen is to Write as Knife is to ?

Practice 20easy

Book is to Reading as Food is to ___?

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60-Second Revision — Analogy

  • Remember: Always write a one-line relationship label before checking options — never jump straight to options.
  • Formula: Opposite letter position = 27 minus the letter's position number (A=1, Z=26, A+Z=27).
  • Formula: For Number Analogy, test operations in this order — square, multiply, add, cube — stop at first match.
  • Anchor: EJOTY = E(5), J(10), O(15), T(20), Y(25) — use these to quickly find any letter's alphabet number.
  • Trap: The biggest mistake is picking a word that is merely 'related' to the third word — the RELATIONSHIP TYPE must be identical to the first pair.
  • Remember: Direction matters — if pair 1 goes from Whole to Part, pair 2 must also go Whole to Part, not Part to Whole.
  • Formula: A x (A+1) pattern — if 7:56 appears, check 7x8=56, then apply 9x10=90 for the answer.
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