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IBPS Clerk Analogy

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This page covers IBPS Clerk Analogy with complete concept notes, 15 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
Core Concept

Analogy questions test your ability to identify logical connections. The format is A : B :: C : D (A is to B as C is to D)

You are given A

B and need to find C : D with the same relationship type

Function

Doctor : Patient (one serves the other) 2

Part-Whole

Page : Book (part of a bigger thing) 3

Category

Rose : Flower (specific to general) 4

Cause-Effect

Rain : Flood (one causes the other) 5

Antonym

Hot : Cold (opposites) 6

Synonym

Happy : Joyful (similar meaning) 7

Tool-Work

Hammer : Nail (tool used for work) 8

Place

Fish : Water (natural habitat) 9

Material

Chair : Wood (what it's made of) 10

Degree

Hill : Mountain (different intensities) Shortcut Formula 1 - RELATIONSHIP

Quick TrickFast identification technique

Step 1: Make a sentence with first pair: 'A does what to B' or 'A is what of B' Step 2: Apply same sentence to options Step 3: Pick the option that fits perfectly Shortcut Formula 2 - ELIMINATION METHOD: Rule: If you can't find direct relationship, eliminate options that don't match the word types (noun-noun, verb-noun, adjective-noun pattern)

Worked ExampleSolve this step-by-step before moving on
1
Step 1

Find relationship between Horse and Stable Horse lives in Stable (habitat relationship)

2
Step 2

Apply same logic to Bird Bird lives in... what?

3
Step 3

Check options (a) Nest - Yes, bird lives in nest (b) Sky - Bird flies in sky, doesn't live there (c) Tree - Some birds live in trees, but not specific (d) Fly - This is an action, not a place Answer: (a) Nest Worked Example 2: Question: Pen : Write :: Knife : ? Options: (a) Sharp (b) Cut (c) Steel (d) Kitchen

1
Step 1

Relationship between Pen and Write Pen is used to Write (tool-function relationship)

2
Step 2

Apply to Knife Knife is used to... what?

3
Step 3

Check options (a) Sharp - This is a quality, not function (b) Cut - Yes, knife is used to cut (c) Steel - This is material, not function (d) Kitchen - This is a place, not function Answer: (b) Cut Shortcut Formula 3 - REVERSE CHECK METHOD: After selecting answer, reverse the relationship. If Bird : Nest, then does Nest : Bird make sense? Yes, nest belongs to bird. This confirms your answer.

Exam PatternsWhat examiners ask — read before attempting PYQs
Recognition

SSC CGL asks 2-3 analogy questions per paper. 60% are function-based relationships. 25% are part-whole relationships. 15% are other types. Most questions have obvious wrong options that can be eliminated quickly

Most Common Trap - SURFACE SIMILARITY MISTAKE

Students pick options that look similar to given words instead of finding logical relationships. For example: in 'Book : Library', students might pick 'Cook : Kitchen' thinking both end in 'ook'. But the relationship is 'things stored in place', so correct answer would be 'Car : Garage'. Don't get fooled by word similarity.

Focus only on relationship logic

Time-Saving Tip

In exam, spend maximum 30 seconds per analogy question. If relationship isn't clear in 15 seconds, use elimination method. This topic has high accuracy potential with practice.

Key Points to Remember

  • Analogy format is A : B :: C : D, find the same relationship pattern
  • Make a sentence with first pair, then apply to second pair
  • Function relationships appear in 60% of SSC analogy questions
  • Part-whole relationships are second most common at 25%
  • Quick Formula: If A does X to B, then C should do X to D
  • Elimination trick: Remove options that don't match word types
  • Reverse check method: Test your answer by reversing the relationship
  • Don't fall for surface word similarity, focus on logical connection
  • Ten main relationship types: Function, Part-Whole, Category, Cause-Effect, Antonym, Synonym, Tool-Work, Place, Material, Degree
  • Time limit: Maximum 30 seconds per analogy question in exam

Exam-Specific Tips

  • SSC CGL papers contain 2-3 analogy questions consistently every year
  • Function-based relationships appear in 60% of analogy questions
  • Part-whole relationships constitute 25% of analogy questions
  • Tool-work relationship pattern: Hammer : Nail, Pen : Write, Knife : Cut
  • Habitat relationship examples: Fish : Water, Bird : Nest, Lion : Den
  • Degree relationship follows intensity pattern: Hill : Mountain, Stream : River
  • Category relationships move from specific to general: Rose : Flower, Apple : Fruit
  • Material relationships show composition: Chair : Wood, Ring : Gold
Practice MCQs

Analogy — Practice Questions

15graded MCQs · easy to hard · full solution & trap analysis

All MCQs →
Practice 1easy

KNIFE : CUT :: HAMMER : ?

Practice 2easy

COLD : WINTER :: HOT : ?

Practice 3easy

FLOWER : GARDEN :: BOOK : ?

Practice 4easy

LION : ROAR :: SNAKE : ?

Practice 5easy

DOCTOR : HOSPITAL :: TEACHER : ?

Practice 6easy

Pen is to Writing as Knife is to ___?

Practice 7medium

POET : VERSES :: SCULPTOR : ?

Practice 8medium

DOCTOR : PATIENT :: LAWYER : ?

Practice 9medium

BOOK : PAGES :: FILM : ?

Practice 10medium

TEACHER : CLASSROOM :: DOCTOR : ?

Practice 11medium

GROWTH : DECLINE :: EXPANSION : ?

Practice 12medium

TRANSPARENT : OPAQUE :: LIQUID : ?

Practice 13hard

PROLOGUE : NARRATIVE :: PREAMBLE : ?

Practice 14hard

MANUSCRIPT : ILLEGIBLE :: EVIDENCE : ?

Practice 15hard

OBFUSCATE : CLARITY :: AMELIORATE : ?

60-Second Revision — Analogy

  • Remember: Make sentence with first pair, apply same logic to second pair
  • Formula: A does what to B = C does what to D
  • Trap: Avoid choosing options based on word similarity instead of relationship logic
  • Pattern: 60% function relationships, 25% part-whole relationships in SSC
  • Shortcut: Eliminate options that don't match word type patterns
  • Time rule: Maximum 30 seconds per question, use elimination if stuck
  • Check: Reverse your answer to verify the relationship works both ways
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