Analogy Test is an important topic in IQ and Logical Reasoning that tests your ability to identify relationships between words, numbers, letters, and figures. Analogy questions require you to understand the relationship in one pair and apply the same relationship to another pair.

In this lesson, you will learn the types of analogy, methods for solving analogy questions, useful tricks, important strategies, and practice questions for entrance examinations such as the Nepal Army Officer Cadet Entrance Exam.

1. What is an Analogy Test?

An Analogy Test measures your ability to identify the relationship between two items and apply the same relationship to another pair.

Basic Pattern

A : B :: C : ?

This means:

A is related to B in a particular way. In the same way, C is related to what?

Example

Bird : Fly :: Fish : ?

A bird can fly.

In the same way, a fish can swim.

Answer: Swim

What Does an Analogy Test Measure?

Analogy questions test your ability in:

• Logical thinking
• Observation
• Relationship recognition
• Analytical ability
• Problem-solving
• Pattern recognition
• Speed and accuracy

2. Analogy for Officer Cadet Entrance Preparation

Analogy is an important part of IQ and Logical Reasoning preparation because it helps candidates recognize relationships quickly and accurately.

For Officer Cadet Entrance Exam preparation, analogy questions can generally be divided into four major forms:

🔤 Verbal Analogy

Relationships between words and their meanings, functions, uses, or associations.

🔢 Numerical Analogy

Relationships between numbers based on mathematical operations or patterns.

🔡 Letter Analogy

Relationships between letters based on their alphabet positions or movement.

🔷 Non-Verbal / Figure Analogy

Relationships between shapes, figures, positions, directions, and visual patterns.

🎯 Preparation Strategy

To improve your performance:

1. Understand the common types of relationships.
2. Learn to identify the exact relationship quickly.
3. Practice different types of analogy questions.
4. Use elimination when necessary.
5. Practice regularly under a time limit.
6. Review your mistakes and understand why your answer was incorrect.

3. Verbal Analogy

A Verbal Analogy uses words and tests your ability to identify the relationship between them.

Basic Format

A : B :: C : D

Example

Book : Read :: Food : Eat

Relationship:

A book is something we read.

Therefore:

Food is something we eat.

Answer: Eat

Common Verbal Relationships

While solving verbal analogy questions, look for relationships such as:

• Synonym Relationship
• Antonym Relationship
• Worker and tool
• Worker and workplace
• Object and function
• Part and whole
• Animal and sound
• Country and capital
• Object and material
• Young one and adult
• Cause and effect
• Degree or intensity
• Product and producer

3.1 Synonym Relationship

The two words in the first pair carry a similar meaning, and the same relationship is expected in the second pair.

Example

Happy : Joyful :: Sad : ?

Happy and joyful have similar meanings. Therefore, the answer should have a similar relationship with Sad.

Answer: Unhappy

3.2 Antonym Relationship

An antonym relationship involves words with opposite meanings.

Example

Hot : Cold :: Day : ?

Hot is the opposite of cold. Therefore, day is the opposite of:

Answer: Night

3.3 Worker and Tool

A worker in the first pair is associated with the tool used in their profession.

Example

Carpenter : Hammer :: Writer : ?

A carpenter uses a hammer. Similarly, a writer uses a:

Answer: Pen

3.4 Worker and Workplace

This relationship connects a person with their usual workplace.

Example

Teacher : School :: Doctor : ?

A teacher works in a school.

Similarly, a doctor works in a:

Answer: Hospital

3.5 Object and Function

This relationship connects an object with its main function or use.

Example

Knife : Cut :: Pen : ?

A knife is used to cut.

Similarly, a pen is used to:

Answer: Write

3.6 Part and Whole

This relationship connects a part of something with the complete object.

Example

Finger : Hand :: Toe : ?

A finger is a part of a hand.

Similarly, a toe is a part of a:

Answer: Foot

3.7 Animal and Sound

This relationship connects an animal with the sound it commonly makes.

Example

Dog : Bark :: Cat : ?

A dog barks.

Similarly, a cat:

Answer: Meows

3.8 Country and Capital

This relationship connects a country with its capital city.

Example

Nepal : Kathmandu :: Japan : ?

Kathmandu is the capital of Nepal.

Similarly, Tokyo is the capital of Japan.

Answer: Tokyo

3.9 Object and Material

This relationship connects an object with the material from which it is commonly made.

Example

Ring : Gold :: Shirt : ?

A ring may be made of gold.

Similarly, a shirt may commonly be made of:

Answer: Cotton

3.10 Young One and Adult

This relationship connects the young form of an animal with its adult form.

Example

Puppy : Dog :: Kitten : ?

A puppy is a young dog.

Similarly, a kitten is a young:

Answer: Cat

4. Numerical Analogy

A Numerical Analogy uses numbers instead of words. The objective is to identify the mathematical relationship between the first pair and apply the same relationship to the second pair.

Example 1

4 : 16 :: 5 : ?

First pair: 4 × 4 = 16

Apply the same relationship: 5 × 5 = 25

Answer: 25

Example 2

5 : 10 :: 8 : ?

Relationship: 5 × 2 = 10

Therefore: 8 × 2 = 16

Answer: 16

Common Numerical Relationships

When solving numerical analogy questions, check for:

• Addition
• Subtraction
• Multiplication
• Division
• Square
• Cube
• Double
• Half
• Simple combinations of operations

Important Tip

Do not assume that every numerical analogy uses multiplication or addition.

First identify the exact relationship between the first pair, then apply the same relationship to the second pair.

Practice Example

6 : 36 :: 7 : ?

A. 42
B. 49
C. 56
D. 64

Answer: B. 49

Because:

6 × 6 = 36

Therefore:

7 × 7 = 49

5. Letter Analogy

A Letter Analogy uses letters of the alphabet. The relationship may involve:

• Forward movement
• Backward movement
• Alphabet positions
• Equal intervals
• Reverse alphabet order
• Letter groups

Alphabet Positions

Remember the basic alphabet positions:

A = 1, B = 2, C = 3, D = 4, … Z = 26

Example

A : C :: D : ?

A → C means moving 2 positions forward.

Therefore:

D → F

Answer: F

Another Example

B : E :: F : ?

B → E means moving 3 positions forward.

Therefore:

F → I

Answer: I

Letter Analogy Tip

Always convert letters into their alphabet positions when the relationship is difficult to identify.

For example:

C = 3
H = 8

The difference is:

8 − 3 = 5

This can help you identify the pattern more easily.

6. Non-Verbal / Figure Analogy

A Non-Verbal Analogy uses figures, shapes, symbols, or diagrams instead of words and numbers.

The candidate must identify how the first figure changes into the second figure and apply the same transformation to another figure.

What Should You Observe?

Look carefully for:

• Rotation
• Reflection
• Change in direction
• Change in position
• Addition of elements
• Removal of elements
• Change in shape
• Change in size
• Change in shading
• Change in the number of elements

Example

If:

Figure A → Figure B

shows a 90° clockwise rotation, then:

Figure C → ?

should also show a 90° clockwise rotation.

Figure Analogy Method

When examining a figure analogy, check the transformation in this order:

Direction → Position → Shape → Number → Shading → Rotation

Do not select an option simply because it looks similar. Identify the exact transformation.

7. How to Solve Analogy Questions

Use the following systematic method to solve analogy questions quickly and accurately.

Step 1: Examine the First Pair

Look carefully at:

A : B

Try to identify exactly what connects the two terms.

Step 2: Identify the Relationship

Ask:

How is A related to B?

For example:

Bird : Fly

Relationship:

A bird can fly.

Step 3: Apply the Same Relationship

Now examine:

Fish : ?

A fish can:

Swim

Therefore:

Answer: Swim

Step 4: Check the Options

Compare all the options carefully.

The correct answer must follow the same relationship, not simply have a general connection with the given word.

Step 5: Check the Direction

The order of the terms is important.

For example:

Doctor : Hospital

is different from:

Hospital : Doctor

Always maintain the same direction as the original pair.

Step 6: Use Elimination

If you are unsure, eliminate options that clearly do not follow the required relationship.

This can increase your chance of selecting the correct answer.

Step 7: Manage Your Time

Do not spend too much time on one difficult question.

Use the strategy:

Solve → Mark if necessary → Move on → Return later

8. Important Tricks for Analogy Questions

Trick 1: Identify the Exact Relationship

Do not choose an answer simply because the two words are related.

Find the specific relationship between them.

For example:

Knife : Cut

The relationship is not simply “knife is related to cut.”

The exact relationship is:

A knife is used to cut.

Trick 2: Turn the Relationship into a Sentence

Creating a simple sentence can make the relationship easier to recognize.

Example:

Teacher : School

→ A teacher works in a school.

Now apply the same sentence pattern to the second pair.

Trick 3: Maintain the Direction

Always follow:

A → B

Then apply the same direction:

C → ?

Do not reverse the relationship.

Trick 4: Check Simple Operations First

For numerical analogy questions, check simple operations first:

+ → − → × → ÷ → Square → Cube

Only consider more complicated patterns if the simple operations do not work.

Trick 5: Convert Letters into Numbers

For difficult letter analogy questions, use alphabet positions:

A = 1, B = 2, C = 3, … Z = 26

This can make hidden relationships easier to identify.

Trick 6: Observe Figures Systematically

For non-verbal analogy questions, check:

Position → Direction → Rotation → Shape → Number → Shading

This helps prevent you from choosing an answer based only on appearance.

Trick 7: Use Elimination

When you cannot immediately identify the answer, eliminate options that clearly do not follow the required relationship.

9. Important Tips for Officer Cadet Candidates

Tip 1: Learn Common Relationships

Become familiar with frequently used verbal relationships such as:

Part–Whole, Worker–Tool, Worker–Workplace, Object–Function, Country–Capital, Synonym, Antonym, and Animal–Sound.

Tip 2: Practice Different Types

Do not practice only verbal analogy questions.

Include:

• Verbal Analogy
• Numerical Analogy
• Letter Analogy
• Non-Verbal Analogy

Tip 3: Focus on Accuracy

A quick answer is useful only when it is correct.

Develop the habit of identifying the relationship first and then selecting the answer.

Tip 4: Practice Against the Clock

Once you understand the concept, solve analogy questions under a time limit.

This helps improve both speed and accuracy.

Tip 5: Review Your Mistakes

Do not only look at your score.

Ask yourself:

Why did I choose the wrong answer?

Was the problem:

• Misunderstanding the relationship?
• Missing a simple pattern?
• Reversing the direction?
• Making a calculation error?
• Spending too much time?

Understanding your mistakes is one of the best ways to improve your reasoning ability.

10. Quick Practice – Set 1: Verbal Analogy

Conclusion

Analogy Test is an important component of IQ and Logical Reasoning preparation. The key to solving analogy questions is to identify the exact relationship between the first pair and apply the same relationship to the second pair.

For Officer Cadet entrance preparation, practice verbal, numerical, letter, and non-verbal analogies regularly. With consistent practice, careful observation, and effective time management, you can improve both your reasoning speed and accuracy.

Learn the relationship. Apply the pattern. Choose the correct answer.