Verbal reasoning
Verbal analogies
Verbal analogies ask how two words are linked, then which word is linked to a third word in the same way.
What the questions look like
A pair of words, then a single word and a gap. Five words are the options.
In the digital test at Levels A to G this section lasts 8 minutes, with worked examples and untimed practice questions first.
What it measures
Seeing a relationship between words and using it again. Vocabulary matters, but the words are chosen to be familiar at each level. It sits in the verbal reasoning battery.
Try one
An original example at Level B. Choose an answer, then check it to see the explanation.
Question 1 of 1Learning mode: no timer
Look at how the first two words are linked. Which word is linked to the third word in the same way?
birdnestasbee?bird goes with nest, as bee goes with which word?
Keys 1 to 5 choose an answer. Enter continues.
How to approach it
- Make a sentence: 'a puppy is a young dog', then 'a ___ is a young cat'.
- Watch for answers linked to the third word in a different way.
- Keep the order: the link runs from the first word to the second.
Common mistakes
- Choosing a word linked to the third word in a different way.
- Reversing the direction of the link.
- Picking the word from the first pair.