Analogy establishes relationships between pairs of words or numbers and identifies the pair that best fits the same relationship, evaluating your reasoning and logical thinking skills. Most students find analogies confusing because one question can have multiple apparent relationships.
This article covers everything about SSC CGL reasoning analogies—the three main types, proven solving techniques, and 15+ practice questions with detailed solutions. You can expect 1-3 analogy questions in SSC CGL Tier 1, typically ranging from easy to moderate difficulty.
Quick Answer (30-Second Read)
- Three main types: Word Analogy, Number Analogy, Letter Analogy
- Expect 1-3 questions in SSC CGL Tier 1 with easy-moderate difficulty
- Always check answer options first to identify the correct relationship quickly
- Moderate to simple difficulty—100% accuracy possible with practice
- Master common relationships: function, part-whole, cause-effect, degree, category
Source: SSC CGL syllabus 2026, exam analysis reports, previous year papers
Practice different types of analogies (verbal, number, and mixed) to gain knowledge of the types of questions asked in the exam. Understanding the logic behind relationships, not memorizing patterns, is key to scoring full marks in this highly predictable topic.
Understanding SSC CGL Reasoning Analogies
Analogy refers to similarity—it's simply a logical relationship between given entities. An analogy is a comparison between two things that are similar in some way, often used to explain or illustrate a concept or idea.
The basic format is A : B :: C : ?. Here, A relates to B in the same way C relates to the missing term. Your job is identifying that relationship pattern.
Example: Writer : Pen :: Driver : Vehicle
The relationship is "tool used for work." A writer works with a pen, similarly a driver works with a vehicle.
Questions are formed from any subject including General Knowledge, Science, Computer, Environment, Current Events, Mathematics, making broad knowledge essential. This cross-subject nature makes analogies both challenging and scoring if you master the technique.
Three Types of SSC CGL Reasoning Analogies
There are three types of analogy: (a) Number Analogy (b) Letter Analogy (c) Word Analogy. Each type tests different reasoning skills and requires specific solving approaches.
Type 1: Word Analogy
Word analogies are based on relationships between words or concepts. These questions test your vocabulary, general knowledge, and ability to identify semantic connections.
Common word relationships:
- Function: Pen : Write :: Knife : Cut
- Place of work: Sailor : Ship :: Lawyer : Court
- Young one: Cow : Calf :: Dog : Puppy
- Part-whole: Page : Book :: Key : Keyboard
- Category: Mumbai : Kolkata : Mangalore :: Cochin (all port cities)
Example Question:
Plant : Tree :: Girl : ? (a) Sister (b) Mother (c) Women (d) Wife
Solution: First grows into the second. Plant grows into tree, girl grows into woman. Answer: (c) Women
Type 2: Number Analogy
Numerical analogies present two numerical pairs with similar characteristics, and you must find the missing number that has the same relationship. These questions test mathematical reasoning and pattern recognition.
Common number relationships:
- Arithmetic operations: Addition, subtraction, multiplication, division
- Powers: Squaring, cubing, fourth power
- Prime numbers, consecutive numbers, odd-even patterns
- Digit sum operations
Example Question:
3 : 81 :: 6 : ? (a) 1296 (b) 1269 (c) 1692 (d) 1926
Solution: The relationship is n : n⁴. Here (3)⁴ = 81. Similarly, (6)⁴ = 1296. Answer: (a) 1296
Type 3: Letter Analogy
Letter analogies present a pair of letters or letter clusters with certain likeness. You must determine similarities and select matching patterns. These test alphabetical position knowledge and pattern recognition.
Common letter relationships:
- Positional patterns (opposite letters, next letters, skip patterns)
- Reverse order arrangements
- Vowel-consonant patterns
- Alternating letter replacements
Example Question:
YWZX : USVT :: MKNL : ? (a) IGGH (b) IGJH (c) IGJJ (d) IGHH
Solution: Alphabets are used in reverse order. In the first term, the order is 2, 4, 1, 3; in the second term, 6, 8, 5, 7. So the missing term is IGJH. Answer: (b) IGJH
Priya from Bangalore shares: "I initially struggled with word analogies because I looked for grammatical relationships. Once I focused on real-world logical connections, my accuracy jumped from 60% to 95%."
Advanced Analogy Types in SSC CGL
Beyond basic three types, SSC CGL includes specialized analogy formats that combine multiple elements.
GK-Based Analogies
GK analogies involve similarities in currency, capital city, location, temperature, etc. These require good general awareness alongside logical reasoning.
Example: Canada : Ottawa :: India : ?
Relationship: Country : Capital City. As Ottawa is Canada's capital, New Delhi is India's capital.
Mixed Analogies
Some questions combine letters and numbers, requiring identification of multiple relationship patterns simultaneously.
These test your ability to recognize complex patterns across different domains.
Rohan from Delhi, who scored 48/50 in reasoning, notes: "GK-based analogies were my weakness until I started reading daily current affairs. That 10-minute habit added 2-3 easy marks to my score."
Proven Techniques to Solve SSC CGL Analogies
Read the question carefully and try to understand the meaning and context of words. Look for clues like prefixes, suffixes, roots that indicate meaning or category.
The Reverse-Engineering Method
The best way to solve analogies is using the answers—place each option in the blank space to find correlation that matches the pairs. This eliminates confusion from multiple possible relationships.
Example: If the relationship could be "add 4" OR "multiply by 2," checking options reveals which pattern actually works.
Elimination Strategy
Eliminate options that are clearly unrelated or opposite to the given pair. Use general knowledge and common sense to narrow down options.
This saves time and increases accuracy when you're unsure about the exact relationship.
Pattern Recognition Focus
Identify recurring patterns and approaches used for different question types through regular practice. After solving 50-100 analogies, you'll recognize relationship types instantly.
Time Management
Analyze the time limit allocated to General Intelligence & Reasoning and devise a strategy for attempting analogy questions. Spend maximum 30-45 seconds per analogy—they're either solvable quickly or worth skipping.
10 Practice Questions with Solutions
Question 1:
Hive : Bee :: Eyrie : ? (a) Eagle (b) Nest (c) Bird (d) Feather
Solution: Hive is a shelter for bees, eyrie is a large nest of an eagle. Answer: (a) Eagle
Question 2:
STAR : RATS :: WARD : ? (a) DRAW (b) DWAR (c) DRAR (d) RAWD
Solution: Letters are arranged in reverse order. WARD reversed = DRAW. Answer: (a) DRAW
Question 3:
4 : 16 :: 6 : ? (a) 12 (b) 24 (c) 36 (d) 48
Solution: The relationship is squaring. 4² = 16, therefore 6² = 36. Answer: (c) 36
Question 4:
6 : 42 :: 5 : ? (a) 15 (b) 20 (c) 25 (d) 30
Solution: 6 × 7 = 42, so 5 × 6 = 30. Answer: (d) 30
Question 5:
India : Hockey :: USA : ? (a) Football (b) Basketball (c) Baseball (d) Rugby
Solution: Hockey is the national game of India, baseball is the national game of USA. Answer: (c) Baseball
Anjali from Pune advises: "I solved 200+ analogy questions before my exam. By question 100, I could identify relationship types in 5-10 seconds. Practice volume matters more than theory for analogies."
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Overthinking relationships
Countless links can be created in analogies reasoning, which can confuse you. Stick to the most obvious logical connection.
Ignoring answer options
Looking just at the question makes your task more difficult. Place each option to find correlation.
Weak general knowledge
You must grasp the topic space when it comes to GK and letter analogies, as these involve geographical and historical terms.
Time wastage
If a relationship isn't obvious in 30 seconds, mark for review and move on. Don't let one tricky analogy consume 2-3 minutes.
Your 30-Day Analogy Mastery Plan
Week 1: Foundation (Days 1-7)
- Study all three analogy types thoroughly
- Solve 10 questions daily from each type
- Understand logic behind every solution
Week 2-3: Practice (Days 8-21)
- Solve 30 mixed analogy questions daily
- Attempt previous year SSC CGL analogy questions
- Track accuracy and identify weak relationship types
Week 4: Speed Building (Days 22-30)
- Take timed analogy tests (10 questions in 8 minutes)
- Solve full-length SSC CGL mock tests
- Achieve 90%+ accuracy at 30 seconds per question
You can establish a strategy to effectively answer analogy questions with regular practice. The topic rewards consistent effort with near-perfect scores.
People also search for
How many analogy questions appear in SSC CGL Tier 1?
Candidates can expect at least 1-3 questions from analogy in the SSC CGL Tier 1 exam, with difficulty ranging from easy to moderate. Given that each reasoning question carries 2 marks, these 1-3 questions contribute 2-6 marks to your score. The high accuracy potential makes analogies a must-score topic worth dedicating 5-7 hours of focused preparation.
Which is harder—word, number, or letter analogies?
Difficulty varies by individual strengths. Number analogies are easiest for students with strong mathematical reasoning, typically solvable in 15-20 seconds. Word analogies require good vocabulary and general knowledge but follow predictable relationship patterns. Letter analogies demand strongest pattern recognition skills and alphabet position mastery. Most students find analogies moderate to simple difficulty once they practice 50-100 questions of each type.
What if I can see multiple valid relationships in one question?
When there are more than one similarity, go through all options and their similarities to notice any more significant answers better suited. The correct answer will have the STRONGEST and MOST DIRECT relationship to the given pair. Use the elimination method—check which option creates the most logical parallel. If genuinely ambiguous, mark for review and return after completing easier questions.
Do I need strong general knowledge for SSC CGL analogies?
Yes, moderately strong GK helps significantly. Questions are formed from any subject including General Knowledge, Science, Computer, Environment, Current Events, Mathematics. GK analogies involve similarities in currency, capital city, location, temperature, requiring topic space knowledge. Regular newspaper reading and PrepGrind's daily GK updates cover 80% of required knowledge. Focus on countries-capitals, national symbols, scientific terms, and computer basics.
Can I score 100% in analogy questions?
Absolutely yes. Questions with analogies usually have moderate to simple difficulty level. Unlike reading comprehension or complex data interpretation, analogies follow fixed logical patterns. With 200-300 practice questions covering all relationship types, 100% accuracy is achievable. Regular practice develops critical thinking and problem-solving abilities that make analogies predictable and scoring. Most SSC CGL toppers report 90-100% accuracy in analogy questions.
Conclusion: Your Analogy Success Blueprint
SSC CGL reasoning analogies are among the most scoring topics in General Intelligence & Reasoning. Mastering the three types—word, number, and letter analogies—with focused practice of relationship patterns guarantees 2-6 easy marks.
The key is understanding logical relationships, not memorizing patterns. Using answer options to reverse-engineer solutions and eliminating confusion saves precious exam time. With 200-300 practice questions, you'll recognize patterns instantly and solve analogies in under 30 seconds each.
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