Verbal analogies
An analogy asks you to find the relationship between two words and apply the same relationship to another pair. Say the relationship as a sentence before you look at the choices.
Example: Doctor : Hospital :: Teacher : ? The relationship is “works in this place,” so the answer is School.
- Common relationships: part to whole, tool to user, opposite, cause to effect, degree (warm : hot) and place of work.
- If two choices fit, make your sentence more specific until only one fits.
Logic and syllogisms
Accept only what the statements say. Do not bring in outside knowledge, even if you know it to be true.
Example: All employees are citizens. All citizens are taxpayers. Conclusion: All employees are taxpayers. This is valid, because the two statements chain together.
Example: All employees are citizens. Some citizens are voters. You cannot conclude that some employees are voters, because the “some” citizens who vote may not include any employee.
Letter, number and code patterns
- Letter series: write the alphabet positions (A=1, B=2…) and look at the gaps. A, C, E, G continues with I because each letter skips one.
- Coding: if CAT is written as DBU, each letter moves one step forward, so DOG becomes EPH.
- Always test your rule on every given pair, not only the first one.
Classification and the odd one out
Find the feature that three items share and the fourth does not, such as category, use, size or number of parts. Check that your rule really separates one item from the rest.
Reading tables and short data
- Read the title and the units first.
- Find exactly what the question asks, such as a total, a difference or a percentage.
- Do the calculation on scratch paper and check the units of your answer.
Practice routine
Do a few analytical items every day and read the explanation for each one you miss. Our free Analytical Ability reviewer lets you practice by part and track your score.