How it works on the SSAT
On the SSAT, analogies appear in the Verbal section, written as "A is to B as C is to D" and shown as "A : B". The Middle Level (grades 5–7) and Upper Level (grades 8–11) both include analogies; the Verbal section has 60 questions split between analogies and synonyms, with about 30 analogies. There is a quarter-point penalty for wrong answers, so eliminate before you guess. Each question gives one pair and asks for the answer pair with the same relationship in the same direction.
The method
Build a "bridge sentence" — a short, specific sentence linking the two words (e.g. "a GLOVE is worn on a HAND"). A good bridge is precise: "is a part of," "is used to," "is a more intense form of." Then test that exact sentence on every option and keep only the pair it fits. Two rules decide the close calls: (1) mind direction — if the stem is A:B, the answer must be C:D in the same order, not reversed; (2) if two options survive, make the bridge more specific until only one fits. For an unknown word, use roots, prefixes, and suffixes to estimate its meaning, then bridge as best you can and eliminate.
What to know
Part to whole
One word is a piece of the other: PETAL : FLOWER, spoke : wheel, chapter : book. Watch direction — 'library : book' (whole contains part) is the reverse.
Degree of intensity
Same quality, different strength: WHISPER : SHOUT, warm : hot, like : adore. The trap is a pair of near-synonyms with no change in intensity.
Function or purpose
An object and what it does or is used for: SCISSORS : CUT, pen : write. Don't confuse this with the object and the material it acts on (pen : paper).
Worker and tool
A person and the instrument of their trade: PAINTER : BRUSH, carpenter : hammer. Distinct from worker-and-product (writer : novel).
Category or type
One word is a kind of the other: ROBIN : BIRD, sonnet : poem. Topical relatedness ('ring : jewelry') is the classic bait when the real bridge is something else.
Cause and effect
One leads to the other: PRACTICE : IMPROVEMENT, rain : flood. Check direction and logic — 'eat : hungry' reverses it (eating relieves hunger).
Characteristic
A thing and a quality or likely behavior: FRAGILE : BREAK, flammable : burn. Beware the antonym trap (durable : break).
Synonym and antonym
Same meaning (HAPPY : JOYFUL) or opposite meaning (EXPAND : CONTRACT). The trap mixes them up — offering synonyms when the bridge is opposites, or vice versa.
Worked examples
Each example shows why the correct answer fits — and why the most tempting wrong answer is bait.
Example 1
GLOVE : HAND
- A. sock : foot ✓
- B. hat : coat
- C. shoe : lace
- D. ring : jewelry
Why it's right: The bridge is 'a GLOVE is worn on a HAND.' A sock is worn on a foot — same relationship and same direction.
The trap: 'ring : jewelry' is a category relationship (a ring is a type of jewelry), not a 'worn on' relationship — it's topically related to clothing/accessories, which is the bait.
Example 2
WHISPER : SHOUT
- A. walk : run
- B. talk : speak
- C. glance : stare ✓
- D. smile : laugh
Why it's right: Bridge: 'a WHISPER is a quiet version of a SHOUT' — same action, differing in intensity. A glance is a brief look; a stare is an intense, prolonged look. Same degree-of-intensity relationship.
The trap: 'talk : speak' are near-synonyms (no intensity change); 'walk : run' changes speed, not the intensity of the same quiet/loud quality — close, but not the matching bridge.
Example 3
PETAL : FLOWER
- A. spoke : wheel ✓
- B. flock : bird
- C. garden : rose
- D. stem : root
Why it's right: Bridge: 'a PETAL is a part of a FLOWER' (part to whole). A spoke is a part of a wheel — same relationship, same direction.
The trap: 'flock : bird' is the same part/whole link but REVERSED (a flock is made of birds, so it's whole-to-part); it fails the direction test.
Example 4
SCISSORS : CUT
- A. knife : sharp
- B. broom : sweep ✓
- C. pen : paper
- D. oven : kitchen
Why it's right: Bridge: 'SCISSORS are used to CUT' (object to its function). A broom is used to sweep — same function relationship.
The trap: 'pen : paper' pairs a tool with the material it acts on, not the action it performs; it's tempting because pen and paper go together topically.
Example 5
PAINTER : BRUSH
- A. surgeon : hospital
- B. writer : novel
- C. carpenter : hammer ✓
- D. gardener : flower
Why it's right: Bridge: 'a PAINTER works with a BRUSH' (worker to tool). A carpenter works with a hammer — same relationship.
The trap: 'writer : novel' is worker-to-product (what they make), not worker-to-tool — the right category of pair but the wrong bridge.
Example 6
CUB : BEAR
- A. kitten : cat ✓
- B. calf : herd
- C. foal : stable
- D. joey : pouch
Why it's right: Bridge: 'a CUB is a young BEAR' (young to adult of the same animal). A kitten is a young cat — same relationship.
The trap: 'calf : herd' links a young animal to a group, not to its adult form; 'foal : stable' and 'joey : pouch' link a young animal to a place.
Example 7
DROUGHT : RAIN
- A. flood : water
- B. desert : sand
- C. famine : food ✓
- D. winter : cold
Why it's right: Bridge: 'a DROUGHT is a lack of RAIN' (a condition defined by absence). A famine is a lack of food — same relationship.
The trap: 'flood : water' is an EXCESS of water — the opposite of a lack; it baits you because both droughts and floods are water-related disasters.
Example 8
PRACTICE : IMPROVEMENT
- A. study : library
- B. exercise : fitness ✓
- C. rest : sleep
- D. eat : hungry
Why it's right: Bridge: 'PRACTICE leads to IMPROVEMENT' (cause to effect). Exercise leads to fitness — same cause/effect relationship and direction.
The trap: 'eat : hungry' reverses the logic (eating relieves hunger rather than causing it); 'study : library' pairs an activity with a place.
Example 9
LION : PRIDE
- A. bee : sting
- B. wolf : pack ✓
- C. cow : milk
- D. ant : hill
Why it's right: Bridge: 'a group of LIONS is a PRIDE' (animal to its collective term). A group of wolves is a pack — same relationship.
The trap: 'ant : hill' pairs an animal with where it lives, not the word for a group of them; 'cow : milk' is animal-to-product.
Example 10
NOVICE : EXPERT
- A. apprentice : master ✓
- B. rookie : team
- C. pupil : teacher
- D. freshman : college
Why it's right: Bridge: 'a NOVICE has little skill while an EXPERT has great skill' (same path, unskilled to highly skilled). An apprentice becomes a master — same progression.
The trap: 'pupil : teacher' is learner-to-instructor (two different roles), not one person moving from unskilled to skilled; 'rookie : team' is newcomer-to-group.
Example 11
FRAGILE : BREAK
- A. edible : food
- B. flammable : burn ✓
- C. soluble : liquid
- D. durable : break
Why it's right: Bridge: 'something FRAGILE is likely to BREAK' (a quality and the event it invites). Something flammable is likely to burn — same relationship.
The trap: 'durable : break' uses the opposite quality — durable means resistant to breaking, the reverse of the bridge.
Example 12
STANZA : POEM
- A. chapter : book ✓
- B. library : book
- C. author : poem
- D. rhyme : word
Why it's right: Bridge: 'a STANZA is a section of a POEM' (part to whole, in writing). A chapter is a section of a book — same relationship and direction.
The trap: 'library : book' reverses the direction (a library contains books, whole-to-part); 'author : poem' is creator-to-work.
Example 13
RAVENOUS : HUNGRY
- A. thirsty : drink
- B. exhausted : tired ✓
- C. sleepy : awake
- D. hungry : full
Why it's right: Bridge: 'RAVENOUS means extremely HUNGRY' (an intense version of the same state). Exhausted means extremely tired — same intensity relationship.
The trap: 'thirsty : drink' pairs a need with its remedy; 'hungry : full' and 'sleepy : awake' are opposite states, not stronger versions of the same one.
Example 14
THERMOMETER : TEMPERATURE
- A. telescope : star
- B. scale : weight ✓
- C. map : country
- D. clock : wall
Why it's right: Bridge: 'a THERMOMETER measures TEMPERATURE' (instrument to the quantity it measures). A scale measures weight — same relationship.
The trap: 'telescope : star' pairs an instrument with what you look at through it, not a quantity it measures; 'clock : wall' is object-to-location.
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Common mistakes
- Matching the topic instead of the relationship — picking an answer that's 'about the same subject' rather than one that fits the bridge sentence.
- Ignoring direction: choosing a pair with the right relationship but reversed order (A:B vs B:A).
- Settling on the first option that 'sounds right' instead of testing the exact bridge on all four.
- Giving up on an unknown word instead of using roots/prefixes to estimate its meaning and eliminate.
- Guessing blindly — with the quarter-point penalty, only guess after eliminating at least one or two options.
FAQ
What's the fastest way to solve an SSAT analogy?
Make a precise bridge sentence linking the first pair, then test that exact sentence on each option. Keep the one pair it fits in the same direction.
How many analogies are on the SSAT?
The Verbal section has 60 questions split between analogies and synonyms — roughly 30 analogies — on both Middle and Upper Level.
Should I guess on analogies?
Only after eliminating. There's a quarter-point penalty for wrong answers, so a blind guess among four is roughly break-even, but a guess between two after eliminating is in your favor.
What if I don't know one of the words?
Use word parts — roots, prefixes, suffixes — to estimate meaning, decide if the word is positive or negative, and eliminate options that can't fit.
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