Analogy

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Mixed clusters and same-relation selection

⏱ 5 min read🧩 5 question types🎯 13 practice Q

The idea in one minute

Mixed analogies join letters with numbers, or words with numbers. Each part follows its own small rule. Split the term into parts, solve each part on its own, then join the answer. The same-relation form gives four full pairs and asks which one matches the model pair.

Split, solve, join

A mixed term has two kinds of parts, like letters and numbers. Each part has its own simple rule. The two rules do not affect each other.

Split each term into its parts.
Find one small rule for each part from the model pair.
Apply each rule to the matching part of the new term.
Join the parts and find that exact answer in the options.

Watch: Options often differ in only one part. Check both parts before you mark.

Letter and number clusters

C5 : F10 :: H8 : ?

Letter part: C(3) → F(6) is + 3. So H(8) + 3 = K.
Number part: 5 → 10 is × 2. So 8 × 2 = 16.
Answer: K16.

If a cluster has two letters, like B3D, each letter slot has its own shift.

Sometimes the number is built from the letter. In D16, F36, H64 the number is the square of the letter's position. D is 4, and 4² = 16.

A table keeps the parts apart

Write the two tracks in two columns. Fill the model row first. Then copy each rule down one row.

Part	C5 → F10	H8 → ?
Letter	C → F is + 3	H + 3 = K
Number	5 → 10 is × 2	8 × 2 = 16

Read the answer from the last column: K16. An error stays inside one cell, so each part is easy to check on its own.

Word to number

CAT : 24 :: BAT : ? The number comes from the letter positions of the word.

Sum of positions. CAT = 3 + 1 + 20 = 24. So BAT = 2 + 1 + 20 = 23.
Sum, then × k or ± r. DOG = 4 + 15 + 7 = 26. If DOG is coded 52, the extra step is × 2.
Reverse positions. Count A = 26, B = 25 ... Z = 1. Each letter is worth 27 − p. In reverse positions D = 23, O = 12, G = 20, so DOG adds up to 55. A model like DOG : 55 means reverse positions.

Tip: Always find the plain sum of the model word first. Then compare it with the given number to see the extra step.

Letter to number

C : 9 :: E : ? C is the 3rd letter, and 9 = 3². E is the 5th letter, so the answer is 5² = 25.

Other common rules: 2 × position, reverse position (27 − p), position + a fixed number.

Same-relation word pairs

"Select the pair related in the same way as Tailor : Needle."

Say the link: a worker and the tool the worker uses. Test all four pairs with that sentence. The traps are pairs from the same world with a different link:

Doctor : Hospital is a worker and a workplace.
Author : Book is a worker and a product.
Farmer : Crop is a worker and a product.

Rule: One link sentence, tested on every option. The pair that makes a true sentence in the same direction is the answer.

Question types you will see

Each type: how to recognise it, the method step by step, and one question to try.

Type 1common3 practice Q

Letter and number cluster

How to spot it:

Terms like "C5 : F10" or "P7R : S14U" mix letters and numbers.

Method

Split each term into a letter part and a number part.
Find the letter shift and the number rule separately.
Apply both to the new term and join the parts.

Why it works:

The parts are independent, so each one is a small, easy question.

Try this

C5 : F10 :: H8 : ? (a) K16 (b) J16 (c) K18 (d) L16

Show solution

Letters: C → F is + 3, so H → K.
Numbers: 5 → 10 is × 2, so 8 → 16.

Answer

(a) K16

Type 2common3 practice Q

Word to number (sum of letter positions)

How to spot it:

A word is paired with a number, e.g. "CAT : 24 :: BAT : ?".

\text{code} = k \times \text{sum} + r

Method

Add the positions of the model word's letters.
Compare the sum with the given number: equal, × k, or ± r.
Find the sum for the new word and apply the same extra step.

Why it works:

Setters build the number from letter positions in one or two simple steps.

Try this

RAM : 32 :: SHAM : ? (a) 40 (b) 41 (c) 42 (d) 45

Show solution

R + A + M = 18 + 1 + 13 = 32. The rule is the plain sum.
S + H + A + M = 19 + 8 + 1 + 13 = 41.

Answer

(b) 41

Type 3common3 practice Q

Select the word pair with the same relation

How to spot it:

A model pair is followed by four complete word pairs: "Select the pair related in the same way as Tailor : Needle".

Method

Write the link of the model pair as a sentence.
Put each option pair into that sentence.
Keep the one pair that makes a true sentence in the same direction.

Why it works:

Traps share the topic but not the link (workplace instead of tool).

Try this

Tailor : Needle. Select the pair related in the same way. (a) Painter : Brush (b) Doctor : Hospital (c) Author : Book (d) Farmer : Crop

Show solution

Link: a worker and the tool the worker uses.
A painter uses a brush.
Hospital is a workplace. Book and crop are products.

Answer

(a) Painter : Brush

Type 4occasional3 practice Q

Letter to number (position based)

How to spot it:

A single letter is paired with a number, e.g. "C : 9 :: E : ?" or "B : 25 :: D : ?".

n = p^2,\ 2p,\ 27 - p

Method

Write the letter's position p and its reverse position 27 − p.
See how the number is built: p², 2p, 27 − p or p + r.
Build the new letter's number the same way.

Why it works:

Only a few simple formulas are used, and each takes seconds to test.

Try this

C : 9 :: E : ? (a) 10 (b) 15 (c) 25 (d) 22

Show solution

C is the 3rd letter, and 9 = 3².
E is the 5th letter, so 5² = 25.

Answer

Type 5occasional

Word to number using reverse positions

How to spot it:

The plain sum of positions does not match the model number, and the number is larger than the plain sum.

\text{reverse sum} = 27n - \text{plain sum}

Method

Find the plain sum of the model word.
Find 27 × (number of letters) − plain sum.
If that matches, use reverse positions for the new word.

Why it works:

Reverse positions count Z = 1 ... A = 26, so each letter is worth 27 − p.

Try this

DOG : 55 :: CAT : ? (a) 24 (b) 48 (c) 57 (d) 59

Show solution

DOG plain sum = 4 + 15 + 7 = 26, not 55.
$27 \times 3 - 26 = 55$ . So the rule is reverse positions.
CAT plain sum = 24. $81 - 24 = 57$ .

Answer

Formula sheet

Word to number

\text{code} = k \times (\text{sum of positions}) + r

Often k = 1 and r = 0: the plain sum of letter positions.

Reverse position

\text{reverse value} = 27 - p

A = 26, B = 25 ... Z = 1.

Reverse sum shortcut

\text{reverse sum} = 27n - \text{plain sum}

n is the number of letters in the word.

Shortcuts that save time

⚡ Two columns: letters and numbers

Make one column for the letters and one for the numbers. Solve each column on its own. An error then stays inside one column.

Example

A5C : D10F :: G15I : ?

Show solution

Letters: A → D and C → F are + 3. So G → J and I → L.
Number: 5 → 10 is × 2. So $15 \times 2 = 30$ .

Answer

J30L

⚡ One sentence for all four pairs

In same-relation questions, make the link sentence once from the model pair. Test every option against that same sentence, in the same order.

Example

Sword : Sheath. Select the pair related in the same way. (a) Gun : Trigger (b) Knife : Blade (c) Spectacles : Case (d) Letter : Stamp

Show solution

Sentence: "the second is the cover the first is kept in".
Trigger and blade are parts. A stamp is stuck on a letter.
Spectacles are kept in a case.

Answer

Mistakes to avoid

Where most students lose marks on this subtopic.

Mistake 01

Assuming the number part follows the letter part's rule.

Solve each part on its own. The two rules are independent.

Mistake 02

Getting the letters right but copying the wrong number.

Options differ in one part only. Check both parts before marking.

Mistake 03

Counting A = 0 instead of A = 1.

A = 1, B = 2 ... Z = 26 unless the model shows reverse positions.

Mistake 04

For word to number, stopping at the plain sum when the model needs × k or ± r.

Compare the model's plain sum with its number to find the extra step, then use it.

Mistake 05

In pair selection, choosing a pair from the same topic.

Choose the pair with the same link, like worker : tool.

Quick revision

Read this the night before the exam.

Split the term, solve each part, then join.
Letter parts: positions and shifts. Number parts: +, ×, squares.
Word to number: plain sum first, then look for × k or ± r.
Reverse value of a letter = 27 − its position.
Letter to number: position, 2 × position, position squared, 27 − position.
Pair selection: one link sentence tested on all four pairs.

Practice: 13 questions

Sets of 10, mixed across the question types above. Every answer has a step-by-step explanation.

Topic test · 13 questions

Suggested time 10 min · wrong answers go to your mistake notebook automatically.

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