Word analogies: 11 Plus verbal reasoning practice

A is to B as C is to ?

CoreIn almost every paper that tests this subjectAbout 35 seconds a question in the test

The big idea

Work out the exact relationship between the first pair (young → adult, tool → action, part → whole) and apply it to the second.

Tips that save marks

  • Make a sentence: “A puppy is a young dog; a kitten is a young cat.”
  • Keep the order the same as the first pair.

Now try five

Try each one before you look at the answer: answering from memory is what makes it stick. Tap an option to check it. Most children get three or four right at first; five out of five means move on to the next topic.

Question 1Aim for about 35 seconds

Complete the analogy.

hot is to cold as up is to ?

Show the worked answer

Answer: D, down

How to work it out

  1. Say the link between “hot” and “cold” as a sentence.
  2. The same sentence links “up” and “down”.
Question 2Aim for about 35 seconds

Complete the analogy.

wood is to carpenter as stone is to ?

Show the worked answer

Answer: C, mason

How to work it out

  1. Say the link between “wood” and “carpenter” as a sentence.
  2. The same sentence links “stone” and “mason”.
Question 3Aim for about 35 seconds

Complete the analogy.

ice is to melt as water is to ?

Show the worked answer

Answer: A, boil

How to work it out

  1. Say the link between “ice” and “melt” as a sentence.
  2. The same sentence links “water” and “boil”.
Question 4Aim for about 35 seconds

Complete the analogy.

wheel is to car as wing is to ?

Show the worked answer

Answer: C, plane

How to work it out

  1. Say the link between “wheel” and “car” as a sentence.
  2. The same sentence links “wing” and “plane”.
Question 5Aim for about 35 seconds

Complete the analogy.

seed is to tree as egg is to ?

Show the worked answer

Answer: B, bird

How to work it out

  1. Say the link between “seed” and “tree” as a sentence.
  2. The same sentence links “egg” and “bird”.

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