An analogy gives a related pair and asks you to complete a second pair the same way. Classification asks you to spot the item that doesn't share the common property. Both hinge on stating the relationship explicitly.
Analogy links & classification
Common analogy links: synonym, antonym, part-to-whole, worker-to-tool, cause-and-effect, category-to-member. For classification, find the single property shared by most items; the odd one lacks it. Order matters: 'A is to B' must map to 'C is to D' in the same direction.
- Common analogy links: synonym, antonym, part-to-whole, worker-to-tool, cause-and-effect, category-to-member.
- For classification, find the single property shared by most items; the odd one lacks it.
- Order matters: 'A is to B' must map to 'C is to D' in the same direction.
How to Approach It
- State the bridge as a sentence — Put the relationship into plain words, such as 'a glove is worn on a hand'. A precise sentence instantly rules out options that are only loosely related.
- Apply it in the same direction — Map A : B onto C : D in identical order. Reversing the relationship halfway through is a common and entirely avoidable slip.
- For classification, find the shared trait — Identify the single property that the majority of items share; the odd one out is the one that lacks it. If two items both look odd, your chosen property is wrong.
- Sharpen when two options fit — If more than one choice seems to work, your relationship is too broad. Make it more specific until exactly one option survives.
Techniques & Methods
- Name the bridge — State the relationship as a full sentence before scanning options. e.g. glove is worn on a hand → hat is worn on a head.
- Keep the direction — A : B must map onto C : D in the same order.
- Find the shared property — For odd-one-out, identify the trait the majority share. e.g. Rose, Lotus, Lily are flowers; Mango is not.
- Reject vague links — If two options seem to fit, sharpen the relationship until one survives.
The Edge
Say the bridge out loud before looking at the options: "a glove is worn on a hand, so a ___ is worn on a head." Forcing the relationship into a sentence kills the loose, feels-related options that trap rushed students. If two options both seem to fit, your stated relationship is too vague — sharpen it until only one survives.Worked example
Hand : Glove :: Head : ?
- State the relationship in words: a glove is the covering worn on a hand.
- Apply the same relationship to 'head', keeping the direction identical: what covering is worn on a head?
- A hat is worn on the head, matching 'covering worn on a body part'.
- So the answer is Hat. (A sock fits a foot, not a head — naming the bridge precisely avoids that slip.)
Answer: Head : Hat
Worked example
Find the odd one out: Rose, Lotus, Lily, Mango
- Find the property the majority share: Rose, Lotus and Lily are all flowers.
- Test the remaining item against that property: a mango is a fruit, not a flower.
- Since three items share 'flower' and one does not, the outlier is clear.
- The odd one out is Mango.
Answer: Odd one out: Mango
Worked Drills
Worked example
Doctor : Stethoscope :: Carpenter : ? (a) Saw b) Wood c) Nail d) House)
- The bridge: a stethoscope is the doctor's working tool.
- Apply it to carpenter: what is the carpenter's working tool?
- A saw is the carpenter's tool.
Answer: Saw — option a)
Worked example
Mathematics : Numbers :: Grammar : ? (a) Words b) Sentences c) Letters d) Rules)
- The bridge: mathematics is the study that deals with numbers.
- Apply it to grammar: grammar is the study that deals with words.
- So the answer is Words.
Answer: Words — option a)
Worked example
Find the odd one out: 64, 125, 216, 100 (a) 64 b) 125 c) 216 d) 100)
- 64 = 4^3, 125 = 5^3, 216 = 6^3 — all perfect cubes.
- 100 is a perfect square, not a cube.
- So 100 is the odd one out.
Answer: 100 — option d)
Worked example
Hunger : Food :: Thirst : ? (a) Water b) Drink c) Hungry d) Eat)
- The bridge: hunger is satisfied by food.
- Apply it to thirst: thirst is satisfied by water.
- So the answer is Water.
Answer: Water — option a)
Worked example
Find the odd one out: Triangle, Pentagon, Hexagon, Circle (a) Triangle b) Pentagon c) Hexagon d) Circle)
- Triangle, pentagon and hexagon are polygons with straight sides.
- A circle has no straight sides.
- So the circle is the odd one out.
Answer: Circle — option d)
Worked example
Calf : Cow :: Puppy : ? (a) Dog b) Cat c) Horse d) Lion)
- The bridge: a calf is the young of a cow.
- Apply it to puppy: a puppy is the young of a dog.
- So the answer is Dog.
Answer: Dog — option a)
Worked example
Find the odd one out: Copper, Iron, Gold, Plastic (a) Copper b) Iron c) Gold d) Plastic)
- Copper, iron and gold are all metals.
- Plastic is not a metal.
- So plastic is the odd one out.
Answer: Plastic — option d)
Worked example
Tree : Forest :: Star : ? (a) Galaxy b) Moon c) Sun d) Planet)
- The bridge: many trees together form a forest.
- Apply it to star: many stars together form a galaxy.
- So the answer is Galaxy.
Answer: Galaxy — option a)
⚠ Watch out
- Keep the direction consistent — don't flip the relationship halfway.
- Reject 'feels related' options; demand a precise, stated link.
- In classification, more than one wrong-looking item usually means you've picked the wrong shared property.
Takeaways
- State the bridge as a full sentence before scanning options.
- Map the pair in the same direction; never reverse it midway.
- For odd-one-out, name the trait shared by the majority.
- If two options fit, your relationship is too broad — sharpen it.