How to solve SSAT analogies
For Middle and Upper Level students and their parents: a method that works on any analogy.
Last updated September 27, 2026.
The short answer
- An SSAT analogy asks you to find two words that relate to each other the same way as a given pair.
- The core method: say how the first two words connect in a full sentence, then test that sentence on each choice.
- Analogies are the second half of the Verbal section: 30 questions, after the 30 synonyms.
- The most common trap is the right relationship in the wrong order.
What SSAT analogies look like
There are two formats. In the first, the question gives a pair of words and each answer choice is another pair:
Oven is to bake as ... kettle is to boil.
In the second, the question gives one full pair and the first word of a second pair, and the choices are single words:
Tadpole is to frog as caterpillar is to ... butterfly.
Both formats test the same skill: seeing exactly how two words are connected.
The method: build a bridge sentence
- Say how the first two words connect, in a full, specific sentence. For oven and bake: "An oven is used to bake."
- Test the sentence on each choice. "A kettle is used to boil" fits. "Flour is used to bake" is true, but flour is an ingredient, not the thing that does the baking.
- If more than one choice fits, make the sentence more specific and test again.
- Check the order. The words in the answer must be in the same order as the words in the question.
Common relationships
| Relationship | Example | Bridge sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Kind of | cello : instrument | A cello is a kind of instrument. |
| Part of | spoke : wheel | A spoke is part of a wheel. |
| Degree | chilly : frigid | Frigid is much colder than chilly. |
| Tool and use | ladder : climb | A ladder is used to climb. |
| Opposites | generous : stingy | Generous means the opposite of stingy. |
| Cause and effect | practice : improvement | Practice leads to improvement. |
| Characteristic | desert : dry | A desert is typically dry. |
| Lack of | odorless : smell | Something odorless has no smell. |
| Worker and place | farmer : field | A farmer works in a field. |
| Sequence | draft : final copy | A draft comes before the final copy. |
Traps to watch for
- Reversed order. If the question is "oven is to bake," the answer "boil is to kettle" has the right idea backwards.
- Same topic, different relationship. "Bread is to oven" is about baking, but bread is what gets baked, not a tool and its use.
- A loose bridge sentence. "An oven is related to baking" fits almost anything. A specific sentence rules choices out.
- An unfamiliar word. If you do not know a word in a choice, rule out the choices you do know first. If you can cross out at least one, a guess is worth taking. See when to guess on the SSAT.
Practice questions
These questions were written for this page in the style of the SSAT. Try each one before opening the answer.
Needle is to sew as (Middle Level)
- A. thread is to needle
- B. scissors is to cut
- C. cloth is to fold
- D. cut is to knife
- E. button is to shirt
Show answer
B. scissors is to cut. A needle is a tool used to sew. Scissors are a tool used to cut. Choice D has the right words in the wrong order, and choice E is a part and the whole it belongs to.
Damp is to soaked as (Middle Level)
- A. warm is to scorching
- B. wet is to dry
- C. cold is to cool
- D. rain is to puddle
- E. towel is to wet
Show answer
A. warm is to scorching. Soaked is a much stronger form of damp. Scorching is a much stronger form of warm. Choice C goes the other way, from stronger to weaker, and choice B is a pair of opposites.
Chef is to kitchen as (Middle Level)
- A. pilot is to cockpit
- B. oven is to bake
- C. teacher is to student
- D. library is to librarian
- E. painter is to brush
Show answer
A. pilot is to cockpit. A chef works in a kitchen. A pilot works in a cockpit. Choice D reverses the order, and choice E pairs a worker with a tool instead of a workplace.
Silent is to sound as (Upper Level)
- A. noisy is to crowd
- B. barren is to vegetation
- C. bright is to light
- D. quiet is to library
- E. empty is to full
Show answer
B. barren is to vegetation. Something silent has no sound. Something barren has no vegetation. Choice C is the reverse idea, since something bright is full of light, and choice E is a pair of opposites.
Prudent is to reckless as (Upper Level)
- A. cautious is to careful
- B. frugal is to wasteful
- C. generous is to gift
- D. brave is to hero
- E. timid is to shy
Show answer
B. frugal is to wasteful. Prudent and reckless are opposites. Frugal and wasteful are opposites too. Choices A and E are pairs of words that mean nearly the same thing.
Seed is to sprout as egg is to (Middle Level)
- A. shell
- B. nest
- C. hatchling
- D. feather
- E. yolk
Show answer
C. hatchling. A sprout is the next stage of life after a seed. A hatchling is the next stage after an egg. The shell and the yolk are parts of an egg, not the next stage.
How SSAT Coach helps with this
SSAT Coach has timed practice sets for analogies on their own, and full Verbal sections with synonyms and analogies together. Every question has a walkthrough that names the relationship and explains why the other choices do not fit. The progress report tracks analogies as their own subskill, and the pacing report shows whether missed analogies come from rushing or from getting stuck, with a step to try next.
Full-length and timed, for the Middle or Upper Level. No credit card.
Common questions
How many analogies are on the SSAT?
The Middle and Upper Level Verbal section has 60 questions: 30 synonyms followed by 30 analogies.
How do you solve SSAT analogies?
Say how the first two words are connected in a full, specific sentence, then test that sentence on each answer choice. Keep the words in the same order.
How long should you spend on each analogy?
The Verbal section allows about 30 seconds per question. Synonyms usually go faster, which leaves about 35 seconds for each analogy.
Does the ISEE have analogies?
No. The ISEE Verbal section has synonyms and sentence completions. Analogies are only on the SSAT.