Analogy Questions for AFCAT

What Is an Analogy

An analogy is a relationship bridge. You are shown that A is related to B in a specific way, and you must find C such that C relates to D in exactly the same way. Think of it like a recipe: if Flour is to Bread, then Clay is to Pottery. The process (baking / moulding) is the hidden link. Your job is to name that hidden link, then apply it to the new pair.

• Always identify the relationship BEFORE looking at the options.
• The relationship can be a word, action, degree, part-whole, cause-effect, or category link.
• Beware of surface-level similarity — the relationship must be logically consistent, not just thematically close.
• Direction matters: Sword is to Scabbard is NOT the same as Scabbard is to Sword.
• In AFCAT, both word analogies and number analogies appear regularly.

Types of Analogies in AFCAT

AFCAT tests a fixed set of relationship types. Knowing these types lets you label the link in under 5 seconds and pick the answer confidently. The most common types are listed below. Study them with one example each so the pattern sticks.

• Tool to Work: Pen is to Writing :: Chisel is to Carving
• Part to Whole: Leaf is to Tree :: Page is to Book
• Cause to Effect: Fire is to Ash :: Flood is to Erosion
• Degree or Intensity: Warm is to Hot :: Damp is to Wet
• Worker to Workplace: Doctor is to Hospital :: Pilot is to Cockpit
• Word to Antonym or Synonym: Brave is to Cowardly :: Generous is to Miserly

Number and Letter Analogies

AFCAT also tests numeric and alphanumeric analogies. Here you find the mathematical or positional operation that converts A to B and replicate it on C to get D. Always check two operations: addition or multiplication first, then look for square or cube patterns. For letter analogies, count the alphabetical gap between letters. A=1, B=2 up to Z=26 is your reference grid.

• Find the operation: 4 is to 16 as 5 is to 25 — operation is squaring.
• Check both addition and multiplication before assuming a pattern.
• For letters, count gaps: AC has a gap of 2, so EG also has a gap of 2.
• Reverse alphabets also appear: Z=1, Y=2 — watch for this trap.
• Mixed pairs like 3F and 6L suggest both a number rule (x2) and a letter rule (skip 5 letters).

Non-Verbal (Figure) Analogies

In figure analogies, a pair of shapes is shown with some transformation — rotation, shading, size change, or addition of elements. You apply that same transformation to a third figure to pick the correct fourth. Treat figure analogies like a spot-the-change game. Focus on one attribute at a time: shape, orientation, shading, number of sides.

• Note changes in: rotation angle, shading (black-white-grey), size, and number of elements.
• If a shape rotates 90 degrees clockwise in the given pair, the answer must also rotate 90 degrees clockwise.
• Eliminate options that change two attributes when the given pair changes only one.
• Mirror image vs rotation is the most common trap in figure analogies.
• Practise spotting changes in 10 seconds per figure — timing is tight in AFCAT.

• Picking an answer that is thematically related but not structurally matching the same relationship type — for example choosing a synonym when the given pair is cause-effect.
• Reversing the direction of the relationship — Ink is to Pen is NOT the same as Pen is to Ink.
• In number analogies, testing only addition and missing square or product patterns, then guessing incorrectly.
• In letter analogies, forgetting that AFCAT sometimes uses reverse alphabet order (Z=1), leading to a completely wrong gap count.
• In figure analogies, confusing a 90-degree rotation with a mirror flip — they look similar but are different transformations.

• TAPCD Rule for word analogy types: Tool, Antonym, Part-whole, Cause-effect, Degree, worker-to-place. If your relationship fits one of these six, you have your label fast.
• The Recipe Trick: Always say the relationship out loud as a sentence before looking at options. If you can say it in one line, you will not be tricked by a look-alike option.
• For numbers remember SAMP: Sum, Addition, Multiplication, Power. Check in this order until one fits both members of the given pair.
• For figure analogies thinkROSS: Rotation, shading, sOze (size), and Structure. Check each attribute one at a time.

• AFCAT typically places 3 to 5 analogy questions in the reasoning section. They are among the fastest to solve — aim for under 30 seconds each to build time buffer for tougher questions.
• Word analogies in recent AFCAT papers (2021-2024) have favoured worker-to-workplace and tool-to-use relationships, especially with military or aviation flavour — like Pilot to Aircraft, Navigator to Chart.
• Number analogies have leaned toward two-step operations such as squaring and adding, rather than simple addition — so always double check before finalising.
• Figure analogy questions are moderately frequent in AFCAT 2. Do not skip them; they are usually straightforward 90-degree rotation or shading reversal questions.
• If you are stuck, eliminate options that break the direction of the relationship first. This alone removes one or two wrong options instantly and improves your odds.