Why this topic matters · 6 min read
Analogy questions appear in almost every RRB NTPC Reasoning paper, typically 3-5 questions per shift. The exam tests your ability to find the same relationship between two pairs of words, numbers, or figures. Questions range from simple vocabulary-based pairs to tricky number pattern analogies. Getting these right quickly can boost your Reasoning score significantly since the logic is usually straightforward once you spot the relationship type.
What is an Analogy
An analogy means a relationship between two things. In exam questions, you are given a pair with a known relationship, and you must find the missing word or number that shares the exact same relationship with a new term. Think of it like a proportion in maths: A is to B as C is to D. Your job is to decode the relationship in the first pair and apply it to the second pair. The relationship can be based on words, numbers, or pictures.
- Format: A : B :: C : ? — find what fills the blank
- Three main types: Word Analogy, Number Analogy, Letter Analogy
- Relationship must be consistent — same logic, same direction
- Always check all options before finalising — many traps use near-correct answers
- Eliminate options that break the relationship, do not guess randomly
Word Analogy — Relationship Categories
Word analogies test vocabulary and general knowledge. RRB NTPC frequently uses relationships from science, geography, sports, tools, and everyday life. Once you classify the relationship type, the answer becomes obvious. There are about 10 common relationship categories that cover 90 percent of questions.
- Tool and its use: Scalpel : Surgery :: Chisel : Carpentry
- Part and whole: Leaf : Tree :: Page : Book
- Worker and workplace: Doctor : Hospital :: Judge : Court
- Animal and young one: Cow : Calf :: Dog : Puppy
- Thing and its unit: Current : Ampere :: Temperature : Celsius
- Cause and effect, synonym/antonym, degree of intensity are also common
Number Analogy — Finding the Pattern
Number analogy questions give a pair like 4 : 16 :: 5 : ? and ask you to find the missing number. The trick is to check the most common operations first in order: squaring, cubing, doubling, adding a fixed number, multiplying by a factor. RRB NTPC often uses combinations like (number squared plus a constant) so always verify your rule with the given pair before applying it to the new one.
- Always verify your rule: plug it back into the given pair first
- Try square, cube, multiply, add/subtract in that order
- Watch for two-step rules: (n x 3) + 1 pattern is very common
- Prime number patterns also appear: 2,3,5,7... based pairs
- Ratio-based analogy: 6:18 :: 8:24 means multiply by 3 each time
Key formulas
Square rule
A : A^2 :: B : B^2
When: When the second number is the square of the first — most frequent pattern
Linear rule
A : (A x n + c) :: B : (B x n + c)
When: When a multiply-then-add pattern is found — check n and c from first pair
Worked examples
Example 1: 7 : 49 :: 9 : ? — Rule is A squared. 9 squared = 81. Answer is 81.
Example 2: 3 : 10 :: 5 : ? — Check: 3x3+1=10, so rule is (nx3)+1. Apply to 5: 5x3+1=16. Answer is 16.
Letter Analogy — Alphabet Position Logic
Letter analogies use the position of letters in the alphabet (A=1, B=2, ... Z=26). RRB NTPC gives pairs like AC : EG :: BD : ? where you must find the pattern in positions. Common tricks include reversing the alphabet (Z=1, Y=2), skipping a fixed number of positions, or mirroring. Always write down the numeric positions of given letters first — this converts a confusing letter problem into a simple number problem.
- Memorise: A=1 B=2 C=3 ... M=13 N=14 ... Z=26
- Also memorise reverse: Z=1 Y=2 X=3 ... A=26
- Check gap between letters within a group: AC has gap of 2 (A=1, C=3)
- Check shift from first pair to second pair: same shift must apply
- Opposites trick: A pairs with Z, B with Y, C with X — sum always 27
Key formulas
Opposite letter
Position of letter + Position of its opposite = 27
When: When the analogy seems to use mirror/opposite letters — e.g. A:Z, D:W
Worked example
Example: BD : FH :: CE : ? — B=2,D=4 shifts to F=6,H=8 (each letter +4). Apply to CE: C=3+4=7=G, E=5+4=9=I. Answer is GI.
Non-Verbal (Figure) Analogy
Figure analogy questions show two shapes with a relationship (rotation, shading, size, count of sides) and ask you to apply the same change to a third figure. In RRB NTPC CBT, these appear less frequently than verbal/number analogies but do show up. Focus on three things: what changes (rotation, reflection, shading), what stays the same, and by how much it changes.
- Check rotation: 90 degrees, 180 degrees, or mirror image
- Check shading: filled becomes empty, or pattern shifts
- Check count: number of lines, sides, dots inside the shape
- The relationship in figures 1 and 2 must repeat exactly in figures 3 and 4
- Do not get distracted by irrelevant details — focus on what changes
⚠ Common mistakes to avoid
- Applying the relationship in the wrong direction — e.g. if A is the cause of B, do not assume C causes the answer; sometimes the answer causes C.
- In number analogy, assuming it is always squares or cubes without verifying — always plug the rule back into the given pair first.
- Confusing letter positions — many aspirants miscount. Write positions down, do not calculate in your head.
- Picking an answer that shares ONE aspect of the relationship but not the complete relationship — all conditions must match.
- In word analogy, choosing a word that sounds similar instead of one that shares the same logical relationship — read all options carefully.
🧠 Memory aids
- STAMP method for word analogy types: S=Synonym/Antonym, T=Tool-Use, A=Animal-Young, M=Member-Group, P=Part-Whole. If your pair fits one of these, you have the answer fast.
- For number analogy remember the order to check: SQ-CU-DO-ADD (Square, Cube, Double, Add/Subtract). Try in this order and stop when it fits.
- Alphabet anchor points: A=1, G=7, M=13, S=19, Z=26. Memorise these 5 anchors and count up or down from the nearest one — saves time.
- Opposite letter trick: think of the alphabet as a see-saw balanced at 13.5. A and Z balance each other, B and Y, C and X. Their positions always add up to 27.
🎯 RRB NTPC exam tips
- RRB NTPC typically asks 3 to 5 analogy questions per shift, mostly word and number types. Letter and figure analogies appear once or twice at most.
- Difficulty level is usually easy to medium. Aim to solve each analogy question in under 30 seconds — do not spend more than 45 seconds on any single one.
- Recent papers have increased tricky number analogies with two-step rules like multiply then add. If your first guess does not match, try adding or subtracting a small constant to a standard operation.
- General Knowledge-based word analogies (capitals, currencies, instruments, sports terms) have appeared frequently. Brushing up on basic GK pairs (country-capital, disease-cause, instrument-field) doubles as Analogy and GA preparation.
- In CBT mode, use the on-screen scratch area or rough sheet to jot letter positions quickly — do not attempt letter analogy purely in your head as errors creep in under exam pressure.