CCAT word analogies questions
VerbalAnalogies are not about word meaning, they are about the relationship between two words. Your job is to find the link in the first pair, then copy that exact link into the second pair.
How to solve these
Mini-lessonAnalogies are not about word meaning, they are about the relationship between two words. Your job is to find the link in the first pair, then copy that exact link into the second pair.
- 1
Name the relationship in a short sentence
Turn the first pair into a sentence that explains how the words connect, e.g. "A painter uses a brush to do their work." A precise sentence is half the answer.
- 2
Plug each option into the same sentence
Replace the words with the second pair plus each option: "A writer uses a ___ to do their work." The option that keeps the sentence true is the answer.
- 3
Match the direction and order
If the first pair goes tool to user, the answer must go tool to user too, not the reverse. "Brush is to painter" is not the same as "painter is to brush".
Hacks
- Make your linking sentence specific. "Is related to" is too loose and lets several options fit.
- If two options both seem to fit, your sentence is too vague. Tighten it until only one survives.
- Common relationship types: tool/user, part/whole, cause/effect, opposite, degree, category/example.
Avoid these
- Picking a word just because it is from the same topic (writer and reader are related, but reader is not the tool).
- Ignoring word order and choosing a reversed relationship.
Worked example
Answer shownAn original, CCAT-style item with the full reasoning. This is the kind of question you will drill.
Page is to book as branch is to ?
Answer: D. Here is why:
- page relates to book as branch relates to tree.
Frequently asked questions
What are CCAT word analogies questions?
Spot the relationship in one pair, then complete a second pair that mirrors it. They fall under the Verbal part of the CCAT, mixed in among the other types across the 50-question test.
How many word analogies questions are on the CCAT?
The CCAT does not label or fix the count per type. Items are mixed, so you cannot predict how many word analogies questions you will see. Training every type is the only reliable preparation.
How do I get faster at word analogies questions?
Reps under the real clock. However you like to learn, speed only comes from repeated timed practice — and honest per-type numbers show you whether it is working. That feedback loop is the skill the CCAT actually rewards.
More verbal question types
Pick the word that means the opposite of the prompt word.
Choose the word that best fits the logic and tone of a sentence with a gap.
Read two premises and decide which conclusion must logically follow.
Compare strings, names, or codes and flag the exact match or mismatch under time pressure.