Analytical Reasoning & Intelligence Tests — Chapter 1

Analogies

Why this chapter matters: Analogies are the largest single family in Subject 12 and the most predictable marks in the whole reasoning section. The script count behind this chapter (Section 10) finds 396 unique analogy stems across 110 distinct files — more distinct files than any other reasoning family except series — and the family is still being asked right now: 13 files named 2024, 17 named 2025 and 12 named 2026. Almost all of it is word analogy (385 of the 396 stems); number analogy is a small, sharp subset (11 digit-bearing stems, 10 of them from one FPSC practice set). An analogy item never tests a fact you memorised — it tests whether you can name a relation and apply it twice. That is a method, and it is learnable in one sitting.

Status of this chapter (read first): this is AR-01, the first chapter of Subject 12, written 31 October 2026 in taxonomy order after the Subject 12 structure page. It teaches the relation types the banks actually ask, with worked examples taken from real bank stems and their banked answers. Five number-analogy bank keys whose pattern could not be reconstructed from the stem are not used as worked examples (see the honesty note in Section 10) — nothing is taught from an unverified key.

Exam Trend box

• 🔁 Most Repeated: Analogies as a family — 396 unique stems across 110 distinct files (420 rows including duplicates). The family clears the 🔁 test twice over: far above 100 questions and far above 5 papers. The single largest block inside it is the FPSC General Ability word-analogy practice set of 171 items (one file, not 171 papers — the paper-spread evidence is the other 109 files, 88 of them PPSC papers).
• ⭐ Must Know: word analogies — 🔁 and still asked in 2024, 2025 and 2026 papers by filename-year signal (13 / 17 / 12 files), including 2026 papers such as PPSC Assistant Disaster Management Department, PPSC Sergeant PERA, PPSC Enforcement Officer and PPSC ESE General Worker Welfare. The relation types in Section 3 are the must-know core: antonym, synonym, worker–tool/workplace, part–whole and cause–effect.
• 🆕 Newly Appeared / Recent Trend: none claimed. Analogies are not a 2025–26 first appearance — FPSC analogy stems in the banks go back to 2001 (FPSC Customs Inspector paper), and the family appears across many years. Its 2025–26 presence is recorded as ⭐ (still asked), not 🆕, exactly as the Subject 12 structure page requires.

1. The method — three steps, in this order

Every analogy item, word or number, is solved the same way. Do the steps in order; the commonest error is skipping step 1 and choosing the option that merely “looks related”.

Step 1 — Name the relation in five words or fewer. Look only at the first pair and say what connects them: “worker and his workplace”, “thing and its property”, “cause and its effect”, “whole and its part”, “word and its opposite”. If you cannot name it, you do not yet understand the pair — reread it before touching the options.

Step 2 — Test each option against that exact relation. An option is correct only if the same relation holds between its two terms, in the same direction. “Related somehow” is not enough: a tool and its worker reversed (tool : worker instead of worker : tool) is wrong even though the two words belong together.

Step 3 — Apply the second-pair test. Read your chosen pair back into the first pair’s sentence: “Judge works in a court, as an umpire works on a ground.” If the sentence still makes sense with the same verb, the answer is safe. If it needs a different verb, the relation has changed and the option is wrong.

2. How analogy items are phrased in the papers

PPSC papers phrase them as “Complete the analogy”, “Choose the correct pair of analogy” or “Analogy: A : B ::”, and FPSC practice sets as “Complete the analogy: A : B :: ?”. The colon notation A : B :: C : ? always means “A is to B as C is to (what?)”. The missing term can sit in any position — first, second or fourth — so read the whole proportion before answering, not just the gap. Where a paper gives the pair as a sentence (“The lock is related to the door, in the same way the password is related to …?”), the method is identical: name the relation first.

3. Core notes — the relation types the banks actually ask

Each type below is taught with real bank stems and their banked answers. The type name is the phrase to use in step 1.

3.1 Antonym pairs (word : its opposite) 🔁 ⭐

The commonest type in the 171-item FPSC set, and a regular PPSC type. Both pairs must be opposites, and the polarity must match: if the first pair is word : opposite, the second pair must also be word : opposite, not word : synonym.

• FRAGILE : HARDY :: amateur : professional (FPSC set) — fragile is the opposite of hardy; amateur is the opposite of professional.
• DIAPHANOUS : OPAQUE :: distraught : calm (FPSC set) — diaphanous (transparent) is the opposite of opaque; distraught is the opposite of calm.
• INTREPID : FEARFUL :: lively : lethargic (FPSC set) — intrepid (fearless) is the opposite of fearful; lively is the opposite of lethargic.
• CANTANKEROUS : EASY-GOING :: erratic : stable (FPSC set).
• ARID : MOISTURE :: silent : sound (FPSC set) — arid means lacking moisture; silent means lacking sound. This is the “absence” variant of the antonym type: X is the absence of Y.

Trap inside this type: a pair that is merely different is not an antonym pair. “Hot : cold” is an antonym pair; “hot : warm” is not — warm is a weaker form of hot, not its opposite.

3.2 Synonym pairs (word : its near-equal) 🔁 ⭐

Both pairs must be near-equals, at the same level of formality where the paper tests it.

• VAGUE : NEBULOUS :: mundane : commonplace (FPSC set) — vague and nebulous both mean unclear; mundane and commonplace both mean ordinary.
• CURSORY : BRIEF :: desultory : haphazard (FPSC set).
• OBSTINATE : MULISH :: obnoxious : disgusting (FPSC set).
• PREVARICATE : LIE :: divulge : expose (FPSC set).
• CONCEAL : HIDDEN :: appreciate : valued (FPSC set) — the verb : adjective variant: conceal leads to hidden, appreciate leads to valued.

Trap inside this type: the synonym must be near, not merely associated. “Happy : joyful” is a synonym pair; “happy : smile” is not — a smile is an expression of happiness, a different relation (cause : sign).

3.3 Worker : tool and worker : workplace 🔁 ⭐

The most asked PPSC type after antonyms. Direction matters: worker first, then tool or workplace — never reversed.

• Judge : Court :: Umpire : Ground (PPSC Junior Clerk Punjab Police, 2025) — a judge works in a court; an umpire works on a ground. Workplace variant.
• COBBLER : AWL :: carpenter : chisel (FPSC set) — a cobbler works with an awl; a carpenter works with a chisel. Tool variant.
• SHEARS : SEAMSTRESS :: stethoscope : physician (FPSC set) — note the reversal: here the tool comes first (shears : seamstress), so the answer pair must also be tool first (stethoscope : physician). Direction is part of the relation.
• WEAVING : LOOM :: pottery : kiln (FPSC set) — craft : equipment variant: weaving is done on a loom; pottery is fired in a kiln.
• FISHING : ROD :: hunting : rifle (FPSC set) — activity : tool variant.

3.4 Part : whole and whole : part 🔁 ⭐

• CHAPTER : BOOK :: room : house (FPSC set) — a chapter is part of a book; a room is part of a house.
• SPINE : VERTEBRAE :: skeleton : bones (FPSC set) — the spine is made of vertebrae; a skeleton is made of bones. Whole : parts variant.
• CATHEDRAL : CHURCH :: mansion : house (FPSC set) — large form : general form variant: a cathedral is a large church; a mansion is a large house.

Trap inside this type: part : whole reversed is the commonest wrong option. “Book : chapter” is not the same relation as “chapter : book” — check which side the part sits on before choosing.

3.5 Cause : effect 🔁 ⭐

• Rain : Flood :: Fire : Smoke (PPSC Assistant Disaster Management Department, 2026) — rain causes flood; fire causes smoke.
• Race : Fatigue :: Fast : Hunger (PPSC Junior Clerk, 2025) — racing causes fatigue; fasting causes hunger. Note the verb form: “Fast” here is the verb (to fast), not the adjective.
• Docility is to surrender as unrest is to rebellion (PPSC Junior Clerk, 2025) — docility leads to surrender; unrest leads to rebellion.

3.6 Property : thing, and thing : property 🔁 ⭐

• Rubber : Elastic :: Diamond : Hard (PPSC Office Assistant BOR Gujrat, 2025) — rubber’s defining property is elasticity; diamond’s is hardness. This is the “chose the correct pair” phrasing PPSC uses: the answer pair must share the property-relation, not merely contain a hard or elastic thing.
• FUSCHIA : PINK :: crimson : red (FPSC set) — shade : colour variant: fuchsia is a shade of pink; crimson is a shade of red.
• TURKEY : POULTRY :: halibut : fish (FPSC set) — specific : category variant: a turkey is a kind of poultry; a halibut is a kind of fish.
• FEATHERS : PILLOW :: helium : balloon (FPSC set) — filling : object variant: feathers fill a pillow; helium fills a balloon.

3.7 Specialist : subject, and subject : specialist 🔁

• Shale : Geologist :: Fossils : Paleontologist (PPSC Assistant Office Assistant, 2026) — shale is studied by a geologist; fossils are studied by a paleontologist. Object : studier variant.
• PULMONARY : LUNGS :: aquatic : water (FPSC set) — pertaining-to variant: pulmonary means pertaining to the lungs; aquatic means pertaining to water.
• RHETORIC : LAWYER :: deduction : detective (FPSC set) — skill : user variant: rhetoric is the lawyer’s tool of argument; deduction is the detective’s.
• MANACLE : WRIST :: anklet : ankle (FPSC set) — worn-on variant: a manacle is worn on the wrist; an anklet on the ankle.
• VIXEN : FOX :: lioness : lion (FPSC set) — female : male variant: a vixen is a female fox; a lioness is a female lion.
• WAITRESS : WAITER :: seamstress : tailor (FPSC set) — the same female : male occupation variant.
• DECADE : TIME :: millimeter : length (FPSC set) — unit : quantity variant: a decade is a unit of time; a millimetre is a unit of length.
• SOCCER BALL : GOALPOST :: basketball : hoop (FPSC set) — game equipment : target variant.
• The lock is related to the door, in the same way the password is related to the computer (PPSC Computer Operator, 2026) — security device : thing secured variant.
• Heart : Pump as Gun : Shoot (PPSC ESE General Worker Welfare, 2026) — thing : function variant: a heart pumps; a gun shoots.
• Breakfast is to lunch as lunch is to dinner (PPSC Sergeant PERA, 2026) — sequence variant: consecutive meals in order. The relation here is order, not similarity — the answer must be the next item in the sequence, not a related meal.
• Blueprint : Building :: Map : Location (PPSC Junior Clerk, 2025) — plan : thing planned variant: a blueprint plans a building; a map plans (shows) a location.
• Glutton : Eat :: Garrulous : Talk (PPSC Junior Clerk, 2025) — person : characteristic action variant: a glutton eats excessively; a garrulous person talks excessively.

3.8 Number analogies — four patterns, tested in this order

Number analogies are few (11 digit-bearing stems) but perfectly patterned. When the stem is numbers, test the four patterns in this order — difference, ratio, square/cube, digit operation — and stop at the first that fits both sides.

Pattern 1 — Ratio (multiply or divide). 75 : 375 :: 45 : 225 (FPSC number set): 75 × 5 = 375, so 45 × 5 = 225. 20 : 11 :: 102 : 52 (FPSC number set): 20 ÷ 2 + 1 = 11, so 102 ÷ 2 + 1 = 52.

Pattern 2 — Difference with a multiplier (×k ± c). 12 : 35 :: 16 : 47 (FPSC number set): 12 × 3 − 1 = 35, so 16 × 3 − 1 = 47. 7 : 196 :: 8 : 256 (FPSC number set): 7² × 4 = 196, so 8² × 4 = 256 — square first, then the multiplier.

Pattern 3 — Digit reversal. 144 : 441 :: 169 : 961 (FPSC number set): reversing the digits of 144 gives 441; reversing 169 gives 961. Always check reversal before harder arithmetic — it is the fastest pattern to spot and the easiest to miss.

Pattern 4 — Fraction pattern n : (n² − 1). 7/48 : 9/80 :: 10/99 : 100/9999 (FPSC number set): 7² − 1 = 48 and 9² − 1 = 80, so the missing pair is 10/(10² − 1) = 10/99 against 100/(100² − 1) = 100/9999. The pattern lives in the denominators; the numerators are the plain sequence 7, 9, 10, 100.

4. Master table — relation types at a glance

5. Rapid-fire one-liners

• Name the relation in five words before looking at the options.
• Direction is part of the relation: worker : tool is not tool : worker.
• Antonym pairs must match polarity: opposite : opposite, not opposite : synonym.
• “Related somehow” is never the answer; the same verb must work for both pairs.
• Part : whole reversed is the commonest wrong option in PPSC papers.
• Cause : effect: check the verb — “Fast” in Race : Fatigue :: Fast : Hunger is the verb “to fast”.
• Number analogies: difference, ratio, square, reversal — in that order.
• Digit reversal is the fastest number pattern: check it before doing arithmetic.
• A sequence analogy needs the next item in order, not a related item (Breakfast : Lunch :: Lunch : Dinner).
• Judge : Court :: Umpire : Ground is the model worker : workplace pair; Rubber : Elastic :: Diamond : Hard is the model property pair.

6. Most-asked types

Drawn from the bank composition, not from impression. The 171-item FPSC General Ability word-analogy set is the largest single block and is dominated by antonym and synonym pairs — those two types alone are the bulk of set practice, and they recur in PPSC papers too. In PPSC’s own papers (88 of the 110 distinct files), the types with exemplars across several independent papers are worker : tool/workplace, cause : effect and property : thing — Judge : Court, Rain : Flood and Rubber : Elastic each appear in a different 2025 or 2026 paper, which is why they carry the ⭐ mark above. Number analogy is thin (11 stems) and entirely pattern-based: ratio, ×k ± c, digit reversal and the n : (n² − 1) fraction pattern are the only four patterns the banks show, and Section 3.8 teaches exactly those four — no fifth pattern is invented for completeness.

7. Traps & confusions

• Associated vs related by the same relation. “Doctor : hospital” and “doctor : stethoscope” are both associated pairs, but they are different relations (workplace vs tool). If the first pair is worker : workplace, an option pair in worker : tool form is wrong even though both words belong to medicine.
• Reversed pairs. SHEARS : SEAMSTRESS is tool : worker, so its match must be tool : worker (stethoscope : physician), not worker : tool. Half the wrong options in the banks are reversals.
• Merely different vs opposite. “Hot : warm” is not an antonym pair; “hot : cold” is. Antonym items test true opposites.
• Synonym vs associated. “Happy : joyful” is a synonym pair; “happy : smile” is expression, not synonymy.
• The verb-form trap. In Race : Fatigue :: Fast : Hunger, “Fast” is the verb “to fast”. Reading it as the adjective (“quick”) destroys the cause : effect relation.
• Number-pattern overfitting. If difference fits the first pair but not the second, it is not the pattern — a pattern must fit both sides exactly. Do not force a pattern that works on one side only; move to the next pattern in the Section 3.8 order.
• The 171-set trap. The FPSC General Ability set’s 171 items are one practice file, not 171 papers. A student who counts them as 171 separate papers overestimates how widely analogies are asked — the paper-spread evidence is the 110 distinct files, and that is already more than enough for 🔁.

8. Memory tricks

Professional, procedural aids only — no invented mnemonics presented as bank facts.

• “Name it, then choose it.” Cover the options, say the relation aloud in five words or fewer, then uncover. Students who do this stop picking the merely-associated option.
• The verb test. Turn the first pair into a sentence with one verb (“A judge works in a court”) and reuse the identical verb for the candidate pair (“An umpire works on a ground”). A changed verb means a changed relation.
• Polarity check for antonyms. Mark the first pair +/− (word : opposite). The answer pair must carry the same +/− shape.
• Number ladder. For any number stem, write the four patterns down the margin — difference, ratio, square, reversal — and tick each off against both sides. The first pattern that ticks twice is the answer; never settle for one tick.

9. Visuals (site build specs — declared only, never generated)

• Relation-type table (Section 4) rendered as the chapter’s central reference card, placed after Section 3, with the step-1 phrase in bold and the bank example beside it.
• Three-step method flowchart (name → test → second-pair test) placed at the top of Section 1, one box per step with the Judge : Court example running through all three boxes.
• Number-pattern ladder (Section 3.8) rendered as a four-rung diagram — difference, ratio, square, reversal — each rung carrying its verified bank example, placed beside Section 3.8.

10. Practice this topic — bank count, marks evidence and counting honesty

• Practice set: subject=analytical-reasoning + topic tags of Subject 12 Topic 1 (Analogies, Analogy, Analogy - Numbers), with the script-recomputed count below. The site serves this stem set for the chapter.
• Script: hidden_files/goldmine-notes-count-ar01.py (mirrors the AR-12 structure script, family A only). Scan: 579 files / 56,134 questions (FPSC site bank, PPSC site files, gk360 archive, CSS/monster conversions, gk360 monthly CA bank, gk360-papers archive; overlaps between banks included, as in the audit).
• Count: 420 rows, 396 unique stems, from 110 distinct files — 385 word stems and 11 digit-bearing (number) stems; the two FPSC General Ability set files contribute 181 of the unique stems (171 word + 10 number), and PPSC papers contribute 88 of the 110 distinct files. By filename year the distinct files span 2024 (13), 2025 (17) and 2026 (12) — the ⭐ evidence in the Exam Trend box. Adjacent, stated not counted: analogy-free reasoning items inside general papers carry no analogy topic tag and are not counted — this count is a floor, not an estimate, as the structure page states.
• Bank-key honesty note (not taught, recorded here): five number-analogy bank keys were not used as worked examples because their pattern could not be reconstructed from the stem alone: the FPSC number set’s 12 : 68 :: 30 : 222, 6 : ? :: 60 : 120 (key 24), 11 : 30 :: ? : 128 (key 67) and 20 : 16 :: 30 : 36, and the FPSC Customs Inspector 2008 bracket item 9 (45) 81, 8 (36) 64, 10 ( ) ( ) (key 40, 100). Their banked answers are preserved in the counts file but no pattern is asserted for them in this chapter — a student must not be taught a “rule” that fits only one side of a proportion. If a future conversion supplies the set’s original options or solution note, these five are re-examined before any of them enters the teaching text.
• No converted post-pack material exists yet: the FPSC AD ASF 2026 Analytical Reasoning pack (8 files) and the Intelligence Officer 2026 pack (17 files) remain raw zips and were not used for any count or method in this chapter, per the standing rule. When conversion verifies them, this chapter’s count is recomputed by script — never adjusted by hand.
• Marks, derived from the count above: 🔁 family-level — 396 unique stems across 110 distinct files clears both 🔁 limbs (≥100 questions and ≥5 papers). ⭐ word analogies only — 🔁 and still asked in 2024, 2025 and 2026 papers (Section 6). 🆕 none — analogies predate 2025–26 by many years in the banks. The front-matter therefore carries repeated and mustKnow for the family and the word-analogy core, and newTrend empty.
• Book mode: ← Previous: Analytical Reasoning — Subject Structure · Next: Analytical Reasoning — Number & Letter Series (AR-02, to follow) →

Sources: verified banks (FPSC site bank, PPSC site files, gk360 archive, CSS/monster conversions, gk360 monthly CA bank, gk360-papers archive) via script hidden_files/goldmine-notes-count-ar01.py; worked examples are real bank stems with their banked answers (FPSC General Ability analogy sets; PPSC papers 2025–2026 as cited inline). No raw monster pack content used. Standard answers only in student-facing text; bank-key flags live in Section 10 and the run log.