Word connections (analogies) questions appear in almost every GL-style verbal-reasoning paper, and they are one of the most trainable of all the VR types. The format is simple to describe: A is to B as C is to ? — the word version of a pattern puzzle. In the Bond A-to-U labelling that many parents recognise, this is one of the core analogy types, and once your child has a fixed, repeatable method it stops feeling like a guessing game. This guide gives you that method, a set of worked examples, the relationship categories examiners lean on, the classic traps, and the free practice that makes the whole thing automatic.
What a word-connection question looks like
A typical question reads: Kitten is to cat as puppy is to ( ? ), with five options to choose from on a separate answer sheet. In a GL paper you can expect roughly three to five analogy questions per test, each worth the same single mark as any other question. Because GL does not disclose in advance which of its many question types will appear, and because the paper is tightly timed at roughly a minute a question, reliable technique on the common types like this one is the highest-value preparation there is. Get the method solid and you bank easy marks quickly, leaving more time for the questions that genuinely need thinking.
The method: name the relationship in a full sentence
The single most important habit is this: name the exact relationship in a complete sentence before you read the options. Do not glance at the five answers first — that is how children get pulled towards a plausible-looking trap. Instead, build a sentence that links A and B precisely, then apply the very same sentence to C.
- Read A and B only. Cover the options with a finger if it helps.
- Say the link as a sentence. Not "they're both animals" but "A kitten is the young of a cat."
- Check the direction. Is it young-to-adult, or adult-to-young? Analogies are directional.
- Apply the sentence to C. "A puppy is the young of a ..." — the answer must be dog.
- Confirm against the options and eliminate anything that only half-fits.
The more precise your sentence, the fewer traps survive. A vague link lets several options look right; a sharp link usually leaves only one.
The relationship categories to recognise
Almost every analogy in an 11+ paper falls into a small handful of relationship families. Teaching your child to spot which family they are in speeds everything up, because the sentence practically writes itself once the category is named.
| Relationship | Sentence pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Synonym | X means the same as Y | Happy is to joyful as sad is to miserable |
| Antonym | X is the opposite of Y | Hot is to cold as up is to down |
| Young / adult | X is the young of Y | Kitten is to cat as puppy is to dog |
| Part / whole | X is part of Y | Petal is to flower as page is to book |
| Category | X is a type of Y | Rose is to flower as sparrow is to bird |
| Cause / effect | X leads to Y | Rain is to flood as spark is to fire |
| Function / use | X is used to Y | Knife is to cut as pen is to write |
| Degree / intensity | X is a stronger Y | Warm is to hot as cool is to cold |
| Worker / tool | X uses a Y | Painter is to brush as writer is to pen |
Print this table and turn it into a quick quiz: read the left column aloud and ask your child to give a fresh example of each. Recognising the family is 80% of the work.
Worked examples, step by step
Example 1 — Kitten is to cat as puppy is to ( ? ). Sentence: "A kitten is the young of a cat." Apply to puppy: "A puppy is the young of a dog." Answer: dog.
Example 2 — Finger is to hand as toe is to ( ? ). Sentence: "A finger is a part of a hand." Apply: "A toe is a part of a foot." Answer: foot. Watch the direction here — part comes first, whole comes second, so the missing word must be the whole.
Example 3 — Enormous is to big as freezing is to ( ? ). Sentence: "Enormous is a stronger form of big." Apply: "Freezing is a stronger form of cold." Answer: cold. This is a degree relationship, and it is a favourite trap because "hot" looks tempting if you only spot temperature and miss the intensity link.
The classic traps and how to dodge them
- Settling for a vague relationship. "They're both animals" is not a sentence that picks one answer. Force a precise link every time.
- Reversing the direction. Young-to-adult is not the same as adult-to-young; part-to-whole is not whole-to-part. Always check which way the arrow points.
- Red-herring options. Papers deliberately include a word from the same topic that is not the right relationship. In the toe example, "leg" is topically related but wrong — the exact link is part of a foot, not part of a leg.
- Multiple valid-looking synonyms. When two options both roughly fit, your sentence was too loose. Sharpen it and re-test both.
- Rushing. At about 45-55 seconds a question, analogies should be quick, not careless. Say the sentence, then pick.
How the marks translate into a score
GL papers are marked as a raw score and then converted to a Standardised Age Score (SAS), adjusted for your child's exact age in months so a younger child is not disadvantaged. The scale runs roughly from 69 to 141, with 100 as the average, and many grammar schools look for something around 111 or above — though exact pass marks vary by area and year, so never rely on a single fixed number. The practical point for parents is simple: analogies are among the fastest marks to secure, and every reliable mark on an easy type lifts the raw score that feeds into the SAS. Master the trainable types first.
How to practise this type
Little and often wins: five questions of this type daily for a week beats fifty in one sitting. Our free verbal-reasoning worksheets are organised by exact question type, so you can drill analogies in isolation, and the Arena's VR mode gives instant feedback with XP to keep motivation up. Build the underlying vocabulary alongside — synonym and antonym flashcards feed straight into analogy accuracy — and use the revision hub to space it out sensibly. When the type feels automatic, fold it back into full timed mock papers so pacing develops alongside accuracy, and check the GL paper format guide so nothing on the day is a surprise. For the full landscape of question types, see the 21 VR types overview.
Frequently asked questions
How many word-connection questions are in a paper?
Typically three to five in a GL-style verbal-reasoning paper, each worth one mark. Because GL does not reveal which types appear in advance, it is worth being ready for them every time.
What is the fastest reliable method?
Name the relationship between the first pair in a full sentence before looking at the options, then apply that exact sentence to the third word. A precise sentence usually leaves only one possible answer.
What score does my child need?
Marks are converted to a Standardised Age Score, roughly 69-141 with 100 as average; many grammar schools want around 111 or higher, but the exact figure varies by region and year, so treat any single number with caution.