SSAT Analogies and Synonyms Mastery

The SSAT Verbal section is one of the most challenging parts of the test—60 questions in just 30 minutes means you have only 30 seconds per question! Success requires a strong vocabulary foundation PLUS strategic test-taking skills. This guide will teach you both.

Section Breakdown

Question Type	Number	What It Tests
Synonyms	30 questions	Vocabulary knowledge - find the word closest in meaning
Analogies	30 questions	Relationship reasoning - identify how word pairs relate
Total Time	30 minutes	30 seconds per question average

Part 1: Synonym Strategies

What Synonyms Look Like

Example:

JOVIAL

A) sad
B) cheerful
C) quiet
D) angry

Answer: B (JOVIAL means cheerful, joyful)

The 5-Step Synonym Method

Step 1: Define the word in your own words

Before looking at answer choices, think: "JOVIAL means happy, cheerful, full of joy"

Step 2: Predict the answer

What word would you expect to see? (In this case: "happy" or "cheerful")

Step 3: Check answer choices for your prediction

Is "cheerful" there? Yes! That's likely the answer.

Step 4: Eliminate opposite words

JOVIAL is positive, so eliminate "sad" and "angry" (negative words)

Step 5: Choose the CLOSEST match

Sometimes the exact synonym isn't there—choose the closest in meaning

When You Don't Know the Word: Advanced Techniques

Technique 1: Use Word Parts (Roots, Prefixes, Suffixes)

Example:

BENEVOLENT

A) cruel
B) kind
C) smart
D) lazy

Analysis:

"BENE" = good (like benefit, beneficial)

"VOLENT" = wishing (like volunteer)

So BENEVOLENT = wishing good → kind, generous

Answer: B

Technique 2: Positive vs. Negative Charge

Even if you don't know the exact meaning, determine if the word is positive, negative, or neutral:

Positive words: benevolent, jubilant, exemplary, harmonious
Negative words: malevolent, dejected, deplorable, chaotic
Neutral words: adjacent, contemporary, vertical

Then eliminate answer choices with the wrong "charge"!

Technique 3: Think of Related Words

Example:

MINUTE (pronounced "my-NOOT")

A) tiny
B) quick
C) late
D) important

Think:

"Minute" (the time) is small. "Minute" (my-noot) means very small, tiny

Answer: A

Part 2: Analogy Strategies

What Analogies Look Like

Example:

Pen is to write as fork is to

A) plate
B) eat
C) knife
D) food

Relationship:

A PEN is used to WRITE (tool → purpose/function)

A FORK is used to EAT (tool → purpose/function)

Answer: B

The Analogy Bridge Sentence Method

Step 1: Create a Bridge Sentence

Make a sentence that connects the first two words using their SPECIFIC relationship:

"A [WORD 1] is used to [WORD 2]"

"A PEN is used to WRITE"

Step 2: Test Each Answer Choice

Which answer creates the SAME relationship with "fork"?

A fork is used to PLATE? ❌ Doesn't make sense
A fork is used to EAT? ✅ Perfect match!
A fork is used to KNIFE? ❌ Doesn't make sense
A fork is used to FOOD? ❌ Awkward (food is what you eat, not what fork does)

Step 3: Make Your Bridge Sentence SPECIFIC

Too vague: "A pen is related to write" (not specific enough)

Just right: "A pen is a tool used to write" (captures the relationship precisely)

The 15 Most Common Analogy Relationship Types

Relationship Type	Example	Bridge Sentence
1. Purpose/Function	hammer : pound	A hammer is used to pound
2. Type/Category	oak : tree	An oak is a type of tree
3. Part to Whole	wheel : car	A wheel is part of a car
4. Degree (Intensity)	warm : hot	Warm is less intense than hot
5. Synonyms	happy : joyful	Happy means the same as joyful
6. Antonyms	hot : cold	Hot is the opposite of cold
7. Cause and Effect	practice : improvement	Practice causes improvement
8. Worker and Tool	artist : brush	An artist uses a brush as a tool
9. Worker and Workplace	teacher : classroom	A teacher works in a classroom
10. Object and Characteristic	ice : cold	Ice is characteristically cold
11. Action and Object	read : book	You read a book
12. Lack of Something	desert : rain	A desert lacks rain
13. Symbol and Meaning	dove : peace	A dove symbolizes peace
14. Person and Trait	hero : brave	A hero is characteristically brave
15. Sequence/Order	childhood : adulthood	Childhood comes before adulthood

Advanced Analogy Practice Problems

Problem 1:

Drought is to rain as

A) flood is to water
B) famine is to food
C) winter is to cold
D) storm is to wind

Solution:

Bridge: "A drought is a lack of rain"

Test: "A famine is a lack of food" ✓

Answer: B

Problem 2:

Whisper is to shout as

A) walk is to run
B) laugh is to cry
C) tiptoe is to stomp
D) speak is to talk

Solution:

Bridge: "Whisper is the quiet version of what shout is the loud version of (both are ways of speaking)"

Better bridge: "Whisper is to shout as quiet is to loud for the same action"

Test: "Tiptoe is to stomp as quiet is to loud for the same action (walking)" ✓

Answer: C

Problem 3:

Sculptor is to statue as

A) painter is to museum
B) author is to book
C) teacher is to student
D) musician is to instrument

Solution:

Bridge: "A sculptor creates a statue"

Test: "An author creates a book" ✓

Answer: B

Common Traps and How to Avoid Them

Trap #1: Choosing Words That Are Merely Related

Example: fork : knife (related items, but what's the relationship?)

This is NOT a strong analogy! Look for a SPECIFIC relationship, not just "these things go together"

Trap #2: Reversing the Relationship

If the question is "king : crown", the answer should be "president : flag" (person : symbol of office)

NOT "crown : king" (that's backwards!)

Trap #3: Using a Bridge Sentence That's Too Vague

Too vague: "A pen is related to writing"

Multiple answers might seem to fit! Be SPECIFIC.

Trap #4: Overthinking

The SSAT doesn't test obscure or tricky relationships. If your bridge sentence is convoluted, you're probably wrong.

Time Management Strategies

The 15-15 Rule

First 15 minutes: Complete all 30 synonyms

These are usually faster (no bridge sentence needed)
Don't spend more than 20 seconds on any single synonym
If you don't know it, eliminate obviously wrong answers and guess

Last 15 minutes: Complete all 30 analogies

These require more thought (bridge sentences)
Aim for 30 seconds each, but some may take 40-45 seconds
Make up time on easy analogies (15-20 seconds)

The Guessing Strategy (Remember: ¼ Point Penalty!)

SSAT has a guessing penalty: wrong answer = -¼ point

When to Guess:

✓ If you can eliminate even ONE answer choice, GUESS from the remaining
✓ If you can eliminate TWO answer choices, DEFINITELY guess

When to Omit:

✗ If you have absolutely no idea and can't eliminate any choices
✗ If you're completely guessing randomly with no reasoning

Quick Math: If you can eliminate 1 choice and guess among 3, statistically you'll come out ahead despite the penalty!

Vocabulary Building for SSAT Success

To excel on SSAT Verbal, you need a vocabulary of 1,200-1,500 words. Focus on:

Priority Level	Word Types	Examples
High Priority	Common SSAT words (appear frequently)	benevolent, jubilant, meticulous, tenacious, frugal
Medium Priority	Advanced adjectives and verbs	eloquent, scrutinize, exemplify, lethargic
Lower Priority	Obscure or archaic words	Don't waste time on extremely rare words

Study Plan: 8 Weeks to SSAT Verbal Mastery

Weeks 1-2: Vocabulary Foundation

Learn 20 new words per day (140 per week)
Use flashcards with example sentences
Review previous days' words daily (spaced repetition)

Weeks 3-4: Analogy Practice

Continue 15 new words per day
Practice 20 analogy questions daily
Identify and memorize the 15 relationship types

Weeks 5-6: Integration & Speed

10 new words per day
Timed practice: 30 verbal questions in 15 minutes
Focus on speed without sacrificing accuracy

Weeks 7-8: Full Practice Tests

Take full-length SSAT practice tests
Analyze every missed question
Review weak vocabulary areas

Success Story:

"Analogies seemed impossible at first—how was I supposed to see the relationships? Then I learned the bridge sentence method and the 15 relationship types. I practiced 20 analogies every day for 6 weeks. By test day, I could identify most relationships in under 20 seconds. I scored 95th percentile on SSAT verbal and got into Exeter!"

— Jason K., Phillips Exeter Academy Class of 2026

Remember: SSAT Verbal rewards both vocabulary knowledge AND strategic thinking. You can't memorize your way to a top score—you need to master analogy strategies, manage your time wisely, and practice consistently. The combination of a strong word list plus solid test-taking skills is your path to verbal section excellence!

SSAT Analogies and Synonyms Mastery