The Verbal Analogies AFOQT section measures your reasoning abilities through identifying associations among five relationship categories: synonyms/definitions, antonyms, function/relationship, classification, and part-to-whole. If you’ve just read that list of associations and you’ve got a bunch of question marks floating around your brain space, read on, we’ll break these down and provide clarity!
Your main goal in this AFOQT section is to identify word meanings and find relationships between pairs of words. Relationships between words can come in the form of similar meanings, words with opposite meanings, words that describe similar functions or relationships, words that describe similar classes, and words that are part of a greater whole. In order to determine relationships, you must know the meaning of each word in the first given pair and determine the precise relationship between the two words. For example, you could have:
Rose : petals
This example would be your first word pairing. You may be familiar with the fact that a rose is a type of flower that has petals. You’ll complete the analogy and question by selecting the pair of words that best expresses a relationship similar to that expressed by the first paired words, rose : petals. These analogy questions will appear as multiple-choice questions with five-options as answers, and you will have 8 minutes to complete 25 questions in the AFOQT verbal section.
Two Types of Verbal Analogy AFOQT Questions
AFOQT Verbal questions exist within a binary, which means there are two types of analogy questions on the subtest: complete-the-pair and pair-to-pair. The task of each question is the same: to complete the analogy, but the answer choices you select from vary.
Complete the Pair Questions
Here, you are given the first pair of words and the first word of the second pair. Of the given answer choices, only one best expresses a relationship to the third word that is similar to the expression between the first pair. In answering the question, you need to look at the relationship of the paired words and apply it to the third word along with its answer options.
Consider the following example:
ROSE is to PETALS as ARCHIPELAGO is to
- PENINSULA.
- ATLAS.
- ISLET.
- DELIMITATION.
- CONTINENT.
Let’s break down finding the answer into steps:
- Ask yourself: What is the relationship of the first two words? A petal is a part of a rose.
- Ask yourself: What is the meaning of the word archipelago and each of the words appearing in the options? It seems that, based on the options, the answer is looking for which of these options is a part of an archipelago.
- Find the best answer: To complete the analogy with archipelago as the first word, we need a term denoting a part of the whole of the archipelago in question. The word archipelago is a large group of islands, which is made up of individual islets (small islands), so C is the correct answer.
Pair-to-Pair Questions
The question and means of solving pair-to-pair questions are similar to completing the complete the pair questions. The difference is that only the first pair of words is provided. Then, each answer choice consists of a pair of words. Here is an example:
CHISEL is to SCULPT as
- CLAY is to VESSEL.
- QUILL is to WRITE.
- PLANT is to GARDENING.
- PAINTING is to BRUSH.
- HAMMER is to TOOLBOX.
Let’s break down finding the answer into steps:
- Ask yourself: What is the relationship of the first two words? A chisel is a tool used to sculpt. The relationship is Tool to Action.
- Ask yourself: What is the meaning of the words and each of the words appearing in the options? You’re looking for a pair of words that represent a tool and the primary action it performs, like chisel and sculpt.
- Find the best answer: With all options, only choice B, PEN is to WRITE, accurately matches the Tool is to Action relationship and sequence of the original pair.
AFOQT Tips: Pay careful attention when answering this type of question. The order of the two words in the answer choice must be in the same sequence as the words in the question stem. If the sequence of the second pair of words is reversed, the relationship between the word pairs is not the same and therefore not the correct answer.
Common Verbal Analogies AFOQT Relationships
The AFOQT Verbal Analogies subtest presents a variety of relationships among its word pairs. Find a full chart of common Verbal Analogies AFOQT relationships with examples in our AFOQT Prep Course. Feel very confident in your ability to identify these relationships with full practice AFOQT Verbal test sections in our AFOQT prep course.
AFOQT Tips: If you are unsure of how to complete an analogy, knowing parts of speech can clarify the relationship presented in a question and help you narrow your answer choices. By identifying parts of speech in an analogy question, you can determine the parts of speech required to complete the analogy. Find a full breakdown of parts of speech in Peterson AFOQT Verbal Analogies section as well.
Wrap Up and Next Steps to Conquer AFOQT Sections
The AFOQT Verbal Analogies subtest assesses your word knowledge and vocabulary, as well as your ability to reason and discern relationships. In your allotted 8 minutes for this section, you will complete 25 questions. These questions appear in two different presentations: complete-the-pair and pair-to-pair. Multiple categories of analogies will appear on the AFOQT, including some of the following:
- Synonym/Definition
- Antonym
- Classification and Function
- Part-Whole
Reviewing parts of speech can help you select the correct answer when more than one option fits. Take many full-length practice Peterson’s AFOQT test with AFOQT practice questions to feel the most confident in getting your highest AFOQT verbal score and passing any of the AFOQT sections with flying colors. Peterson’s believes in you and your ability to replace the question marks in your head with AFOQT certainty.
