analogy test: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Academic, Technical
Quick answer
What does “analogy test” mean?
A type of assessment that measures reasoning ability by asking test-takers to identify relationships between pairs of words or concepts and apply that relationship to new pairs.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A type of assessment that measures reasoning ability by asking test-takers to identify relationships between pairs of words or concepts and apply that relationship to new pairs.
A cognitive evaluation tool used in educational, psychological, and employment settings to assess logical thinking, pattern recognition, and problem-solving skills through analogical reasoning.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Spelling follows national conventions for 'analogy' (same) and 'test' (same).
Connotations
In both varieties, it carries connotations of formal assessment, intelligence testing, and academic or professional selection.
Frequency
Equally common in academic and psychological contexts in both the UK and US.
Grammar
How to Use “analogy test” in a Sentence
The candidate completed the analogy test.The analogy test consisted of 40 items.Her performance on the analogy test was impressive.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “analogy test” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The psychologist will analogy-test the participants next week.
- We need to analogy-test this cohort to establish a baseline.
American English
- The researcher plans to analogy-test the control group.
- They analogy-tested all applicants as part of the study.
adverb
British English
- The questions were designed analogy-test carefully.
- He performed analogy-test well under pressure.
American English
- She approached the problems analogy-test logically.
- The items were ranked analogy-test difficult.
adjective
British English
- The analogy-test results were inconclusive.
- He has strong analogy-test skills.
American English
- The analogy-test section was the most difficult.
- Her analogy-test performance correlated with job success.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in recruitment and assessment centres to evaluate candidates' logical and problem-solving abilities.
Academic
Common in psychological research, educational testing, and as part of standardised exams like the GRE or SAT.
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation; typically mentioned when discussing exams, job applications, or cognitive puzzles.
Technical
A precise term in psychometrics and educational psychology for a specific test format measuring fluid intelligence.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “analogy test”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “analogy test”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “analogy test”
- Using 'analogy test' to refer to any test that seems similar to another (correct: 'a test analogous to...').
- Misspelling as 'analagy test' or 'analog test' (the latter refers to a non-digital test).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. An analogy test is often a component or subtest within a broader IQ or cognitive ability assessment, specifically measuring fluid reasoning and logical thinking.
Yes, while they measure reasoning ability, familiarity with the format, common relationship types (e.g., synonym, antonym, part-to-whole), and practice can improve performance.
A classic format is 'A is to B as C is to ?' (e.g., 'Hand is to glove as foot is to ?' [sock/shoe]). Multiple-choice answers are provided.
This is debated. Proponents argue they measure core reasoning skills. Critics contend they can be culturally biased, favouring those with specific educational backgrounds or vocabulary knowledge.
A type of assessment that measures reasoning ability by asking test-takers to identify relationships between pairs of words or concepts and apply that relationship to new pairs.
Analogy test is usually formal, academic, technical in register.
Analogy test: in British English it is pronounced /əˈnælədʒi ˌtest/, and in American English it is pronounced /əˈnælədʒi ˌtest/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No common idioms specifically for 'analogy test'.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'ANALOGY TEST' = 'A New Logical Game Of Your Thinking'.
Conceptual Metaphor
THINKING IS SEEING RELATIONSHIPS (e.g., 'She saw the connection immediately on the analogy test.')
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary skill assessed by a typical analogy test?