Tips for Tackling GRE Analogies

1. Create a sentence that includes the two capitalized words. Ideally, the sentence should reveal the essence of the relationship between the two words, and should not be so specific that none of the answer choices will fit, or so general that several fit. Here are two examples of the types of sentences that might zero in on the correct choice:

   • One possible function of a [first word] is to [second word].

   • [First word] is a condition that is necessary in order for [second word] to occur.

2. Eliminate any answer choice in which the two words are unrelated to each other. Typically, at least one answer choice will fit this description. You can eliminate all such choices without even considering the original pair!

3. If you know only one of the two words in an answer choice, you can always take an educated guess, even with just one of the words. You can often eliminate an answer choice by knowing just one of the two words.

4. If one of the original words has either a negative or positive connotation, the corresponding word in the correct answer choice will be similarly "charged." But if the original word is neutral, the corresponding word in the correct answer choice must be neutral as well.

5. You can often guess the meaning of unfamiliar words. Any of the following might provide a clue about what a word means:

   • Another word that resembles the word in any way
   • The word's root or prefix
   • The meaning of the other word in the pair

6. Look out for the sucker-bait answer choice that involve the same subject as the original pair. More often than not, this sort of answer choice is wrong.

Also see these related topics:

• GRE Analogies — Format, Directions, Sample Question
  
• The GRE Format — Test Sections, Question Types, and Time Limits
  
• GRE Analogy Practice Questions