Word analogy and symbolic logic items appear under Analytical Ability, which is on the Professional level CSE-PPT. Analogies ask you to match a relationship (A is to B as C is to ?). Logic items ask what must be true given a set of statements. Both reward the same habit: name the relationship precisely before you look at the options.
Key takeaways
- Turn every analogy pair into a short sentence ("a pen is used to write"), then apply that exact sentence to the next pair.
- Keep the direction. Part : whole is not the same as whole : part.
- Learn the common relationship types — most analogies use one of about eight.
- In logic, "If P then Q" does not mean "If Q then P."
- "Some" means at least one — it does not tell you anything about the rest.
Common analogy relationships
| Relationship | Example pair | Bridge sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Synonym | Brave : Courageous | means the same as |
| Antonym | Scarce : Abundant | means the opposite of |
| Part to whole | Page : Book | is part of |
| Tool to action | Knife : Cut | is used to |
| Worker to tool | Carpenter : Hammer | uses a |
| Worker to product | Baker : Bread | makes |
| Cause to effect | Drought : Famine | can cause |
| Degree or intensity | Warm : Hot | is a milder form of |
| Item to category | Mango : Fruit | is a type of |
| Item to place | Book : Library | is kept in a |
How to solve analogies
- Write the bridge sentence for the first pair, as specific as you can.
- Apply it to the third term and predict the answer before reading the options.
- Check direction — the answer must follow the same order as the first pair.
- Eliminate theme matches. An option can be about the same topic and still be the wrong relationship.
- If two options fit, make the bridge more specific until only one does.
Logic: syllogisms and if–then statements
Syllogisms give two or more statements and ask what must follow.
- All A are B; all B are C → all A are C. Valid.
- All A are B; some B are C → some A are C? Not necessarily. The C's might not include any A.
- No A are B; some C are A → some C are not B. Valid.
If–then (conditional) statements have two valid forms and two common traps:
| Form | Example | Valid? |
|---|---|---|
| If P then Q. P is true. So Q. | If it rains, the road is wet. It rains. So the road is wet. | Valid |
| If P then Q. Q is false. So P is false. | The road is not wet. So it did not rain. | Valid |
| If P then Q. Q is true. So P. | The road is wet. So it rained. | Not valid |
| If P then Q. P is false. So Q is false. | It did not rain. So the road is not wet. | Not valid |
Worked example
Stem: Book is to Library as Medicine is to _____
- A.Doctor
- B.Pharmacy
- C.Patient
- D.Illness
Work: Bridge: "a book is kept and lent out in a library." Apply it: "medicine is kept and given out in a ____." A pharmacy fits. Doctor and patient are people; illness is a condition. Answer: B. Pharmacy.
Quick practice
- Pen : Write :: Knife : ?
- A.Kitchen
- B.Cut
- C.Sharp
- D.Metal
Answer: B — Tool to primary action.
- If all forms are stamped, and this paper is a form, what must be true?
- A.This paper is stamped.
- B.This paper is unpaid.
- C.Only blue forms are stamped.
- D.No forms are stamped.
Answer: A — The universal rule applies to the instance.
- Whisper : Shout :: Drizzle : ?
- A.Rain
- B.Cloud
- C.Downpour
- D.Umbrella
Answer: C — Degree: a mild form to an intense form.
- If the office is open, the guard is on duty. The guard is not on duty. What follows?
- A.The office is open.
- B.The office is not open.
- C.The guard is on leave.
- D.Nothing follows.
Answer: B — Q is false, so P is false.
- Some clerks are typists. All typists are trained. Which must be true?
- A.All clerks are trained.
- B.Some clerks are trained.
- C.No clerk is trained.
- D.All trained people are typists.
Answer: B — The clerks who are typists are trained.
Common traps
- Theme matching. Choosing anything medical for a medicine stem without checking the relationship.
- Reversed analogy. Matching the pair backward (whole to part when the stem was part to whole).
- Degree slip. Treating warm : hot as synonyms instead of intensity.
- Affirming the consequent. From "if it rains, the street is wet" concluding "the street is wet, so it rained."
- Overthinking. Inventing a clever story when a simple, consistent bridge already fits one option.
Frequently asked questions
Is word analogy included in the Subprofessional exam?
No. Word analogy and symbolic logic are under Analytical Ability, which is on the Professional level only. Subprofessional has Clerical Ability instead.
How do I get faster at analogies?
Practice writing a one-line bridge sentence for every pair until it becomes automatic. Most time is lost when you skip the bridge and compare options by feel.
What does "some" mean in logic questions?
"Some" means at least one. "Some A are B" does not tell you whether all A are B, and it does not mean "some A are not B."
What is symbolic logic on the Civil Service Exam?
It covers reasoning with statements and patterns, such as syllogisms, if–then rules, and abstract figure or symbol sequences that follow a hidden rule.
Study with this product
- Take the free diagnostic to see if this topic is a weakness (Professional path).
- Drill Analogy and logic in Practice, or follow Today's plan when Analytical drills appear.
- Sit a full Professional mock when the app recommends one so logic items don't stall your pacing.
Honest facts
- This guide is a study aid, not an official CSC reviewer and not a pass promise.
- Analytical Ability is Professional-scope in the official exam outline we track; always confirm current scope on csc.gov.ph.
- We never invent official CSC dates, fees, or room assignments.
- Sample stems here are original practice items for skill-building, not leaked exam content.
- Readiness Score is a product metric — not a CSC rating prediction.
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