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Analytical Ability sample questions

Analytical Ability is in the Professional exam only. It tests how you reason: word analogies, symbolic logic and abstract reasoning, assumptions and conclusions, and reading data.

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Practice

8 Analytical Ability questions

Choose your answer, then open the explanation. Original practice items written to match CSC's official topics — not actual exam questions.

1Word analogy

PEN : WRITER :: SCALPEL : ________

  1. A. Hospital
  2. B. Surgeon
  3. C. Patient
  4. D. Knife
Show answer and explanation

Answer: B. Surgeon A pen is the tool a writer uses. A scalpel is the tool a surgeon uses. Hospital is a place, and knife is another tool, not the user.

2Word analogy

DROUGHT : RAIN :: FAMINE : ________

  1. A. Hunger
  2. B. Food
  3. C. Harvest
  4. D. Desert
Show answer and explanation

Answer: B. Food A drought is a severe lack of rain. A famine is a severe lack of food. Hunger is a result of famine, not what is lacking.

3Symbolic logic / abstract reasoning

All clerks are employees. Some employees work part-time. Which statement must be true?

  1. A. All clerks work part-time.
  2. B. Some clerks work part-time.
  3. C. No clerk works part-time.
  4. D. None of the statements must be true.
Show answer and explanation

Answer: D. None of the statements must be true. The part-time employees may or may not include any clerks, so none of A, B, or C is guaranteed. Must be true means certain, not likely.

4Symbolic logic / abstract reasoning

If it rains, the event is moved indoors. The event was not moved indoors. What follows?

  1. A. It rained.
  2. B. It did not rain.
  3. C. The event was cancelled.
  4. D. Nothing can be concluded.
Show answer and explanation

Answer: B. It did not rain. If rain always moves the event indoors, and it was not moved indoors, then it did not rain. This is a valid form called denying the consequent.

5Symbolic logic / abstract reasoning

What comes next in the series? AZ, BY, CX, ___

  1. A. DW
  2. B. DV
  3. C. EW
  4. D. DX
Show answer and explanation

Answer: A. DW The first letter moves forward (A, B, C, D) while the second moves backward from Z (Z, Y, X, W).

6Identifying assumptions and drawing conclusions

"The city should build more bike lanes so that fewer people drive to work." Which assumption does this argument depend on?

  1. A. Some people would bike to work if there were more bike lanes.
  2. B. Everyone in the city owns a bike.
  3. C. Driving to work will be banned.
  4. D. Bike lanes cost less than roads.
Show answer and explanation

Answer: A. Some people would bike to work if there were more bike lanes. The plan only works if more lanes lead some people to bike instead of drive. B is too extreme, and C and D are never implied.

7Identifying assumptions and drawing conclusions

All applicants who passed the interview were given a written test. Maria, an applicant, was not given a written test. What can you conclude?

  1. A. Maria passed the interview.
  2. B. Maria did not pass the interview.
  3. C. Maria withdrew her application.
  4. D. Maria failed the written test.
Show answer and explanation

Answer: B. Maria did not pass the interview. Passing the interview always led to a written test. Maria did not get one, so she did not pass the interview. C and D add facts that are not given.

8Data interpretation

Permits issued — January: 120 · February: 150 · March: 180 · April: 150

By what percent did permits issued increase from January to March?

  1. A. 25%
  2. B. 50%
  3. C. 60%
  4. D. 150%
Show answer and explanation

Answer: B. 50% The increase is 180 − 120 = 60. Divide by the starting value: 60 ÷ 120 = 0.5, or 50%. Dividing by the ending value (180) is a common slip.

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FAQ

About Analytical Ability

Is Analytical Ability in the Subprofessional exam?

No. Analytical Ability is in the Professional level only. Subprofessional has Clerical Ability instead.

What topics are in Analytical Ability?

Word analogy, symbolic logic or abstract reasoning, identifying assumptions and drawing conclusions, and data interpretation, according to CSC's scope of examination.

How can I get better at analogies?

Name the exact relationship between the first pair — tool and user, part and whole, lack of — and test each choice against that same sentence.

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