SSAT Blog

SSAT Tip #2: Analogies Section

5/8/2015

Identify the Relationships in the Analogies

A is to B
C is to ?

In simple terms, the analogies section is just made up of statements of connections. There are, luckily, a limited number of the types. Before you attempt to solve the analogy, identify which kind it is. This will help you to rule out the others. Remember that the direction of the relationship is important so a mouse to a rat is not the same as a tiger to a cat.

1. A is a degree of B
big is to huge as wet is to soaked

2. A is opposite to B
high is to low as modest is to boastful

3. A is defined by B
Philanthropist is to generous as miser is to stingy

4. A is a part of B
leg is to chair as finger is to hand

5. A is a member of B
a sheep is to a herd as a province is to a country

6. A is a function of B
Drive is to car as draw is to artist

7. A makes B
Orange is to juice as pulp is to paper

8. A causes B

fire is to burn as onions are to cry

9. A is the same but older than B
Puppy is to dog as seedling is to plant

0 Comments

SSAT Tip #1: The Synonym Section

1/21/2015

0 Comments

Have a vocabulary strategy

For many SSAT students, the key issue is how to learn and commit to memory a large amount of vocabulary. The brain is able to process a large number of words into short term memory but flushes out much of it for long term memory. A common complaint I get is that so many words are learned but forgotten a day or two later.

It is important to know that the brain requires a number of conditions to move any piece of information from short term to long term memory.

Here are a number of conditions:

1.      Notice. If you actively notice the word and want to process it, you are more likely to remember it.

2.      Interest. The word must be of interest to the receiver. If there is no sense that the word is either useful or could be used, it will be harder to remember.

3.      Decision. If you have made some decision made about the word. Maybe you classified it by which group of words it is, or maybe by the type of word it is.

4.      Understand Context If you understand the how & why it is used, you are more likely to remember it.

5.      Repetition. Repetition does make a word easier to remember, especially if you see the word again in a different situation.

6.      Connection. If you can connect the word to another word either in English or another language or use mnemonic (shortcut trick).

7.      Use. If you have used it a ‘real’ way you are more likely to have it in your long-term memory.

Therefore if you do some of these things you have a way higher probability of remembering a word forever

Strategies

1.      Know the meaning of the word
2.      Classify it – perhaps by kind of word (adj, v, n, adv), number of syllables, positive or negative word, abstract versus concrete etc…
3.      See how it is used in sentences
4.      See it in a number of different sentences. Recite it every few minutes
5.      Use a shortcut trick to remember it. Think of a similar word in your mother tongue or see if a syllable shares the same sound as another
6.      Write it into a sentence. Make sure that the sentence is real to you not just made up
7.      Go through it again a few days later

0 Comments

SSAT Tip #2: Analogies Section

Identify the Relationships in the Analogies

SSAT Tip #1: The Synonym Section

Have a vocabulary strategy

Author

Archives

Categories

SSAT Tip #2: Analogies Section

Identify the Relationships in the Analogies

SSAT Tip #1: The Synonym Section﻿

Have a vocabulary strategy

Author

Archives

Categories

SSAT Tip #1: The Synonym Section