Verbal Reasoning Letter Analogies
A Letter Analogy question reads "JK is to LM as ST is to ?". Nothing is continuing here — instead you work out the change that turns the first pair into the second, then apply exactly the same change to the third pair. Count along the alphabet and the whole thing becomes a counting puzzle.
💡 Worked example
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Use the alphabet above to help you.
JK is to LM as ST is to [ ? ]
How to answer
Common things to look for
The change between the first pair and the second is usually one of these:
- The same shift on both letters — both move on +2, or both move back −3.
- A different shift on each letter — the first letter might move +2 while the second moves +1; check them separately.
- One forwards, one backwards — the first letter climbs the alphabet while the second falls.
- A swap — the two letters change places (BF → FB), sometimes with a shift on top.
Watch for these traps
- Work out the rule before you look at the answers. The distractors are built to look right if you copy the wrong jump.
- Count on the alphabet in the margin. A +5 shift is easy to miscount in your head — mark A–Z and step along it.
- Check BOTH letters. The two letters often move by different amounts; a rule that only fits the first letter is not the rule.
Try these yourself
Now have a go yourself — tap the pair that completes the analogy.
✏️ Question 1
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Use the alphabet above to help you.
DG is to FH as MR is to [ ? ]
The answer is OS
from DG to FH the first letter moves +2 (D→F) and the second moves +1 (G→H). So M→O and R→S, giving OS.
✏️ Question 2
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Use the alphabet above to help you.
GK is to HM as PS is to [ ? ]
The answer is QU
from GK to HM the first letter moves +1 (G→H) and the second moves +2 (K→M). So P→Q and S→U, giving QU.
✏️ Question 3
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Use the alphabet above to help you.
CT is to GP as DM is to [ ? ]
The answer is HI
from CT to GP the first letter moves +4 (C→G) and the second moves back −4 (T→P). So D→H and M→I, giving HI.
Related
- The complete 11+ question-type guide
- VR: Letter Series — continue two letter strands running together
- VR: Number Series — find the rule linking a row of numbers
- VR: Letter Codes — letters standing in for each other
All example questions come from the Brainblox question bank — practise this question type inside 15 arcade games, timed mock exams and focused practice. Brainblox is an independent app: not affiliated with, endorsed by or licensed by any exam board, school or assessment publisher, and it contains no past papers.