Quick Answer
An analogy is a comparison between two seemingly different things to highlight a shared characteristic. On the Digital SAT, analogies typically appear within the Reading and Writing section, specifically in 'Rhetorical Synthesis' or 'Craft and Structure' questions. Students must often identify how an author uses an analogy to clarify a complex scientific or literary concept.
An analogy is a cognitive process of transferring information or meaning from a particular subject to another, establishing a relationship based on resemblance. In literary analysis, it functions as a logical argument or an explanatory tool that extends beyond a simple metaphor to show how two relationships are proportional.
Question: Researchers found that the migration patterns of certain butterflies are like a pre-programmed GPS system, requiring no external guidance. Which choice best describes the function of the analogy? Answer: It clarifies that the butterflies' navigation is innate and automatic rather than learned. Explanation: The comparison between biological instinct and a 'GPS system' highlights the precision and autonomy of the migration.
Confusing analogy with simple metaphor: Students often fail to recognize that an analogy usually explains a relationship or function rather than just asserting a poetic similarity.
Overextending the comparison: Students sometimes assume that because two things are alike in one way, they must be alike in all ways, leading to incorrect inferences.
Ignoring the context: Students may focus on the literal meanings of the words in the analogy instead of how the author uses the comparison to support the passage's main argument.
Students targeting 750+ should know that analogies on the Digital SAT often bridge the gap between abstract scientific theories and concrete physical observations. When you encounter a comparison in a science-based passage, identify the 'source' (the familiar thing) and the 'target' (the complex thing) to quickly map which specific properties are being transferred to the author's argument.
Figurative Language
Figurative Language on the Digital SAT refers to words or phrases used beyond their literal definitions to create specific effects. Typically appearing in the Craft and Structure domain, these devices help authors convey tone or complex ideas. Students encounter these most frequently in literary prose and poetry passages throughout both Reading and Writing modules.
Inference
Inference on the Digital SAT involves drawing logical conclusions based on provided textual evidence. These questions typically appear in the Reading and Writing section under the 'Information and Ideas' category. Students must identify the most likely implication or conclusion that is supported by, but not explicitly stated within, the passage.
Metaphor
A metaphor is a literary device that compares two unrelated things by stating one is the other. On the Digital SAT, metaphors frequently appear in the Reading and Writing section, particularly within 'Words in Context' or 'Craft and Structure' questions. Students typically encounter these figures of speech in literary prose and poetry passages.
Simile
A simile is a comparison using 'like' or 'as' to link two distinct ideas. On the Digital SAT, similes typically appear within the Reading and Writing section, specifically in 'Craft and Structure' questions. Understanding this figurative language helps students analyze an author’s purpose and tone in literary passages.
An analogy on the SAT is a rhetorical device used to compare two different things based on a shared relationship or attribute. In the Reading and Writing section, analogies help explain complex ideas by linking them to more familiar concepts. They are often used in scientific or social studies passages to make abstract data more accessible to the reader through logical comparison.
To identify an analogy, look for comparative language such as 'like,' 'as,' 'similar to,' or 'comparable to' that goes beyond a brief description. Focus on whether the author is using one concept to explain the mechanics or structure of another. If the text explains how the relationship between A and B is the same as the relationship between C and D, it is an analogy.
The difference between an analogy and a metaphor lies in their purpose and depth. A metaphor is a figure of speech that makes a direct, often poetic, comparison (e.g., 'life is a highway'). An analogy is a more extended comparison that aims to explain a logical relationship or process by showing how two different things function in a similar way.
The Digital SAT does not have a dedicated 'analogy' section, but the concept is tested indirectly. You will typically encounter approximately 2 to 5 questions per exam that require you to analyze a comparison. These usually appear in 'Rhetorical Synthesis' or 'Craft and Structure' question types within the Reading and Writing modules of the test.
