Submitted to International Journal of Testing Address for correspondence:

The aim of this study is the rule-based construction of a figural analogy test, the empirical examination of its psychometric properties, and the validation of the underlying rationale. Figural analogies as subject of the test were chosen because of their indicative function of reasoning ability, a core concept of human intelligence. An analogy test of 44 items was administered to 484 students. The psychometric properties of the items were analyzed according to classical test theory as well as item response theory and the cognitive structure of the analogy test was explored by means of linear logistic test models with random item effects. Results showed that the pre-hypothesized task structure could be validated. Key-Words