Have you been asked to take a verbal reasoning test but not sure on what to expect? Need to boost your test performance score?
Our experts have all the advice and practice tests you need to prepare for your test. The practice tests on AssessmentDay simulate the tests used by employers, so read through this guide and take some of our example questions to become familiar with the industry-standard style and layout.
What is a verbal reasoning test?
Verbal reasoning tests assess your ability to understand and comprehend written passages. They are designed to measure your verbal comprehension, reasoning and logic, all through your understanding of language. Some people when reading a statement jump to conclusions or misinterpret information – this is what the test will be able to find out about you.
Verbal reasoning tests usually take the form of a written passage followed by a series of questions with possible True, False or Cannot Say responses. It is important you know and appreciate the meaning of each response if you are to score highly.
- True – The statement follows logically given the information contained within the passage.
- False – The statement cannot logically follow given the information contained within the passage.
- Cannot Say – It is not possible to determine given the information contained within the passage alone; i.e. more information would be required to say for certain.
The best way to perform your best in a psychometric test is to be familiar with the test format and know what to expect. Practice is the best way to maximise your chances of test success.
Why do employers use verbal reasoning tests?
Verbal Reasoning tests are used because they are better at predicting candidates’ job performance than interviews, CVs and other traditional methods of selection. Employers use your verbal reasoning score, together with other selection factors such as interview performance, to help them decide which candidate is most suitable for the role.
Employers who use verbal reasoning tests are able to determine your skill level when dealing with language. This is a core skill in any working environment making verbal reasoning tests extremely popular, even for roles which are not immediately thought of as requiring strong verbal skills.
Why do employers use verbal reasoning tests?
Verbal reasoning tests are an effective way to reveal a candidate’s language and comprehension skills, and their ability to apply reasoning and logic.
These are key in any working environment, which is why verbal reasoning tests are so popular with employers in a wide range of industries – even those you might not think require strong verbal skills.
Many employers also regard verbal reasoning tests as more fair than other types of assessment, such as an unstructured interview. This is because all candidates face questions of a similar level of difficulty and their tests are scored objectively.
So verbal reasoning tests may help to provide a more level playing field for applicants from all backgrounds. However, a verbal reasoning test is likely only to form one part of a wider selection process, and your performance in all areas will be taken into consideration by the employer.
How do verbal reasoning tests work? What skills are required?
There are two main formats of verbal reasoning tests:
Verbal critical reasoning – these test your ability to apply logic by confirming whether a given statement is verified by the text provided.
Reading comprehension – these assess your ability to digest written information and then use the information provided to answer questions quickly and accurately.
The most common form is the true/false/cannot say test, where you are required to read some text and then determine whether the statement that follows is true, false or impossible to say based on the information provided.
Other forms of verbal reasoning tests you may encounter are:
Explicit multiple choice – here the answer to questions will be explicitly stated in the text. For example ‘Who said..?’ or ‘How many..?’
Implicit multiple choice – here the answer will not be explicitly stated but can be inferred from details provided in the text. For example ‘What made the employee decide to…?’; or ‘What caused…?’
Meta multiple choice – here the answer does not refer to details specifically given in the text but requires the candidate to answer broader questions such as ‘What can we conclude from…?’ or ‘Which statement would weaken the argument..?’
Regardless of the format of the test, you will need to read text, interpret information and decide on the most logical conclusion. It is important to remember that no previous knowledge of the passage topic is required, so make your decisions based solely on the information you’re given.
As well as or instead of verbal reasoning tests, you may also be asked to take a verbal test assessing your language and literacy skills. This could include:
Grammar and spelling – checking your knowledge of correct spelling and grammar. These might include questions such as find the new word and word swap (for more on those, check out the videos at the bottom of this article).
Vocabulary – testing the range of your vocabulary and your ability to identify correctly how ideas are related. This is usually in the form of synonyms or antonyms (words which have the same or opposite meaning to another).
Word analogy – testing your ability to find the relationship between a pair of words.