Verbal Reasoning Tests

Updated: 05 September 2024

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.

Looking to hire?

We recommend Test Partnership for companies seeking reliable hiring tests.

What is a verbal reasoning test?

A verbal reasoning test is used to 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.

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.

What is an example of verbal reasoning?

Take a look at the following images to see the format of a typical verbal reasoning question:

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.

Verbal reasoning tutorial - part 1

We have created a two-part verbal reasoning tutorial, in which we go through some verbal reasoning questions. This tutorial is designed to help you understand the format and process of a question.

The following video is part one of that tutorial:

Free practice verbal reasoning test

The most common verbal reasoning tests used by employers

When you are invited by an employer to take any reasoning test, try asking which test publisher they are using. You can then go to that test publisher's website to get more information and possibly example test questions. Some HR staff are surprisingly helpful with this. If it's an online test, it may mention somewhere in the emails or on the employer's website which test publishers they use.

Once you've found what test publisher is being used you can start doing research into the style of that particular test. Here are the most popular test publishers for verbal reasoning tests:

Start practising quality tests with a free account

Practice makes perfect

• Learn from detailed solutions
• Track your progress

Start for free

What's the best technique for verbal tests?

Through practice you will develop your own technique for answering aptitude test questions to the best of your ability. Many people have their own preference for how they like to answer verbal questions, and you may wish to switch your technique depending on whether you are running out of time.

Advice for before your test

Get a good night's sleep before your test so that you stay focused during your real test. It's tempting to treat an online test less seriously, but be sure you are focused and alert. If it's at an assessment centre then arrive in plenty of time so that when you sit down to take your test you are calm and collected.

Make sure you understand the instructions. If your test is at an assessment centre the test administrator will explain the instructions and you will have the opportunity to ask questions. You usually get to go through a couple of example questions before the test begins for real. You will not be allowed to ask questions once the test has started, so make sure you take this opportunity to understand the test.

Are you comfortable? Is your desk wobbly? Are you distracted by noise from the next room? Make sure you raise any problems before the test starts with the test administrator, or eliminate the problems if you are at home.

Advice for during your test

Have an idea of how much time to allow yourself for each question and know when to move on. Concentration is essential, especially when every second counts. Don't let yourself get distracted by other test takers, this will slow you down.

Don't guess. The administrator probably won't tell you if negative marking is being used but rest assured it rarely is in the verbal reasoning tests used by employers. Instead of guessing outright, often it is possible to eliminate one of the possible three answers, thus reducing your options down to two. Beware some tests do have mechanisms for detecting random guessing, and this won't look good when the employer sees that you're a slap-dash risk taker. So don't be tempted to quickly guess the last questions just before the time runs out.

Advice for after your test

Focus on the next test. Employers use a whole series of tests, interviews and assessments to select candidates. The results are used in the whole; it is not the case that a poor result in one test instantly removes you from the running. If you don't think you did particularly well in one test, try not to let this affect your performance in another test.

It is becoming ever more important for candidates to receive feedback on their performance so they know how they can improve for future assessments. Goldman Sachs Recruiter

Ask for feedback. Not all employers have the time or resource to offer this but it's worth asking. If you know how you performed, this feedback can help you better prepare for that aspect next time.

Top tips for verbal reasoning

The following video is part two of our two part verbal reasoning tutorial. If you still require extra information about verbal reasoning tests then check out verbal reasoning test tutorial and tips.

Verbal reasoning test FAQs

• What will my verbal test be like?

  By far the most common form of verbal reasoning test is one in which you are presented with a passage of text, then asked whether certain statements relating to that text are true, false, or impossible to say without more information. Some employers also test things such as word meaning, for example "which word is the odd one out". But these are rarely used anymore as they can be culturally biased.

  Although this particular style of verbal reasoning test is the most common, it always best to check online to see if it reveals the test publisher used.

• What do verbal reasoning tests measure?

  Verbal reasoning tests are designed to measure your powers of comprehension, reasoning, and logic. You will be tested on whether you jump to conclusions or you appreciate the limitations of a statement. If a passage says "it has been reported..." it does not follow that the reported aspect is necessarily true; only that it has been reported.

  Another classic example is: if the lights in a house come on, does that mean there is someone inside the building? Not necessarily. If A is bigger than B, does that mean B is small? Not necessarily. You will be tested to sort fact from inference, a lot like what's required in a real work environment. You can see why lawyers almost always have to pass a verbal reasoning test, or a critical thinking test.

  Something which will not be tested by the verbal reasoning tests used by employers is spelling. The employer is trying to measure your reasoning ability, not your vocabulary or spelling. This knowledge can be learned on the job, whereas verbal ability is an innate capability unique to each person. Recruitment tests are nothing to do with old-fashioned tests such as word association or missing words.

• Do I need to be a fast reader?

  It helps, but more important than speed is how well you understand what you are reading, and recognising the difference between fact and inference.

  Aptitude tests are normally strictly timed. The assessor will be able to see how many questions you attempted and how many of those you answered correctly. So you will need to strike a balance between attempting lots of questions and getting correct those you have attempted. For most aptitude tests you will find it difficult to answer all the questions within the time limit. However some tests allow a lot longer and they are all about your analysis and reasoning ability.

• Is verbal ability testing fair?

  If it's done properly, yes. A verbal reasoning test is much more fair on candidates than a subjective form of assessment, such as an unstructured interview, because it presents questions of similar difficulty to all candidates and is objectively scored. The results from verbal reasoning tests also tend to be less affected by background or race, so they are beneficial to both candidates and employers.

• How do you master verbal reasoning?

  The best way to master verbal reasoning is to use practice verbal tests. There is no substitute to taking timed practice assessments that are of the same format to the real tests. Our verbal reasoning tips will help you understand what is required to tackle a question.

• Can you fail a verbal reasoning test?

  Yes, you can fail a verbal reasoning test. A lot of verbal reasoning test failings are not due to poor english skills, but are due to misunderstanding of the questions / what is required. It's important to learn the rules of verbal reasoning tests and clearly understand what is expected of you, for example, you should not bring any outside knowledge of the question topic to steer your answer.