What is a verbal reasoning test?
A verbal reasoning test asks you to understand written information and evaluate a statement or argument. Some formats use true, false and cannot say; others ask you to choose the conclusion best supported by a passage. Read the directions before treating two formats as interchangeable.
Use three distinct decisions
- True: the passage supports the statement.
- False: the passage contradicts the statement.
- Cannot say: the passage does not give enough information to decide.
For the examples below, use only the passage. An explanation that seems sensible in real life is not evidence in this task.
Original practice passage
All analysts who joined the firm in September attended the induction workshop. Some of those analysts also attended a spreadsheet session. The firm has not published attendance figures for employees who joined in other months.
Question 1
“Every analyst who joined in September attended the induction workshop.” True, false or cannot say?
Answer and explanation
True. This restates the first sentence. “All” covers every analyst in the specified September group.
Question 2
“No September analysts attended a spreadsheet session.” True, false or cannot say?
Answer and explanation
False. The passage says some of those analysts attended the session. “Some” establishes that at least one did, which contradicts “no”.
Question 3
“Analysts who joined in August did not attend induction.” True, false or cannot say?
Answer and explanation
Cannot say. No attendance information is supplied for August. Absence of published figures does not establish absence from the workshop.
Notice the scope of a claim
Words such as all, some, only, must and may can change a conclusion. “All September analysts attended” does not imply that only September analysts attended. Nor does it tell you that everyone at the workshop was an analyst.
When reviewing an answer, point to the exact sentence that supports or contradicts it. If your explanation needs an additional fact, check whether that fact was supplied. If it was not, you may have inferred more than the passage allows.
Add pace after the distinction is clear
Practise identifying the claim and its evidence before using a clock. Then review whether time pressure makes you confuse false with cannot say. Follow the provider’s navigation rules; not every platform allows you to return to a passage.
Continue with logical reasoning examples to practise the related skill of drawing conclusions from explicit rules.
Try the interactive reasoning samples, then browse timed aptitude practice. The examples here are original learning exercises. Your employer’s invitation controls the live format and rules.