Verbal reasoning tests for jobs: what to expect and how to practise

Key takeaways

• →A job verbal reasoning test gives you a passage and asks if a statement is true, false or cannot be told.
• →You answer only from the passage, never from what you already know.
• →Tests are timed and scored against other candidates, so speed and accuracy both count.
• →Read the question first, then look for the answer in the passage.
• →You can ask for reasonable adjustments, and the earlier you ask the better.

1. What is a verbal reasoning test for a job?

TARGETjobs, the graduate careers site, defines verbal reasoning as the ability to understand ideas put in words and to reach logical conclusions from them. Employers use the test to see how well you can analyse written information. It names the Civil Service and PwC as graduate employers that use it.^[1]

Glasgow’s careers service puts verbal reasoning among the ability testsTests of thinking skills, such as reading, number or logic., also called aptitude tests, which it calls the most widely used tests by employers. This guide is about the test for jobs. The 11+ test of the same name is different, and our guide to verbal and non-verbal reasoning for the 11+ covers that.^[3]

2. What do the questions look like?

TARGETjobs says the test is a series of passages, each followed by one or more questions. The topic is chosen by the employer and you need no prior knowledge. For each statement you pick true, false or inconclusiveThe passage does not give enough to say true or false.. LSE words the third choice as “cannot be determined”.^[1]

LSE Careers adds that other question types can appear, such as spotting a misspelled word, finding a grammar error or choosing the best word to finish a sentence. At graduate level, it says the passage and true, false or cannot determine format is the usual one.^[2]

TARGETjobs lists the skills tested: comprehension, judging arguments and statements, vocabulary and picking out the key points.^[1]

3. How long is it, and how is it marked?

TARGETjobs says you typically get between one and three minutes for each question, and the limit may apply to each question or to the whole test. LSE mentions a time limit without giving a figure, and Glasgow does not give a length either. The invitation from your employer is the place to find the real timings.^[1]

Glasgow says tests are now almost always done on a computer, mostly multiple choice and timed. Results are usually compared with how others have done before, and your percentile scoreYour score compared with others, such as 80th means ahead of 80%. reflects both speed and accuracy. Some tests use negative markingWrong answers lose marks, so wild guesses can cost you., so guessing can lower your score.^[3]

4. What are the best tips on the day?

All three sources give the same core advice: answer only from the information in the passage, not from your own knowledge, and take statements literally unless they say otherwise. LSE adds that you should read every answer option, because some are similar or meant to mislead, and follow the instructions closely.^[2]

Glasgow suggests reading the question before the passage so you know what to look for, using eliminationCrossing out answers you know are wrong to narrow the choice. on multiple choice, and moving on from a hard question rather than dwelling on it. If you take several tests in one go, take a break between them.^[3]

5. How do you practise?

TARGETjobs says to read each passage fully, practise beforehand to learn the format and speed up, and read widely, including industry news and unfamiliar technical material. It also checks commonly confused words. It mentions brain-training apps but says the evidence for their claims is unclear, so practice tests and reading should be most of your preparation.^[1]

LSE suggests timed online practice tests, reading newspapers and manuals while asking what each piece is for, and looking up new words. It names AssessmentDay, VerbalReasoningTest and JobTestPrep as sources of free practice tests, and GraduatesFirst for students who have a subscription through LSE Careers. TARGETjobs names AssessmentDay, Test Partnership and Saville Assessments. Glasgow adds crosswords and word puzzles, and setting yourself a time limit to read a piece of writing.^[2]

Practice tests will not match the real one exactly, as Glasgow points out, but they get you used to the pressure. Our guides to the Watson Glaser test and situational judgement tests cover two other tests you may meet in the same application.^[3]

6. Can you ask for adjustments, and what about taking it at home?

Glasgow says to ask for a reasonable adjustmentA change to the test, such as extra time, for a disability or need. as early as you can, for example as soon as you are invited to take a test. Examples it gives include text-to-speechSoftware that reads the screen aloud. compatibility, larger text, extra time or no timer, or a written version of an online test. It warns that a lower pass mark is unlikely to be offered.^[3]

For tests at home, Glasgow advises a quiet place with no interruptions, and paper, a pen and a calculator ready.^[3]

7. Where does the test fit in an application?

A verbal reasoning test is one of several tests an employer may set, as Glasgow’s list of selection tests shows. If your application is for a graduate scheme, that guide shows the order of the stages, and our assessment centres guide covers the day that can follow.^[1]

8. How Brainhub can help

Brainhub offers coaching for students and graduates preparing for applications and tests. We help you plan, practise timed reading and review your wrong answers so you learn the rules. We coach, so the answers are always your own, we never sit tests or write applications for you, and we cannot promise an offer or a job. See our online tutoring page for how sessions work, and the contact form to ask about careers coaching.

1. 1. What are the three answers to a typical statement?

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2. 2. Where must your answer come from?

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3. 3. Why can guessing hurt?

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4. 4. When should you ask for an adjustment?

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Your next steps

1. 01

   Check your invitation for the time limit and format.

2. 02

   Take one timed practice test.

3. 03

   Review every wrong answer and note the rule you missed.

4. 04

   Book a practice session with a coach if you want one.