Verbal Reasoning Tests

Verbal reasoning tests are used by employers to assess candidates' reading and communication skills. If you are about to take one of these tests, you can expect to read through long passages of text on a variety of different subjects before answering questions related to the content.

Being able to read and extract important information from dense pieces of writing is a crucial skill - and one that’ll serve you well in the public sector.

You won’t need any prior knowledge of the subjects you’re reading about because verbal reasoning tests analyse your ability to process the information in front of you.

There are many jobs within the public sector that require excellent communication skills - because reading and extracting important information is something you’ll do every day.

As a result, public sector employers often use verbal reasoning tests as part of the hiring process. They’ll be looking for candidates who are able to answer questions efficiently and accurately, and show examples of differentiating between fact and fiction.

The best way you can prepare yourself for the test is to practice verbal reasoning tests beforehand - and as many as you can.

Most tests contain multiples passage of long-form text, and require candidates to answer multiple-choice questions on the text.

More often than not, the form these answers take are a choice between, ‘true’, ‘false’, or ‘cannot say.’ Multiple choice may sound easy, but learning to differentiate between solid facts and suggested ideas is a skill that takes practice to hone.

However, the good news is that reading up on the subjects you’ll encounter on the test isn’t necessary - all the answers will be right there in front of you!

Your reading and processing skills will be put to the test. Employers are looking to find people who can read through dense blocks of text under considerable time pressure, while extracting the information needed to correctly interpret each question’s meaning.

A successful verbal reasoning candidate will show that they can take instruction, remain calm under pressure and demonstrate solid communication skills.