10 top tips for passing a verbal reasoning test

Verbal reasoning tests reveal how well you analyse written information. Usually, the format is a short passage of text followed by questions that you’ll answer with “True”, “False” or “Cannot say”. They’re designed to assess your ability to understand what you’ve read, think constructively and reach conclusions.

Once you know you’ve got an upcoming verbal assessment test, ask who the provider will be. There are several test providers, and each one has its quirks. Knowing who’s behind your test will give you an advantage. You’ll be able to test yourself on sample questions.

If you’re going to take your real verbal reasoning test online, complete your practice tests online. Reading and responding on-screen sometimes takes longer than on paper. It’s important to get used to this.

When practising questions, review what you got wrong. We know it’s painful to look back on errors, but you’ll learn more from mistakes than from the questions you get right. So, look out from behind your hands and take a long hard look at the questions you didn’t understand. It’s the best way to avoid repeating the same mistakes.

Brush up on your ability to absorb information and pinpoint key themes. One way to test yourself is by reading opinion articles, picking out the main points and identifying how the author supports their arguments.

If English is your second language, you’ll likely find verbal reasoning tests harder than someone who speaks English as their first language. Some words and phrasings will be unfamiliar, which makes things trickier. If you struggle with English reading and writing, practice is even more important. If you don’t already, try reading more news articles in English. It doesn’t have to be a chore – look for topics that interest you.

It’s normal to worry before a test but try to get as much rest as possible the night before. You’ll be able to think with a clearer head if you’re well-rested. So, don’t stay up late before your assessment. Resist the urge to watch one more episode and head to bed instead.

Before you start your test, take note of how long the assessment will last and how many questions you need to answer within that time. Then work out how much time you’ve got to devote to each question – and do your best to stick to it.

Most verbal reasoning tests last around 20 minutes. As a rough guide, you need to spend about a minute on each question. Always give yourself enough time for reading everything too. You need time to take in the content – not just respond to it.

Verbal reasoning test passages use complex and sometimes convoluted language. Some questions will contain red herrings to catch you out. So, read each passage two or three times to make sure you understand what is – and isn’t – being said.

Make sure you read the instructions thoroughly too, so you don’t miss information like ‘You can’t go back to previous questions’ or ‘Please select two answers’.

Don’t use general knowledge to prove or disprove a statement. You’ve got to take the information you’re presented with literally – even if it contradicts your real-life experiences.

Anything that isn’t in the passage can’t affect your decision-making process. So, if you’re given a paragraph about a café, you can’t say that it’s “True” that a latte is their best-selling drink just because you’ve read elsewhere that it’s popular. You’ll have to say “Cannot say” if they don’t mention what their best seller is, or “False” if they state they sell more cappuccinos.

Getting to grips with the types of questions you’ll face takes time. Practice and preparation will help you get ahead. So, keep practising – even after you’ve done a test for real. Practice doesn’t always make perfect, but it’ll make things easier.