Brilliant Passing Verbal Reasoning Tests

An Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society, Rob Williams is a Chartered Psychologist with over 25 years of experience working and designing tests. He is also the author of five psychometric test design books and has worked for the leading global psychometric test publishers including SHL, Kenexa IBM, MBTI, CAPP and SOVA Assessment.

Our Brilliant Passing Verbal Reasoning Tests book is available for download from the Apple Store.

Everything you need to know to practice and pass verbal reasoning tests

Rob Williams

Are you chasing a job that you really want, but need to take a verbal reasoning test to get it?

With the help of this book, you’ll sharpen your skills and quickly become confident in your ability to pass.

Brilliant Passing Numerical Reasoning Tests book – also available for download from the Apple Store.

– – –  See our Brilliant Passing Numerical Reasoning Tests book post  – – –

Quantitative Reasoning Assessment Practice

Although you may not finish the test, the best strategy is to answer as many questions as you can in the time available.

  • Firstly, before deciding on your final answer. You may be able to rule out one or two of the multiple-choice questions as incorrect.
  • Secondly, read each question and also review each chart very carefully. Take one chart and its associated questions at a time. Only start looking at the answer options once you have done this.
  • Ensure that you are also aware of the units of measurement that each question is referring to.
  • Each question is worth the same so don’t spend too long on a single question. So, remember that you may find subsequent questions easier to answer. If there is time at the end of the test you can return to any unfinished questions.
  • Work efficiently, but do not rush. You may not finish the test. However, the best strategy is to answer as many questions as you can in the time available.
  • Remember to only use the information that is provided in the charts. Do not use any of your own background knowledge.
  • Lastly, round up any decimal points and any pence.

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Passing numerical/verbal reasoning assessments

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 Free online numerical reasoning test practice / free online verbal reasoning test practice

Passing numerical reasoning assessments

There aren’t any quick wins for being good at maths but some focussed practise will improve your score, as well following a few test-taking strategies.

As a timed assessment, you need to average around one minute per question. Work briskly but accurately. Each question counts the same so pick off the easy ones first and don’t waste your test time on the most difficult questions.

Numerical reasoning test practice is an excellent means of brushing-up on any maths functions you haven’t used in a while. Ensure that you are comfortable using data tables, interpreting graphs and manipulating large financial figures.

You can practise the most common numerical test types at the main test publisher websites. Practise sample questions from Kenexa-IBM, TalentQ and SHL as these sites cover most of the tests you are likely to find.

Passing verbal reasoning assessments 

Verbal reasoning assessments come in many different types of format.

The traditional comprehension format is to have a short passage followed by a series of questions – asking about facts, opinions, and conclusions – based on its content, a bit like those English tests in primary school where you answered questions on a novel extract.

Regardless of the type of test, it’s vital to carefully read each question. Often questions hinge on one or two keywords, so you must take more care to interpret these accurately. If questioned whether something “always” applies whilst the passage states that it is “sometimes” the case, then this is a false interpretation.

Scan the passage initially and then read it in more detail. It’s easier to answer each question if you can recall roughly where to find the answer in the text.

Passing abstract reasoning assessments

These ask you to look for the changing pattern(s) in the “pictures”.

The easier questions typically appear at the start of the assessment and will involve one change in colour, position, size etc .of the figures shown.

Questions become more difficult as you progress and must spot two or three changes in any of the features shown. Once you’ve worked out at least one of the feature changes, check through the answer options to discount those that do not conform.

Passing personality assessments

When it comes to answering psychometric surveys that evaluate personality, the best advice is to give your “first response”.

Visualise how you would behave at work on a typical good day. Don’t second guess what is being looked for since “faking” and lying are easily picked up.

Like anything, practice makes perfect. And don’t be afraid to ask the employer which publisher’s tests they use – most will be happy to tell you.

Being familiar with the format, as well as the kinds of questions asked, will give you a clear advantage. On the day, keep calm and remember that most assessments are timed, so answer the questions as swiftly as you can.

What do psychometric assessments measure?

Ability tests can assess a specific ability (Verbal, Numerical, Spatial) or more general level of reasoning (Abstract, Non-Verbal).

Personality assessments broadly divided into those which assess personality traits (16PF) and those, which assess personality types (Myers Briggs). This difference relates back to the personality theory on which the test is based.

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