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Verbal Reasoning Tests

True, False, or Cannot Say — strictly from the passage.

What it is

Verbal reasoning tests present short passages followed by statements you must categorise as True, False, or Cannot Say — based only on the passage, not general knowledge. They are used by 71% of Top 100 UK Graduate Employers and typically run at 30 questions in 19–25 minutes.

Who uses it

  • 71% of Top 100 UK Graduate Employers
  • Civil Service Fast Stream and most government department schemes
  • Big 4 accountancy firms (Deloitte, PwC, EY, KPMG)
  • Major investment banks and financial services firms
  • Consumer goods companies (Unilever, P&G, L'Oréal)

What it tests

  • Whether a statement is directly supported, directly contradicted, or neither by the passage
  • Reading speed and comprehension under time pressure
  • Distinguishing what is stated from what is merely implied or likely
  • Maintaining strict discipline about 'Cannot Say' — if the passage doesn't confirm or deny it, the answer is Cannot Say

Common mistakes

Bringing in outside knowledge

Treat the passage as the only source of truth. Even if you know a statement is true in the real world, if the passage doesn't confirm it, the answer is Cannot Say.

Underusing 'Cannot Say'

Cannot Say is the answer for any statement the passage neither confirms nor contradicts. Candidates consistently underselect it — in many tests, it is the correct answer for 30–40% of questions.

Reading the whole passage before looking at the question

Read the question statement first, then scan the passage for the relevant section. This saves time on long passages.

Confusing 'probably true' with 'True'

The test uses formal logic. 'The CEO is likely to resign' is Cannot Say even if the passage hints at it — only use True when the passage explicitly confirms it.

How to prepare

  1. 1Practise the True/False/Cannot Say discipline on at least 50 questions before your test — the habit needs to be automatic.
  2. 2After each practice question, ask yourself: 'Where exactly in the passage is this confirmed or denied?' If you can't point to the sentence, the answer is Cannot Say.
  3. 3Time your practice sessions from the start — verbal tests are won and lost on reading speed.
  4. 4Use the same employer's test provider if known; SHL and Talent Q passages differ in length and style.

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