Verbal Reasoning Test

Verbal reasoning tests assess a candidate's written communication and comprehension skills by examining their ability to read through a passage of text before answering questions on what they've read.

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  • What is a verbal reasoning test and what does it measure?

    A verbal reasoning test provides an employer with an opportunity to assess the skills of a candidate dealing with workplace scenarios, where communication and reading comprehension is required.

    The real challenge is related to the test-taker's ability to identify what the text passage is inferring: if something is a fact, implied or completely not true. There is also an element of time pressure, so the candidate must be efficient when processing the information and make quick high-quality judgements.

    The test essentially measures a person's ability to comprehend written information under pressure, then use their verbal reasoning skills to draw conclusions about what they've read.

Jump to a section on this page:

  1. What is a verbal reasoning test and what does it measure?
  2. Why should you use a verbal reasoning test for recruiting?
  3. The format of Pickeds verbal reasoning test
  4. Verbal Reasoning Test FAQs

About the Verbal Reasoning Test

Tests like verbal reasoning help businesses ensure candidates have the required skill set to meet role requirements when applying for a job. Verbal reasoning tests are particularly popular in the retail industry as well as for roles such as accountants, business analysts and data scientists.

A 2020 survey by the Society for Human Resource Management found that approximately 18% of all companies use aptitude tests as part of their hiring process, growing at a rate of 10–15% per year. Aptitude assessments like verbal reasoning tests help improve the quality of your hiring and help you find the best talent within your talent pool by using comparative test data.

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  • Why should you use a verbal reasoning test for recruiting?

    It can be difficult to know from just reading a resume or application form if a candidate has the verbal reasoning skills needed to meet the requirements of a job role. This is why pre-employment tests can be so essential in the hiring process.

    The test uses multiple-choice answers that provide insight into how an applicant might perform in the role.

    Using comparative data collected from verbal reasoning test scores you can quickly identify the top performers and shortlist them for the next stages of selection. This helps improve your hiring quality and significantly reduces bias. A verbal reasoning test does this better than reading a resume or conducting an interview.

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Sample Verbal Reasoning Test question

The extent to which a company is dedicated to a relationship with another company is known as its relationship commitment. Without this type of commitment, trading partners are less likely to be able to work cooperatively. On top of this, these inter-company relationships are becoming increasingly viewed as a vital factor in gaining a competitive advantage.

Developing this type of commitment requires large amounts of time and effort including resources, products, and services introduced purely to support the relationship. The related costs are even more of a problem in international business because of the hurdles companies face.

The behavioral dimensions of commitment refer to the aspects of the relationship we can observe, such as how and where resources are allocated and developed. The resources include physical, human, and financial. This is known as "behavioral commitment" or "resource commitment".

Companies find it easier to create and sustain relationship commitments with overseas partners rather than domestic ones.

  • True

  • False

  • Cannot tell

Picked Sample Report

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Results for the Verbal Reasoning Test along with other assessments the candidate takes will be compiled to produce a candidate report. The report is automatically generated and available both online and as a downloadable pdf so they can be shared with other team members and employees alike.

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The format of Pickeds verbal reasoning test

Picked's verbal reasoning test consists of multiple-choice questions and is 10 minutes long.

Candidates will be given a passage of text (no prior knowledge of the text is required) and will be asked questions on what they've read to determine their ability to process information quickly, separate fact from inference and demonstrate basic comprehension.

The questions include texts on a wide variety of topics, similar to what a job candidate can expect to face during a day at work.

Excellent reasoning and comprehension are needed to do well in the test to decipher if something is true, false or if you cannot tell. As a result of assessments being timed, verbal reasoning tests are also a good measure of how well an individual works under pressure.

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“We used Picked as part of our Finance Graduate Scheme recruitment and it was just what we needed – really simple to send candidates the link to complete and clear to see how they all compared. And great value for money!”
Christina, HR Director, Cancer Research, UK
Christina, HR Director, Cancer Research, UK
Verbal Reasoning Test expert

Written by a Verbal Reasoning Test expert

This test was created by our team of assessment experts, made up of I/O psychologists and psychometricians who are dedicated to making all of our tests as reliable, valid and fair as possible. They strictly adhere to best practices in the industry and stay on top of the latest innovations to ensure job candidates’ unique profiles of characteristics, abilities and knowledge are being measured accurately while minimising bias. They leverage decades of research and advanced predictive analytics to build assessments that link to outcomes that matter, such as job performance, turnover, engagement, culture fit and more.

“Personality profiling allowed us to perform lookalike modelling of our most successful employees and use this as a blueprint for new hires.”
Nick, HR Operations, Airbus, Spain
Nick, HR Operations, Airbus, Spain

Verbal Reasoning Test FAQs

Can I try the test for free?

Yes. All you need to do is click the 'view example' button to get a preview of a test. You'll be able to see a mix of questions, so you get a flavour of what candidates can expect.

How long does the verbal reasoning test last?

Our verbal reasoning test is 10 minutes long. Once a candidate completes their test, you will receive their raw score.

Can I mix the verbal reasoning test with other tests?

Yes. You can combine multiple tests to create a pre-employment package that meets all of your organisational and hiring requirements.

What is the cost for Picked's verbal reasoning test?

Picked offers monthly or annual subscriptions for businesses of all sizes, so choose the one that best fits your needs. You can also contact us to discuss the possibility of a custom plan suited to your specific requirements. You can check out our subscription plans here.

Which jobs is the verbal reasoning test relevant for?

There are many jobs that require verbal reasoning that you might test this skill for. Industries in particular that require verbal reasoning skills include law, engineering, retail, marketing, finance, consulting and the civil service.

Research has shown that people who score highly on these tests go on to perform well in the job for which they are applying.

Specific roles might include technical writers, business analysts, account managers, salespeople and accountants.

“Focusing on data reduced the subjective decision making from our hiring process and allowed us to reduce bias and make better hiring decisions.”
Izzie, Head of HR, iZettle, Sweden
Izzie, Head of HR, iZettle, Sweden

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