Verbal Reasoning Test

Induction is a strikingly pervasive and important function of intelligence¹. Evaluating the discourse is one of the elements of verbal reasoning, which is important because language is not just a tool for communication, it is a primary instrument of thought (Burton et al, 2009).

Verbal reasoning is key in learning contexts (e.g. School), since the activity of learning often requires listening and reading, and demonstrating one’s learning is often done via writing and speaking².

Instructions

This Verbal Reasoning Test measures your verbal and logic skills. For each question, you will be given a short text of one or two paragraphs and a question related to the written information. You must understand the content of the text and draw logical conclusions to answer the question.

This test contains 10 questions. There is no time limit.

Test example:

Disclaimer:

This test is designed as an entertaining and educational tool. The results do not constitute a psychological or psychiatric evaluation of any kind and may not offer an accurate portrait of the mental fitness of the test taker. We do not guarantee the accuracy of the results and these should not be used as an indicator of the capacities of the individual for a specific purpose.
 
Responses may be recorded and used for research purposes or to be otherwise distributed. All responses are recorded anonymously. 

What is verbal reasoning?

Verbal reasoning tests assess the ability to analyze data, interpret what is written, think constructively, and draw precise conclusions based on these processes.

Interpreting a text and drawing conclusions involves deductive and inductive reasoning. In general terms, the first one analyzes general arguments to reach a specific logical conclusion, while the second one departs from specific arguments to draw a possible general conclusion.

Although they assess both types of reasoning, verbal reasoning tests tend to place their emphasis on inductive reasoning. The texts used in the exercises are normally unclear to force the examinee to interpret them in order to understand them. That is, these tests analyze the ability to “read between the lines” of the examinees.

Verbal Reasoning Test: tips and tricks

Read the text carefully

The texts of the exercises are purposely written in a complex and convoluted way. One single reading may not be enough to understand everything that is (and is not) being said there.

Read the passage as many times as necessary until you are sure that you understand it perfectly.

Do not assume anything

Read the text carefully and draw only logical and reasonable conclusions from what is written there.

Inductive reasoning involves assuming a general concept out of smaller and more restricted ones, but it is still a logical process. Do not assume something is one way just for the sake of it. If you think something is a certain way, try to find the justification for that assumption.

Ignore your general knowledge

In a verbal reasoning test, only your ability to interpret and understand is assessed. Your previous knowledge, level of education, or intellectual development are not important, although they may indirectly influence your skills.

You are asked and expected to be able to interpret the texts literally, without evaluating the veracity of what is written.

References:

¹ Bisanz, J., Bisanz, G. & Korpan, C. (1994). Inductive Reasoning. In Robert Sternberg (Ed.)Thinking and Problem Solving (2.nd Ed.) 179–213

² Burton, N., Welsh, C., Kostin, I & van Essen, T. (2009). Toward a definition of verbal reasoning in higher education. ETS Report Series. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2333-8504.2009.tb02190.x