Short answer: a verbal reasoning test gives you a short passage and asks whether statements about it are true, false, or “cannot say”. You answer only from the passage, not from what you already know. Time is short, so how you read matters as much as how well you read.
Last checked: 15 October 2026. By Prepti. Spotted something out of date? Contact us.
What it measures
SHL says its verbal tests are designed to measure your ability to understand written information and to evaluate arguments about it (SHL practice tests). SHL’s example page describes the usual format: a passage of text followed by one or more statements, and you decide whether each is true, false, or whether you cannot say from the passage (SHL example questions).
Formats you may see
- Passage with true / false / cannot say statements. The format above.
- Short combined tests. Saville’s Swift ranges combine verbal with numerical and other aptitudes, taking 9.5 to 24 minutes in total depending on the range (Saville aptitude tests).
- Other formats exist. Check your invitation or the publisher’s candidate page to see which version you have.
What “cannot say” means
Pick true only if the passage clearly says it or makes it certain. Pick false only if the passage clearly contradicts it. Pick cannot say if the passage does not give you enough to decide, even if the statement sounds likely.
A worked example
This passage and these statements are original, written for this page.
> A library introduced a free membership scheme in March. By June, 1,200 people had joined, and half of them had borrowed at least one book. The library has not yet published figures for the cost of the scheme.
Statement 1: More than 500 people who joined the scheme had borrowed a book by June.
Half of 1,200 is 600, and 600 is more than 500. True.
Statement 2: The scheme has cost the library more than it has brought in.
The passage says the cost has not been published and says nothing about income. Cannot say.
Statement 3: The scheme started in April.
The passage says March. False.
Reading under time pressure
- Read the statement first, then find the sentence in the passage that decides it.
- Watch small words: “all”, “only”, “never”, “at least”, “more than”.
- Do not spend a long time on one passage if your test lets you move on.
Common mistakes
- Using outside knowledge. The passage is the only evidence.
- Choosing true or false when the answer is cannot say. This is the most common trap on this format.
- Missing a number or qualifier such as “half of them” or “at least”.
- Reading too much into one word.
How to practise
- Free official practice first. SHL offers a free verbal reasoning practice test (SHL practice tests). Saville offers free timed practice tests for its aptitude ranges (Saville practice advice).
- Practise reading short passages and writing down why each answer is true, false or cannot say.
- Add a timer only once the format feels familiar.
- Paid packs are optional. See how we compare them in how we rank.
Prepti also has a free verbal reasoning practice test: 20 original questions, 12 of them true, false or cannot say on short passages, each with an explanation. It is unofficial and does not predict any real result.
Is Watson-Glaser the same thing?
No. Watson-Glaser is a critical thinking test from Pearson TalentLens. It has 40 items in 30 to 40 timed minutes and measures things such as recognising assumptions, evaluating arguments and drawing conclusions (TalentLens). It overlaps with verbal reasoning, but if your invitation names Watson-Glaser, prepare for that test specifically. See our Watson-Glaser test prep page.
Calculators and dictionaries
SHL’s candidate support notes that a test’s time limit may make extra resources, such as a dictionary for a verbal test, inadvisable (SHL support). Check your invitation for your test’s rules.
For calculator rules by test, see our calculator guide.
FAQ
Do I need a wide vocabulary? You need to read business-style English accurately and quickly. Nothing here is a vocabulary test unless your invitation says otherwise.
Is the test timed? Usually yes. The limit depends on the test and the employer.
Can I use a dictionary? Check your invitation. See above.
What is a good score? Employers set cut-offs and mostly do not publish them. We do not give pass marks.
Can I practise for free? Yes. SHL and Saville both publish free practice tests, and Prepti has a free verbal reasoning practice test of original, unofficial questions.
I need extra time. Who do I ask? The employer, before you start. SHL says extensions need the employer’s approval (SHL support).