A commonly used type of Aptitude Test is the Verbal Reasoning Tests, as effective communication is one of the most essential skills in the world of work. Without expecting you to be a 21st century Shakespear, Verbal Reasoning Tests are built, simply with an aim to determine whether a candidate has the suitable level of literacy proficiency for the role they apply to. Below is an in-depth introduction to what a Verbal Reasoning Test is, as well as how and why they are used within the recruitment process.
Table of Contents
Defining Verbal Reasoning Tests
Verbal Reasoning Tests assess your ability to absorb, analyse and comprehend textual information, in the language your role requires you to communicate in. These tests are usually made up of paragraphs consisting of information related to your industry and multiple-choice style questions. Your job as a candidate is to read and examine the information given very closely and the most important of all is to avoid all assumptions, to complete the test accurately. Verbal Reasoning Tests help you and employers explore not only your literacy proficiency, but also your attention to details, mental agility and ability to maintain objectivity in different scenarios. Like other types of Aptitude Tests, their main goal is determining your potential rather than your depth of experience; therefore, they are normally seen in early career recruitment to scout for the best fits to a position. Major players like Unilever, L’oreal, Deloitte, EY and many more are all using them at the start of their assessment process for internships, industrial placements and graduate programmes.
How things work
Verbal Reasoning Tests are often part of the very first step in your online application, alongside or as a replacement of a CV and Cover Letter, besides other tests like Situational Judgement, Numerical Reasoning and Diagrammatic Reasoning Tests. You will be given a piece of written content with factual information regarding a topic relevant to the industry your role is based in and the task is to draw inferences from these sets of data, via selecting ‘True’, ‘False’, ‘Cannot Tell’ or other similar alternatives, depending on the purpose of questions and sometimes, the test provider. The tests might or might not be timed; however, it is likely that how quickly you are able to extract and process information will have an impact on your overall result. There is usually no fixed score to pass; instead, your performance will be reflected on a scale compared to other candidates, followed by a number of top performers being selected to the next stage, usually a video or phone interview and if successful, an Assessment Centre.
A quick starter guide
The most efficient way to get acquainted to Verbal Reasoning Tests, or any Aptitude Tests for that matter, is to know your Top Industry Tests before you even begin, and your test publisher (test provider) once an invitation has been sent to your email following registration. Although made for candidates of various levels and backgrounds, it is still worth practicing in a quiet environment well in advance to thoroughly understand the format and pacing of the questions, as well as to review your performance for future improvement. Most practice tests offer a very detailed feedback of your strengths and weaknesses, ensuring your fluency when it comes to the real assessments.
Try our FREE Verbal Reasoning Tests from some of the major publishers like Cubiks, TalentLens, Pearson and Saville.
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