It is very interesting to see how much detail I miss in reading the information, and this is helping me prepare and making me more aware of my own shortfalls
What are verbal reasoning tests?
Verbal reasoning tests examine your ability to quickly read, understand and pull out key information from dense passages of text. The test is largely designed to see how strong your literacy skills are, but your accuracy and ability to keep a cool head under pressure will also be put to the test. Reading quickly without misunderstanding or misinterpreting information is a skill that can be transferred to a huge variety of job roles, and the verbal reasoning test is essentially a way of testing how well you fare at it.
Why do employers use verbal reasoning tests?
All employers value candidates with excellent language and comprehension skills, regardless of the nature of the job. Although it’s more common to be asked to take a numerical reasoning test for a job in the finance industry, many roles in the sector require strong communication skills and an ability to extract important information from long passages of text. As a result, application processes for finance roles are increasingly involving verbal reasoning tests.
What is the verbal reasoning test format?
Every test is different so it’s impossible to know the exact format. However, a lot of the tests require you to read a passage of text and then answer questions on that passage. More often than not the answers are multiple choice, so you can opt for ‘true’, ‘false’, or ‘cannot say.’ The great thing is that no prior knowledge is required - the answers are literally right there in front of you. However, doing well on the test really is a skill, and one that requires practice.
What skills does verbal reasoning test?
Overall, verbal reasoning tests have been designed to examine your language and communication skills. It’s very important in the test to correctly identify whether something is a fact, or if it's just been inferred, the subtle difference between the two can trip people up. It may sound easy, but with the clock ticking and a lot of reading to do - it’s about thinking clearly and not letting the time pressure get to you.
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Sample Verbal Reasoning Tests question Test your knowledge!
What implication can be drawn about the role of technological advancements in remote work from the passage?
Recent trends in technological advancement have led to significant changes in the way remote work is perceived and implemented. While traditional office environments provided structured schedules and environments, remote work has introduced greater flexibility and autonomy. However, an increase in isolation and a reduction in collaborative opportunities are also marked drawbacks. Companies are prompted to consider alternative measures to maintain productivity while not compromising on employee well-being.
- Technological advancements have had little impact on the perception and implementation of remote work.
- Technological advancements are solely responsible for the drawbacks associated with remote work.
- Technological advancements have been crucial to the increased flexibility and autonomy in remote work.
- The advancements are impeding the development of collaborative tools for remote work.
After reading the passage, which of the following inferences is supported by the author's argument?
Recent trends in technological advancement have led to significant changes in the way remote work is perceived and implemented. While traditional office environments provided structured schedules and environments, remote work has introduced greater flexibility and autonomy. However, an increase in isolation and a reduction in collaborative opportunities are also marked drawbacks. Companies are prompted to consider alternative measures to maintain productivity while not compromising on employee well-being.
- Technological advancements have made remote work less structured than traditional office environments.
- Most companies have fully transitioned to remote work due to technological advancements.
- The shift to remote work has universally improved employee productivity and well-being.
- Remote work eliminates the potential for isolation among employees.
According to the passage, what can be inferred about the author’s viewpoint on collaborative opportunities in remote work?
Recent trends in technological advancement have led to significant changes in the way remote work is perceived and implemented. While traditional office environments provided structured schedules and environments, remote work has introduced greater flexibility and autonomy. However, an increase in isolation and a reduction in collaborative opportunities are also marked drawbacks. Companies are prompted to consider alternative measures to maintain productivity while not compromising on employee well-being.
- Collaborative opportunities have increased with the adoption of remote work.
- The author views the reduction in collaborative opportunities as a drawback of remote work.
- Isolation has no impact on collaborative opportunities in remote work environments.
- Companies have not noticed any change in collaborative opportunities with remote work.
Based on the passage, what assumption is made about the relationship between employee well-being and productivity?
Recent trends in technological advancement have led to significant changes in the way remote work is perceived and implemented. While traditional office environments provided structured schedules and environments, remote work has introduced greater flexibility and autonomy. However, an increase in isolation and a reduction in collaborative opportunities are also marked drawbacks. Companies are prompted to consider alternative measures to maintain productivity while not compromising on employee well-being.
- Employee well-being and productivity are unrelated in remote work scenarios.
- Productivity automatically increases when employee well-being is compromised.
- Maintaining employee well-being may help sustain productivity.
- Companies prioritize productivity over employee well-being in remote work environments.
What is the primary concern for companies when implementing remote work, as highlighted in the passage?
Recent trends in technological advancement have led to significant changes in the way remote work is perceived and implemented. While traditional office environments provided structured schedules and environments, remote work has introduced greater flexibility and autonomy. However, an increase in isolation and a reduction in collaborative opportunities are also marked drawbacks. Companies are prompted to consider alternative measures to maintain productivity while not compromising on employee well-being.
- Remote work has reduced the need for technology in business operations.
- The key concern is ensuring a structured schedule similar to traditional offices.
- The main focus is on maintaining productivity without affecting employee well-being.
- Decreasing autonomy and flexibility is the primary concern.
Fintest is not the cheapest, but definitely the best.
Virat used Fintest to help pass her aptitude tests for Santander.
Verbal Reasoning Tests Tips
- Practice Makes Perfect
To excel in Verbal Reasoning tests, regularly practicing is key. Familiarize yourself with the types of passages and questions you'll encounter. Fintest offers a myriad of practice questions that simulate the real test environment, ensuring you're not caught off-guard on test day.
- Hone Your Comprehension Skills
Verbal Reasoning isn't just about reading—it's about understanding deeply. Improve your comprehension by summarizing passages after you read them. This exercise will help sharpen your ability to extract essential information quickly, a skill that's invaluable, not just for the test but for your future job in the financial sector.
- Focus on Time Management
While practicing with Fintest, be mindful of the time. Work on pacing yourself to ensure that you can answer all questions within the allotted time. The more you practice, the better your time management skills will become. Remember, the goal is accuracy with efficiency.
- True, False, Cannot Say
Understanding the nature of 'True, False, Cannot Say' questions is imperative. Each response requires a different approach. 'True' must be explicitly stated in the text, 'False' must be explicitly contradicted, and 'Cannot Say' means the information wasn’t given. Practice this reasoning with Fintest's tailored questions to master this question type.
- Stay Calm and Read Carefully
Test anxiety can affect your performance. Stay calm and read each question and passage carefully. If you find yourself getting nervous, take a deep breath and refocus on the text. Use Fintest's practice exams to build confidence so that on the test day, you'll feel prepared and less stressed.
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Verbal Reasoning Tests FAQs
- How are verbal reasoning tests scored?
You’ll be scored based on your answers, but most verbal reasoning tests don’t have a pass mark as such. Instead, your result will be compared to the result of everyone else who took the same test.
- What are verbal reasoning tests used for?
The tests are used to get a clearer idea of how well you process and filter information - an important skill that you’ll need in most workplaces, and particularly in the finance sector.
- What do verbal reasoning tests involve?
You’ll read through passages of text looking for the answers to a series of questions. Normally you’re looking to answer each one as either ‘true’, ‘false’ or ‘cannot say.’ The art of determining whether something is a fact or has just been suggested is something that takes practice.
- What do verbal reasoning tests measure?
The tests measure people’s ability to extract important information from lots of text, as well as how well you cope in a time pressure situation. Both are essential skills for any workplace.
- Where can I practice verbal reasoning tests?
You can practice verbal reasoning tests on our website. As well as test answers, you can access valuable hints, tips and tricks that’ll ensure you get better with every go.
- Which employers use verbal reasoning tests?
A huge variety of industries rely on verbal reasoning tests as a means of filtering out the candidates that have the right communication skills for the job. In the finance sector it’s becoming more and more common, as employers seek to find individuals with excellent communication skills.
Some popular companies you might have heard of that use verbal reasoning tests include:
Reviews
What our customers say about our Verbal Reasoning Tests
ornella zaurrini
South Africa
January 18, 2023
Enlightening ...
Hayah Best
Egypt
January 27, 2023
Interesting
I liked the idea of this platform very much. It develops thinking, entertains time, and opens horizons. I enjoyed every minute of the exams I took.
Nicolas Verne
Peru
January 27, 2023
Just trust your reading
I learned that it is not that difficult to understand or process these texts, just trust your understanding, and go beyond
Sergey Sydorenko
Spain
February 09, 2023
Be careful
The test has a clear structure, while some questions require specific attention and need to review the passage repeatedly. This is a great practice anyway.
Afaq Khan
Pakistan
March 01, 2023
Following the detail
Following the detail and not using gut instinct is what matters to me the most. That is to say that we should only use the info provided to answer questions.
Adetutu Ajagunna
Nigeria
April 17, 2023
Useful to help understand the context of the argument
I like the simplicity of the questions!
Erin Palla
South Africa
April 17, 2023
Take things slow
I liked that it seemed brief and quick. Make sure to read the question and passages carefully!
KHOO LI HENG Moe
Malaysia
June 27, 2023
It's quite challenging
I liked how the test made me think more to comprehensively understand the paragraph in order to answer the questions
Thami Tlape
Botswana
November 03, 2023
It was difficult, needs more practice
It give me more practice heading to my real psychometic test. What i dont like is that the examples are long. it consumes take to read the whole paragraph
Aine Joan
Uganda
November 03, 2023
Tricky
I like the fact that the test needs a lot of paying attention to details and understanding different words in different contexts