Verbal Reasoning Sub-test

Welcome to the Verbal Reasoning Test. This assessment measures verbal and deductive reasoning: how well you work out relationships between words, and how reliably you follow an argument to its conclusion.

How the test works

This is an adaptive test. It chooses each question based on how you have answered the ones before it, so the questions become harder when you are doing well and easier when you are not. That is normal and it is not a sign of how you are doing — almost everybody finds the questions difficult somewhere, because the test works by finding the level at which they are.

Because of that, the test is not the same length for everybody. It stops as soon as it has measured you accurately enough, which usually takes ten to twelve questions and never more than sixteen. A shorter test is not a worse result.

Test overview

• Questions: between 6 and 16, decided as you go
• Time per question: 40 or 60 seconds, depending on the type
• Time for the whole test: 5 minutes 30 seconds
• Format: multiple choice, one question at a time

Question types

• Verbal analogy: work out the relationship between two words, and choose the option that completes the same relationship.
• Odd one out: choose the option that does not belong with the others, by meaning or by relationship.
• Ordering: work out the correct order or position of items from the comparisons you are given.
• Syllogism: decide which conclusion follows logically from the premises you are given.

Before you start

Have pen and paper ready — the ordering and syllogism questions are much easier to keep straight on paper. Find somewhere quiet where you will not be interrupted, because the clock does not stop once a question is on screen.

When you are ready, click Begin. You will start with a short untimed practice, which does not count towards your result.