What is a verbal reasoning test?

Mar 24, 2023

Written By Lawrence Topley

A verbal reasoning test is an assessment used by some law firms as part of their application process. The aim of the test is to assess your ability to take in and analyse information. Successful applicants will have to score either higher than a benchmarked score, or in the top percentile compared to other applicants, in order to progress to the next stage.

What does a verbal reasoning test consist of?

A verbal reasoning test is usually in the form of a comprehension style set of questions. The test can last up to 30 minutes, with around 15-20 questions. Typically there will be a long passage of text which you will have to read, before answering questions on its contents and meaning. From this you will be asked whether a series of statements are true, false or if there is insufficient information.

It is designed like the Watson Glaser in the sense that it requires careful and organised thinking, and does not require any special knowledge of law or other topics.

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How can I do well on a verbal reasoning test?

The test may seem a daunting prospect, but you can achieve a high score and progress to the next stage with some simple tips:

Reading the text carefully

It may seem obvious, but carefully reading and combing over the text is vital. Although you do not have long, taking your time to read the whole passage is crucial to gain an understanding of the text, which you can then apply to the question. Instead of reading the questions first and then finding the answers in the text, read the passage first as it will save you time.

Furthermore, the passage is designed to be tricky to digest. It can contain double negatives and long-winded sentences. Hence, it is very important you understand the whole of the passage to build an accurate picture, to determine how you answer the question.

Avoiding assumptions

As mentioned earlier the test does not require any special knowledge. Some candidates falter by making assumptions using the knowledge they already have and allowing this to influence their decision making in finding the correct answer. Since this is not a test of whether something makes sense in real life, you should only use the information available to you in the text to form your answer.

Therefore, you should avoid making assumptions while reading the text based on your own knowledge.

Practice

As with anything, practice is key. These are skills which can be improved with repetition and experience. It will also give you a chance to get used to the format and style of the questions, as well as allowing you to gain a sense of how you should manage your time during the test itself.

There are practice tests available online, and often the firm you’re applying to will provide you with at least one beforehand. Completing this will allow you to learn from your mistakes and ensure you are ready to do the test.

Overview

The verbal reasoning test is a comprehension-style assessment designed to assess your ability to take in and analyse information.

To be successful, reading the passage and statement carefully is crucial. You should avoid making assumptions based on your knowledge and the test does not require any special knowledge. Finally, doing practice tests will allow you to understand question styles, improve your time management and provide you the opportunity to learn from your mistakes.

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