Many airlines use verbal reasoning as part of their initial screening process. Unlike an English fluency test, this isn’t checking whether you understand the language. It’s checking how carefully and accurately you can evaluate written information under real-time pressure.
This test checks your ability to understand, analyse, and evaluate data from written information.
In this test, you will be presented with statements that need to be evaluated individually. Your task is to evaluate the truthfulness of the individual statements based only on the information in the brief (that is, the different data sheets). First, read the statement, then select and look at the data sheet needed to evaluate that statement.
Then, evaluate the statement. Select TRUE if the statement is absolutely true given the information contained in the brief. Select FALSE if the statement is absolutely untrue given the information contained in the brief. Select CANNOT SAY if you cannot say, without further information, if the statement is true or false based on the information contained in the brief.
Before you begin:
- The test includes 23 tasks. You will be given 10-minutes to complete these 23 tasks. Most people cannot complete all 23 tasks in 10-minutes.
- The test cannot be interrupted once you have started it.
- The test requires you to work quickly and accurately.
- The information on the data sheets will not change during the test.
- Each statement relates to only one data sheet.
- The test will end automatically after 10-minutes. You can stop the test before this if you have answered all the questions.
- The time will start to count automatically when the first task apearson the screen.
When you’re ready, click ‘START TEST’ below. The test will open in a pop-up. We recommend, enlarging the box to fill the screen.
What This Test Is Actually Checking
Each statement relates to only one data sheet, and the information on the sheets doesn’t change during the test, so part of the skill is quickly identifying which sheet is relevant before you even start evaluating the statement itself. The test is deliberately designed so that most candidates run out of time before finishing everything, which means it’s measuring how efficiently you work under pressure, not just whether you can eventually get the right answer given unlimited time.
The distinction between FALSE and CANNOT SAY is where most candidates lose marks. FALSE means the data sheet directly contradicts the statement. CANNOT SAY means the data sheet simply doesn’t give you enough information either way. It’s not the same as “probably not true.” Resist the urge to guess based on what seems likely; answer strictly based on what’s written.
How to Approach It
Read the statement first, then go straight to the relevant data sheet rather than trying to hold all the data sheets in your head at once. Move on quickly if a task is taking too long – with 23 tasks and 10 minutes, spending too long perfecting one answer costs you the chance to attempt others. Since most people don’t complete every task, prioritise accuracy on the ones you do reach over rushing through all 23 carelessly.
Worth knowing: Passing a verbal reasoning test is very much a learnable skill, but don’t be surprised if you struggle the first time you do this type of test. The TRUE/FALSE/CANNOT SAY format is a specific technique rather than a measure of general intelligence, and it improves quickly with practice. Try this test more than once, and pay attention to whether you’re confusing FALSE with CANNOT SAY.
