What is Verbal Reasoning?

Whether you’re prepping for a grad school entrance test, applying to a big-name company, or just trying to flex your brain muscles, verbal reasoning is that skill that keeps showing up. And trust me, it’s way more than just having a big vocab or being good at English.

Let’s break this down and make it make sense—for real.

1. So, What Is Verbal Reasoning? (The Full Breakdown)

Verbal reasoning is one of those skills that’s lowkey always in the background—but once you notice it, you’ll see it everywhere. It’s the brain power behind understanding what someone’s saying (or writing), figuring out if it makes sense, and deciding what to do with that info.

But let’s get a little more specific, because people love to confuse it with just “being good at English.” Spoiler: it’s not the same thing.

It’s About Thinking, Not Just Reading

At its core, verbal reasoning is about how your brain works with words—not just how many words you know. It’s the mental process of:

• Understanding what’s being said
• Breaking it down logically
• Evaluating what it means
• And making smart decisions based on that

So yeah, it starts with language—but it quickly levels up to full-on problem solving.

Verbal Reasoning = Word-Based Logic

You know how in math you solve for X?
Well, in verbal reasoning, you’re doing the same kind of solving—but the clues are sentences, not numbers.

For example:
Let’s say a passage says:
“All the employees in the design team work remotely. Taylor is in the design team.”
A verbal reasoning question might ask:
Does Taylor work remotely?

If you said yes, congrats—you just used verbal reasoning!
You understood what was said and connected the dots to figure out what must also be true.

Why It’s More Than Vocabulary

Sure, knowing words helps. But verbal reasoning goes beyond that. It’s about the relationships between ideas. You could have a massive vocab and still flop a verbal reasoning test if you:

• Misread the tone of a sentence
• Miss a hidden assumption
• Fall for a logical trap

That’s why someone with average vocab but sharp thinking skills can outperform someone who just memorizes definitions.

It’s a Skill You Already Use (More Than You Think)

You don’t need to be taking a test to flex verbal reasoning. You’re using it all the time, like when you:

• Read reviews before buying something and figure out which ones are actually helpful
• Catch someone contradicting themselves in a debate
• Text your friend and realize their message was sarcastic, not serious
• Scan a long tweet and know instantly what the real takeaway is

All of that? Verbal reasoning in action. 📲🧠

Real Talk: It’s Like Mental Gymnastics With Words

If math is numbers, and coding is logic, verbal reasoning is like verbal logic.

You’re flipping through ideas, stretching your brain, and landing on answers that actually make sense based on what’s written—not what you assume or already know.

That’s why it’s so valuable: it keeps you focused on facts and structure, not just vibes.

Common Mistakes People Make

To really understand verbal reasoning, it helps to see what it’s not:

• It’s not just grammar or spelling (those are surface-level).
• It’s not about prior knowledge (you’re not supposed to know the topic beforehand).
• It’s not about writing essays or showing opinions (it’s all logic-based and neutral).

If you’re overthinking or bringing in outside info, you’re missing the point. The whole idea is to focus only on what’s written, and think critically from there.

2. What Do Verbal Reasoning Tests Actually Measure? (Here’s the Real Deal)

Okay, let’s get one thing straight: verbal reasoning tests are not spelling bees or vocab quizzes. Nobody’s handing out gold stars for using the word “juxtaposition” in a sentence. 😅

These tests are built to dig deeper—they want to see how your mind plays with language in a logical, smart, and structured way. Basically, they’re less about “Do you know this word?” and more about “Can you use this sentence to figure something out?”

So if you’ve ever stared at one of those multiple-choice passages and thought, “What are they actually trying to test here?”—this section’s for you.

What Are Verbal Reasoning Tests Actually Testing?

These tests are designed to measure how well you can:

1. Make sense of written information
2. Analyze arguments or claims
3. Draw conclusions based only on what’s written
4. Recognize patterns or connections between words and ideas

You’ll get a text (usually something random or neutral like climate data or corporate policy) and then answer questions about it. And here’s the kicker: you’re not supposed to bring in any outside knowledge or personal opinions—everything you need is right there in the text.

Let’s Break Down the Key Skills

1. Reading Comprehension

This is the foundation of the whole thing. Can you:

• Read a passage and understand the main idea?
• Pick out details or facts without losing focus?
• Spot what’s implied, not just what’s spelled out?

It’s not just about reading fast—it’s about reading smart. Some questions will test your memory, others will see if you can “read between the lines.”

2. Logical Thinking

This is where things start to feel a little more like puzzles. The test might throw a statement at you and ask:

• Does this conclusion logically follow?
• Based on what’s written, is this assumption valid?
• If A is true and B is true, what about C?

You’re not guessing—you’re piecing together clues like a detective with a highlighter. 🕵🏽‍♀️

3. Critical Reasoning

This part tests whether you can:

• Evaluate the strength of an argument
• Spot weak logic or unfair assumptions
• Recognize when something doesn’t fully add up

You’ll probably see questions asking “Is this a strong argument?” or “What weakens this claim?” These are designed to challenge how well you question what you read—not just accept it.

4. Word Relationships

This is the fun, brainy side of verbal reasoning. Here you’re working with analogies, synonyms, and patterns.

You might get:

• “Dog is to bark as cat is to ___”
• Or something like: “Which word doesn’t belong?”
• Or even fill-in-the-blank analogies based on concept relationships

It’s testing how well you understand the connections between words, not just what each word means by itself.

So Why Are These Tests a Big Deal?

Because they measure how you think, not just what you know.

That’s why verbal reasoning is included in everything from:

• IQ assessments (to gauge overall intelligence)
• Aptitude tests (to predict future performance)
• Recruitment screenings (especially for competitive jobs)
• University entrance exams (to spot top-tier critical thinkers)

Employers and schools use these tests to find people who:

• Can handle complex info under pressure
• Think clearly and make sound decisions
• Communicate ideas effectively (even if it’s just in their head at first)

So yeah—it’s kind of a big deal.

Think of It Like Testing the Engine, Not the Paint Job

Here’s an easy way to picture it:
🧠 Your brain = a car
📝 Your vocab = the paint job
🧩 Your reasoning = the engine

Verbal reasoning tests don’t care if your car is red or matte black or got a spoiler on the back—they care if the engine runs smoothly. They wanna know:

• Can your brain take in info fast?
• Can it process it clearly?
• Can it produce the right output logically?

That’s why these tests are so revealing—they go beyond surface-level smarts and tap into how your brain actually works when faced with real-world thinking.

3. Common Verbal Reasoning Tests You’ll See

So, you’re about to take a test or prep for something serious and suddenly this “verbal reasoning” section pops up. But here’s the plot twist—not all verbal reasoning tests are the same. Some are straight-up logic puzzles. Some feel more like language games. And some are just trying to see how fast your brain can connect the dots with words.

Here’s a quick guide to the most common ones—and what makes each one unique.

✅ WAIS (Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale)

This one’s a classic in the world of IQ testing. Think of it like a full mental health checkup for your brain. WAIS is mostly used by psychologists and researchers, but it’s also the gold standard in intelligence testing for adults.

What it tests:
– Vocabulary – Define words clearly and accurately
– Similarities – Find the relationship between two things
– Information – Answer general knowledge Qs
– Comprehension – Understand and explain social rules or situations

🧠 It’s all about how well you can understand language, connect concepts, and show deep comprehension—not just surface-level word knowledge.

✅ LSAT (Law School Admission Test)

This test is like verbal reasoning on hard mode. If you’re thinking about law school, get ready to flex those logic skills, because the LSAT is gonna test your brain’s ability to understand and argue like a lawyer.

Sections that use verbal reasoning:
– Reading Comprehension – Understand long, complex passages
– Analytical Reasoning – AKA “logic games” based on structured language
– Logical Reasoning – Spot flaws or assumptions in arguments

🧠 It’s all about sharp thinking and airtight logic. You don’t need to be a law genius—you just need to reason like one.

✅ IAW (I Am a Word) – Check it here

Okay, now we’re talking creativity + logic in a cute little mix. The IAW Test feels more like a riddle game. It’s open-ended, which means there are multiple right answers, and it really taps into your word knowledge, associative thinking, and reasoning.

What it tests:
– Word recall
– Concept connection
– Imaginative reasoning
– Understanding word definitions through clues

🧩 Examples:

1. “I am a word, I describe when someone can’t read or write, and I begin with the letter I. Who am I?”
   Answer: ILLITERATE
2. “I am a word, I mean the opposite of silence, and I begin with N. Who am I?”
   Answer: NOISE, NOISY

🧠 This one’s way more flexible—perfect if you like working at your own pace and don’t vibe with time pressure.

✅ JCWS (Jouve-Cerebrals Word Similarities) – Check it here

The JCWS Test is all about the relationships between words. Instead of giving you multiple choice questions, it lets you figure out answers on your own—so it’s more open-ended and really tests how deep your understanding goes.

It includes three types of mini-tests:

NEARLY THE SAME

You’re given a scrambled or incomplete word clue and a reference word. Your job? Come up with a word that means almost the same thing.

Example:
“(A _ I K L N T)” means nearly the same as SPEAKING
Answer: TALKING

IS TO AS

This one’s all about analogies. You match relationships between word pairs.

Example:
“(A _ I K L N T)” is to SPEAKING as WALKING is to MOVING
Answer: TALKING

WHICH RELATES TO

You’re given a word chain or sequence and you have to find the missing piece that logically fits.

Example:
“(E N O)” relates to TWO, which relates to THREE, which relates to (F _ _ U)
Answers:
– A: ONE
– B: FOUR

🧠 JCWS is like the verbal version of sudoku—it checks how well your mind can track patterns and connections.

So Which Test Is Best For What?

• For general ability testing? WAIS is the go-to.
• For law school dreams? LSAT is your ride-or-die.
• For creativity and word flow? IAW is your best bet.
• For deeper analysis and semantic brain flexing? JCWS all the way.

Whether you’re a logic lover, a riddle master, or just trying to pass a test, these formats each show different sides of your verbal reasoning strength.

4. Why Do Employers Care About Verbal Reasoning?

Let’s be real—every job, no matter how technical or chill it seems, needs people who can think clearly and communicate well. Whether you’re coding, selling, managing, or researching, you’re gonna be reading stuff, making sense of it, and explaining your thoughts. That’s verbal reasoning in action.

So it’s no surprise that more and more employers—especially the big names in finance, consulting, law, tech, engineering, healthcare, and even creative fields—are adding verbal reasoning tests to their recruitment process.

But why, exactly? Let’s break it down.

Employers Want Thinkers, Not Just Talkers

Sure, soft skills matter—but verbal reasoning digs deeper than that. It helps recruiters figure out:

• Can you understand detailed info—fast?
  Businesses move quickly. If you can’t make sense of an email, a report, or a legal doc without rereading it ten times, that’s a red flag.
• Can you pick out what actually matters?
  Being able to filter out fluff and focus on key points is major in roles like consulting, finance, or law.
• Can you make logical decisions based only on evidence?
  In other words, do you think with your head, not just your gut?
• Can you spot inconsistencies or errors?
  Super useful in everything from auditing to product design to data analysis.
• Can you communicate your conclusions clearly and concisely?
  Whether it’s pitching to a client or reporting to your boss, clear communication = trust.

And because they’re standardized, these tests help companies stay fair and objective, especially when thousands of people are applying for the same role.

Where These Tests Show Up (and Why)

You’ll typically see verbal reasoning assessments in:

• Graduate schemes
• Internships
• Corporate training programs
• Professional services (law, finance, consulting)
• STEM roles (especially with a business/analytical twist)

These tests give employers a quick way to weed out applicants who might have strong resumes but struggle with analytical communication—which, let’s face it, is a day-to-day must in almost every job.

And because they’re standardized, these tests help companies stay fair and objective, especially when thousands of people are applying for the same role.

What Do These Tests Actually Look Like?

You’ll usually be given a short passage, followed by a few statements. Your job? Decide if each one is:

• True
• False
• Cannot Say

Let’s say the passage says:
“All employees in the HR department are required to attend diversity training. Marketing staff may attend if they choose.”

Now, you might get statements like:

1. All employees in the company attend diversity training → ❌ False
2. Some departments are not required to attend training → ✅ True
3. Marketing staff must attend training → ❌ False
4. It’s unclear whether finance staff attend training → ✅ Cannot Say

📌 The key here is: base your answer only on what’s written. Even if you think you know the answer from life experience, don’t guess—it’s all about reading comprehension + logical inference.

It’s Not Just a Test—It’s a Skill Check

Employers don’t just use these tests for fun. They’re genuinely trying to figure out who’s ready for the kind of tasks the job will throw at you:

• Reading policies or contracts
• Understanding performance reports
• Evaluating data-backed arguments
• Making decisions with limited but clear info

Verbal reasoning tests show if you can handle that type of pressure and responsibility without getting overwhelmed or lost in the sauce.

5. How to Get Better at Verbal Reasoning

Okay, so you’re ready to level up your verbal reasoning game—and not just for some test, but for life. Love that for you. 💪🏽

Whether you’re prepping for an exam, trying to land that corporate role, or just want to get better at thinking things through (because yes, that’s a real flex), there are smart, doable ways to sharpen your skills.

And nope, you don’t need to sit through boring grammar drills or memorize obscure words. Let’s talk about what actually works.

1. Read, But Make It Make Sense

It’s not just about reading more—it’s about reading with intention. That means choosing content that challenges your brain, not just entertains it.

Try reading:

• Opinion columns and editorials (even ones you disagree with)
• Legal cases or summaries (they’re full of logic)
• Dense nonfiction (think psychology, politics, or economics)
• Long-form journalism with structured arguments

Ask yourself as you read:

• What’s the writer’s main point?
• What assumptions are they making?
• Does the argument flow, or are there logical gaps?
• What evidence is being used—and is it convincing?

🧠 This kind of self-questioning turns passive reading into an active mental workout.

2. Practice Verbal Reasoning Questions (Yes, Actually)

You wouldn’t expect to get stronger without hitting the gym, right? Same goes for verbal reasoning.

There are so many free platforms and apps that offer verbal reasoning practice—and not gonna lie, the ones we help create are pretty fire too.

Look for tests that include:

• True/False/Can’t Say formats
• Reading comprehension questions
• Word logic puzzles
• Argument evaluation exercises

Pro tip: Choose tests that explain the answers afterward. That way, even when you get something wrong, you learn why. That’s where the real growth happens.

3. Learn to Spot Logical Flaws Like a Pro

This is where things get fun (and kinda savage tbh). Once you start learning how arguments fall apart, you’ll start seeing weak logic everywhere—from influencer drama to political speeches to work emails.

Start with these common flaws:

• Circular reasoning: When someone says “It’s true because it’s true.”
• Assumptions: Gaps in the logic where something is taken for granted without proof.
• False cause: Confusing correlation with causation.
• Either/or thinking: Acting like there are only two options when there might be more.
• Strawman arguments: Misrepresenting the other side just to knock it down.

The more you can recognize these tricks, the better you’ll get at avoiding them—and calling them out.

4. Train Under Pressure (Timing Matters)

Most real-life verbal reasoning tests are timed, and the clock is not your friend if you haven’t practiced under pressure.

Start by taking untimed practice tests to build accuracy. Once you’re comfortable, introduce time limits.

Try this:

• Set a timer for 20–30 minutes
• Track how many questions you can complete accurately
• Slowly work on increasing your speed without losing quality

🧠 Being quick only matters if you’re also right.

5. Bonus: Mix Up Your Practice Styles

Keep your brain guessing. Don’t just stick to one type of test or one source. Try:

• Mobile apps with logic puzzles
• Flashcards for word analogies
• Podcasts that dissect arguments or debates (like Freakonomics or Hidden Brain)
• Debating a friend—yep, arguing (nicely) can totally count as practice

6. Verbal Reasoning vs. Just “Being Good at English”

Alright, we need to squash this myth once and for all: just because you’re good at English doesn’t mean you’ll crush a verbal reasoning test.

Like, yeah, you might have been the queen of essay writing in school or the go-to for proofreading everyone’s texts, but that doesn’t automatically mean your verbal reasoning game is tight.

And that’s okay—because verbal reasoning is its own beast.

Let’s Break It Down

Being “good at English” usually means you’re strong in things like:

• Writing clean, clear sentences
• Knowing grammar rules and punctuation
• Understanding tone, style, and structure
• Having a solid vocabulary
• Crafting narratives or arguments in writing

That’s all super useful, especially in academic or creative settings. But verbal reasoning is more about:

• How you process language to make logical conclusions
• Spotting inconsistencies or assumptions in written info
• Figuring things out based on just the words in front of you
• Solving problems through structured thinking—not opinion or creativity

Basically, verbal reasoning is language-based logic, not language-based expression.

Writing vs. Reasoning: Not the Same Thing

Let’s say you’re handed a paragraph and then a question about it. A good English student might start thinking: “Okay, what do I know about this topic? How would I explain this in an essay?”

But a verbal reasoning test doesn’t care what you know or how beautifully you could explain it.
It cares if you can read that paragraph and:

• Pinpoint the main point
• Tell if a specific statement is supported or not
• Decide if the argument actually makes sense

It’s not “how would you write about this?”
It’s “what exactly does this say—and what can you logically figure out from it?”

It’s About Using Language, Not Producing It

English class rewards creativity, clarity, and expression.
Verbal reasoning rewards precision, structure, and problem-solving.

That’s why someone with average writing skills but strong logical reasoning might perform better on a verbal reasoning test than someone who writes beautifully but misses key logical connections.

Common Trap: Overthinking with Extra Info

Another big difference? In English class, you’re encouraged to bring in outside context. In verbal reasoning, that’s a no-go.

Let’s say the passage says:
“All members of Team A are trained in first aid. Jordan is a member of Team A.”

Now the test asks: “Is Jordan trained in first aid?”
Correct answer: True

But someone who’s “good at English” might overthink and say, “Well, what if Jordan was absent on training day?”
Nope. You’ve just added info that’s not in the text—and that’s exactly what verbal reasoning tests don’t want.

It’s about what’s explicitly stated or logically implied. Nothing more, nothing less.

Different Goals = Different Skill Sets

Both are valuable—but they serve different purposes. And knowing how to switch between them is the real power move.

7. What’s Actually Involved in Verbal Reasoning?

Let’s get into the inner workings—the behind-the-scenes mechanics—of how verbal reasoning actually functions. If verbal reasoning were a language-powered machine, this section is all about what’s happening under the hood.

It’s more than just “read the paragraph, answer the question.” It’s a structured thought process built on logic, language, and deduction. So let’s unpack the key components that make verbal reasoning work.

Vocabulary & Grammar (The Foundation Blocks)

At first glance, vocabulary and grammar might sound basic—but when it comes to verbal reasoning, they’re non-negotiable building blocks.

Vocabulary is your toolset. It’s how you recognize meaning in a sentence. If a word throws you off or you misinterpret it, you’re gonna miss the logic that follows.

Grammar gives structure. It’s how you understand the relationships between words. Misread a sentence because of bad grammar comprehension? Boom—wrong conclusion.

But here’s the key: verbal reasoning isn’t testing you on grammar or vocab directly. It’s using them as the medium to test how well you understand the function of language in conveying ideas, relationships, and logic.

🧩 Example:
“The researcher said the data was unreliable.”
— Wait, who said what? Was it the data that’s unreliable, or is that someone else’s opinion?
That’s where vocabulary and grammar understanding kick in—to untangle what’s being said and what’s being implied.

Propositions (The Pieces You Reason With)

Now we get a little more technical (but still real). A proposition is basically a statement that can be true or false. It’s the backbone of logical reasoning.

Examples:

• “Water boils at 100°C.” → That’s a proposition. It’s something you can prove or disprove.
• “Tell me your name.” → Not a proposition. It’s a command, not a statement you can test for truth.

In verbal reasoning, you’re constantly dealing with propositions, even if the word “proposition” never pops up. The test is full of little truth-evaluable statements, and your job is to:

• Identify them
• Understand them
• See how they relate to other statements

💡 The cool thing? Recognizing a proposition is the first step in breaking down an argument. It’s like identifying the individual pieces in a puzzle.

Premises & Conclusions (The Logic Connectors)

This is where we start putting the puzzle together.

– A premise is a starting point—a statement assumed to be true.
– A conclusion is what logically follows if the premises are true.

You’re given a couple of premises, and you’re expected to figure out what must or might follow.

🧩 Example:
– Premise: All managers receive weekly updates.
– Premise: Jordan is a manager.
– Conclusion: Jordan receives weekly updates.

Simple, right? But verbal reasoning tests love to mess with that simplicity—by slipping in unnecessary info, unclear wording, or subtle shifts in logic. That’s why being rock solid on your understanding of premises and conclusions is key.

🧠 Tip: Just because something sounds right doesn’t mean it logically follows. Stay sharp.

Arguments (The Full Picture)

This is where everything comes together. In verbal reasoning, an argument isn’t a fight—it’s a structured combo of premises and a conclusion, all connected by logic.

An argument may be:

• Valid or invalid
• Strong or weak
• Based on solid premises or shaky ones

What you’re being tested on is your ability to analyze that structure. Can you:

• Spot missing pieces?
• Identify false assumptions?
• Evaluate whether the conclusion really makes sense?

💬 Example:
– “All artists are creative. Jordan is creative. Therefore, Jordan is an artist.”
— Sounds nice, right? But that’s invalid logic. Being creative doesn’t only apply to artists. The argument falls apart.

🔍 Verbal reasoning wants you to be the detective who can break down this kind of faulty reasoning without falling for the trap.

8. Final Thoughts (No Corny Wrap-Up, Promise)

Look, verbal reasoning is everywhere. Whether you’re taking a test, having a debate, reading a Reddit thread, or writing an email—you’re using it. And the better you are at it, the better you’ll be at understanding people, arguments, and information.

If you wanna get sharper at it (and honestly, who doesn’t?), regular practice with online IQ and aptitude tests is a low-key powerful way to train your brain. A lot of them include verbal sections that mirror real exam formats, and you can see your growth over time.

And best of all? It’s not just test prep—it’s life prep. 💯