A verbal reasoning test measures how well a student thinks with words: understanding meanings, spotting relationships between words, cracking letter patterns and following logic written in sentences. It's not a spelling or grammar test. It's about reasoning, using language as the material.
This guide covers verbal reasoning in school entrance and scholarship tests. Graduate job aptitude tests use the same name but are a different kind of test.
Which tests include verbal reasoning?
| Test | Section | Year |
|---|---|---|
| EduTest (scholarships, SEAL) | Verbal reasoning | Years 4 to 10 |
| Victorian selective entry exam | Reading and verbal reasoning | Year 8 |
| NSW selective and OC tests | Thinking skills (includes verbal logic) | Years 4 and 6 |
| John Monash Science School | EduTest entrance test | Year 9 |
Most children have never seen these question types at school, which is exactly why familiarity makes such a difference.
The 10 question types
1. Synonyms (same meaning)
Which word is closest in meaning to SWIFT? A. heavy B. rapid C. quiet D. gentle
2. Antonyms (opposite meaning)
Which word is most opposite in meaning to GENEROUS? A. kind B. selfish C. wealthy D. careful
3. Analogies
Bird is to flock as fish is to: A. sea B. fin C. school D. net
Method: make a sentence that links the first pair ("a group of birds is a flock"), then test it on each option.
4. Odd one out
Which word does not belong? A. violin B. cello C. harp D. trumpet
5. Letter and number codes
If CAT is coded as 3-1-20, how is DOG coded? A. 4-15-7 B. 4-14-7 C. 3-15-7 D. 4-15-8
6. Letter series
What comes next? B, E, H, K, ... A. M B. N C. O D. L
7. Hidden words
A four-letter word is hidden across two neighbouring words. Find it: "We saw a car tilted on the hill." A. SAWA B. CART C. TILT D. HILL
8. Word links (compound words)
Which word can go in front of all three: ___ball, ___fall, ___flake? A. rain B. snow C. foot D. hand
9. Logical deduction
All bloops are razzies. All razzies are lazzies. Which must be true? A. All lazzies are bloops. B. All bloops are lazzies. C. Some razzies are not bloops. D. No lazzies are razzies.
10. Ordering and arrangement
Kim is older than Lou but younger than Max. Nat is older than Max. Who is the youngest? A. Kim B. Lou C. Max D. Nat
Answers and explanations
| Q | Answer | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | B | Swift means fast. Rapid means fast. |
| 2 | B | Generous means happy to give. Selfish is the opposite. |
| 3 | C | A group of fish is a school. |
| 4 | D | The others are string instruments. A trumpet is brass. |
| 5 | A | Each letter becomes its position in the alphabet: D = 4, O = 15, G = 7. |
| 6 | B | Each letter jumps forward three: B, E, H, K, N. |
| 7 | B | "car tilted" gives CART. TILT and HILL are inside single words, so they don't count. |
| 8 | B | Snowball, snowfall, snowflake. Rain fails on rainball. |
| 9 | B | If every bloop is a razzie and every razzie is a lazzie, every bloop is a lazzie. A is the reverse, which doesn't follow. |
| 10 | B | Nat > Max > Kim > Lou. |
Nonsense words like "bloops" in question 9 are deliberate. They stop your child using what they already know about the world, so they have to follow the logic alone.
How to prepare
1. Build vocabulary every week. Types 1 to 4 and 8 depend on knowing words. Five new words a week, used in conversation, works better than long lists. Start with our vocabulary list for selective tests. If English isn't the main language at home, add common English idioms for kids.
2. Learn each question type untimed. Your child should be able to explain why an answer is right before adding a timer.
3. Write the alphabet with numbers at the top of the page. For codes and letter series, A=1 to Z=26 saves time and prevents counting mistakes.
4. Draw logic problems. For ordering questions, a quick line diagram (Nat > Max > Kim > Lou) beats holding it in your head.
5. Then work under time. EduTest verbal reasoning gives about 30 minutes. Most children slow down on codes and logic, so practise moving on and coming back.
Deeper guides on our site
- EduTest verbal reasoning preparation
- Logic questions in EduTest verbal reasoning
- Similar and dissimilar meanings
- Thinking skills in the selective test
- Cloze passages
Practise in test conditions
- EduTest practice tests: full verbal reasoning papers with worked explanations
- NSW Selective and OC practice tests for thinking skills
- Sample questions for EduTest and the Victorian selective entry exam
Frequently asked questions
What is a verbal reasoning test? A test of how well you think with words: meanings, word relationships, letter patterns and written logic.
Can you improve at verbal reasoning? Yes. Vocabulary grows with reading, and the question types become much easier once they're familiar.
Is verbal reasoning the same as reading comprehension? No. Reading tests understanding of a passage. Verbal reasoning tests word knowledge and logic, usually in short standalone questions.
Example questions written by Practice Tests & Exams.