Crack the Verbal Reasoning Tests In Consulting Interviews

Verbal reasoning tests are becoming more popular for various job positions. Some management consulting firms are using them as well, so if you are going to apply to different management consulting firms, then this article might be helpful.



Another word used for verbal reasoning tests are psychometric tests. Through this test, employers will get a picture of your verbal reasoning skills and language skills including grammar and language logic.



First, verbal reasoning test is a kind of aptitude test. It examines verbal logic competency of a candidate. SHL (http://www.shl.com) is one of the most well-known producers of verbal reasoning tests.



In a verbal reasoning test, usually you will encounter one passage or several passages. After reading passages, you will be required to provide your understanding of information contained in paragraphs by answering questions with three choice items: "True", "False", and "Cannot say". True means the statement can be logically derived from the passage and is clear-cut. False means that you cannot logically derive the statement from the text passage. It is also clear-cut. "Cannot say" is more complicated, because you must know what is lacking to make it a true statement. The most important thing for verbal tests is to focus only on the text passages. You cannot use your preset knowledge or judge the text in any way.



Preparation for verbal reasoning tests is a time consuming process. Even for a native speaker, lack of concentrated and oriented training still stands as a formidable obstacle in verbal reasoning. Think about the text that you have read in the last couple of days. It is most likely quite superficial and unfocused. This is usually not useful for time limited interview tests.. To answer the test successfully, you need to carry out information analysis practice when reading newspapers, magazine and on-line articles on commercial topics. You need to analyze and break down sentences - this is the purpose.



For on-site candidates, here are some quick and handy tips and reminders for reference when taking the test:



1. Focus all attention on the texts. Read each sentence entirely before you make any answers. For better concentration, it is best to answer questions in order. Jump and skip is distracting and can lead to more mistakes and misinterpretations. There are reasons why verbal tests are designed in this or that order, so candidate would better follow it.



2. Assumption is your Enemy. In the case that you are unsure about an answer, then go back and read the relevant parts of the text again. Avoid postulation or guessing. It is the most common mistake in these tests. The testers are aware of our tendency to believe and can build in ambiguity to test our levels of concentration.



3. Synonyms are often used by testers to confuse test taker, when a concept is explained or elaborated. It is important to look up word meaning in context if any bewilderment occurs. Verbal reasoning tests might use irrelevant synonyms as a pitfall.



It is very different how much the different consulting firms use verbal reasoning tests. Some of the top tier consulting firms do not use the test, but the number of firms using this (and other types of tests) is increasing.





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