Verbal Reasoning Tests in Legal Graduate Recruitment: Understanding the Format

Jun 18, 2023

Written By Nandini Jadeja

Law firms use a range of tests during the application process for vacation schemes and training contracts to assess the various skills that you will need as a lawyer. Verbal reasoning tests are one of the most common, and mastering the format is one of the first steps to success.

What are verbal reasoning tests?

Verbal reasoning tests assess your ability to process and analyse information, a core skill in day to day life as a lawyer. You can see our article here for more details.

Training Contract Application Season | Virtual Event Series on AllAboutLaw

Looking to secure a training contract? Attend a range of informative presentations with training contract application experts.

Reserve Spot

How are they formatted?

You might already be familiar with verbal reasoning tests if you have ever completed a comprehension exercise. Verbal reasoning tests are a form of comprehension test, as they test your ability to extract and analyse information.

Typically, verbal reasoning tests might last around 30 minutes, and contain 15-20 questions about a passage of text. Rather than longer answer questions, each of the questions will ask you whether a statement is true, false, or if there is insufficient information/cannot say.

Alternatively, there may be three or four shorter passages with questions attached to each of them. In either format, the questions are usually the same and will require you to process both implicit and explicit information to establish whether the statement is true, false, or if you cannot say due to insufficient information.

How can I prepare?

There is no preparation you can do in terms of the content of a verbal reasoning test. It is important to remember that the test is assessing how you can read and analyse information, especially information that is new to you.

With that in mind, you can try familiarising yourself with the format by completing practice tests online, and see what is meant by each ‘True/false/insufficient information’ answer. Read the information carefully and don’t use existing knowledge or assum

ptions to answer the question, it must always come from the text itself. These tests are timed, however, so you must ensure you complete a close reading of the text within the time constraints.

Some things to keep in mind

Remember that the firm is looking for candidates who can read quickly and accurately. If you are not sure, ask how the marking works to establish if marks will be deducted for wrong answers.If marks aren’t deducted for wrong answers, it’s best to make logical guesses for any questions you’re unsure of.

If you have special access needs and may need things like extra time, make sure you arrange these as far in advance as you can.

In short, the best way you can prepare for verbal reasoning tests is by familiarising yourself with the format and completing practice tests online. Good luck!

Selection & Assessment