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Written by Mitch McCrimmon, Ph.D.

Reasoning tests are designed to test your ability to solve certain kinds of problems or to think in an analytically sound manner in order to make logical decisions. If you are a candidate for a job where it is important to analyze written material and make logical assumptions, inferences and deductions then you may be asked to take a verbal reasoning test.

Alternatively, if numbers are important in the job, say engineering or accounting, you may have to take a numerical reasoning test. These are just two of the many types of reasoning tests.

Verbal reasoning - sample question

Questions are designed to test your ability to draw correct inferences from written material. Read the paragraph and decide whether the statements below are implied by the paragraph or not. You have 3 choices - true: follows from paragraph, false: contradicts paragraph, can't tell: not enough information to say.

Example

''The chief executive announced today that more emphasis will now be placed on innovation. Investment in product development is to be doubled and new product revenue targets will be set for the first time. A higher rate of new product introduction is needed to beat the competition and ensure profitability in the long term.''

1. The company failed to emphasize innovation in the past.
2. There were no targets for new product revenue before now.
3. The company is not currently making a profit.
4. The company is getting beaten by its competitors.

Answers

1. False - they are just increasing their emphasis.
2. True - see where it says ''targets will be set for first time''.
3. Can't tell - ''ensure profitability'' could mean either.
4. Can't tell - competitors could be catching up but still behind

Numerical reasoning - sample question

You are presented with a variety of business figures set out in tables and asked questions that require you to interpret the figures correctly and perform some elementary calculations. A calculator is usually allowed.

Example

How far is your journey if you travel from London to Amsterdam via Paris and Frankfurt before returning to London via Paris?

a) 2862, b) 1911, c) 2340, d) 2163

Answer: 2340

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