SHL Style Verbal Reasoning Tests

About the SHL verbal reasoning test

SHL is a common provider of verbal tests, typically used at graduate-level and managerial entry roles. Its verbal tests often are just one part of a larger suite of tests carried out by the employer to assess the candidate’s skills and suitability for a particular role.

The SHL verbal reasoning test is an online assessment that demonstrates a candidate’s potential to be successful.

SHL verbal test is a type of assessment that is usually taken on a computer. It varies depending on the recruiter as to whether the test is taken online (at a time and place of the candidate’s choice) or at a test centre or the employer’s office.

SHL verbal tests take the form of a series of short written passages, after which a question is posed. Each question is presented as a statement with multiple-choice options; you must decide if the statement is ‘true’, ‘false’ or ‘cannot say in response. This is often referred to as TFC.

Candidates should remember to only base their answers on the information given in the passage, not any other additional facts or outside knowledge.

The SHL assessment usually contains 30 questions, with candidates given a time limit of 17 to 19 minutes to answer. Questions are drawn randomly from a database of questions, so each candidate sits an individual test.

SHL verbal reasoning tests, while seemingly straightforward, demand that candidates familiarize themselves with the format to ensure they can accurately derive answers solely from the provided texts, necessitating targeted practice to enhance response accuracy and confidence.

How to prepare for and pass an SHL verbal test

As with any psychometric test, the key to success with an SHL verbal test is to practice. Each question must be answered in less than a minute, which includes reading the passage and all three answers, as well as the time is taken to select the correct choice.

Careful preparation for the SHL verbal test will improve your speed and accuracy, as you become more familiar with the types of passage and the format in which questions are asked.

After you’ve taken a practice SHL test, look at where you went wrong. Is there a pattern? Are you jumping to conclusions, or basing your choice on information or knowledge beyond what is written in the passage?

You will learn as much from considering the wrong answers as you will just practicing multiple questions.

We also recommend practicing SHL aptitude tests in exam conditions (e.g. silence, on your own, without assistance or looking up answers) and to time yourself with every set of practice questions.

SHL doesn’t reveal its pass marks or average scores, and they differ between positions and employers.

To pass and succeed at an SHL verbal test, you should aim to get 90% or more of the questions correct. This will come from a combination of answer accuracy and familiarity with the format of the test, to allow you to complete the test in the required time frame.