Civil Service verbal reasoning test practice
The Civil Service Verbal Test asks you to read a short passage and decide whether each statement is True, False or Not Possible to Say — the exact skill our free True/False/Cannot Say practice is built around, with every answer explained.
Start the free diagnosticTry the free True/False/Cannot Say drill
What the Civil Service Verbal Test is
The Civil Service uses a passage-based verbal reasoning test as part of recruitment for many roles. You read a short paragraph and then judge a series of statements against it, marking each one True, False or Not Possible to Say. It is designed to measure how well you use written information to reason your way to a sound conclusion — not what you already know about the topic. It is often paired with a numerical test, and, depending on the role, you may be asked to sit one or both.
The test is usually not strictly timed and adapts in difficulty as you go; the official guidance suggests allowing up to an hour, though most candidates need less.
“Not Possible to Say” is just Cannot Say
The Civil Service calls the third verdict “Not Possible to Say”; other tests — SHL, Aon and most practice material — call it “Cannot Say”. The rule is identical: it is the right answer whenever the passage neither supports nor contradicts the statement, however true the statement might be in the real world. It is also the verdict candidates get wrong most often, which is why it is worth practising deliberately. Read the Cannot Say method →
A note on the Fast Stream
If you are applying to the Fast Stream, its online stage is built mainly around behaviours and situational-judgement exercises rather than a classic verbal reasoning test. The passage-based verbal test described here is most common on general Civil Service job applications. Always check the specific tests your scheme asks you to complete — and if yours includes a verbal reasoning test, the practice here is exactly the right preparation.
A worked example
Passage:“A government department’s 2025 annual report states that it processed 8% more applications than in 2024, and that it recruited additional caseworkers during the year. It adds that the median time taken to process an application fell over the same period.”
Statement:“The extra caseworkers reduced the median processing time.”
Why not True
What the passage would need to state — and doesn’t.
The report states both that the department hired more caseworkers and that the median time fell, but it never says the first caused the second. For True, the passage would need to assert that link — not just place the two facts side by side.
Why not False
The statement isn’t contradicted, only unsupported.
Nothing in the passage rules the link out either. It simply does not address cause.
Verdict: Not Possible to Say. Two facts reported together are not a stated cause. The processing time could have fallen for several reasons; the passage does not tie it to the new caseworkers, so the information does not settle the statement either way.
How to practise
- Take the free 12-question diagnosticto find where you actually lose marks — no signup.
- Drill the free True/False/Cannot Say category with full worked answers, and read the Cannot Say method.
- Rehearse under time on the Aon-style simulator (True/False/Cannot Say at pace) or a full mock test.
The diagnostic, the True/False/Cannot Say drill and every method guide are free. The timed simulators and mocks beyond the first are part of full access. Preparing for a test simply labelled “verbal ability” or “verbal aptitude”? See the verbal ability & aptitude test guide.
Frequently asked questions
What format is the Civil Service verbal test?
Passage-based. You read a short passage and decide whether each statement is True, False or Not Possible to Say, using only the information in the passage. It measures how well you reason from written information to a conclusion — the same skill as an SHL- or Aon-style verbal reasoning test.
Is the Civil Service verbal test timed?
It is usually not strictly timed and adapts in difficulty as you answer. The official candidate guidance suggests allowing up to an hour, though most people need less. Practise for accuracy first, then pace.
Is the Fast Stream test the same?
Not quite. The Fast Stream online stage focuses on behaviours and situational judgement rather than a classic verbal reasoning test. The passage-based verbal test is most common on general Civil Service job applications, so check which tests your specific scheme asks for.
How do I practise for it?
Take the free diagnostic to find your weakest area, drill the free True/False/Cannot Say category with full explanations, then rehearse under time on the Aon-style simulator or a mock test.