Verbal Reasoning Guide: True, False, or Cannot Say?

Verbal reasoning tests — especially the True/False/Cannot Say format — are the question type candidates struggle with most. The pass rate is lower than numerical reasoning, and the margin between answers feels painfully thin.

The format is used by SHL, Kenexa, and Cubiks across thousands of employers including Deloitte, PwC, Barclays, and KPMG. If you're applying to any major employer, you'll likely face this test.

How the format works

You're given a passage of text — typically 150-300 words — followed by a series of statements. For each statement, you must decide:

True — the passage directly supports this statement.

False — the passage directly contradicts this statement.

Cannot Say — the passage doesn't provide enough information to determine whether the statement is true or false.

In a standard SHL verbal reasoning test, you'll face 30 statements across 17 minutes — roughly 34 seconds per statement. That includes reading the passage.

The #1 mistake: confusing False with Cannot Say

This is where most candidates lose marks. Here's the difference:

False means the passage says the OPPOSITE. There must be a specific sentence in the passage that contradicts the statement. If the passage says "Revenue increased by 12%" and the statement says "Revenue decreased," that's False — direct contradiction.

Cannot Say means the passage simply doesn't address the topic, or doesn't provide enough detail to decide. If the passage discusses revenue but the statement is about profit margins, that's Cannot Say — the passage doesn't mention profit margins at all.

The critical rule: if you can't point to a specific sentence that contradicts the statement, it's probably Cannot Say, not False.

The external knowledge trap

This is the second most common mistake. The passage says "Company X expanded into European markets in 2023." The statement says "Company X operates in Germany." You think: Germany is in Europe, so this must be True.

Wrong. The passage says "European markets" — it doesn't specify Germany. Maybe they expanded into France and Spain only. The correct answer is Cannot Say, because the passage doesn't explicitly mention Germany.

Your general knowledge is irrelevant. Only the passage matters. If the passage doesn't say it, you cannot conclude it.

The strength trap

The passage says "Sales grew significantly in Q3." The statement says "Q3 had the highest sales of any quarter." The passage supports that sales grew, but "highest of any quarter" is a stronger claim than "grew significantly." Without data comparing all quarters, you can't confirm the statement. Answer: Cannot Say.

Watch for absolute words in statements: always, never, all, only, must, every, none. These make the statement stronger than what most passages support. Unless the passage uses equally strong language, the answer is usually Cannot Say.

A 5-step method that works

Step 1: Read the statement first, before reading the passage. Know what you're looking for.

Step 2: Scan the passage for the relevant sentence. Not the whole passage — find the specific sentence that relates to the statement's topic.

Step 3: If you find a relevant sentence, compare it directly to the statement. Does it support it (True)? Does it contradict it (False)?

Step 4: If you can't find any relevant sentence, the answer is Cannot Say.

Step 5: Ask yourself: "Am I using any knowledge that isn't in this passage?" If yes, reconsider your answer.

The one-third rule

In a well-designed SHL verbal test, approximately one-third of answers are True, one-third are False, and one-third are Cannot Say. If you're rarely choosing Cannot Say, you're almost certainly getting questions wrong. Most candidates under-select Cannot Say because it feels like giving up — but it's often the correct, analytical answer.

How TestSolve handles verbal reasoning

TestSolve uses a dedicated verbal reasoning engine with a 7-step passage-strict method. The AI reproduces the passage, identifies the relevant quote, checks for external knowledge usage, and applies three validation gates: a decidability gate (is this answerable from the passage alone?), a false-without-contradiction gate (is there an actual contradiction?), and a strength gate (is the statement stronger than the passage supports?). Current accuracy on verbal reasoning: 96%.

Try a free solve — see the full explanation for every verbal reasoning answer.

Latest Updates (2026)

As of 2026, various organizations have updated their verbal reasoning assessments to better evaluate candidates' analytical and comprehension skills. For instance, the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) now includes a Verbal Reasoning section comprising 23 questions to be completed within 45 minutes. This section assesses abilities such as reading comprehension and critical reasoning. Similarly, the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) has adjusted its Verbal Reasoning sections to consist of 12 questions in the first section (18 minutes) and 15 questions in the second section (23 minutes), totaling 27 questions over 41 minutes. These changes reflect a trend towards more concise yet rigorous evaluations of verbal reasoning capabilities. ([expertsglobal.com](https://www.expertsglobal.com/gmat-pattern/?utm_source=openai))

What Candidates Say

Recent candidate experiences highlight the evolving nature of verbal reasoning assessments. In November 2025, an applicant for CardinalStone Partners reported undergoing an assessment comprising 30 verbal reasoning questions and 30 quantitative reasoning questions, all to be answered within 75 minutes. This structure underscores the importance of time management and accuracy under pressure. ([glassdoor.com](https://www.glassdoor.com/Interview/CardinalStone-Partners-Interview-Questions-E1720933.htm?utm_source=openai))

Tips from Recent Candidates

Based on recent experiences, candidates have found several strategies particularly helpful for verbal reasoning tests. Practicing under timed conditions is crucial, as many tests are designed to be challenging within the allotted time. Focusing on both speed and accuracy can significantly improve performance. Additionally, familiarizing oneself with common question formats, such as true/false/cannot say statements, can aid in quickly identifying the correct responses. ([how2become.com](https://www.how2become.com/wp-content/uploads/woocommerce_uploads/2019/07/Verbal-Reasoning-Tests-Volume-2-Download.pdf?utm_source=openai))