False or Cannot Say? Worked Verbal Reasoning Examples
Worked examples that explain the difference between false and "cannot say" answers.
In True, False and Cannot Say practice, a statement can be unsupported without being false. The distinction is about the evidence in the passage, not how plausible the statement sounds.
One evidence check
- True: the passage establishes the statement.
- False: the passage establishes something that contradicts it.
- Cannot Say: the passage does not settle it either way.
Outside knowledge does not fill the gap. Keep the same people, time period and qualifications as the statement. Words such as all, some, only, may and must can change the answer.
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Try original Irish-format practice before your test.
Six-point SJT ratings, numerical and verbal practice, with PSP scoring explained. Check your competition booklet for the official format and timing.
Worked example: do not infer a result from a plan
Original PSP passage: A regional office ran a booking pilot in May and June. Six staff used the new system. A review in July will compare waiting times with the previous quarter. Telephone booking remained available throughout the pilot.
| Statement | Answer | Evidence and reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| Telephone booking remained available in May. | True | May falls within the pilot, and telephone booking remained available throughout it. |
| The office stopped telephone booking during June. | False | That directly conflicts with the service remaining available throughout the pilot. |
| The new system reduced waiting times. | Cannot Say | The passage describes a planned comparison, not its findings. A review is not proof of improvement. |
| Six staff worked in the entire regional office. | Cannot Say | Six staff used the system. The total office headcount is not given. |
For each missed answer, write down the sentence that settles it. If you cannot find one, decide whether the missing fact prevents both a True and a False conclusion. Avoid changing an answer simply because it feels less likely in real life.
A second distinction: some does not establish all
Original PSP passage: Some applications submitted before Friday were incomplete. Every incomplete application received a request for further documents.
The statement that every application submitted before Friday was incomplete is Cannot Say. The passage establishes some, without saying whether the rest were complete. The statement that no application submitted before Friday was incomplete is False, because the passage establishes at least some.
Build confidence from mistakes you can explain
Work slowly on a short fresh set. For each error, note whether you imported outside knowledge, changed the time period, overlooked a qualifier or confused missing evidence with contradiction. Re-read the explanation, close it, then explain the decision in your own words. Move to another passage rather than repeatedly scoring the same one.
Use free verbal examples before deciding whether you need paid practice. In the member bank, Query this answer adds the PSP question reference to an editable support ticket if the explanation still seems wrong.
Timing and scoring depend on your competition
The supplied HEO 2026 booklet describes 15 verbal questions with no fixed cutoff and an indicative duration of about 15 minutes. Accuracy, response time and item difficulty contribute to the result; the exact weighting is not published. Do not impose a universal seconds-per-question rule or borrow counts from an older EO test.
Follow your own familiarisation instructions for format, timing and permitted materials. PSP percentages support practice and cannot predict your official score or order of merit. Read the HEO test-day checklist and practice scoring explanation.