Verbal Reasoning for the Executive Officer Competition

If you are preparing for the Executive Officer competition on publicjobs.ie, you have probably already heard that verbal reasoning is “the easy one.” That reputation is not entirely wrong, but it causes a specific problem: candidates under-prepare for it, then lose ground on their order of merit because they rushed it on the day.

Here is what the test actually involves, where candidates tend to lose marks, and how to practise in a way that matches the real format. For an overview of how verbal fits alongside the SJT and numerical within the full EO competition, see the Executive Officer competition guide.

What does the EO verbal reasoning test look like?

The verbal reasoning test for the Executive Officer competition is administered through AON Assessment Solutions (formerly known as cut-e). It uses the true / false / cannot say format: you read a short passage of text, then classify a series of statements about that passage as true, false, or cannot say.

The passages tend to be business-oriented or general topic text. Nothing too technical, nothing requiring specialist knowledge. That is the point: the test is designed to measure how well you process written information under pressure, not how much you already know about any given subject.

For the EO competition, the test typically runs to 59 questions completed in 35 minutes. That works out at roughly 30 seconds per question. If you have only ever done untimed practice, the pace of the live test will feel very different. The self-assessment available on publicjobs.ie gives you a feel for the question format using 16 questions across four passages, but it is untimed and shorter than what you will face on the day.

Always check the Competition Information Booklet for your specific competition, as test composition can vary. Publicjobs.ie recommends this, and it is worth doing.

Is the EO verbal test harder than the Clerical Officer one?

The CO verbal reasoning test is typically shorter (around 40 questions in 20 minutes based on candidates’ experience). The EO version is longer and carries more questions, so the time pressure is similar and the volume is higher. The question format is the same.

What makes the EO test feel harder is not the question type but the context in which you sit it. At EO level, you are competing in a larger, more competitive pool. Scores are norm-referenced: you are ranked against every other candidate who sits the same cohort. There is no published pass mark, because the system is percentile-based. You are not trying to reach a fixed score; you are trying to place well relative to other candidates. That changes how you should think about preparation.

Verbal reasoning at EO level contributes to your order of merit alongside your situational judgement score. This is important to understand: losing easy marks on verbal through overconfidence or poor time management can cost you your place in the ranking. It is not a hurdle you clear and forget.

The SJT is where most EO candidates discover they need the most work. The Situational Judgement Test guide is worth reading alongside this one, since verbal and SJT scores combine toward the EO order of merit.

Why do candidates lose marks on verbal reasoning?

Two main reasons, both avoidable.

Outside knowledge creeping in. Only go by what the passage says. If a statement is consistent with something you know to be true in the real world but the passage does not actually support it, the answer is cannot say, not true. This is harder in practice than it sounds when you are under time pressure.

Misreading cannot say versus false. If a statement directly contradicts information in the passage, the answer is false. If the statement goes beyond what the passage says, even slightly, the answer is cannot say. The passage does not have to say the statement is wrong; it just has to fail to confirm it. The first time I sat an SJT-style assessment I ranked on instinct rather than reading carefully, and it was a lesson I did not forget. Verbal works the same way: the discipline of staying inside the text is a skill you have to practise.

Speed without accuracy. Candidates who practise untimed, get comfortable with the format, then sit the real test and run out of time halfway through. Timed practice is not optional at EO level.

The specific mechanics of why “cannot say” catches people out - and how to fix it fast - are covered in detail at “Cannot Say” Is Ruining Your Verbal Reasoning Score.

How should you structure your verbal reasoning prep?

Start by understanding the format properly. The Irish-specific verbal reasoning guide covers the true / false / cannot say logic in detail and explains how it maps to the publicjobs assessment format.

Then practise under realistic conditions:

• Use timed sessions from the start. If each question allows roughly 30 seconds, set a timer and hold yourself to it.
• Read the statement first, then the passage. Many candidates find this faster because you know what you are looking for. Experiment and find what works for you, but practise consistently with whichever approach you choose.
• After each session, review every question you got wrong. Understand whether you brought in outside knowledge, misread the cannot say boundary, or simply ran out of time. Each type of error has a different fix.

Generic test prep built for UK civil service assessments uses SHL-style questions with pound sums, different timing, and multiple-choice SJTs. That practice will not reflect what you will see on publicjobs.ie. The format here is specific to the Irish PAS process, including the ranked-answer situational judgement and the euro-denominated numerical questions. Practising on the right format matters.

FAQ

Does verbal reasoning count toward your order of merit for the EO competition?

Based on candidate reports, verbal reasoning scores do contribute to your order of merit at EO level alongside situational judgement. Numerical reasoning is reported by candidates as a pass/fail hurdle rather than an OOM contributor, but test composition varies by competition. Check your Competition Information Booklet and publicjobs.ie directly for your specific role, as this is candidate-reported and not confirmed on the official publicjobs.ie site.

Is there a published pass mark for the verbal reasoning test?

No. Publicjobs.ie does not publish a pass mark. Scores are norm-referenced: you are ranked against other candidates in your cohort. Your aim is to score as well as possible relative to the people you are competing against, not to hit a fixed threshold.

Can I use general knowledge to answer verbal reasoning questions?

No. This is one of the most common mistakes. You must answer based solely on what the passage says. If the passage does not confirm a statement, the answer is cannot say, regardless of whether the statement is true in the real world.

Are there practice tests available on publicjobs.ie?

Yes. Publicjobs.ie has a self-assessment section where you can practise verbal reasoning questions with answer feedback. The practice version is untimed and shorter than the live test (typically 16 questions across four passages). It is a useful starting point for understanding the format, but it will not replicate the time pressure of the real assessment. You need timed practice on top of it.

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If you want to see what timed practice actually feels like before you commit to anything, the free taster at PublicServicePathway gives you a short session with no card required. It is built around the Irish format: ranked-answer SJTs, euro-denominated numerical, and verbal reasoning that follows the true / false / cannot say structure you will see on the day. Worth doing before your assessment date arrives.