publicjobs Verbal Reasoning: Samples and Explanations

Verbal reasoning tests how accurately you draw conclusions from written information. The useful habit is simple: separate what the passage establishes from what sounds plausible. Work through the examples here, then try five free verbal questions, without an account or card.

What format should you prepare for?

These PSP exercises use True, False and Cannot Say. That describes our practice, not a guaranteed format for every publicjobs competition. Your own familiarisation material determines the response options, passage layout, time limit, provider and scoring rules.

Do not treat an EO question count or an older provider’s interface as a standing rule. For HEO vacancy 8195, applications are closed and the checked public material does not identify a verbal test. Read the HEO assessment watch before buying format-specific preparation.

True, False or Cannot Say?

• True: the passage establishes the statement.
• False: the passage contradicts it.
• Cannot Say: the passage does not establish either conclusion.

Difficulty deciding is not evidence that Cannot Say is correct. Locate the relevant sentence, compare its scope with the statement and check words such as all, some, only and may.

Sample passage 1: a pilot service

This is an original fictional passage:

A pilot appointment system will operate in Cork and Galway from October to December. Managers will review waiting times in January before deciding whether to extend it. During the pilot, both offices will retain their existing telephone booking service.

Statement 1: Telephone booking will remain available at both offices during the pilot.

Answer: True. The final sentence says both offices will retain that service. No assumption about customer preferences or booking volumes is needed.

Statement 2: Managers have already decided to extend the pilot.

Answer: False. The passage places the decision after the January review. An already-made decision contradicts that sequence.

Statement 3: The system will be introduced nationally in January.

Answer: Cannot Say. January is the review point. There is no national rollout decision, date or commitment in the passage. A local pilot is not evidence of a national launch.

Sample passage 2: keep the qualification

Another original fictional passage:

All requests received by noon on Friday were logged that afternoon. Some were still awaiting additional documents at close of business, so their assessment could not begin that day. Requests arriving after noon were logged on Monday. Logging a request does not mean it has been assessed.

Statement 4: Every request logged on Friday was assessed that day.

Answer: False. Some Friday requests needed additional documents before assessment could begin. The statement turns logging into completed assessment, which the passage explicitly distinguishes.

Statement 5: More requests arrived before noon on Friday than after noon.

Answer: Cannot Say. The passage gives processing times but no counts. A longer processing delay tells you nothing about the number of requests.

A repeatable reading method

1. Read the statement and identify the exact claim.
2. Find the sentence that bears on it.
3. Compare the people, time period and qualification in both.
4. Decide whether there is support, contradiction or insufficient information.
5. After checking the answer, name the inference you added if you were wrong.

Build accuracy first and add timed practice using your campaign’s published allowance. There is no universal 30-second rule. Read the verbal reasoning method and Cannot Say guide for more study techniques.

When a practice score knocks your confidence

A low result on a short practice set is a prompt to inspect the mistakes, not a forecast of your official result. Check whether you imported outside knowledge, missed a qualification or confused missing evidence with contradiction. Explain each correction in your own words, then try a fresh passage. Read the worked False versus Cannot Say examples.

In member practice, use Query this answer beside an explanation if you still disagree. Include the fact that supports your interpretation. The practice correction log explains how revised keys and historical results are handled.

Free verbal practice and the next step

The free verbal taster has five statements across two passages, a score, and explanations for missed answers. It does not enforce a time limit or predict an official result. Use it to find whether the problem is reading, inference or pace.

Publicjobs also links official self-assessments from its test advice page. These are useful alongside the campaign-specific familiarisation pack. Do not assume a sample has the same length or rules as your actual assessment.

For further practice, Premium pricing is €39 per month, recurring until cancelled. Check the relevant content before paying. The numerical samples and SJT samples cover different skills, not a promise that all three will appear in your competition. If you have an interview invitation, use the interview preparation guide.

Sources and update log

Checked 12 September 2026: official publicjobs test advice. It directs candidates to their competition booklet and familiarisation instructions for timing, question counts and permitted materials. PSP examples on this page are original learning exercises, not official questions or a prediction of a live assessment.

12 September 2026: added worked practice, linked directly to the relevant free taster, and removed unverified universal format and scoring claims. PublicServicePathway is independent of publicjobs and the Public Appointments Service.