EPSO Verbal Reasoning: How to Improve Your Score

The verbal reasoning test measures your ability to understand and evaluate written arguments. You read a passage and determine whether statements are true, false, or cannot be determined.

What It Actually Tests

This is not a language test. It tests logical thinking applied to text:

• What the text explicitly states (true)
• What contradicts the text (false)
• What the text does not address (cannot say)

The most common mistake is bringing in outside knowledge. Even if you know a statement is true in real life, if the passage does not support it, the answer is "cannot say."

Common Pitfalls

1. Confusing "Cannot Say" with "False"

If the passage does not mention a topic, the answer is "cannot say" — not false. False means the passage actively contradicts the statement.

2. Overthinking

The passages are designed to be straightforward. If you are constructing elaborate logical chains, you are overcomplicating it.

3. Time Pressure

Reading carefully while maintaining speed is the core challenge. Practice builds the ability to quickly extract relevant information.

How to Improve

1. Practice daily. Even 15 minutes per day compounds over weeks.
2. Read the statement first, then the passage. This focuses your reading.
3. Underline key qualifiers. Words like "all", "some", "never", "always" change meaning entirely.
4. Review your mistakes. Understanding why you got questions wrong is the fastest path to improvement.