Understanding True, False, and Cannot Say Questions in Verbal Reasoning

Hey there! 👋

Are you thinking about applying for a job in the UK Civil Service? Well, you've probably already come across the Verbal Reasoning Test, which is one of the big steps in the process. It’s completely normal to feel a bit nervous about this, but I’m here to help you out! 😊

The Civil Service has an exciting and competitive application process, but let me tell you—passing the Verbal Reasoning Test is absolutely doable with the right preparation. This test is designed to see how well you understand written information and make accurate judgments based on what you read. It's not about what you know, but how you process information.

Let’s dive into one of the key parts of the Verbal Reasoning Test: True, False, and Cannot Say questions.

What are True, False, and Cannot Say Questions?

In these questions, you’ll be given a passage of text followed by a statement. Your job is to decide if the statement is True, False, or if you Cannot Say based on the information provided in the passage. Sounds simple, right? 😅 But it can trip people up!

• True: The statement matches exactly with the information in the passage.
• False: The statement directly contradicts the information in the passage.
• Cannot Say: The statement is not clearly supported or contradicted by the passage. In other words, there isn’t enough information to make a definite call.

Breaking It Down: A Closer Look at the Questions

Let’s dig a little deeper into each of these options.

When you’re deciding if something is True, make sure you only rely on what's in the passage. If the statement agrees with the passage, you're good to go! 💡

For False, look out for any information in the passage that clearly goes against the statement. Even if the statement is close to being right, it’s still False if it doesn’t exactly match up.

And finally, Cannot Say is where people sometimes get stuck. If there isn’t enough information in the passage to decide one way or another, this is your go-to answer. Don’t assume or guess—stick strictly to what’s given. 🚫🤔

Let’s Look at an Example!

Here’s a practice question similar to what you’ll see on the test. Give it a try and see how you do!

Passage:
"The company announced that profits for the last quarter had increased by 10%, following a successful marketing campaign. The CEO mentioned that this growth was expected to continue into the next quarter, barring any unforeseen circumstances."

Statement:
"The company's profits are expected to grow by 10% in the next quarter."

So, how do you answer?

1️⃣ True? Nope! The passage doesn’t say the profits will grow by 10% next quarter, just that growth is expected (without a specific percentage).

2️⃣ False? Not quite. There’s no information contradicting the idea that growth is expected—just no mention of the exact number for the next quarter.

3️⃣ Cannot Say? Yes! There’s not enough detail in the passage to confirm the exact percentage, so you cannot say for sure.

You’ve Got This! 💪

The best way to tackle these questions is to stay calm and read carefully. Don’t overthink it—stick to what’s in the passage, and you’ll be fine. With a bit of practice, you’ll soon be breezing through these questions!

Good luck with your Civil Service application! ✨ You’re going to smash it!