What Does ‘Cannot Say’ Mean in Civil Service Verbal Reasoning?

Hey there!

If you’re getting ready for your UK Civil Service application, you’re probably already familiar with the various steps involved. The Civil Service Verbal Reasoning Test is one of the key hurdles, and today we’re going to focus on a tricky little part of that – the infamous ‘Cannot Say’ response. So, grab a cuppa and let’s dive into it!

The Civil Service Application Process

When you apply for a role in the UK Civil Service, you'll face a series of assessments. One of the first ones is often the Verbal Reasoning Test. It’s designed to test how well you can understand written information and make logical conclusions. This is all part of making sure you have the critical thinking skills needed to thrive in a government role.

Now, when it comes to the Verbal Reasoning Test, there’s one question type that throws people off more than others: ‘Cannot Say’. Don’t worry – once you understand what this means, you’ll feel a lot more confident about it!

What Does ‘Cannot Say’ Mean?

In the Civil Service Verbal Reasoning Test, you’ll be given a short passage of text followed by statements. Your job is to say if each statement is True, False, or if you ‘Cannot Say’. Sounds simple, right? Well, the trick is figuring out when you genuinely can’t say!

When you choose ‘Cannot Say’, it means that based on the information in the text alone, there’s not enough to confidently say whether the statement is true or false. You’re not allowed to guess, assume, or use any outside knowledge. You have to base your answer only on what’s written. If the passage doesn’t clearly give you enough to say true or false, you go with ‘Cannot Say’.

Why Does This Trip People Up?

The thing that gets most people is that they want to assume the answer. It’s easy to think, “Well, I know that this would usually be true, so I’ll go with that.” But don’t do it! The test is all about your ability to stick to the facts. If it’s not explicitly stated in the passage, you should select ‘Cannot Say’.

It’s not about what should be true in real life. It’s all about what’s in front of you – nothing more, nothing less.

Example Question

Let’s go through a quick example:

Passage:
"Research shows that working from home can increase employee satisfaction. However, this may not apply to all employees, particularly those who work in customer-facing roles, where face-to-face interaction is essential."

Statement:
“All employees who work from home are more satisfied with their job.”

Now, is this statement True, False, or ‘Cannot Say’?

In this case, the correct answer is ‘Cannot Say’. Why? Because the passage doesn’t give us enough information about all employees. It only talks about how it can increase satisfaction but then also mentions some exceptions. There isn’t enough to say whether this applies to everyone, so ‘Cannot Say’ is the right call!

Final Tips for Success

✨ Read the passage carefully. Don’t skim! Every word matters.

✨ Don’t overthink it. If it’s not stated clearly in the text, choose ‘Cannot Say’.

✨ Trust the process. You’re not being tested on outside knowledge, just your understanding of the passage.

Good luck! You’ve got this. With a little practice and the right mindset, you’ll be sailing through the Verbal Reasoning Test in no time. Remember, stay calm, stick to the facts, and let your skills shine.

Now go smash that test! 💪😄