How your verbal test score is interpreted

A Verbal Reasoning Test score is interpreted in a similar fashion to that to the other aptitude tests (numerical and abstract). A "pass" score for the verbal reasoning test doesn't exist. Instead your score is compared to a benchmark that based upon scores achieved by others at a similar organisational level and in a similar occupation to the one you are applying for.

For example, if you apply for a role in commerce, your raw score (or the number of correct responses) in the verbal reasoning test is compared with a large number of scores from people who either work in commerce roles or applied for similar roles. This enables employers to assess your verbal reasoning skills in comparison to those of others in the area you applied for.

So your result is calculated relative to that of other people in similar roles. Unfortunately this means that even if you correctly answered most of the questions in the test, your result may still be lower than the average in the area you are applying for.

How is this possible? Looking at the following example: you correctly answered 26 of 30 questions given in the verbal test. You feel this is a ‘good result’. However, other people in similar roles to that you applied for, also have very strong verbal reasoning skills and on average correctly answer 27 of 30 questions. This means that what you thought of as a ‘good result’ is not because it is lower than the average result of people who work or applied for a similar role.