Every Verbal Reasoning Question Type (With Examples)

Example: Dog is to bark as cat is to ___? (Meow)

Tip: Name the relationship first. "Dog makes the sound bark, so cat makes the sound ___." Relationships are often: synonyms, opposites, part-to-whole, action-to-result, or category membership.

Example: Apple, banana, carrot, orange. Which is different? (Carrot - it's not a fruit)

Tip: Always ask: "What do three of these have in common?" Not "What's weird?" The three that match are your clue.

Example: Tired is to exhausted as big is to... (Enormous / Vast / Large / Huge)

Tip: Same logic as Type 1, just multiple choice. Find the tightest synonym pair among the answers.

Example: What word is hidden in SKATEBOARD? (BOAT / BOARD / SKATE)

Tip: Scan left-to-right, then try breaking the word at different points. Most hidden words are real English words, not random letter combos.

Example: A, C, E, G, ___? (I - every other letter of the alphabet)

Tip: Look at gaps between letters. Then look at the pattern of gaps. Is it +2, +2, +2 or +1, +2, +3?

Example: 2, 4, 7, 11, ___? (16 - add 2, then 3, then 4, then 5)

Tip: Write out the gaps between numbers first. Then look for patterns in those gaps. Complex sequences often use multiple rules.

Example: If CAT = 3, DOG = 3, MOUSE = 5, what does FISH = ? (4 - count the letters)

Tip: Look at three examples to find the pattern. Never assume it's the position in the alphabet - usually it's letter count, alphabetical sum, or vowel count.

Example: HAPPY means most nearly the same as: Joyful / Loud / Tall / Fast

Tip: Eliminate obvious non-matches first. Then pick the tightest match, not the one that's vaguely connected.

Example: CAREFUL means most nearly the opposite of: Careless / Thoughtful / Rough / Slow

Tip: True opposites are rare. Look for the answer that contradicts the original word most directly.

Example: STOP can be rearranged to make: POTS / ATOP / POST / (all of the above)

Tip: Say the letters out loud while trying different arrangements. It's faster than writing them down.

Example: "Penguins live in Antarctica." Read passage, then: TRUE / FALSE / CANNOT TELL

Tip: Only use information in the passage. "CANNOT TELL" is valid if the passage doesn't confirm the statement.

Example: Sentences A, B, C, D are jumbled. Put them in order to make a coherent story.

Tip: Look for transition words (then, next, because, as a result). These signal logical flow. Start with the sentence that makes sense as an opening.

Example: "Turn left at the third tree, then right after 50 metres. Which building are you facing?" (Plus a diagram)

Tip: Walk through the instructions step-by-step on the diagram. Mark each turn. Use a pencil to track position.

Example: DAY = 4, SUN = 3, MOON = 4. What is STAR = ? (4 - count vowels)

Tip: Write out at least three examples side-by-side. Compare what's different and what stays the same.

Example: C, F, I, L, ___? (O - every third letter, positions 3, 6, 9, 12, 15)

Tip: Convert letters to numbers immediately. Then it becomes a number sequence problem.

Example: Three kids (Alex, Ben, Chris) have three pets (cat, dog, bird). Using clues, work out who has what.

Tip: Use a grid and mark X for "no" and ✓ for "yes." Eliminate options systematically. When one box has only one option, that locks other boxes too.

Example: "The bank was closed." Does bank mean river bank or financial institution? (Both possible without more context)

Tip: Read all answer options before deciding. The context in the passage should narrow it to one meaning.

Example: In a code, X always = 5, Y always = 7. If XY = 12, what does YX = ? (also 12)

Tip: Build a lookup table as you work through the questions. Use it to check consistency.

Example: "All cats are mammals. Fluffy is a cat. Therefore, Fluffy is a ___?" (Mammal)

Tip: Draw simple diagrams (circles, Venn diagrams) to visualise the logic. Don't rely on gut feeling.

Example: BOOK ___ SHELF. What word completes both BOOK___ and ___SHELF? (Case - BOOKCASE, BOOKSHELF)

Tip: Say the two possible compounds out loud. The middle word must make sense in both.

Example: Piano, violin, trumpet, drum. Which is different? (Piano - strings/keyboard vs wind/percussion... actually, this one's tricky)

Tip: Look for a reason that three belong together. The odd one is what's left. Sometimes there are multiple valid answers - if so, pick the most obvious grouping.