Beginner’s Guide To The EPSO Verbal Reasoning Test

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Beginner’s Guide To TheEPSO Verbal Reasoning Test

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EPSO Verbal Reasoning Tests:

Today’s Hosts

Today’s Trainer Megan Byrt

Co-Host and Technical Support:

Lenke Szasz

Follow-up questions: EU Training Support [email protected]

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EPSO VerbalReasoning Tests:

Starter Session Overview

30-minute introduction (recorded)Theory-focused – no full questions to work outOverview of verbal reasoningHow to tackle questionsTips and tricksFollowed by a 1 hr “Pro Tips” session with - practice questions and Q&A opportunity

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EPSO VerbalReasoning Tests:

Scoring and Time

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18

Questions

Minutes Minutes per

question

1.48≈ Maximum Score

• You cannot take anything into the exam room with you. • Everything you need will be provided.

10Pass mark 5/10

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Introduction and Overview

Design Guidelines

Concepts

Tips and Tricks

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Design Guidelines

Concepts

Tips and Tricks

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What is Verbal Reasoning?

Verbal reasoning is understanding and reasoning using concepts framed in words.

It’s not about literacy (i.e., the ability to read and write) and it’s not about fluency (i.e., the ability to speak or write easily and accurately).

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Verbal Reasoning Questions

Based on passage of text taken from a variety of sources and topics.

Followed by a standard action: “Which of the following statements is correct?”.

Followed by 4 plausible options.

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Passage: Hastings invest a considerable amount of their resources on innovation: About 5% of its annual revenue goes to Research & Development, versus the roughly 1.8% spent by its two closest competitors. This investment has helped the company swiftly progress into growth markets, such as Germany and Hungary. Coupled with a reputation for reliability, that emphasis on innovation has helped Hastings grow faster abroad than its competitors.

While its competition has struggled to build a network of salesmen, Hastings equipment dealers are an open secret of its success. Dealers work closely with Hastings to customize a machine's weight, traction, and accessories (Bluetooth speakers, mini-fridges) and consult with their clients as new products become available. A good dealer, says Philip Fox, an analyst at Principles, is essentially serving as a trusted adviser, not just as a salesman. "That's what has allowed Hastings to dominate the market," he says.Based on the passage, which of the following statements is definitely correct? Statement 1: If the competition was to invest more of its capital on their Research and Development, then they too will grow faster into a more diverse market.

Statement 2: Hastings have an advantage over their competitors due to the incremental resources that they invest on their innovations department.Statement 3: Philip Fox, a good dealer who associated with Hastings, stated that being a trustworthy adviser is of fundamental importance for his job. Statement 4: Hastings have successfully progressed into new ventures due to both their status for consistency and their emphasis on creativity.

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Design Guidelines

Concepts

Tips and Tricks

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Design Guidelines

Concepts

Tips and Tricks

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Verbal Reasoning Design Guidelines

No jargon Abbreviations should be explained

Idioms, for example, “economical with the truth”

No previous knowledge required!

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Verbal Reasoning Design Guidelines

Difficulty can be adjusted

The statements should be reasonably uncomplicated: “It would not be false to say that all horses are either black or brown, for the reasoning that none are white.”

Should be: “All horses are either black or brown”.

This session will be mostly about techniques that you can use to decipher verbal reasoning questions.

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Verbal Reasoning

There are four ways that statements can be designed:

1 Correct + 3 Incorrect statements1 Correct + 2 Incorrect + 1 Cannot Tell1 Correct + 1 Incorrect + 2 Cannot Tell1 Correct + 3 Cannot Tell

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Sample of “Definitely true” Passage: The sale of vitamins has

increased every winter for the past four years. Although it is recommended that people take vitamins all year round, there is a definite peak during winter especially throughout November and December. It is thought that this is due to an increase in the common cold and other flu-like symptoms from common illnesses.

Statement: At least some people believe that there is an increase in people taking vitamins because of the common cold during winter months.

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Verbal Reasoning

Cannot Tell

Two ways that it can be structured:

Passage: Paris is the most populous city in France. Paris was founded in the 3rd century BC by Celtic people called the Parisii, who gave the city its name.

Statement A: Paris is the capital of France.

Statement B: Celtic people founded cities.

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Verbal Reasoning

Cannot Tell

Two ways that it can be structured: #1


Statement A: Paris is the capital of France. – true but not stated above.

Statement B: Celtic people founded cities.

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Verbal Reasoning

Cannot Tell

Two ways that it can be structured: #2


Statement A: Paris is the capital of France.

Statement B: Celtic people founded cities. – likely, but not stated above.

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Design Guidelines

Concepts

Tips and Tricks

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Design Guidelines

Concepts

Tips and Tricks

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Concept

ParaphrasingParaphrasing: the statements may paraphrase information from the passage.

Passage: Giraffes like to eat Acacia leaves and hay, and they consume 75 pounds of any food everyday.

Which of the statements could be true?

Statement A: A giraffe eats between 1 and 75 pounds of Acacia leaves and hay every day.

Statement B: A giraffe can eat between 1 and 75 pounds of Acacia leaves and hay in a day.

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Concept

Paraphrasing




Statement B: A giraffe can eat between 1 and 75 pounds of Acacia leaves and hay in a day.

We cannot say!

Paraphrasing: the statements may paraphrase information from the passage.

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Concept

Paraphrasing




Statement B: A giraffe can eat between 1 and 75 pounds of Acacia leaves and hay in a day. True!

Paraphrasing: the statements may paraphrase information from the passage.

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Concept

Insufficient information

This usually relates to statements that one “Cannot Tell” if true or false. There is not enough information in the passage to support the statement.

Passage: Hastings invest a considerable amount of their resources on innovation: About 5% of its annual revenue goes to Research & Development, versus the roughly 1.8% spent by its two closest competitors.

Statement: The R&D team have received ample amount of training in order to encourage innovation and creativity.

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Concept

ComplexityComplexity: the statement may include information that comes from different parts of the passage.

Passage: While its competition has struggled to build a network of salesmen, Hastings equipment dealers are an open secret of its success. Dealers work closely with Hastings to customize a machine's weight, traction, and accessories (Bluetooth speakers, mini-fridges) and consult with their clients as new products become available. A good dealer, says Philip Fox, an analyst at Principles, is essentially serving as a trusted adviser, not just as a salesman. "That's what has allowed Hastings to dominate the market," he says.Statement: It could be said that those who are trusted advisers make a better network of salesmen than other salesmen who are not.

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Concept

Extra Information

The statement may add information that hasn’t already been introduced.

Passage: The investment has helped the company swiftly progress into growth markets, such as Germany and Hungary. Coupled with a reputation for reliability, the emphasis on innovation has helped Hastings grow faster abroad than its competitors.Which of the statements could be true?

Statement A: The investment has definitely helped the company take up the market share of countries such as Germany and Hungary.

Statement B: The investment has helped the company swiftly progress into growth markets across many countries in Europe.

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Concept

Past facts and future possibilities

This relates to “could”, “will” versus “is”.

Dealers will work closely with Hastings to customize a machine's weight, traction, and accessories and consult with their clients as new products become available.

Dealers could work closely with Hastings to customize a machine's weight, traction, and accessories and consult with their clients as new products become available.

Dealers work closely with Hastings to customize a machine's weight, traction, and accessories and consult with their clients as new products become available.

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Concept

Past facts and future possibilities Dealers will work closely with Hastings to

customize a machine's weight, traction, and accessories and consult with their clients as new products become available.




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Concept






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Concept






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Concept

Partial truthsWhen a small piece of information has been added that makes the whole statement untrue.

Passage reads: “Hastings invest a considerable amount of their resources on innovation”

Statement: “Hastings invest a considerable amount of their resources on innovation annually”

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Concept

Partial truthsWhen a small piece of information has been added that makes the whole statement untrue.

Passage reads: “Hastings invest a considerable amount of their resources on innovation”

Statement: “Hastings invest a considerable amount of their resources on innovation annually”

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Concept

DeductionWhen we can logically deduce from the information whether something is true or not.

Passage: “Budgetary spending has decreased in the past number of years”

False deduction: “Proportion of spending has decreased in the past number of years”

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Concept

Deduction

Passage: “Many people retire at the age of 65, but others retire later”

Correct deduction: “At least some people retire after the age of 65”.

When we can logically deduce from the information whether something is true or not.

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Concept

Over-specification

When more details are added, but it becomes too specific.

Passage: “An estimate of spending shows that about 5% of Hasting’s annual revenue goes to Research & Development, versus 1.8% spent by its two closest competitors”

Statement: “5% of Hasting’s annual revenue goes to R&D efforts, whereas exactly 1.8% is spent on the same by its competitors.”

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Concept

Over-specification

When more details are added, but it becomes too specific.

Passage: “An estimate of spending shows that about 5% of Hasting’s annual revenue goes to Research & Development, versus 1.8% spent by its two closest competitors”

Statement: “5% of Hasting’s annual revenue goes to R&D efforts, whereas exactly 1.8% is spent on the same by its competitors.”

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Summary of Verbal Reasoning

The true answer will be information that can be found solely within the

passage

ParaphrasingInsufficient informationComplexityExtra Information

Past facts and future possibilitiesPartial truthsDeductionOver-specification

Concepts include:

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Design Guidelines

Concepts

Tips and Tricks

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Design Guidelines

Concepts

Tips and Tricks

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Figure out a technique that works for you when practising – some people read the passage first, others read the answers first.

Read instructions thoroughly before you begin – sounds obvious, but often people skip important information.

Take everything literally – a robot would do well in verbal reasoning tests!

Tips and Tricks

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MoreTips And

Tricks Experience timed conditions: you will be expected to answer a question in 1 minute 48 seconds – try to aim for 1 minute 30 seconds:

45 seconds reading and understanding the passage

(4x) 5 seconds reading and understanding each statement

25 seconds answering the question by finding the relevant sections in the passage

Tips and Tricks

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Summarise the essence of a newspaper article in 3 sentences.

Review documents in an unfamiliar subject area – what conclusions can be drawn, and what can’t be?

Brush up on your basic grammatical skills.

Tips and Tricks

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Beginner’s Guide To The EPSO Verbal Reasoning Test

Thank you for attending the webinar!

Following on from this theory based session is our

Pro Tips For The EPSO Verbal Reasoning Test Webinarwhere we put learning into practice

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Beginner’s Guide To The EPSO Verbal Reasoning Test