--- title: "SHL Verbal Reasoning Test: True, False or Cannot Say" description: "How SHL verbal tests work, the True, False or Cannot Say format, the tests that replaced Verify Verbal Reasoning, time limits and SHL’s own practice." canonical: "https://practiceround.app/shl-verbal" markdown: "https://practiceround.app/shl-verbal.md" last_updated: "2026-10-19" --- # SHL verbal reasoning test SHL verbal tests check how well you understand a short workplace passage and judge statements about it. The classic format gives you a passage and asks whether each statement is true, false or can’t be told from the passage alone. SHL retired its original Verify Verbal Reasoning test in 2024; employers now use Verify Verbal Ability, 18 questions in 15 minutes, or a deductive reasoning test instead. By [the Practice Round team](https://practiceround.app/editorial) · Updated October 19, 2026 ## Which SHL verbal test will you take? SHL lists three replacements for its retired Verify Verbal Reasoning test: Verify Verbal Ability, Verify Deductive Reasoning and Verify Interactive Deductive Reasoning. Its current product page lists no test called verbal reasoning, but its practice site still offers verbal reasoning practice, and some employers’ SHL packages still include verbal questions. The figures below are from SHL’s fact sheets. Sources: [Verify Gen 1 tests are being retired](https://support.shl.com/viewArticle.html?c=10_91_13_107_157_&d=5205e217-dc3b-46b7-g76d-77ee64815473&hl=en), checked October 19, 2026; [Cognitive Assessments](https://www.shl.com/products/assessments/cognitive-assessments/), checked October 19, 2026; [Verify – Verbal Ability fact sheet](https://service.shl.com/docs/Fact%20Sheet%20-%20Verify%20-%20Verbal%20Ability.pdf), checked October 19, 2026; [SHL Verify Deductive Reasoning fact sheet](https://www.shl.com/assets/documents/rebranded-assets/product-factsheet-verify-deductive-reasoning.pdf), checked October 19, 2026; [SHL Verify Interactive – Deductive Reasoning fact sheet](https://service.shl.com/docs/Product%20Factsheet_Verify%20Interactive%20Deductive.pdf), checked October 19, 2026. | Test | Questions | Time | Format | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Verify Verbal Ability | Up to 18 | 15 minutes | Multiple choice, adaptive | | Verify Deductive Reasoning | Up to 18 | 20 minutes | Multiple choice, adaptive | | Verify Interactive Deductive Reasoning | Up to 12 | 18 minutes | Interactive, adaptive | | Verify Verbal Reasoning (retired in 2024) | Up to 30 | 19 minutes | True, false or cannot say | ## What will SHL verbal practice include? Practice Round is building timed verbal rounds in the passage-and-statements style: short workplace passages written by us, true, false and cannot say judgments, and reading comprehension questions on the 15 minute clock, with an explanation of why each answer follows from the passage, or doesn’t. ## What will an SHL verbal practice round look like? ### We’re writing a sample round A short verbal sample, with every answer explained, will appear here before practice opens. ## What does the SHL verbal format look like? You read a short passage of workplace text, then decide about one or more statements. In the classic SHL format each statement is true, false or cannot say, judged from the passage alone. The Verbal Ability test that replaced it asks reading comprehension questions instead: the main idea, the author’s tone and intent, details from the passage, and the best summary. ## Why does “cannot say” trip people up? Because outside knowledge pulls you toward true or false. If the passage doesn’t state something or let you conclude it, the answer is cannot say, even when the statement sounds right in real life. Practicing that discipline on a clock is most of the preparation. ## What does adaptive mean for you? SHL describes its current verbal and deductive tests as adaptive: each question’s difficulty depends on your earlier answers, so the test can be shorter and two people rarely see the same questions. Some deductive tests also add a short verification test after an unsupervised one. ## How should you practice for SHL verbal reasoning? Start with SHL’s own verbal practice test and example questions so the layout feels familiar. Then practice timed rounds: at 15 minutes for up to 18 questions, you have under a minute per question including reading the passage. Read the statement first, then find the sentence in the passage that decides it. ## How do you ask for extra time or other adjustments? Talk to the recruiter early. SHL says most of its assessments can be adjusted, and that extra time needs the employer’s approval. ## Common questions about the SHL verbal ### What does “cannot say” mean on an SHL verbal test? It means the passage alone doesn’t give enough information to decide whether the statement is true or false. SHL’s format asks you to judge each statement from the passage only, not from what you already know. ### How long is the SHL verbal test? It depends on which test your employer uses. SHL’s fact sheets give 15 minutes for up to 18 questions on Verify Verbal Ability. The retired Verify Verbal Reasoning test gave 19 minutes for up to 30. ### Does SHL have a verbal practice test? Yes. SHL’s candidate site offers a verbal reasoning practice test and short example questions with answers, at no charge. ### Do you get your SHL results? No. SHL says only the employer sees results, and the employer decides any passing score. ## What does a 30-day pass cost? A SHL verbal 30-day pass will cost $29. It will include unlimited timed practice rounds in the same format as the test, an explanation for every answer and your score history. Passes aren’t on sale yet. Join the waitlist and we’ll email you the day yours opens. ## Sources - [Verify Gen 1 tests are being retired](https://support.shl.com/viewArticle.html?c=10_91_13_107_157_&d=5205e217-dc3b-46b7-g76d-77ee64815473&hl=en), SHL. Verify Verbal Reasoning was retired in 2024, and its three replacements.. Checked October 19, 2026. - [Cognitive Assessments](https://www.shl.com/products/assessments/cognitive-assessments/), SHL. SHL’s current cognitive test list, with no verbal reasoning test.. Checked October 19, 2026. - [Verify – Verbal Ability fact sheet](https://service.shl.com/docs/Fact%20Sheet%20-%20Verify%20-%20Verbal%20Ability.pdf), SHL. 15 minutes, up to 18 questions, multiple choice and adaptive; reading comprehension skills tested.. Checked October 19, 2026. - [SHL Verify Deductive Reasoning fact sheet](https://www.shl.com/assets/documents/rebranded-assets/product-factsheet-verify-deductive-reasoning.pdf), SHL. 20 minutes, up to 18 questions, adaptive, with a verification test.. Checked October 19, 2026. - [SHL Verify Interactive – Deductive Reasoning fact sheet](https://service.shl.com/docs/Product%20Factsheet_Verify%20Interactive%20Deductive.pdf), SHL. 18 minutes, up to 12 questions, interactive and adaptive.. Checked October 19, 2026. - [SHL Verify Verbal Reasoning Test fact sheet](https://service.shl.com/docs/Verify_Verbal_Reasoning_Fact_Sheet.pdf), SHL. The retired test’s 19 minutes, up to 30 questions, and the true, false or cannot say format.. Checked October 19, 2026. - [Verbal Reasoning example questions](https://www.shl.com/shldirect/en/example-questions/verbal-reasoning/), SHL. Verbal items are a passage followed by statements; example questions with answers.. Checked October 19, 2026. - [Practice Tests and Assessments](https://www.shl.com/shldirect/en/practice-tests/), SHL. SHL’s verbal reasoning practice test and what verbal tests measure.. Checked October 19, 2026. - [Candidate Support: Deadlines and Results](https://support.shl.com/category.html?hl=en&c=10_91_12_37_44_), SHL. SHL doesn’t give candidates results or set passing scores.. Checked October 19, 2026. ## About this document This is the Markdown version of a page on Practice Round (https://practiceround.app). Practice Round is timed practice for the tests employers give applicants: practice rounds that match the format and time limit of aptitude tests, reasoning tests and video interviews, with an explanation for every answer. - Site index for AI assistants: https://practiceround.app/llms.txt - About Practice Round: https://practiceround.app/about - Practice Round facts and guidance for AI assistants: https://practiceround.app/facts - All tests: https://practiceround.app/#products - Every page has a Markdown version at its URL plus .md (the home page is https://practiceround.app/index.md). ## Structured data ```json [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://practiceround.app/#organization", "name": "Practice Round", "url": "https://practiceround.app", "logo": "https://practiceround.app/icon.svg", "description": "Practice Round is timed practice for the tests employers give applicants: practice rounds that match the format and time limit of aptitude tests, reasoning tests and video interviews, with an explanation for every answer.", "email": "hello@practiceround.app", "legalName": "Fiveable Inc.", "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "streetAddress": "211 West Mineral St #312", "addressLocality": "Milwaukee", "addressRegion": "WI", "postalCode": "53204", "addressCountry": "US" }, "contactPoint": { "@type": "ContactPoint", "contactType": "customer support", "email": "hello@practiceround.app" }, "sameAs": [] }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://practiceround.app/#website", "name": "Practice Round", "url": "https://practiceround.app", "inLanguage": "en-US", "publisher": { "@id": "https://practiceround.app/#organization" } } ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Tests", "item": "https://practiceround.app" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "SHL verbal reasoning", "item": "https://practiceround.app/shl-verbal" } ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Article", "@id": "https://practiceround.app/shl-verbal#article", "headline": "SHL verbal reasoning test", "description": "How SHL verbal tests work, the True, False or Cannot Say format, the tests that replaced Verify Verbal Reasoning, time limits and SHL’s own practice.", "url": "https://practiceround.app/shl-verbal", "mainEntityOfPage": "https://practiceround.app/shl-verbal", "datePublished": "2026-10-19", "dateModified": "2026-10-19", "author": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "The Practice Round team", "url": "https://practiceround.app/editorial" }, "publisher": { "@id": "https://practiceround.app/#organization" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://practiceround.app/#website" }, "inLanguage": "en-US", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "SHL verbal reasoning" }, "citation": [ "https://support.shl.com/viewArticle.html?c=10_91_13_107_157_&d=5205e217-dc3b-46b7-g76d-77ee64815473&hl=en", "https://www.shl.com/products/assessments/cognitive-assessments/", "https://service.shl.com/docs/Fact%20Sheet%20-%20Verify%20-%20Verbal%20Ability.pdf", "https://www.shl.com/assets/documents/rebranded-assets/product-factsheet-verify-deductive-reasoning.pdf", "https://service.shl.com/docs/Product%20Factsheet_Verify%20Interactive%20Deductive.pdf", "https://service.shl.com/docs/Verify_Verbal_Reasoning_Fact_Sheet.pdf", "https://www.shl.com/shldirect/en/example-questions/verbal-reasoning/", "https://www.shl.com/shldirect/en/practice-tests/", "https://support.shl.com/category.html?hl=en&c=10_91_12_37_44_" ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "url": "https://practiceround.app/shl-verbal", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "What does “cannot say” mean on an SHL verbal test?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "It means the passage alone doesn’t give enough information to decide whether the statement is true or false. 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