Logical, abstract and inductive reasoning tests
Logical reasoning tests in the narrow sense of employers' online assessments usually consist of abstract, diagrammatic or inductive reasoning tests. Employers often use these tests as part of their online selection process, with companies such as SHL and Kenexa being the major test providers. It would be easier to describe logical tests as non verbal reasoning tests, since they do not rely on verbal or numerical information but rather on shape sequences and the logical pattern they represent. If you wish to have a better understanding of these tests we strongly recommend you take our free aptitude test session >>
However, although the term logical reasoning is often categorized under the test type that was just explained, it also describes verbal logical reasoning tests, which are used in many undergraduate and graduate admission tests and in certain selection processes. To experience verbal logical reasoning questions simply scroll down this page.
Logical reasoning questions
Here are three examples of verbal logical reasoning questions. Choose one correct answer for each question:
a. If there are no dancers that aren’t slim and no singers that aren’t dancers, then which statements are always true?
- There is not one slim person that isn't a dancer
- All singers are slim
- Anybody slim is also a singer
- None of the above
Answer:
The tricky part of this question is that it is phrased negatively. This means that we have to identify the nature of each group initially and establish the relationship between the groups. Once the illustration is made, the relationship between the groups becomes clearer. The only true statement is that all singers are slim.
The answer is 'All singers are slim'.
b. Dan is Joshua's son and Guy's brother. Margaret is Guy's mother and Judy's daughter. Which of the statements below are true?
- Judy is Dan's mother-in-law
- Margaret is Dan's mother
- Judy is Joshua's grandmother
- None of the above
Answer:
Dan and Guy are siblings, (not half brothers or step-brothers) and therefore Margaret, who is Guy's mother, is also Dan's mother.
The answer is 'Margaret is Dan's mother'.
c. This is data supplied by the cabbage growers union report for 2007: 80% of cabbages collected were heavy (over 0.5 kg), 10% of cabbages were green, 60% were red and 50% were big (having a diameter of over 10 cm). Which of the following statements must be false?
- All red cabbages weren’t big
- 30% of red cabbages were big
- There were no cabbages that were both green and big
- Half of the cabbages were small
Answer:
You have to check the authenticity of each statement.
1. All red cabbages weren’t big. We know that 60% of cabbages picked were red and only 50% were big, therefore, there is an overlap (60% + 50% = 110% > 100%). The statement must be false, so this is the correct answer. There’s no real need to check the rest of the statements, but we’ve provided an explanation in any case.
2. 30% of red cabbages were big. We know that 60% of cabbages were red and 50% were big, so there must be an overlap of at least 10% (60% + 50% = 110% > 100%). However, we don’t know the extent of the overlap. This statement may be true, but we don’t know for sure.
3. There were no cabbages that were both green and big. We know that 10% of cabbages were green and 50% were big, so there may not be an overlap between the two (10% + 50% = 60% < 100%). The statement can’t be ruled out.
4. Half of the cabbages were small. We know that 50% (i.e. one half) of the cabbages are big, so the other half may be small. This would make this statement true.
The answer is 'All red cabbages weren’t big'.
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