EPSO preparation

EPSO verbal reasoning tips

Verbal reasoning is one of the areas where careful technique matters most. Small reading errors — missing one qualifier word — can cost you several marks. These tips will help you read more accurately and decide faster.

20
Questions per test
35 min
Time limit
~105 sec
Per question
~60%
Typical pass mark

1. Understand Cannot Say — it is not the same as False

The most common mistake in verbal reasoning is confusing Cannot Say and False. These are fundamentally different answers:

FALSEThe passage actively contradicts the statement. There is specific information in the passage that proves the statement wrong.
CANNOT SAYThe passage simply does not mention enough information to confirm or deny the statement. Silence ≠ contradiction.

Rule of thumb: Only mark False if you can point to a specific sentence in the passage that directly contradicts the statement. If no such sentence exists, use Cannot Say.

2. Never use outside knowledge

Verbal reasoning tests assess what the passage says — not what you know about the topic. Even if a statement is factually true in the real world, if the passage does not confirm it, the answer is Cannot Say.

This is especially difficult for candidates who are knowledgeable about the passage topic (EU policy, economics, science). The more you know, the harder it can be to restrict yourself to what the passage actually states. Treat each passage as a completely isolated document.

3. Watch for qualifier words — they change everything

Qualifier words are the key to many verbal reasoning questions. One word can change a True statement into a Cannot Say or False:

all / everyRequires 100% — even one exception makes it False
some / a fewOnly requires at least one case — easier to confirm
most / majorityRequires >50% — check whether the passage quantifies this
never / alwaysAbsolute — one counterexample makes it False
onlyExcludes all other options — very specific claim
mainly / primarilyRequires dominant proportion, not just presence
can / mayPossibility, not certainty — easier to confirm as True
must / willCertainty — harder to confirm unless passage is explicit

4. Read the passage once — then go back for each statement

A common time-wasting habit is re-reading the whole passage for each statement. Instead:

  1. Read the full passage once at a normal pace to understand the topic and structure.
  2. Read the first statement carefully.
  3. Go back to the passage and find the specific sentence that relates to the statement.
  4. Evaluate True / False / Cannot Say based on that sentence only.
  5. Repeat for each remaining statement — but only re-read the relevant part.

This approach is faster than re-reading the full passage each time and more accurate than relying on memory.

5. Do not infer beyond what is stated

Verbal reasoning questions often contain statements that are reasonable conclusions but are not explicitly supported by the passage. If the passage does not directly confirm a statement, even if it is a logical implication, the answer is Cannot Say.

Example: Passage says "The programme is funded by the EU". Statement says "The programme would not exist without EU funding." This is a Cannot Say — the passage does not say the EU is the only possible funding source.

6. Apply strict time management — 105 seconds per question

With 20 questions in 35 minutes, you have approximately 105 seconds per question. Some passages share 2-3 statements, which means you spend reading time once but answer multiple questions — use this to your advantage by grouping your reading time efficiently.

If a passage is particularly difficult or dense, answer what you can and move on. Do not let one hard passage block you from answering several easier ones later in the test.

7. Practise with formal language passages

EPSO verbal passages are written in formal institutional language — European Commission reports, policy documents, academic summaries. If you are not used to reading this style, the unfamiliar sentence structures can slow you down significantly.

Practising specifically with EU-style language — including EPSO practice tests — helps you become comfortable with the format before the real exam.

8. Use Cannot Say as a last resort — not a default

Some candidates use Cannot Say too often because it feels "safe". This is a mistake. If the passage clearly and directly supports a statement, the answer is True — not Cannot Say because you are uncertain.

Cannot Say should only be used when you have genuinely searched the passage for relevant information and found none — not when you are unsure or when the passage mentions the topic but does not fully address the statement.

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