Civil Service Verbal Reasoning Test — Questions and Answers

Question 1: WATER is to THIRST as FOOD is to:

Eating
Taste
Hunger (Correct answer)
Cooking

Correct answer: Hunger

Water satisfies thirst. Food satisfies hunger. Both complete the relationship: substance to the condition it relieves.

Question 2: Choose the correctly punctuated sentence:

The manager who had worked there for ten years retired last month.
The manager, who had worked there for ten years, retired last month. (Correct answer)
The manager who, had worked there for ten years, retired last month.
The manager, who had worked there for ten years retired last month.

Correct answer: The manager, who had worked there for ten years, retired last month.

The relative clause 'who had worked there for ten years' is non-restrictive (it adds extra information) and should be enclosed in commas on both sides.

Question 3: Read the following passage: 'Apprenticeships in the Civil Service have expanded significantly since the introduction of the Apprenticeship Levy in 2017. Departments are required to pay 0.5% of their annual pay bill into the levy, which funds training for both new recruits and existing staff seeking professional development. The Civil Service has committed to apprenticeships representing at least 2.3% of headcount, and programmes range from Level 2 qualifications to degree-level and master's-level apprenticeships.' What percentage of pay bill is contributed to the Apprenticeship Levy?

0.3%
2.0%
2.3%
0.5% (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 0.5%

The passage states departments 'are required to pay 0.5% of their annual pay bill into the levy.' The 2.3% figure refers to the headcount target for apprenticeships, not the levy rate.

Question 4: Choose the correct option: 'The figures in the table ______ a 10% increase in output.'

show (Correct answer)
shows
is showing
have shows

Correct answer: show

'The figures' is a plural subject, taking the plural verb 'show.' 'Shows' is singular. 'Have shows' is grammatically incorrect.

Question 5: Which word is the OPPOSITE of ARDUOUS?

Demanding
Tiring
Easy (Correct answer)
Difficult

Correct answer: Easy

Arduous means involving or requiring strenuous effort — very difficult. Its antonym is easy — requiring little effort.

Question 6: All Grade 7 civil servants in the department must complete the leadership development programme before applying for Grade 6 promotion. Some Grade 7 civil servants have completed the programme. Which of the following must be true?

Some Grade 7 civil servants are eligible to apply for Grade 6 promotion (Correct answer)
No Grade 7 civil servants can apply for promotion yet
Those who completed the programme will definitely be promoted
All Grade 7 civil servants have applied for promotion

Correct answer: Some Grade 7 civil servants are eligible to apply for Grade 6 promotion

Completing the programme is a prerequisite for applying. Some have completed it, meaning those individuals have met this necessary condition and are therefore eligible to apply. This does not guarantee promotion, only eligibility to apply.

Question 7: Statement: 'The Department for Transport has commissioned a feasibility study into expanding railway services in the North of England, following years of campaigning by northern MPs and business groups.' Which inference is most justified?

The railway expansion will definitely proceed
The feasibility study will recommend expansion
Northern railway services are currently adequate
The government is responding to sustained political and economic pressure regarding northern transport (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The government is responding to sustained political and economic pressure regarding northern transport

Commissioning a study 'following years of campaigning' directly suggests the government is responding to that sustained pressure. A feasibility study does not guarantee the project will proceed or that expansion will be recommended — it is an investigatory step.

Question 8: Statement: 'The Department for Education has allocated an additional £500 million to school building repairs following a survey that found 38% of school buildings have significant structural deficiencies.' Which inference is most strongly supported?

£500 million is sufficient to repair all deficient buildings
The government considers school building conditions to be a serious issue requiring investment (Correct answer)
The survey was conducted by the Department for Education
All schools with structural deficiencies will be repaired

Correct answer: The government considers school building conditions to be a serious issue requiring investment

Allocating £500 million in response to the survey findings strongly suggests the government views the issue as serious enough to warrant significant investment. The other inferences go beyond what the statement supports — we cannot know if the sum is sufficient, who conducted the survey, or whether all buildings will be repaired.

Question 9: Choose the sentence with the correct use of 'who' and 'whom':

Who should I contact about this matter?
Whom should I contact about this matter? (Correct answer)
Who was the letter sent to by?
Whom did call first?

Correct answer: Whom should I contact about this matter?

'Whom' is used as the object of a verb or preposition. In 'Whom should I contact?' — 'whom' is the object of 'contact.' This is correct.

Question 10: Which sentence contains no spelling or word-choice errors?

The principal reason for the delay were poor weather.
The principle reason for the delay were poor weather.
The principal reason for the delay was poor weather. (Correct answer)
The principle reason for the delay was poor weather.

Correct answer: The principal reason for the delay was poor weather.

'Principal' means main or primary (adjective), and 'was' correctly agrees with the singular subject 'reason'.

Question 11: Statement: 'The Civil Service Commission received 47 complaints about recruitment processes in 2025, compared with 31 in 2024, representing a 52% increase.' Which of the following is NOT a valid inference from this statement?

The Civil Service Commission tracks and reports complaint volumes
More people applied for civil service roles in 2025
Awareness of the complaints process may have increased
The quality of recruitment processes has deteriorated (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The quality of recruitment processes has deteriorated

Stating that recruitment quality has deteriorated goes beyond what the data supports. The increase in complaints could reflect greater awareness of the process, more applicants overall, changed expectations, or other factors. A rise in complaints does not automatically mean the underlying process worsened.

Question 12: Which word is closest in meaning to TENACIOUS?

Weak
Persistent (Correct answer)
Flexible
Careless

Correct answer: Persistent

Tenacious means not giving up easily — persistent and determined. It describes someone who holds on firmly despite difficulties.

Question 13: Passage: 'The fire exits must remain unobstructed at all times. Propping fire doors open is strictly prohibited.' Which is TRUE?

It is acceptable to briefly obstruct a fire exit
Fire exits can be obstructed if supervised
Fire doors may be propped open during an emergency
Blocking fire exits is not allowed (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Blocking fire exits is not allowed

'Must remain unobstructed at all times' clearly prohibits blocking fire exits. Option A directly reflects this rule.

Question 14: Argument: 'We've always done it this way, so there's no reason to change.' What fallacy does this commit?

Appeal to tradition — assuming past practice is inherently correct (Correct answer)
Circular reasoning
False dichotomy
Ad hominem

Correct answer: Appeal to tradition — assuming past practice is inherently correct

The argument assumes that because something has always been done a certain way, it should continue. This ignores the possibility that the method is outdated or that better alternatives exist.

Question 15: Statement: 'Following the introduction of mandatory cyber security training, the number of successful phishing attacks on government systems decreased by 60% within six months.' What can be most safely inferred?

Cyber security training is the sole reason for the decrease in phishing attacks
The training appears to have contributed to improved staff awareness of phishing threats (Correct answer)
Government employees are now fully protected against all cyber threats
Phishing attacks against government systems have stopped entirely

Correct answer: The training appears to have contributed to improved staff awareness of phishing threats

The most cautious and well-supported inference is that the training contributed to improvement. While the correlation is strong, we cannot definitively say it is the sole cause (other measures may have been implemented simultaneously), nor that staff are fully protected or attacks have ceased.

Question 16: Statement: 'The Ministry of Defence spends more on external consultants per year than any other government department, despite having the largest in-house analytical capability.' What assumption would someone need to make to conclude this spending is wasteful?

Other departments manage without external consultants entirely
The in-house analytical capability should be sufficient to handle the work currently given to consultants (Correct answer)
External consultants always provide poor value for money
The Ministry of Defence has the largest budget of all departments

Correct answer: The in-house analytical capability should be sufficient to handle the work currently given to consultants

To conclude the spending is wasteful, one must assume the in-house team could do the consultants' work — i.e., the internal capability is sufficient. Without this assumption, there may be legitimate reasons for external consultants (specialist skills, capacity constraints, independent assurance) despite having large in-house teams.

Question 17: The spokesperson gave an 'ambiguous' response. What does this mean?

Deliberately evasive
Open to more than one interpretation (Correct answer)
Factually incorrect
Extremely clear

Correct answer: Open to more than one interpretation

'Ambiguous' means open to multiple interpretations — unclear or uncertain. An ambiguous response could be understood in more than one way.

Question 18: No manager earns less than £35,000. Clare earns £30,000. What MUST be true?

Clare is a junior employee
Clare's salary is below average
Clare will receive a pay rise
Clare is not a manager (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Clare is not a manager

All managers earn at least £35,000. Clare earns £30,000, which is below that threshold. Therefore Clare cannot be a manager.

Question 19: Which word is the OPPOSITE of RELUCTANT?

Cautious
Hesitant
Unwilling
Willing (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Willing

Reluctant means unwilling or hesitant. Its antonym is willing — ready and happy to do something.

Question 20: Statement: 'The Civil Service has introduced blind recruitment for all Fast Stream applications, removing candidates' names, universities, and school qualifications from initial sift assessments.' What assumption underlies this policy?

The Fast Stream previously discriminated against all minority applicants
All candidates from prestigious universities are less competent
Assessors may be unconsciously influenced by personal information when evaluating candidates (Correct answer)
Removing names is sufficient to eliminate all recruitment bias

Correct answer: Assessors may be unconsciously influenced by personal information when evaluating candidates

Blind recruitment is designed to remove information that could trigger unconscious bias. The underlying assumption is that assessors may be influenced — consciously or unconsciously — by names, university prestige, or school background when making sift decisions. This is a well-established finding in recruitment research.

Question 21: Which word is closest in meaning to LETHARGIC?

Sluggish (Correct answer)
Focused
Anxious
Energetic

Correct answer: Sluggish

Lethargic means lacking energy or enthusiasm — sluggish and slow. It is the opposite of energetic.

Question 22: Whenever there is heavy snowfall, schools close. Schools are closed today. Which conclusion is VALID?

Heavy snowfall always causes disruption
Schools always close in winter
It is definitely snowing heavily today
There may be heavy snowfall today, or there may be another reason for closure (Correct answer)

Correct answer: There may be heavy snowfall today, or there may be another reason for closure

The rule says snow causes closure, but schools could close for other reasons too (e.g. a staff strike). Heavy snowfall is sufficient but not necessary for closure.

Question 23: Statement: 'The Cabinet Office now requires all government departments to publish their single departmental plans, including performance metrics and spending breakdowns, on GOV.UK.' What assumption underlies this requirement?

All members of the public regularly check GOV.UK for departmental information
Public transparency about departmental plans and spending improves accountability (Correct answer)
Government departments cannot be trusted to manage their own performance
Departmental plans were previously kept secret from ministers

Correct answer: Public transparency about departmental plans and spending improves accountability

Mandating publication of plans and performance data assumes that making this information publicly available serves a purpose — specifically, it improves accountability. Without this assumption, there would be no reason to require public disclosure rather than internal reporting alone.

Question 24: Passage: 'While the project was completed on time, it went significantly over budget.' Which is CANNOT SAY?

The project cost more than planned
The project finished by the deadline
The project was delayed
The project manager was aware of the budget overrun (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The project manager was aware of the budget overrun

The passage tells us about time and budget but gives no information about whether the project manager was aware of anything. This cannot be determined.

Question 25: Identify the misspelled word in the following list.

Occurance (Correct answer)
Necessary
Separate
Receive

Correct answer: Occurance

The correct spelling is 'Occurrence', ending in '-ence' not '-ance'; 'Occurance' is therefore misspelled.

Question 26: Argument: 'The government's target to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050 is unrealistic because no major economy has yet achieved net zero.' How should this argument be evaluated?

It is weak because the absence of past achievement does not prove future impossibility — all unprecedented achievements were once unachieved (Correct answer)
It is strong because historical precedent should guide policy
It is irrelevant because climate change is too important to consider feasibility
It is strong because government targets are rarely met

Correct answer: It is weak because the absence of past achievement does not prove future impossibility — all unprecedented achievements were once unachieved

The argument commits an appeal to precedent fallacy. No major economy had achieved many things before they were first done (universal healthcare, space travel, internet infrastructure). The absence of prior achievement is not evidence of impossibility, especially for a target set 25+ years in the future with evolving technology.

Question 27: Most people who eat breakfast perform better at work. Priya performs well at work. Which MUST be true?

Priya never skips breakfast
Eating breakfast caused Priya's performance
Nothing can be concluded about whether Priya eats breakfast (Correct answer)
Priya eats breakfast

Correct answer: Nothing can be concluded about whether Priya eats breakfast

Most breakfast-eaters perform well, but not all high performers eat breakfast. We cannot conclude Priya eats breakfast from her performance alone.

Question 28: Which word is closest in meaning to PERILOUS?

Uncertain
Safe
Dangerous (Correct answer)
Exciting

Correct answer: Dangerous

Perilous means full of danger or risk. Dangerous is the closest synonym.

Question 29: Which option correctly completes the sentence? 'Please ensure that all forms ______ by 5pm.'

submitting
are submitted (Correct answer)
submit
have submit

Correct answer: are submitted

The passive construction 'are submitted' is correct — the forms are the object receiving the action. 'Submit' would need a different subject. 'Submitting' is a participle, not a full verb form.

Question 30: FISH is to SCALES as BIRD is to:

Nest
Beak
Feathers (Correct answer)
Wings

Correct answer: Feathers

Scales are the external covering of a fish. Feathers are the external covering of a bird. Both refer to the characteristic outer layer.

Question 31: If it rains, the match is cancelled. The match was not cancelled. Which conclusion is VALID?

It rained
It did not rain (Correct answer)
The weather was uncertain
The match was postponed

Correct answer: It did not rain

This uses the logical form of contrapositive: if P then Q; not Q, therefore not P. If rain causes cancellation and there was no cancellation, it did not rain.

Question 32: In a report, data was described as 'qualitative'. What does this mean?

Collected from a large sample
Statistically verified
Based on numerical measurements
Relating to descriptions and qualities rather than numbers (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Relating to descriptions and qualities rather than numbers

'Qualitative' data is descriptive — it deals with characteristics, qualities, and categories rather than numbers. The opposite is quantitative data.

Question 33: The crime rate in City A fell by 15% last year. During the same year, the city increased its police budget by 20%. The mayor concludes more funding reduces crime. Which WEAKENS this?

City B reduced its police budget but also saw crime fall by 15% (Correct answer)
15% is a significant reduction
City A spent the extra budget on patrol cars
The police are well-respected in City A

Correct answer: City B reduced its police budget but also saw crime fall by 15%

If City B reduced its budget but crime also fell, the link between police funding and crime reduction is weakened. Other factors must be driving the decline.

Question 34: In a civil service assessment centre, candidates who score below 4 on any competency are eliminated. Candidates who are not eliminated proceed to the final interview. Priya scored 5, 3, 6, and 4 on the four competencies. What is Priya's outcome?

Priya is eliminated from the process (Correct answer)
Priya proceeds to the final interview
Priya may be given another chance to resit
Priya's outcome depends on other candidates' scores

Correct answer: Priya is eliminated from the process

Priya scored 3 on one competency, which is below 4. The rule states candidates who score below 4 on ANY competency are eliminated. Since Priya scored below 4 on one competency, she is eliminated regardless of her other scores.

Question 35: Argument: 'Nobody has proven that this supplement is harmful. Therefore it is safe to take.' What flaw does this contain?

Supplements are regulated
The burden of proof lies with the manufacturer
Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence — lack of proof of harm is not proof of safety (Correct answer)
Scientific studies take a long time

Correct answer: Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence — lack of proof of harm is not proof of safety

The argument assumes that because something hasn't been proven harmful, it must be safe. But lack of evidence of harm is not the same as evidence of safety.

Question 36: Passage: 'The government aims to plant 30 million trees by 2030. So far, 8 million have been planted.' Which is TRUE?

More trees need to be planted to reach the target
22 million trees remain to be planted (Correct answer)
The 2030 target has been met
The government has exceeded its tree-planting target

Correct answer: 22 million trees remain to be planted

30 million minus 8 million equals 22 million trees remaining. Both options A and D are correct in meaning, but D is the most precise and directly calculable statement.

Question 37: Which sentence is correct?

The report, along with its appendices have been distributed.
The report, along with its appendices, has been distributed. (Correct answer)
The report along with its appendices has been distributed.
The report, along with its appendices, have been distributed.

Correct answer: The report, along with its appendices, has been distributed.

'The report' is the singular subject. 'Along with its appendices' is a parenthetical phrase and does not change the subject's number. The singular verb 'has' is correct.

Question 38: Two arguments are presented about government outsourcing: Argument A: 'Outsourcing saves taxpayers money by introducing private sector competition.' Argument B: 'Outsourcing reduces accountability because private companies are not subject to the same transparency requirements as government departments.' Which evaluation is most accurate?

Neither argument is valid because outsourcing decisions depend on individual circumstances
Both arguments address valid but different aspects of the issue — cost efficiency versus democratic accountability (Correct answer)
Argument A is stronger because saving money is always the priority
Argument B is stronger because accountability is more important than cost

Correct answer: Both arguments address valid but different aspects of the issue — cost efficiency versus democratic accountability

Both arguments identify genuine considerations. Argument A addresses economic efficiency (a real benefit of competition), whilst Argument B addresses democratic accountability (a real concern with private delivery). They are not contradictory but highlight different dimensions of the same policy trade-off.

Question 39: All civil servants who handle classified material must complete security clearance vetting. James is a civil servant who handles classified material. Which of the following must be true?

James should apply for security clearance at his discretion
James may or may not need security clearance
James must complete security clearance vetting (Correct answer)
James handles classified material because he has security clearance

Correct answer: James must complete security clearance vetting

This is a straightforward syllogism: All X must do Y. James is X. Therefore, James must do Y. The premise states that ALL civil servants handling classified material must complete vetting, and James falls into this category.

Question 40: Which word is the OPPOSITE of LENIENT?

Strict (Correct answer)
Gentle
Forgiving
Tolerant

Correct answer: Strict

Lenient means not strict — merciful and permissive. Its antonym is strict — demanding compliance with rules.

Civil Service Verbal Reasoning Test

The Civil Service Verbal Reasoning Test assesses candidates' ability to understand written information, evaluate arguments, draw logical inferences, and apply grammar and vocabulary skills required for government roles.

Questions

35 min

Time Limit

70%

To Pass

Checking for saved progress...

Exam Rules

You can skip questions and return to them later
Flag questions for review before submitting
No feedback shown until you submit the entire exam
Unanswered questions count as wrong — answer everything
10 pretest questions are mixed in and don't affect your score
Timer auto-submits when time runs out
Your progress is auto-saved every 30 seconds