Over the last 10 years online recruitment has replaced traditional recruitment methods, a trend that has been exacerbated by the covid pandemic. This trend goes beyond recruitment however, and extends to assessing and selecting candidates too.
So how do you thrive if asked to take an online verbal reasoning test as part of your job application?
Environment
Most online tests will allow you to choose your own environment to take the test. To perform at your best you should aim for a quiet and relaxed location that will be free of disturbances. Try to complete the test in a single sitting and switch off your phone!
Read the instructions carefully
With most online testing there will be no administrators it is up to you to ensure you understand any instructions and how to proceed. In most online tests there is no time limit for reading instructions, so take your time.
There’s no going back
Many online tests prevent you from going back to pages you have already completed to change your answers. With any online test you should take some time to review your answers before moving on to the next page.
Take our free verbal reasoning practice test
Untimed tests
Some online verbal reasoning tests do not have time limits. These tests are open ended and allow you to work at your own pace. In the absence of a time-limit the test will often use other methods to get a good measure of your verbal ability, such as questions that become increasingly difficult throughout the test. Still try to work as quickly and accurately as possible as the length of time you took to complete the test is likely to be recorded.
Use an up-to-date web browser
Good online testing systems are designed to work on virtually any computer, however the type of browser you’re using can severely impact your ability to take the assessment. Generally older versions of Internet Explorer (which many people still surprisingly use) will struggle with modern day web applications, so try to ensure your browser is the latest version.
Don’t cheat
The temptation to cheat in an unsupervised online test is understandable. However modern day assessment platforms utilise a range of different strategies to dissuade and catch out any would-be cheaters (including having to resit part of the test in a supervised setting).
