Verbal Reasoning

The Verbal Reasoning Was Formerly A Part of The Differential Aptitude Tests Next Generation (DAT NextGen) And Is New As of 2027.

Help your organization communicate clearly, think critically, and make better decisions.

The Verbal Reasoning assessment (formerly DAT™ Next Generation – Verbal Analogies) is a 10-minute, 15-item untimed adaptive online cognitive test that measures verbal comprehension, critical thinking, and text interpretation.

In today’s workplace, success depends on how well people interpret information, draw conclusions, and communicate ideas. From analyzing written content to making informed judgments, strong verbal reasoning skills are essential across roles and industries.

Trusted since 1947 to predict performance the Differential Aptitude Test (DAT)™, now Verbal Reasoning, helps you identify individuals who can understand language, evaluate information, and think critically. Using adaptive testing, it provides a precise view of how people process verbal information—so you can build teams that communicate clearly and make confident decisions.

Primary Use: Selection and Development
Assessment Type: Cognitive: General Mental Ability (GMA) through the measurement of Verbal Reasoning ability
Job Level: Entry level through to managerial job roles
Job Type: Any role requiring individuals to have strong Verbal Reasoning skills
Number of Items: 15
Estimated Time: 10 minutes (untimed)
Administration Format: Unproctored
Norms: General population, Education-level norms

Available Languages

• English (US & UK)
• French
• Dutch
• Spanish
• Portuguese
• Italian

What does the Verbal Reasoning measure?

1. Verbal Comprehension – Understanding written information, including meaning, context, and intent.
2. Logical Interpretation of Text – Analyzing written content to draw accurate conclusions and identify key messages.
3. Critical Thinking with Language – Evaluating statements, arguments, and information for accuracy and relevance.
4. Recognition of Relationships Between Words – Identifying how words and concepts connect and relate to one another.
5. Decision Making Based on Written Information – Using written data to form sound judgments and recommendations.
6. Clarity in Communication – Supporting effective communication through strong understanding of language structures and meaning.

Benefits

• Short – Approximately 10–15 minutes (15 adaptive items)
• Measures verbal reasoning ability, a key predictor of workplace performance
• Highly reliable, predictive scores backed by decades of research
• Adaptive testing technology adjusts to ability level for greater precision
• Engaging experience that supports focus and confidence
• Enables confident hiring and development decisions across roles

What It’s Best Used For

• Vetting communication and analytical capabilities: Assessing candidates from entry-level to managerial roles for clear understanding and expression of complex written information.
• Unproctored remote screening: Utilizing adaptive, randomized questions for secure, unsupervised pre-employment testing.
• Predicting text-heavy role success: Evaluating how well individuals interpret guidelines and make evidence-based decisions.
• Targeting talent development pipelines: Auditing staff to identify high-potential employees for leadership tracks.

See The Other Differential Aptitude Tests™ – Next Generation Replacement Titles

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