SHL-style verbal reasoning (classic Verify format)

30 True, False or Cannot say questions on short business passages in 19 minutes

Used by Jefferies (Reported), Fidelity International (Unverified)

Length

30 questions in 19 minutes15 questions in 10 minutes

The format

QuestionsA short passage, then statements to mark True, False or Cannot say
Time19:00 on one countdown
AnsweringTrue, False or Cannot say
Moving onNext, with no going back

About 38 seconds a question if you want to reach the end

How to answer

TrueThe statement follows from the passage
FalseThe passage says the opposite or rules the statement out
Cannot sayThe passage doesn't give enough to decide either way

Use only what the passage says, however likely a statement sounds

Have ready

Somewhere quiet to read closely
19 quiet minutes, as the clock can't be paused

How to approach it

Judge each statement on the passage alone, never on what you already know
True needs the passage to support it and False needs the passage to rule it out
Watch words like some, often and most: a statement that goes further is Cannot say
Two things happening together doesn't show that one caused the other

More optionsExtra time, examples, shortcuts

Extra time

Standard+25%+50%

Examples firstUntimed questions with worked answers before the clock starts
Keyboard shortcutsT, F and C pick an answer and Enter moves on

Single-key shortcuts can clash with some screen readers, so switch them off if they get in the way

Other SHL-style drills

Format notes

What this drill copies from the published format and how sure we are of each value, checked 29 September 2026

Format notes
Parameter	Value	Label
Questions	30, or 15 in the short practice	ReportedSource 1 for Questions Source 2 for Questions
TimeOne prep site gives 17 to 19 minutes depending on the role	19 min on one countdown, or 10 min in the short practice	ReportedSource 1 for Time Source 2 for Time
Question type	A passage, then statements to mark True, False or Cannot say	OfficialSource for Question type
What counts	Only the passage, not what you already know	OfficialSource for What counts
Statements per passageThe provider's example shows a passage followed by one or more statements, and the exact count and layout here are ours	3 or 4, each on its own screen under the passage	UnverifiedSource for Statements per passage
PassagesOur own writing, as passage length isn't published	Original business, finance and workplace texts of about 100 to 170 words	Unverified
Per-question timerAny per-question limit would be stated on the instructions page	None	OfficialSource for Per-question timer
At time-out	Answers stop at 00:00 and anything not reached scores nothing	OfficialSource for At time-out
Stepping away	The clock keeps running	OfficialSource for Stepping away
Examples first	Example questions before the clock	OfficialSource for Examples first
Going back or skippingOnly one prep site says you can't skip or review earlier questions	Not allowed, so Next needs an answer	UnverifiedSource for Going back or skipping
Wrong answersNot published for these tests, so this drill never takes marks away	Score zero, with no penalty	Unverified
Extra time	Only when the employer agrees it	OfficialSource for Extra time
Extra time hereOur option for practice, not part of the published format	Standard, +25% or +50%	Unverified
Short practiceOur own quick run, not a published version	About half the questions in about half the time	Unverified

Who uses it

What the evidence says about each employer, checked 29 September 2026

JefferiesReported
Two prep sites describe verbal tests from this provider for the bank, one from a candidate's account, and the bank names no provider
Source 1 for Jefferies Source 2 for Jefferies Source 3 for Jefferies
Fidelity InternationalUnverified
Two prep sites describe short verbal questions in its assessment without naming a provider
Source 1 for Fidelity International Source 2 for Fidelity International

Independent practice in the style of SHL's published format. Not affiliated with or endorsed by SHL