Logical Reasoning Test

Logical reasoning tests, as you’d guess from the name, are designed to test your aptitude for logic. The questions you’ll see on the test are very visual; usually shapes, patterns or sequences that need logic applied to connect them.

The questions being asked will either be deductive, inductive or abstract. Deductive means you’ll need to show how you go from the general to the specific, inductive is the other way around and abstract is where you’ll need to show how you find the most likely answer from multiple observations.

It may sound complex (and unfortunately it is!) but practising logical reasoning tests will help you get to grips with the question formatting and style, not to mention make you quicker at answering each one - which is important given the tight time pressure you’ll be under.

The legal world is incredibly competitive - for every job advertised there’ll be scores of people applying. So when a legal firm wants to hire for a role where logic is a key skill needed, they’ll set the logical reasoning test. Not only will it help an employer to differentiate between candidates, but it’ll also show who has the relevant strengths needed for the job and who copes well under pressure.

Many employers in other sectors and in companies large and small will also use this test, so if you haven’t come across it before it doesn’t mean you won’t again!

The questions you’ll see on the test will be a series of images - shapes, patterns or objects. You’ll have to use your logic to work out the pattern or rule that connects them all, before selecting the correct multiple choice answer.

As with all aptitude tests, you don’t have long to answer each question so it’s really important to focus, read the question thoroughly and try to think clearly and rationally when answering.

Unlike tests such as numerical or verbal reasoning, the questions on the logical reasoning test are based on things you might not have seen before. Preparing beforehand by trying out some practice tests is the best way you can set yourself up for success on the big day.

Not only does the test examine your ability to think logically, but it also puts your ability to work quickly under pressure and your problem solving skills under the microscope.

The questions asked may be deductive (this judges your ability to proceed from the general to the specific), inductive (this measures your ability to proceed from the specific to the general) and abstract (this examines how you can find the simplest or most likely answer based on different observations).