Public Service Entrance Exam, Unsupervised Internet Test 370 - Sample questions of sub-test 1: Test of Reasoning

Note: The contextual information in the sample questions and the test questions is fictional.

Arithmetic reasoning

In this question type, you will need to identify an unknown value based on the information provided. Try the following sample question:

Question 1

An employee worked 11 hours in a day. Her regular working day is 7.5 hours and the rest was overtime, for which she was paid 1.5 times her regular hourly rate. If she was paid $112 for the day, what was her regular rate per hour for that day?

1. $6.79
2. $8.78
3. $14.93
4. $19.48

The employee is paid for 7.5 hours in regular time and 1.5 times the regular rate the rest of the hours worked (3.5 hours). The total number of paid hours is 12.75 (7.5 + 1.5 x 3.5). By dividing what she received for the day ($112) by the number of paid hours (12.75), you can determine her hourly rate, $8.78 per hour. Therefore, you would select option 2.

Logical reasoning

In this question type, you need to use logical reasoning to choose the best response based on the information given in the first part of the question. The wording of the question will vary depending on the nature of the task. You may be asked to choose which statement can be validly concluded or which statement completes the logical sequence, given the information provided.

Question 2

The accounting department just finished a staffing process and is setting up a training session. All recently hired employees are very well qualified. All of the trainees are recently hired employees.

What can be validly concluded from the information provided above?

1. All of the trainees are very well qualified.
2. None of the trainees are very well qualified.
3. Some of the trainees are not very well qualified.
4. All very well qualified employees are trainees.

All of the trainees are recently hired employees and all recently hired employees are very well qualified. Therefore, you would select option 1.

Question 3

The following argument is incomplete:

Statement: All e-mails sent by an organization are secure.

Conclusion: Therefore, all of the organization's client requests are secure.

Which of the following statements completes the preceding argument, making the conclusion valid?

1. All client requests are sent by e-mail.
2. Some client requests are not secure.
3. All e-mails sent by an organization are client requests.
4. None of the above.

The first option completes the argument and makes the conclusion valid. Without this information, the conclusion would not be valid. In contrast, the second and third options are not consistent with the conclusion. Therefore, you would select option 1.

Analytical reasoning

These questions include some invented nouns and some existing nouns found in the English vocabulary. You will be asked to select the best response to each question. In all cases, finding the best response will involve making inferences, based on the information in the question.

In some questions, you must use your knowledge of the real relations between the existing nouns to determine the best response. In other questions, you must reverse the real relations between the existing nouns or ignore your knowledge of the real relations between the existing nouns to determine the best response. Each question indicates how the real relations between the existing nouns must be used. The following sample questions demonstrate some of the different types of questions you may be asked.

Question 4

For this question, you must use your knowledge of the real relations between the existing nouns to determine the best response.

• A FRUB resembles a XIXU but is heavier.
• A XIXU resembles a car but is heavier.
• A NULO resembles a bicycle but is lighter.

Which of the following is the best response?

1. A FRUB is heavier than a NULO.
2. A car is lighter than a NULO.
3. A bicycle is heavier than a XIXU.
4. A XIXU is heavier than a FRUB.

Based on the relations outlined in the first two statements, we know that a FRUB is heavier than a XIXU, which is heavier than a car. We also know that a car is heavier than a bicycle from the knowledge we have of these existing nouns, and, from the third statement, we know that a NULO is lighter than a bicycle. From heaviest to lightest, the order of the words is: FRUB, XIXU, car, bicycle, NULO. Therefore, you would select option 1.

Question 5

For this question, you must reverse the real relation between the existing nouns in order to determine the best response.

• A FETH resembles a GITH but is larger.
• A cat resembles a GITH but is smaller.
• A zebra resembles a PURI but is larger.

Which of the following is the best response?

1. A zebra is larger than a GITH.
2. A FETH is smaller than a PURI.
3. A cat is larger than a PURI.
4. None of the above.

Based on the relations outlined in the first two statements, we know that a FETH is larger than a GITH, which is larger than a cat. From the third statement we know that a zebra is larger than a PURI. As specified in the question, by reversing the real relation between a cat and a zebra from the knowledge we have of these existing nouns, we also know that a cat is larger than a zebra. From largest to smallest, the order of the nouns is: FETH, GITH, cat, zebra, PURI. Therefore, you would select option 3.

Question 6

For this question, you must ignore your knowledge of the real relation between the existing nouns to determine the best response.

• A cow is smaller than an ant and larger than a butterfly.
• A planet is smaller than a mountain.
• A mountain is smaller than a butterfly.

Which of the following is the best response?

1. An ant is smaller than a mountain.
2. A planet is smaller than an ant.
3. A cow is smaller than a planet.
4. None of the above.

Although the conclusion “A planet is smaller than an ant” contradicts the real relation between these existing nouns, the question specifies that you must ignore those real relations. The information provided states that the order of the nouns from largest to smallest is: ant, cow, butterfly, mountain, planet. Therefore, you would select option 2.

Number or letter series

In the number or letter series task, you are to determine the number or letter that must be inserted into the sequence to complete the series. You first have to establish the rule that was used to create the series and then apply this rule to complete the series correctly. Note that a double letter (e.g., AA) indicates that a letter series is continuing from the beginning of the alphabet after reaching Z (as in the following: X, Y, Z, AA, BB, CC…).

Try the following example:

Question 7

Which of the following responses completes the series?

R, U, X, AA, DD, ___

1. V
2. Z
3. EE
4. GG

In this example, each letter of the series is three letters after the preceding letter, in alphabetical order. The letter that completes the series correctly is obtained by selecting the third letter after DD. Since GG is the correct answer, you would select option 4.