Deductive Reasoning Test

Deductive reasoning tests are often part of a pre-employment assessment to measure logical thinking and problem-solving skills in an objective manner. Including these tests in the recruitment process allows employers to gain insight into a candidate's ability to analyse information and make logical deductions.

Deductive reasoning tests are timed assessments, so prospective employees must absorb the information and work through the problems quickly and accurately.

They are also multiple-choice so as long as the test is not negatively marked, it is always worth taking your best guess at the correct answer.

Inductive and deductive reasoning tests are often referred to interchangeably, but they are not the same. Before completing a deductive reasoning test, make sure you understand the difference.

Deductive reasoning is based around logical certainty. Questions involve being presented with information or premises and using these premises to come to the correct conclusion.

This conclusion is drawn from the information given, following the rules or principles divulged, and there can be no other correct answer.

Remember, the logic of deductive reasoning questions must always be solid. Even though it is possible for the premises themselves to be flawed, following their logic points to only one possible response, and this is your answer.

By contrast, inductive reasoning involves compiling evidence to make generalisations. It involves reasonable probability, rather than certainty.

In inductive reasoning, an example or observation is given, and you are expected to **form a hypothesis by looking for an emergent pattern.

Deductive reasoning questions contain several different types of word questions in written information that you will need to read through, understand, and interpret, to reach the correct answer. The most popular category of questions is syllogisms.

The questions in the deductive reasoning test do not require any previous knowledge, instead, they assess your thought process and ability to come to sound conclusions. They involve written information that you will need to read through, understand, and interpret, to reach the correct answer.

What is a syllogism question category?

A syllogism begins by presenting two or more sentences that provide the rules or premises of the situation. The final sentence in the problem states a conclusion. Your task is to deduce whether the conclusion given is 'True', 'False', or if you 'Cannot Say' based upon the information divulged.

The sentences containing the pertinent information (i.e. outlining the premises) are unlikely to be presented on their own. They are often part of a longer paragraph of text, so your first task will be to identify and isolate the premises or rules. There are three main types of syllogism:

• Categorical
• Conditional
• Disjunctive

Categorical

A categorical syllogism outlines the qualities of certain categories. You are required to conclude whether an item or concept fits into the larger category, based on the information given about both the category and item/concept.

Conditional

A conditional syllogism presents 'if-then' statements, where the conclusion of the first premise forms the condition for the second. You are required to follow this logic and see how the concluding statement relates to the protestations made.

Disjunctive

A disjunctive syllogism presents two premises and states that either of these could be true - but that if one is true, the other must be false. You are required to follow the logic of the question to ascertain which premise in this 'either-or' scenario is true, and which is therefore false.

A further category of deductive reasoning questions is arrangements. Arrangement questions involve information that compares people or items.

You are required to carefully read through the question and decode a certain quality or aspect of the people or items – for example, the order guests arrived at a party - according to the snippets of information provided.

The questions on a deductive reasoning test must be answered using only the information given in the question. Pay close attention to the logic of the question and ensure you do not subconsciously bring any outside information into the deductive process.

The correct answer is based on the logic of the question alone, whether this makes sense outside of the world created or not.

Deductive reasoning tests are used as part of the recruitment process. Most often encountered in the pre-screening stages, aptitude tests like deductive reasoning allow employers to rapidly gain insight into the potential of job candidates.

As only those who perform well in the test will progress to the next stage of the hiring process, the tests are an effective and efficient way of objectively streamlining the applicant pool.

A high score in a deductive reasoning test suggests an ability to think logically and draw the correct conclusions under pressure. These skills are particularly important for skilled roles in areas such as finance, law, science, engineering, and technology.

Deductive reasoning tests are administered online. You may receive a link to complete the test automatically after submitting your online application for a job role or be invited to sit the test via email after your initial application has been screened.

Deductive reasoning tests are rarely taken alone. They are more commonly encountered as part of a series of psychometric tests or packaged within an aptitude assessment.

This assessment will involve completing several different styles of test. The type of tests administered varies depending upon the job role, but may include:

• Numerical reasoning tests
• Verbal reasoning tests
• Diagrammatic reasoning tests
• Spatial reasoning tests
• Situational judgement tests
• Personality tests

The deductive reasoning test itself will be multiple-choice, and you'll have a set amount of time to complete the questions.

We've highlighted a few example test questions with answers explained for what you might expect from a deductive reasoning test:

Question: If all dogs have fur, and a poodle is a dog, then what can we conclude about poodles?

• A) Poodles have fur.
• B) Poodles do not have fur.
• C) Poodles might have fur.

Answer: A) Poodles have fur.

Explanation: This question tests deductive reasoning based on premises that are established as true. The premise "all dogs have fur" is given, and the conclusion "poodles have fur" follows logically from it because poodles are dogs. The correct answer is therefore A) Poodles have fur.

Question: A company is developing a new software application that requires a high level of security. The development team consists of three programmers: Alice, Bob, and Charlie. Alice and Bob are both highly experienced programmers, but Charlie is less experienced. If the software is not secure, it will be vulnerable to hacking attempts. Which of the following statements can be inferred based on the information provided?

• A) The software will be secure because Alice and Bob are highly experienced programmers.
• B) The software will be vulnerable to hacking attempts because Charlie is less experienced.
• C) The software will be secure because the development team consists of three programmers.
• D) The security of the software cannot be determined based on the information provided.

Answer: D) The security of the software cannot be determined based on the information provided.

Explanation: The argument is based on the premise that the software requires a high level of security and that Alice and Bob are highly experienced programmers. It is also stated that Charlie is less experienced. However, there is no direct evidence linking the level of experience of the programmers to the security of the software. It is possible that Alice and Bob could overlook security issues, or that Charlie could contribute to making the software secure by taking extra precautions. Therefore, without further information, it is not possible to determine whether the software will be secure or not based on the information provided. Option D is the correct answer.

1. Use only the information spelled out in the question

Deductive reasoning questions should be answered using only the information provided in the question. This means that you shouldn't bring any outside knowledge or assumptions to the problem and should actively refrain from reading between the lines.

2. Take the premises at face value

Deductive reasoning questions present multiple premises to the reader. These premises should always be taken as true, as they underpin the logic of the question. Answering deductive reasoning questions correctly is about following the logic, so be aware that the premises of the argument do not necessarily need to be sound to be logical.

3. Read the text carefully

Get used to reading the text of deductive reasoning questions carefully, as all relevant information is contained in the question. Syllogism questions often contain qualifiers and conditionals. Look out for these and pay attention to how they may change the meaning of the sentence, as this may have implications upon the overall logic of the question.

4. Practice using mock tests

The best way to prepare for a deductive reasoning test is to get practical experience in navigating the types of questions you will be presented with. Sitting practice tests will allow you to familiarise yourself with the format, style, and question content of deductive reasoning assessments, as well as highlight your strengths and weaknesses to allow for more targeted preparation.

5. Understand the difference between inductive reasoning and deductive reasoning aptitude tests

The two types of reasoning are often confused, but they are quite different. Inductive reasoning (also known as inductive logic) is the process of reasoning from specific instances to a general principle. For example, you might see several black ravens and conclude that all ravens are black. Deductive reasoning is the process of reasoning from a general principle to specific instances. For example, you might know that all ravens are black and conclude that a particular bird is a raven.

Aptitude tests measure your ability to use inductive or deductive reasoning. Inductive reasoning is generally seen as a stronger ability because it allows you to come up with new ideas and solutions. Deductive reasoning is more limited in scope, but it is more reliable because it follows established rules.