Civil Service Verbal Reasoning Test Working with Information in Civil Service Contexts Syllabus

If a report states 'a quarter of the 1,200 staff were surveyed', how many staff is that?

$\frac{1}{4} \times 1200 = 300$ staff.

What number is meant by 'a fivefold increase' applied to an initial value of 40?

$5 \times 40 = 200$ (the new total is five times the original).

Express 'the budget rose from £80m by a tenth' as a final figure.

$80 + \tfrac{1}{10}\times 80 = 80 + 8 = £88\text{m}$.

What does 'per annum' mean and how is it abbreviated?

'Per year' (annually); abbreviated 'p.a.'

How do you convert the phrase 'three in five applicants' into a percentage?

$\frac{3}{5} = 0.6 = 60\%$.

What is the value of 'half as many again' applied to 200?

$200 + \frac{1}{2}\times 200 = 300$.

Distinguish 'twice as many' from 'two more than' for a base of 50.

'Twice as many' $= 2\times 50 = 100$; 'two more than' $= 50 + 2 = 52$.

What does 'a decrease of a third' applied to 900 give?

$900 - \frac{1}{3}\times 900 = 900 - 300 = 600$.

In trend language, what is the difference between an increase that is 'rising' and one that is 'rising more slowly'?

'Rising' means the value is increasing; 'rising more slowly' means it is still increasing but the rate (rate of increase) has fallen, not the value itself.

What does it mean if a figure 'remained broadly stable' over a period?

The value stayed approximately constant, with little or no net change, though small fluctuations may have occurred.

What is the difference between 'the largest share' and 'the largest increase' when comparing categories?

'Largest share' refers to the biggest absolute amount or proportion at one point; 'largest increase' refers to the biggest change over time — they need not be the same category.

If unemployment 'fell at a slower rate' this year than last, what happened to the level of unemployment?

It still fell (decreased), just by a smaller amount or more gradually than the previous year.

What does 'inversely related' mean when describing two trends?

As one variable increases, the other decreases (they move in opposite directions).

Why does 'A grew faster than B' not mean A is larger than B?

Growth rate describes change over time, not size; a smaller value can grow faster while still being smaller in absolute terms.

What is the common numerical inference error of confusing percentage points with percentages?

A change from 10% to 12% is a rise of 2 percentage points, but a 20% relative increase; treating them as the same is an error.

Why can't you conclude causation from a passage that only describes correlation?

Two variables moving together may share a common cause or be coincidental; the passage must state a causal link for causation to be inferred.

What inference error occurs when a passage gives a percentage but you assume the underlying total?

Assuming absolute numbers from percentages alone — without the base figure, you cannot determine actual quantities.

If 60% of women and 60% of men approve, what can you conclude about the number of women versus men who approve?

Nothing — equal percentages with unknown group sizes do not tell you which group has more approving people in absolute terms.

Why is it an error to combine two separate percentages by simply adding them?

Percentages of different bases aren't additive; you must convert each to a quantity using its own base before combining.

In a multi-step procedure, what does 'before proceeding to step 4, ensure steps 1–3 are complete' establish?

A dependency: steps 1–3 are prerequisites that must finish before step 4 can begin (a sequential ordering constraint).

When following a written procedure, how should you treat a step beginning 'If not applicable, skip to...'?

As a conditional branch: evaluate the condition and jump directly to the indicated step when it is not applicable, omitting intervening steps.

In procedural text, what is the difference between sequential steps and parallel steps?

Sequential steps must be done in a fixed order each depending on the previous; parallel steps can be carried out independently or simultaneously.

What is the difference between 'necessary' and 'sufficient' conditions in eligibility reasoning?

A necessary condition must be met for eligibility but may not alone guarantee it; a sufficient condition, if met, guarantees eligibility on its own.

If a scheme requires applicants to be 'aged 18 or over AND resident in the UK', is an 18-year-old non-resident eligible?

No — 'AND' means both conditions are mandatory, and residency fails.

If eligibility is 'a UK citizen OR holder of indefinite leave to remain', does a person need both?

No — 'OR' means satisfying either single condition is enough.

In criteria reasoning, what does an 'exclusion criterion' do?

It disqualifies an applicant who meets it, regardless of other criteria being satisfied.

How should you interpret 'must satisfy at least two of the following four criteria'?

Eligibility requires any two or more of the four to be met; meeting only one is insufficient, but the specific two can vary.

In deadline clauses, what is the difference between 'within 14 days' and 'after 14 days'?

'Within 14 days' means on or before day 14 (the action must be done by then); 'after 14 days' means only once 14 days have elapsed.

What does 'no later than' a given date mean for a submission deadline?

The submission must arrive on or before that date; the date itself is the last acceptable day.

In a procedure, what is a 'dependency clause' such as 'payment is released only once approval is granted'?

A conditional link making one action (payment) contingent on the prior completion of another (approval); the dependency must be satisfied first.

If a rule states 'applications open on 1 March and close at midnight on 31 March', is an application sent on 1 April valid?

No — it falls outside the window, which ends at midnight on 31 March, so it is late and invalid.