YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE
Civil Service Assessment Guide
MI5 Assessment Guide
BBC Assessment Guide
Barclays Assessment Guide
RBS NatWest Assessment Guide
Here’s what you’ll uncover in this guide:
The HMRC verbal reasoning test measures your ability to identify relevant information and draw logical conclusions from written information. This HMRC test presents a passage, followed by a statement that you will decide if it’s ‘true,’ ‘false,’ or ‘cannot say’.
The HMRC verbal reasoning test is not timed. However, as with the numerical test, most people estimate it takes between 15 and 45 minutes to complete.
In our short video below, we explain more about the HMRC verbal reasoning test.
Do you want to practice for this HMRC assessment?
Practice with our verbal tests to help you prepare for this HMRC test today!
Practice Verbal Reasoning Tests
The HMRC recruitment process often includes taking other online assessment tests. Find out about them below!
After completing your HMRC online application, along with the HMRC verbal reasoning test, you may likely be required to complete the following online tests:
Good to know:
HMRC may also include a work strengths test or a skills test to assess your role-specific skills. These tests are typically tailored to the role you have applied for.
Discover all the stages of the HMRC application process here!
Looking to kickstart your HMRC numerical reasoning test practice? Start your prep with our free example questions below.
Verbal Reasoning Test
This test assesses your verbal reasoning ability using information provided in passages of text. Read the passage of text and look at each question, which is provided as a statement, to determine whether:
1 / 5
1) More needs to be done to capitalise on the power of the peer-to-peer networks that many music downloaders still use. A recent study found that regular downloaders of unlicensed music spent an average of £5.52 a month on legal digital music. This compares to just £1.27 spent by other music fans. The research clearly shows that music fans who break piracy laws are highly valuable customers. It also suggests that they are eager to adopt legitimate music services in the future. One researcher pointed out that “There’s a myth that all illegal downloaders are mercenaries hell-bent on breaking the law in pursuit of free music.” In reality hardcore fans “are extremely enthusiastic” about paid-for services, as long as they are suitably compelling, he said. People who download unlicensed music tend not to buy legal digital music.
2 / 5
2) More needs to be done to capitalise on the power of the peer-to-peer networks that many music downloaders still use. A recent study found that regular downloaders of unlicensed music spent an average of £5.52 a month on legal digital music. This compares to just £1.27 spent by other music fans. The research clearly shows that music fans who break piracy laws are highly valuable customers. It also suggests that they are eager to adopt legitimate music services in the future. One researcher pointed out that “There’s a myth that all illegal downloaders are mercenaries hell-bent on breaking the law in pursuit of free music.” In reality hardcore fans “are extremely enthusiastic” about paid-for services, as long as they are suitably compelling, he said. The biggest music fans are happy to pay for the music they enjoy.
3 / 5
3) More needs to be done to capitalise on the power of the peer-to-peer networks that many music downloaders still use. A recent study found that regular downloaders of unlicensed music spent an average of £5.52 a month on legal digital music. This compares to just £1.27 spent by other music fans. The research clearly shows that music fans who break piracy laws are highly valuable customers. It also suggests that they are eager to adopt legitimate music services in the future. One researcher pointed out that “There’s a myth that all illegal downloaders are mercenaries hell-bent on breaking the law in pursuit of free music.” In reality hardcore fans “are extremely enthusiastic” about paid-for services, as long as they are suitably compelling, he said. Most music fans spend over £5 a month on legal digital music.
4 / 5
4) More needs to be done to capitalise on the power of the peer-to-peer networks that many music downloaders still use. A recent study found that regular downloaders of unlicensed music spent an average of £5.52 a month on legal digital music. This compares to just £1.27 spent by other music fans. The research clearly shows that music fans who break piracy laws are highly valuable customers. It also suggests that they are eager to adopt legitimate music services in the future. One researcher pointed out that “There’s a myth that all illegal downloaders are mercenaries hell-bent on breaking the law in pursuit of free music.” In reality hardcore fans “are extremely enthusiastic” about paid-for services, as long as they are suitably compelling, he said. Law breakers spend more on music than law abiders.
5 / 5
5) More needs to be done to capitalise on the power of the peer-to-peer networks that many music downloaders still use. A recent study found that regular downloaders of unlicensed music spent an average of £5.52 a month on legal digital music. This compares to just £1.27 spent by other music fans. The research clearly shows that music fans who break piracy laws are highly valuable customers. It also suggests that they are eager to adopt legitimate music services in the future. One researcher pointed out that “There’s a myth that all illegal downloaders are mercenaries hell-bent on breaking the law in pursuit of free music.” In reality hardcore fans “are extremely enthusiastic” about paid-for services, as long as they are suitably compelling, he said. The most valuable customers are those who do not break the piracy laws.
Restart quiz
Looking for even more free test practice?
Read on for our best tips to help you pass the HMRC verbal test!
Here are 6 important tips to help you pass the HMRC verbal reasoning test in one go.
Get ready for HMRC online tests by practising our expertly designed preparation assessments.
After completing the HMRC online tests, the next test you may be required to complete is the HMRC video interview.
The HMRC verbal test evaluates several important workplace skills, including:
These abilities are important for many HMRC roles where employees must analyse documents, policies, or written communications.
Most of the questions in the HMRC verbal reasoning test follow a similar structure:
You must base your answer only on the information contained in the passage, not on outside knowledge or assumptions.
The number of questions in the HMRC verbal test can vary depending on the role and recruitment process. However, most verbal tests typically contain around 15 to 30 questions.
No. The HMRC verbal reasoning test does not require specialist knowledge of tax, finance, or government policy. The passages are designed so that all the information needed to answer the question is included within the text.
Practice for the HMRC verbal test with our expertly designed verbal reasoning practice tests, used by over 150 UK universities and their students, and also across Asia and continental Europe. Practice with peace of mind with commitment to a full 100% money-back guarantee if you do not pass your job tests.
Practice for the HMRC verbal test with our expertly designed verbal reasoning practice tests, used by over 150 UK universities and their students, and also across Asia and continental Europe.
Practice with peace of mind with commitment to a full 100% money-back guarantee if you do not pass your job tests.
Click the links below to uncover more about the HMRC recruitment process:
This article was last updated on 24 March 2026. All information provided is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication, based on publicly available sources. For the most up-to-date details, please verify directly with the employer.
Start preparing for HMRC Tests
and other leading companies
