How CAT4 Verbal Reasoning works

The CAT4 exam is made up of four different modules, which GL refer to as batteries.

The question types are very specific, which makes mock preparation even more valuable than other exam types. CAT4 tests are shorter and have fewer questions than other entrance exams. This may sound positive, but in reality it means that each question holds greater value and there is far less room for error. The challenge in CAT 4 is confidence and familiarity with particular question types.

Let’s take a look at Verbal Reasoning

If you just read the Quantitative Reasoning section, get ready for a little déjà vu.

CAT4 Verbal Reasoning is built on two specific question types: Verbal Classification and Verbal Analogies. Just like in Quantitative Reasoning, the two sections share similarities and practising will hugely influence your result.

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Just like every area of CAT4, Verbal Classification questions are (reasonably) predictable and preparation is key.

Spot the similarity between the words and choose the word that matches.

Let’s start off with a very simple example:

Banana | Apple | Peach

1. Car

2. Toy

3. Pear

4. Toast

All of the three words are fruit, so the answer is (3) pear.

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The classifications tend to fall into:

• Word type (noun, verbal, adverb, adjective)

• Tense (past, future, present)

• Synonyms

• Word category (e.g. mammal, bird)

• Singular or plural

• Spelling patterns

Here’s a more advanced example:

Bus | Train | Aeroplane

1. Walking

2. Drove

3. Travelled

4. Journey

At face value, all of the words are vehicles. However, it’s a trap, as there are no vehicles in the answer options. The classification is that all three top words are nouns, so the answer is (4) journey, as walking, drove and travelled are all verbs.

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Sound familiar? Just as with Quantitative Analogies, the challenge here is to spot the rule and reproduce.

Let’s look at an example:

Book>Read Frisbee>?

1. Score

2. Fun

3. Throw

4. Make

We read books and throw frisbees, so the answer is (3) throw.

However, things can get a little more complicated:

Firm>Soft Success>?

1. Win

2. Cuddle

3. Hard

4. Failure

Soft is an antonym of firm, so we should be looking for an antonym of success, which is failure.

Again, rules tend to fall into a few categories:

1. Changes in tense

2. Changes in plurality

3. Antonyms

4. Synonyms

5. Word logic (sea pairs with water, where desert pairs with sand).

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Head over to our CAT4 pages for dedicated modules on Verbal Reasoning and complete exams covering all the GL batteries, just like the real thing.