Verbal Reasoning
What the Verbal battery measures
The Verbal battery of CogAT Form 7 tests reasoning with words rather than isolated vocabulary. At Levels 9–17/18 it contains Verbal Analogies, Sentence Completion, and Verbal Classification; at primary levels the same reasoning appears with picture support and read-aloud directions. Each item asks you to find a relationship, not just a definition.
Core rules and concepts
- Verbal Analogies: Complete A : B :: C : D. Name the relationship in a sentence: “A ___ is a kind of ___,” “A ___ uses a ___,” “A ___ is the opposite of ___.” Common links include synonym/antonym, part–whole, object–function, category–member, cause–effect, degree, and worker–tool.
- Sentence Completion: Choose the word that makes the sentence both logical and grammatical. Signal words such as because, although, but, and therefore tell you whether the blank contrasts with or continues the sentence.
- Verbal Classification: Three words share a category or attribute. The correct answer must belong by the same rule-not merely be associated with the topic.
Worked example
Sculptor is to chisel as surgeon is to --. Options: hospital, scalpel, patient, operation. Relationship: a worker and the tool the worker uses. A sculptor uses a chisel; a surgeon uses a scalpel. Hospital is a workplace, patient is the object of the work, and operation is the action. Answer: scalpel.
Traps that cost marks
- Picking a word that is merely associated with the prompt (hospital for surgeon) instead of matching the exact relationship.
- In Sentence Completion, ignoring grammar-tense, singular/plural, or part of speech-so the word fits the meaning but not the sentence.
- In Classification, choosing a word that fits a loose theme but is not a member of the same category.
- At primary levels, trying to read items alone instead of following the read-aloud directions, which can cause missed or misread choices.