OLSAT Verbal Test Section Online Preparation, Sample Questions and Tips – 2024

What Is the OLSAT Verbal Test Section?

The OLSAT Verbal Section is one of two sections on the entire OLSAT test. All levels of the OLSAT exam will ask the same amount of verbal questions as nonverbal questions, with the exception of Level A for preschoolers, which will ask less verbal questions. OLSAT Levels A-C will not expect students to have developed the ability to read. Instead, the questions and their instructions will be read to the students by a teacher or test proctor. Starting in 3rd grade, or OLSAT Level D, students will be expected to read the questions and instructions, meaning a test proctor will not be reading anything aloud. The Verbal Section will mostly be made up of words and images, and is used to measure each child’s ability to infer relationships between words as well as understand the definition of certain words. After the completion of the exam, scores from the Verbal Section will be combined with scores from the Nonverbal Section. The result of these scores will determine if a child can be placed into a gifted and talented program.

What Are the OLSAT Verbal Test Sections?

Within the OLSAT Verbal Section, there will be two subcategories, including a Verbal Comprehension category and Verbal Reasoning category. Each of the categories will be further split into subsections that will conduct further testing on those specific sections. Students will need to quickly read through each section and accurately answer the questions to the best of their ability.

Verbal Comprehension

• Following Directions: Children in preschool through 2nd grade will complete this section. A teacher or test proctor will read a set of directions aloud to the students and will ask them to choose a picture that follows the directions.
• Antonyms: Children in 3rd grade or higher will complete this section by choosing a word with the opposite meaning of the original word.
• Sentence Completion: Children in 3rd grade or higher will complete this section by reading an incomplete sentence and choosing a word that would complete the sentence.
• Sentence Arrangement: Children in 3rd grade or higher will complete this section by arranging a set of words together to form a complete and logical sentence.

Verbal Reasoning

• Aural Reasoning: Children in preschool through 2nd grade will complete this section by piecing together small bits of information to choose an answer that forms a bigger picture.
• Arithmetic Reasoning: All students will complete this section by understanding numerical and logical reasoning between numbers. Students will have to determine relationships between numbers and figures, followed by predicting the outcome of the relationships.
• Logical Selection: Children in 3rd grade or higher will complete this section by reading through everyday scenarios and determining the outcome from those scenarios.
• Word/Letter Matrix: Children in 3rd grade or higher will complete this section by looking at a matrix filled with letters or words. The letters or words will be arranged in a pattern, with one box left empty. Students will fill the box with a letter or word that matches the matrix pattern.
• Verbal Analogy: Children in 3rd grade or higher will complete this section by identifying the relationship between two words. They will then see a third word missing its partner. Students will use the relationship from the first set of words to identify the missing word for the second set of words.
• Verbal Classification: Children in 3rd grade or higher will complete this section by searching through a set of words or figures and determine which word or figure does not match the rest.
• Inference: Children in 4th grade or higher will complete this section by reading through a syllogism and determining if the conclusion is true. This is done by providing several logical arguments, followed by a true or false statement based on the logical arguments.

How to Read OLSAT Verbal Test Section Score Report?

The OLSAT Verbal Test Section will account for one half of the overall score. The correct answers from this section will be combined together with the Nonverbal Section to create a raw score. Then, the raw score is compared with other children that are similar in age by a few months. This score is known as the School Ability Index (SAI) and is shown as a number between 0 to 150. Finally, once the SAI score is compared with other children in the same age bracket, each child is assigned a Percentile Rank. For example, a child who receives a 98% Percentile Rank has scored the same as or higher than children of the same age.

OLSAT Verbal Test Section Tips

1. Ensure your child understands what is being asked of them. If your child is struggling to answer questions, make sure they understand the instructions. The most beneficial aspect of practice exams is the ability for parents to sit down with their children and guide them through the test. If you notice your child is having a hard time, ask them to explain the instructions to you out loud. This will allow you to verify that they understand what is being asked of them.
2. Explanations need to be read and understood. At the end of the test, you and your child will be able to read individual question explanations. Make sure you read every single explanation, regardless of whether or not your child answered that question correctly. Explanations can teach your child knew information that they may not have known before, which can help them on the actual exam.

How to Prepare for the OLSAT Verbal Test Section?

Regardless of your child’s age, each child should study and prepare to take the OLSAT Verbal Test Section. Each subcategory of the Verbal Section will include in-depth questions that will test your child’s verbal abilities. In lower levels, verbal questions will be read aloud to the students. Therefore, while taking practice exams, students should have the questions read to them. However, in higher levels, students will be responsible for reading the questions to themselves. Thus, during the practice exam, students need to become familiar with reading the questions in their head. Make sure your school-age child knows how to quickly read and understand questions during the practice exam. Otherwise, your child may waste a lot of time trying to understand what a question is asking them. Practice exams and study guides are the key to your child successfully passing the OLSAT Verbal Test Section.

Free OLSAT Practice Questions

Based on your grade level select the relevant free practice materials: