Verbal Reasoning (VFSB)

What the VFSB measures

Unlike Fluid Intelligence (Gf), which measures raw pattern recognition (like the Raven's Matrices), Crystallized Intelligence (Gc) measures the brain's ability to use language, acquired knowledge, and strict formal logic to solve complex semantic problems. This battery tests the user's ability to separate truth from validity. In formal logic, a conclusion can be logically valid based on the premises, even if the premises are factually false in the real world. This requires intense cognitive decoupling.

The dimensions it assesses

• Categorical Syllogisms: Deductive logic using "All, Some, or None" statements. (e.g., All A are B. Some B are C. Therefore, are some A definitely C?).
• Conditional Logic (If/Then): Modus Ponens and Modus Tollens. Identifying formal logical fallacies (like Affirming the Consequent).
• Verbal Fluency/Analogies: Extracting the precise relational logic between words and mapping it to a novel pair.

What to do with your result

1. The Cognitive Decoupling Breakdown: The most common reason people fail this test is emotional interference. When presented with the premise "All good mothers stay home," an egalitarian user will feel anger and instinctively mark the deduction "False," failing the question. The report must explain that logic requires suspending emotion and personal beliefs to follow the structural math of the words.
2. Law School / LSAT Correlation: The VFSB is essentially a micro-LSAT. Users scoring 18-20 should be explicitly told they possess the exact neurological profile required for high-tier legal reasoning.

Common questions about the VFSB

What does the VFSB measure?

Measurement of Crystallized Intelligence (Gc), specifically deductive logical reasoning and verbal comprehension, independent of mathematical or spatial ability.

Can the VFSB diagnose me?

No. Verbal Reasoning (VFSB) is a screening questionnaire, not a diagnostic tool. It can flag that something may need a closer look. It cannot tell you what is causing it. It describes tendencies rather than diagnosing anything, and no result here is a condition or something to fix.

How long does the VFSB take?

16 questions, which most people finish in 12 – 15 minutes (strictly timed). There is no time limit, and answering honestly matters more than answering quickly. The results page checks for patterns suggesting the questions were rushed.

Is this VFSB test really free?

Yes. No account, no email address, no payment. Psychometrics Today is funded by donations rather than advertising, which is also what allows us to publish instruments whose authors permit free but non-commercial use.

Are my answers stored or shared?

No. Your answers are scored inside your browser and never sent to us. There is no database of responses, because we never receive any. Closing the tab erases them, which is why results cannot be recovered afterwards.

How often should I retake the VFSB?

Traits and preferences move slowly, so retaking this every few months is more informative than retaking it often. Larger shifts usually follow a genuine change in circumstances.

Who created the VFSB, and is this the real version?

It was published by Psychometrics Today (original items). Built on Aristotelian syllogistic logic, which is public domain, with original stimuli. The items here are the published ones rather than a paraphrase, and the scoring follows the original rules. Both are documented on this page so they can be checked.

How accurate is the VFSB?

Screening questionnaires are good at flagging that something merits attention and poor at establishing what it is. This one is sensitive to how you feel on the day you take it, and many instruments were validated on narrow populations whose cut-offs may not transfer cleanly to everyone. The references at the foot of this page are the primary sources.