How to Pass the NFA Understanding Information Test
Quick answer
Understanding Information was the verbal reasoning test in the older National Firefighter Ability (NFA) battery: written passages followed by four-option multiple-choice questions answered only from the passage. Many services now use newer verbal reasoning tests in a True / False / Cannot Say style, and our NFA-style practice uses that format. The core skill — strict, source-based reading — is the same in both.
Understanding Information was the verbal reasoning component of the National Firefighter Ability (NFA) tests. It assessed whether you can read written information quickly and answer strictly from what it says. The official NFA practice booklet shows the original used four-option multiple-choice questions such as 'Which one of the following statements is true?'. Most services now describe different verbal reasoning tests, many in a True / False / Cannot Say format, which is the format our practice version and this guide use.
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What the test involves
In the original NFA test, the official booklet describes 30 minutes of passages, each followed by multiple-choice questions with four options. Our NFA-style practice version lasts 35 minutes and contains 25 questions. Each presents a short passage — written like an operational notice, safety briefing or incident report — followed by statements to judge as True, False or Cannot Say based solely on the passage.
True means the passage explicitly supports the statement. False means the passage explicitly contradicts it. Cannot Say means the passage neither supports nor contradicts it — you cannot tell from the information given alone.
The Cannot Say trap
The most common mistake candidates make is failing to use 'Cannot Say' enough. When a statement sounds plausible and likely to be true based on general knowledge, there is a strong temptation to mark it True — even if the passage does not actually say it.
The test is not assessing your general knowledge or your ability to reason beyond the text. It is assessing your ability to determine what a piece of written information does and does not say. If the passage does not explicitly confirm a statement, the answer is Cannot Say — even if you know from general knowledge that it is true.
Practice reading passages in strict isolation. Before marking True, ask yourself: 'Does this passage actually say this?' If the answer is 'probably' or 'I think so' rather than 'yes, clearly', the answer is Cannot Say.
Preparing for the tests
Practise the tests this article describes
Reading about them only goes so far — the tests are timed, and the pace is the part that catches people out.
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Reading strategy
Read the passage once carefully before looking at the questions. Resist the temptation to skip straight to the questions and skim the passage — a careful first read is faster overall because you are not constantly re-reading to find specific information.
When you read each statement, locate the relevant part of the passage before you judge it. Do not answer from memory of the passage. Find the specific sentence or sentences that relate to the statement and judge the statement against those words.
Watch for qualifiers in both the passage and the statements. Words like 'always', 'never', 'all', 'only', and 'must' significantly change meaning. A passage saying 'firefighters are encouraged to attend' is different from 'firefighters must attend' — a statement containing 'must' would be False or Cannot Say depending on the context.
Time management
Our 35-minute, 25-question practice version gives you about 84 seconds per question. Some services' verbal reasoning tests are shorter and time each question individually, so practise working at pace.
If a passage is particularly dense or a question particularly ambiguous, do not spend more than 90 seconds on it. Mark your best answer, flag it mentally, and return if time allows. Most candidates find the Understanding Information test slightly more comfortable for time than Working with Numbers — but do not assume you have time to spare.
How to prepare
The key skill — strict disciplined reading without importing outside knowledge — develops with practice. The more passages you work through under timed conditions, the better you get at the specific discipline of answering what the passage says rather than what you expect it to say.
When reviewing practice answers, pay particular attention to Cannot Say questions you got wrong. If you marked True when the answer was Cannot Say, ask what specifically in the passage you thought supported the statement — and whether it actually did. This reflection builds the habit of strict source-based reading.
Frequently asked questions
What if I disagree with a Cannot Say answer?
In True / False / Cannot Say tests, Cannot Say means the passage does not explicitly confirm or deny the statement. Even if you are personally confident a statement is true based on your own knowledge, the correct answer is Cannot Say if the passage does not say so. This discipline is exactly what the test measures.
Are the passages about real fire service topics?
The passages are written in a style similar to operational notices, safety briefings, or incident reports. They use fictional content but the register and style of real fire service documents.
Is the Understanding Information test harder than Working with Numbers?
Most candidates find them roughly similar in difficulty. Some find verbal reasoning easier; others prefer numbers. Practice both equally rather than focusing on the one you already find comfortable.