These are four sample questions from Bryq’s Strategic Communication assessment, a soft skills test for hiring roles where clear, persuasive communication drives results. The full assessment covers four skills: presentation, oral communication, written communication, and storytelling. Questions combine workplace communication scenarios with examples to compare, and each has one best answer out of four options.
Presentation
Question
You are mid-way through a presentation when you realise the order of your remaining slides no longer matches the direction the discussion has taken. What should you do?
Select your answer
Acknowledge the shift, briefly reorient the audience, and adapt your delivery to follow the discussion’s natural direction.
Skip the slides that no longer apply and move directly to your conclusion.
Pause and explain to the audience that the presentation will need to be restructured before you can continue.
Continue with the original slide order to avoid confusing the audience with an unplanned change.
WHY IS THIS THE CORECT ANSWER
Slides support a presentation; they shouldn’t dictate it.
Oral Communication
Question
Which of the following most effectively opens a verbal project update in a team meeting?
Select your answer
“Here is where we stand on the project, what has changed since last week, and what we need to decide today.”
“I thought it would be good to give everyone a bit of an overview of how things are going.”
“So, I just wanted to quickly run through a few things on the project before we get into everything else.”
“The project is progressing well, and I wanted to share where we are.”
WHY IS THIS THE CORECT ANSWER
An effective verbal opening tells listeners exactly what’s coming and why it matters to them.
Written Communication
Question
Which of the following is the most effective subject line for an email requesting sign-off on a project proposal?
Select your answer
“Proposal for approval: Q3 product launch — decision needed by Friday.”
“Following up on the proposal we discussed.”
“Quick question about the project.”
“Project update — some thoughts for your consideration.”
WHY IS THIS THE CORECT ANSWER
A strong subject line states the action, the topic, and the deadline, so the reader can prioritise it before opening the email.
Storytelling
Question
You are telling a story to a senior leadership audience to make the case for a strategic change. What is the most important structural element to include?
Select your answer
A clear narrative arc linking a recognisable problem to a credible resolution that fits the audience’s priorities.
A series of data points embedded within the story to establish credibility.
A personal anecdote that demonstrates your own experience with the issue.
A vivid and emotionally engaging opening scene to immediately capture attention.
