watson glaser critical thinking appraisal practice test

• Numerical Reasoning
• Verbal Reasoning
• Inductive Reasoning
• Diagrammatic Reasoning
• Logical Reasoning
• Mechanical Reasoning
• Situational Judgement
• Deductive reasoning
• Critical thinking
• Abstract reasoning
• Spatial reasoning
• Error checking
• Verbal comprehension
• Reading comprehension
• Psychometric tests
• Personality test
• In-Tray exercise
• E-Tray exercise
• Group exercise
• Presentation exercise
• Analysis exercise
• Game based assessments
• Competency based assessment
• Strengths based assessment
• Strengths based interviews
• Video interview
• Saville Assessment
• Talent Q / Korn Ferry
• Watson Glaser
• Criterion Partnership
• Test Partnership
• Cut-e / Aon
• Team Focus PFS
• Sova Assessment
• For Practice
• For Business

Watson Glaser Critical Thinking Practice Tests and Advice

Critical thinking tests are high-level aptitude tests, with the Watson-Glaser being the most common.

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What is a critical thinking test, critical thinking test format, watson glaser critical thinking appraisal explained, critical thinking arguments tutorial, free watson glaser practice tests, critical thinking assumptions tutorial, what does a critical thinking test measure, critical thinking deductions tutorial, most popular critical thinking test publishers, critical thinking inferences tutorial.

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Watson Glaser FAQs

Updated: 24 August 2023

A critical thinking test is used to assess your ability to logically analyse assumptions, arguments, deductions, inferences and interpreting information. Critical thinking can be defined as ‘the ability to consider a range of information derived from many different sources, to process this information in a creative and logical manner, challenging it, analysing it and arriving at considered conclusions which can be defended and justified’ (Moon, 2008).

Critical reasoning tests, also known as critical thinking tests, are psychometric tests commonly used in graduate, professional and managerial recruitment. These high-level analytical test are most commonly encountered in the legal sector, but other organisations such as the Bank of England also use them as part of their selection process.

If we lack critical thinking skills, it is possible to be misguided into believing that an argument is strong, when in actual fact there is little evidence to support it. Critical thinking skills therefore include the ability to structure a sound, solid argument, to analyse and synthesise available information, and to make assumptions and inferences. Critical thinking skills are also about being able to evaluate the information and draw conclusions that can be supported.

Your critical thinking test may be pencil and paper or, more likely, it may be administered online. Which one you take will often depend on the format and the structure of the recruitment process. The questions will be multiple choice format and will usually be administered under time constraints.

Common test formats are as follows:

• 40 questions - 30 minutes
• 80 question - 60 minutes

Once you understand the format of your test, you are much more likely to perform better. Practice is the best way to maximise your chances of test success.

By far the most common type of critical thinking test is the Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal (W-GCTA) which is published by TalentLens. You can visit their official site here: Watson Glaser . With over 85 years' worth of development, the Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal is the most popular measure of critical thinking ability. The test is most commonly used by law firms, which is understandable as the abilities measured by the W-GCTA are good predictors of future success in roles which require clarity of understanding from multiple perspectives and the ability to reason with fact versus assumption.

The Watson-Glaser Thinking Appraisal (W-GCTA) is one of the main evaluating tools for cognitive abilities in professionals, since it measures critical thinking. It is seen as a successful tool to predict job success, as well as being used to select good managers and finding possible future leaders. It is also used in order to select the right person for a specific job role, especially for careers in the law.

Did You Know

The most recent revision of the W-GCTA was published in 2011 with notable improvements being better face validity and business-relevant items, scoring based on Item Response Theory (IRT), updated norm groups, and an online retest which can be used to validate a paper and pencil test result.

The W-GCTA was originally developed by Goodwin Watson and Edward Glaser. The W-GCTA measures the critical skills that are necessary for presenting in a clear, structured, well-reasoned way, a certain point of view and convincing others of your argument. The test questions are looking at the individual’s ability to:

• Make correct inferences
• To recognise assumptions
• To make deductions
• To come to conclusions
• To interpret and evaluate arguments

The following video features Ben explain how to answer an arguments-style question from a critical thinking test:

Free Critical Thinking Test

We have broken down a critical thinking test into the different sections. You can try each section or take the full test (86 questions, 60 minutes).

Critical Thinking Test 1

• 40 questions

Critical Thinking Test 2

Critical thinking test 3, critical thinking test 4.

The following video features Ben explain how to answer an assumptions-style question from a critical thinking test:

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Critical thinking tests assess your ability to logically analyse assumptions, arguments, deductions, inferences and interpreting information. You will be given a passage of information which may contain a mixture of verbal and numerical data, and will be provided with a statement which requires the candidate’s critical assessment of how true that statement is based on the above passage.

The Watson and Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal contains five sections which are specially designed in order to find out how good an individual is at reasoning analytically and logically. There are five sections:

• Assumptions: In these questions a statement will be presented and the candidate will have to decide if an assumption has been made in making the statement. For example in the statement “only people earning a high salary can afford a fast car” it is assumed that fast cars cost more than not fast cars (this is just one of many assumptions implicit in the statement). An assumption is something someone effectively takes for granted. Statements are given for the individual to read and they are then followed by several proposed assumptions. The candidate has to select whether an assumption has or has not been made.
• Analysing arguments: Candidates will be provided with a given scenario i.e. “Should the government pay student’s tuition fees?” They are subsequently provided with a list of arguments for or against the scenario presented. The candidate will need to assess if each argument is strong or weak, based on how relevant it is and how well it addresses the question. The argument is considered to be strong if it directly relates to the question or statement, and weak if it is not directly related to the question or statement.
• Deductions: Candidates will be provided with a passage of information and candidates will need to evaluate a list of deductions made based on that passage. If one cannot deduce a particular statement from the passage, then that deduction does not follow, and the candidate must select which deductions follow and which do not follow. The answer must be entirely based on the statements made and not on conclusions made from one’s own knowledge.
• Inferences: In this section candidates will be provided with a passage of information on a scenario. A subsequent list of possible inferences will follow, and candidates will be asked to rate if they are true, false, possibly true, possibly false or whether it is not possible to say based on the information in the passage.
• Interpreting Information: A paragraph of information will be provided to the candidate, with a list of possible conclusions. Candidates will need to interpret the information in the paragraph and decide if each conclusion follows based on the presented information. Once again the decisions must solely be based on the information given.

With so many sections, each having their own instructions and guidelines, it can be tough to become confident on all areas.

Survey results

We asked critical thinking test takers what they found was the most difficult section of a critical thinking test. 35% of them believed 'assumptions' to be the most difficult. You can see the full results below:

The following video features Ben explain how to answer a deductions-style question from a critical thinking test:

There may be variations in your test depending on the test publisher you have for your critical thinking test.

Throughout 2020, we analysed a sample of critical thinking tests to discover the most popular test publishers. It was found that 77% of critical thinking tests were published by Watson Glaser.

Here is a list of critical reasoning tests on the market at present, which candidates may be likely to encounter for recruitment, selection or development:

• Watson Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal: The W-GCTA is the most widely-used critical reasoning test on the market, and the one candidates are most likely to encounter.
• SHL Critical Reasoning Test Battery: The SHL Critical Reasoning Test Battery is a collection of 60 critical reasoning questions with varying difficulty depending of the level of candidate. This test has a time limit of 30 minutes.
• Cornell Critical Thinking Assessment: The Cornell Critical Thinking Assessment is a test primarily used in educational settings. There are two versions of this test, one for children and one for adults. This test may be used for entry onto particular degree courses or for recruitment/development purposes.
• Cappfinity Critical Reasoning Test: This assesses your problem solving and decision making skills. Its topics have similarities with the Watson Glaser.
• Test Partnership Concepts Critical Thinking Test: This also shares some similarities with the Watson Glaser. Test Partnership assesses the classic aspects of critical thinking with a modern candidate experience.

The following video features Ben explain how to answer an inference-style question from a critical thinking test:

How to pass Watson Glaser test - critical thinking tips

Here is some general advice to help you learn how to improve your Watson Glaser score:

• Only use the information contained in the test: When reading the passages of information within the test, your first instinct may be to use general knowledge or your own personal experience. Critical reasoning tests are not tests of what you think; they are tests of how you think. You will not be required to utilise any prior knowledge when answering a question, and at times the correct answer will completely contradict what you know to be true based on your own knowledge, but is true in the context of the passage.
• Read the instructions thoroughly: Critical reasoning tests will require numerous separate types of logical reasoning, and reading the instructions will inform you of how to answer questions correctly. For example if a question requires you to evaluate the strength of an argument, the instruction page will inform you what constitutes a strong or weak argument. Take ample time to ensure you know how to answer questions regardless of any time limits.
• Pay attention to time limits: Due to the complex nature of critical reasoning tests, there will often be no time limits or there will be generous time limits. Candidates are advised to use this to their advantage and take plenty of time when reading, evaluating and answering. An easy mistake to make is treating this type of test like a verbal or numerical reasoning test and answering questions as quickly as possible. Rushing through a critical thinking test may lead to candidates missing key points, and answering incorrectly as a result.
• Understand logical fallacies: Understanding logical fallacies is an important part of the test, and researching the difference between sound and fallacious logic can help maximise performance on a critical reasoning test. A fallacy is an error in reasoning due to a misconception or a presumption, and an argument which employs a formal fallacy, logical fallacy or a deductive fallacy in its reasoning becomes an invalid argument. Researching the different types of fallacy (i.e. red herring argument, straw man argument, confusing correlation and causation etc.) can help you identify them in the test and therefore answer the question correctly.

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You will not be hired solely on your Watson Glaser score, but a score of 75% is a good score that will give you a good chance of progressing through selection rounds. When taking practice Watson Glaser tests try to achieve +75% in your raw score, this should be enough.

The Watson Glaser test has a time limit of 30 minutes. There is a total of 40 questions to complete within this time limit.

Yes, the Watson Glaser test is multiple-choice format and is split into the five section: assumptions, analysing arguments, deductions, inferences, interpreting information.

Most law firms will use a Watson Glaser test to assess the candidate's critical thinking ability. Some well known law firms include: Hogan Lovells, Clifford Chance, DLA Piper, Linklaters, Freshfields BD and others.

Watson Glaser Test

This practice package will help you prepare for the Watson Glaser Critical Thinking Test. All exercises are based on the questions that are used in the assessments of the major assessment companies.

Watson Glaser Test Free Practice Test

We recommend that you first take a free practice test without time pressure. That way you can first see what kind of questions occur and how to solve them.

Assessment Practice pack

Parts of the watson glaser test practice pack, watson glaser test explanation.

The Watson Glaser Critical Thinking Test assesses your skills in reading, analyzing and interpreting text.

Critical thinking can be defined as 'the ability to consider a range of information derived from many different sources, to process this information in a creative and logical manner, challenging it, analysing it and arriving at considered conclusions which can be defended and justified’ (Moon, 2008).

Critical thinking skills include the ability to structure sound, solid argumentation, analyze available information, and make assumptions and inferences. Critical thinking is also about being able to evaluate available information and draw correct conclusions.

By far the most common form of critical thinking test is the Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal (W-GCTA) published by TalentLens. You can visit their official site here: Watson Glaser. You will see that the questions in the practice package below correspond very well with the practice questions available at TalentLens.

The test consists of 5 parts. By first studying the components separately, you will ultimately score better on your assessment. All lessons contain a short explanation, three detailed example assignments and 3 exercises.

Watson Glaser Test assessments

We recommend that you do at least 3 practice sets with time pressure. At the end of each exercise set, we indicate how your score relates to the norm group and whether you need to work faster or more precisely to get the highest possible score on your assessment. This way you know exactly when you are optimally prepared.

Watson Glaser Test Evaluation of your results

View the results of the assessments you have completed to determine whether you are optimally prepared for the Watson Glaser Test. By clicking on an assessment, you will see more detailed results with personalized advice based on your results compared to the reference group.

• Numerical Reasoning
• Verbal Reasoning
• Inductive Reasoning
• Diagrammatic Reasoning
• Logical Reasoning
• Mechanical Reasoning
• Situational Judgement
• Deductive reasoning
• Critical thinking
• Spatial reasoning
• Error checking
• Verbal comprehension
• Reading comprehension
• Psychometric tests
• Personality test
• In-Tray exercise
• E-Tray exercise
• Group exercise
• Roleplay exercise
• Presentation exercise
• Analysis exercise
• Case study exercise
• Game based assessments
• Competency based assessment
• Strengths based assessment
• Strengths based interview
• Video interview
• Saville Assessment
• Talent Q / Korn Ferry
• Watson Glaser
• Test Partnership
• Clevry (Criterion)
• Criteria Corp
• Aon / Cut-e
• Sova Assessment
• For Practice
• For Business

Watson Glaser Critical Thinking Tests

Complex and challenging critical thinking tests, including the Watson-Glaser, are used mostly by law firms.

• Premium Tests

Page contents:

About critical thinking tests and how they work, free practice critical thinking tests, the watson glaser critical thinking appraisal, what is measured by a watson glaser critical thinking test, what should i know before taking a watson glaser critical thinking test, major publishers' critical thinking tests, advice for all critical thinking tests, assessmentday's practice tests can help you to prepare for a critical thinking test, one final point, other test publishers.

Updated: 08 September 2022

Critical thinking tests, or critical reasoning tests, are psychometric tests used in recruitment at all levels, graduate, professional and managerial, but predominantly in the legal sector. However, it is not uncommon to find companies in other sectors using critical thinking tests as part of their selection process. This is an intense test, focusing primarily on your analytical, or critical thinking, skills. Some tests are still conducted by paper and pen, but, just like other psychometric tests, critical thinking tests are mostly administered online at home or on a computer at a testing center.

The questions are multiple choice, and these choices and the style of questions are explained in more detail further down the page. The tests will often follow these two common timings:

• 30 questions with a 40 minute time limit
• 80 questions with a 60 minute time limit

Critical Thinking can be defined in many ways and an exact description is disputed, however, most agree on a broad definition of critical thinking, that 'critical thinking involves rational, purposeful, and goal-directed thinking...by using certain cognitive skills and strategies.' An absence or lack of critical thinking skills at times may lead us to believe things which aren't true, because we haven't sufficiently analysed and criticized the information we've received or used this to formulate and independently test our own theories, arguments and ideas. These are all examples of critical thinking skills put into practice. Glaser (An Experiment in the Development of Critical Thinking, 1941) stated that to think critically involved three key parts:

• An attitude of being disposed to consider in a thoughtful way the problems and subjects that come within the range of one's experiences
• Knowledge of the methods of logical inquiry and reasoning
• Some skill in applying those methods

Note: AssessmentDay and its products are not affiliated with Pearson or TalentLens. Our practice tests are for candidates to prepare for the Watson Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal; we do not sell tests for employers to select candidates.

Free Critical Thinking Test

Here, we have a full critical thinking test for you to practice for free. You can dive straight in and practice the full test (in blue at the bottom), or tackle each individual section one at a time.

All answers and explanations are included at the end of the test, or alternatively you can download the Solutions PDF. Each test has been given a generous time limit.

Critical Thinking Test 1

• 40 questions

Critical Thinking Test 2

Critical thinking test 3, critical thinking test 4.

TalentLens' Watson Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal (WGCTA) is the most common critical thinking test. You can visit their official site here: Watson Glaser . Most other critical thinking tests are based on the Watson Glaser format. More than 90 years' of experience have led to many modifications and improvements in the test.

The Watson Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal is widely regarded as a good predictor of work productivity and at identifying candidates with a good potential to become managers and occupy other positions as a senior member of staff. The latest edition of the Watson Glaser Critical Thinking Test has improved its validity, appealed more to businesses by focusing on business-relevant topics, switched to the Item Response Theory (IRT) for its scoring, updated norm groups, and integrated anti-cheat measures by having an online retest, which can be used to validate results.

Developed by Goodwin Watson and Edward Glaser, the Watson Glaser test is favored by law firms , keen to measure people's abilities to reason, reach conclusions and know when leaps in logic have been made. Skills which are required in the legal sector. The questions in each of the 5 sections aims to evaluate the candidate's ability to:

• 1. Arrive at correct inferences
• 2. Identify when an assumption has been made
• 3. Use deductive reasoning
• 4. Reach logical conclusions
• 5. Evaluate the effectiveness of arguments

Did You Know

The most recent revision of the W-GCTA was published in 2011 with notable improvements being better face validity and business-relevant items, scoring based on Item Response Theory (IRT), updated norm groups, and an online retest which can be used to validate a paper and pencil test result.

A Critical thinking tests assesses your ability in 5 key areas mentioned above; assumptions, arguments, deductions, inferences and interpreting information. Often in this order. A short paragraph of text a few sentences long or a single sentence is used as a starting point. This passage will contain information which you will base your answer to the question on. Another sentence is then presented to you and you will be asked to judge something about this sentence based on the information in the short paragraph. The five sections are explained in more detail here:

• Assumptions - You are being asked to state whether the information in the second set of text you are presented is an assumption made in the first paragraph. Quite a tricky concept to get your head around at first. In a nutshell, when people speak or make arguments, there are underlying assumptions in those arguments. Here you are presented with some assumptions and are asked to judge if that is being made in the original statement. For example in the statement "only people earning a high salary can afford a fast car," what's being assumed is that fast cars are expensive because only people who are earning a lot of money can buy one, however, what's not being assumed is that people without high salaries aren't legally allowed to buy a fast car. You are asked to choose whether an assumption has been made or has not been made.
• Arguments - You are presented with an argument, such as "Should college fees be abolished?" Regardless of your own opinions and thoughts on the argument, you are then presented with statements related to this original argument. You are asked to say whether the responses to the original argument of "Should college fees be abolished?" make for strong or weak arguments. Arguments are considered strong if they are related to the topic such as, "Yes, many people who would benefit from a college education do not because they cannot afford it. This hurts the country's economic growth." The argument presented is sound, related to the original question. Compare this with a weak argument, "No, I do not trust people who read a lot of books." It is clear that the second argument bears very little relation to the subject of the abolition of college tuition fees. This is not to say that an argument against the original argument will always be a weak one, or that an argument in favor will always be a strong one. For example, "Yes, I like people that read books," is in favor of the abolition as indicated by "yes," but that person's like or dislike of others that read books isn't related, or hasn't been explained how it's related to removing the fees. Carefully considering what is being said, remove it from your own personal opinions and political views to objectively analyse what someone else has put forward.
• Deductions - A few sentences of information are presented to you. Another separate short statement will also be shown to you, which is supposed to represent a conclusion that someone has reached. You will have to determine whether this conclusion logically follows from the information given to you. Can the statement be deduced from the information available>? If so, and without a doubt, then the conclusion follows, if not, then the conclusion does not follow. Your decision must be based on the information given and not from your own knowledge.
• Inferences - A short scenario is described to you, followed by possible inferences. The inferences are short statements. Imagine that these are what people have said is inferred from the scenario. Use your judgement and the short scenario to assess whether what's being said has actually been inferred from the passage and the likelihood of this inference. You are asked to rank each inference as either 'true,' 'false,' 'possibly true,' 'possibly false.' For some proposed inferences there isn't enough information to say either 'true' or 'false' so a fifth option is included; 'more information required.' You can only select one option from the five.
• Interpreting Information - Following a similar format to the previous four sections, a short passage of information and then a series of statements are shown to you. You are asked to judge whether the information in the passage can be interpreted as the statements suggest. The answer options are straightforward here; you either select 'conclusion follows,' or 'conclusion does not follow,' depending on whether or not you believe that the statement can be logically reached from the information given. Again, for this section and all others, you are to base your choice of answer on what you're given, not on any specialized knowledge you might have.

If a watson glaser critical thinking test is used in the early stages of the application process it's likely to be used as a screening tool. This puts some pressure on candidates to meet a minimum pass mark, which will allow them to be selected to go on to the next stage of the selection process. If it's used at a later stage in the process, the results from this will be combined with performance in other assessments, tests, exercises and interviews. All the information you need to answer the questions will be in the test. Below the details of a few companies' critical thinking tests are pointed out.

Here is a list of critical reasoning tests on the market at present, which candidates may be likely to encounter for recruitment, selection or development.

• W-GCTA - The Watson Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal as it is formally called is the most ubiquitous critical thinking test out there. This is the one that you are most likely to encounter.
• GMAT - The general management aptitude test, used by business schools and colleges test students' critical thinking ability. The critical thinking questions are written in a business or finance context.
• SHL - SHL have produced the Critical Reasoning Test Battery composed of 60 critical reasoning questions with a strict time limit of 30 minutes.
• Cornell - Cornell have developed a critical thinking test to be used in educational environments. The two levels, X and Z, are aimed at children and adults, respectively.
• Area-specific - There are tests which focus on either numerical critical reasoning skills and verbal critical reasoning skills. These tests will ask only numerical or only verbal questions to assess your skills in a specific area.

Here is some general advice to help you perform to the best of your ability for your critical reasoning test.

• No prior knowledge - The key point here is that critical reasoning tests are measuring your ability to think, or the method that you use to reach a conclusion. You should therefore not rely on prior knowledge to answer the question. Questions will be written so that you do not need to know any specialist knowledge to answer the question. For example, you will not be expected to know mathematical formulas or laws of nature and to answer questions with that information. If you are given the formula and its description in the questions, you are expected to use that information to reach the answer.
• Carefully read the instructions - There are 5 sections to most critical thinking tests and each will assess a slightly different skill. Make sure you have read the instructions and understand what it is you are expected to do to answer the questions for this section. There is quite a difference between the Assumptions section and the Deductions section for example. Applying the rules of one to the other would lead to just guessing the answers and making many mistakes.
• Keep your eye on the timer - These tests are complex. You might find yourself fixated on answering one question and taking up a lot of the time you are allowed. Checking how much time you have every so often can help you to more evenly distribute your time between the questions. This is done to avoid spending too much time on one question when that time would be better spent answering more or checking your answers. This time management applies to all tests, but is particularly important with Critical Thinking tests, as many people believe they have such a large amount of time, but underestimate the number of questions they have to answer.
• Logical fallacies - Identifying logical fallacies is key to many parts of this test, and researching the difference between sound and fallacious logic will prove helpful in a critical reasoning test. A fallacy is an error in reasoning due to a misconception or a presumption, and an argument which employs a formal fallacy, logical fallacy or a deductive fallacy in its reasoning becomes an invalid argument. Researching the different types of fallacy (i.e. red herring argument, straw man argument, confusing correlation and causation etc.) can help you spot these in the test and correctly answer the question.

The practice tests that we have cover all of the sections of the Watson Glaser Critical Thinking test and these overlap with many of the variations in Critical Thinking tests produced by major publishers. practice helps to increase your confidence, gives you a chance to learn from your mistakes in a risk-free environment, and can reduce stress before an exam.

The best place to get advice on taking a critical thinking tests is the test publisher's website, for example this one for the Watson Glaser .

If you have already successfully passed a few initial stages of the application process, it's unlikely that companies will focus solely on your results in the Watson Glaser Critical Thinking test when deciding whether or not to hire you. This type of selection by results on one test is more likely if it is part of the early stages of the process. However, towards the later stages the company will look at your results across interviews, group exercises, other aptitude tests and your résumé and will collate all of this information before reaching a decision. If you have been invited to undertake a critical reasoning test then the organisation clearly has an interest in hiring you, let that fact inspire confidence and perform to the best of your ability on your test, good luck!

You may also be interested in these popular tests sections.

Free Watson Glaser Test Practice: 2023 Prep Guide

Few hours of practice make all the difference.

Ace that Test!

The Watson Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal Test (WGCTA) assesses your critical thinking skills. Your potential employer will be able to evaluate your ability to recognize assumptions, evaluate arguments, and draw conclusions based on the given information, so your best approach is to familiarize yourself with the test’s format and challenges and practice as much as you can.

Did you know?

The  Watson Glaser Test  is divided into five sections: (1) inferences, (2) recognition of assumptions, (3) deduction, (4) interpretation, and (5) evaluation of arguments. While every company treats scores differently,  a 75% score will give you the best chance to be hired by a top law firm.  Candidates who do well are those who are able to think critically and move through the different test sections quickly.

The newest version of the Watson Glaser test—Watson Glaser III—is a timed test. You will have to complete 40 questions in 30 minutes. Along with sample questions, which are introduced before each part of the test, the administration time may extend to 40 minutes. Watson Glaser is divided into 5 sections—inferences, recognition of assumptions, deductions, interpretations, and evaluation of arguments. 

Watson Glaser test is a critical thinking test and to pass the test, you need to have strong problem solving and analytical skills, and you should be able to find a quick solution after examining all aspects of a problem. These aspects can be improved by simulating accurate Watson Glaser practice tests, more so if these are followed by detailed solutions and solving methods, like the practice tests offered by iPrep.

Watson Glaser Navigation Pad

Question types explained, preparation strategies, test features, results scale & interpretations, frequently asked questions, administration, test provider, watson glaser question types explained.

There are 40 questions on the Watson Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal Test (WGCTA).

The test is divided into 5 sections, each assessing a different aspect of critical thinking. The sections are presented on the test in this order:

All questions are multiple-choice (five choices in inference and two choices in all the rest of the questions). 

Between each section, you will have a short break in which the type of questions of the next questions is introduced. Do not count on resting as each of these introductions takes 2-3 minutes at most.

The five distinct types of questions on the Watson Glaser test are introduced in sections in the same order as the sections below. Read more about each of them and try a sample question. iPrep’s Watson Glaser practice tests cover these questions and these questions only, focusing you on the format that you will encounter on test day.

In these questions, you are given a short passage containing textual and sometimes statistical information. Two or three inferences are offered for each passage. Your task is to rate the probability of the truth of inferences based on the information given. You should not assume anything else besides the given information. There are five options to choose from:

• True  – the inference is definitely true and can be completely drawn based on the passage. This is equivalent to an answer such as: “After examining this information, what you’re saying must be true!”
• Probably True  – the inference is in line with the information presented, but there is not enough evidence for you to be completely sure that it is true. This is equivalent to an answer such as: “I see what you are trying to prove, and it makes sense; yet, you cannot be sure about it.”
• Insufficient Data  – The information in the passage provides no evidence to either support or undermine the inference. This is equivalent to the answer: “Based on what you have told me, I have no idea if it is true or false.”
• Probably False  – the inference deviates from the information provided and interprets it in a way that seems unlikely. Yet, there is a slim chance that it is true after all. This is equivalent to an answer such as: “What you are saying seems so far-fetched based on the evidence we have. It is really unlikely that it is correct.”
• False  – the inference is definitely false as the information in the passage directly contradicts it. This is equivalent to answering: “The data says one thing and you say exactly the opposite! This cannot be true!”

A Winning Inference Tip:  

Though there are five possible options, you should not expect that each of the inferences will fall under one of the five options. You can definitely expect that one or two answers will appear more than once. Therefore, consider each inference anew and do not rely on previous answers you have given.

Try an Inference Sample Question

A worldwide study shows that there are behavioral shifts among consumers. 41% said that they are “increasingly looking for ways to save money.” Consumers are largely brand loyal but shop around for the best prices. Only 12% of consumers have traded down to buy cheaper brands (such as bottled water), with 11% trading up (with products such as cosmetics). There has been a big shift towards online shopping.

        None of those who trade down also trade up.

•  Probably True
•  Insufficient Data
•  Probably False
•  False

The correct answer is Insufficient Data.

We cannot tell from the evidence of those who trade down (12% of consumers) and those who trade up (11% of consumers), what relationship there is between the two in terms of whether there is any overlap between the two groups. Though it might seem highly unlikely that there would be an overlap, the statements allow for this with the reference to the different products (bottled water, cosmetics). Even if the word “none” had been replaced by “few” or “many,” we would still have insufficient data to draw the inference.

• Recognition of Assumptions

In these questions, a quote or a short statement is presented. In most cases, even if the assumption is not explicitly stated, the speaker or provider of the information must have a couple of things he or she takes for granted or considers as necessarily true to justify the statement. Your goal is to judge whether the suggested assumption is made by the author or not. There are only two options to choose from:

• Assumption Made  – the author clearly assumed the suggested assumption because, without the assumption, the statement does not make sense.
• Assumption Not Made  – the author does not have to assume a proposed assumption as it either undermines the statement or is irrelevant for the justification of the statement.

A Winning Recognition of Assumptions Tip:

To assess whether an assumption is necessary and important, try for a moment to assume the complete opposite. A contradictory/negative assumption may shed light on the necessity of the original assumption. A more in-depth view of this “negative assumption” solving method is included within iPrep’s guide.

Try a Recognition of Assumptions Sample Question

Statement:  “Getting a highly paid position in a top law firm is difficult, so young lawyers need to get lots of experience in the law.”

Proposed Assumption:  Getting a highly paid position in a top law firm is possible.

• Assumption made
• Assumption not made

This assumption is made.

Though the statement indicates that it “is difficult” to get “a highly paid position in a top law firm,” it must be possible to do this, otherwise, the “so” part of the statement could not be given.

Check this answer, using the negative test.

Getting a highly paid position in a top law firm is  not  possible.

Since this does not fit with the statement (even going as far as challenging the claim that getting this type of position is “difficult”), the assumption must be made.

In these questions, you must apply pure logic to conclude whether a proposed conclusion is definitely true based on the provided evidence/premises, or not. The evidence must be considered as utter truth, even if it is debatable in the real world. There are only two options to answer the question:

• Conclusion Follows  – the conclusion definitely follows from the evidence/premises. If the premises are true, then the conclusion must be true.
• Conclusion Does Not Follow  – this answer should be chosen in any other case: if the evidence contradicts, does not support, or even leaves a shred of a doubt regarding the correctness of the conclusion, choose this answer.

A Winning Deduction Tip:  

Remember that the premises must be considered complete truth. In addition, remember that you cannot generalize the premises or extend their claim to areas that encompass more cases than those the premises refer to. For example, if a premise refers to accountancy firms, banks, and investment companies, you cannot generalize it to “financial institutions.”

Try a Deduction Sample Question

Some producers of renewable energy rely heavily on government subsidies. All companies that rely heavily on government subsidies will one day have to manage without them. Therefore…

Some producers of renewable energy will one day need to operate without government subsidies.

•  Conclusion follows
•  Conclusion does not follow

This conclusion follows the premises.

If we look at the structure of the premises in a simplified form, we get “Some A are B. All B are C.”

This diagram represents a plausible organization of groups A, B, and C:

So, it must follow that some A are C.

• Interpretation

In these questions, like the deduction questions, you also need to decide whether a proposed conclusion follows or not. This time, though, the standard is not “definite truth” as it is in the deduction section, but “beyond reasonable doubt.” This criterion is a strong one but it is weaker than the one used in deduction. To arrive at your conclusion, you must only consider the information provided in the passage, which for the purpose of the test is considered as true. To summarize, you must choose between two options:

• Conclusion Follows  – the conclusion follows from the evidence/premises beyond a reasonable doubt, which means that it is very unlikely that it will not be true, eventually. You may be able to describe a situation in which the conclusion does not follow, but this scenario is rather unusual.
• Conclusion Does Not Follow  – this answer should be chosen if the information clearly contradicts the conclusion; if there is no sufficient information to prove or undermine the conclusion; and even if there is a much greater chance that the conclusion follows but there is still a reasonable scenario in which the conclusion doesn’t follow.

A Winning Interpretation Tip:  

Each passage is followed by two or three proposed conclusions. These conclusions may seem related to one another. However, when you make a decision as to whether a conclusion follows or not, you should only take into account the information presented in the passage and not any conclusions that were presented before the conclusion you currently examine. Do not let your decisions regarding previous conclusions mislead you.

Try an Interpretation Sample Question

It is predicted that, by 2055, half of today’s work activities could be automated. The activities most susceptible to automation are physical ones in highly structured and predictable environments and those involved in the collection and processing of data. In advanced economies, such activities make up 51% of all economic activities.

        Half of today’s jobs will disappear by 2055.

This conclusion does not follow beyond a reasonable doubt from the premises.

The prediction given in the evidence is that “by 2055, half of today’s work activities could be automated.” This is not necessarily equivalent to half of today’s jobs disappearing since jobs could change to fit with the change in “work activities.”

• Evaluation of Arguments

In these questions, you are presented with a business or social dilemma: “Should Measure X be taken?” Usually, two arguments follow each dilemma. Each argument may either advocate in favor or against the proposed action. Either way, your goal is not to justify the arguments but to analyze them and decide whether the argument is weak or strong:

• Argument Strong  – for an argument to be strong, it must be both important and directly related to the question. An important argument provides social/moral/financial justification for the action. A directly related argument deals precisely with the subject and the main issue at stake. It does not over-generalize it or deal with a secondary issue.
• Argument Weak  – an argument is weak if it is of minor importance or if it is related only to trivial aspects of the question. It is weak even if it is of general great importance but not directly related to the question.

A Winning Evaluation of Arguments Tip:  

You must remember that your personal agreement with the argument is irrelevant in this case. As in many fields, such as state politics and social welfare, there might be strong arguments in favor or against almost any proposal. You may think of a proposal as the most ethical and reasonable solution, or condemn it wholeheartedly. On the test, however, you must disregard your emotions and perceptions and refer only to the criteria for strong and weak arguments.

Try an Evaluation of Arguments Sample Question

Should tariffs on foreign goods be used as a way of protecting domestic jobs?

No; some domestic jobs are created as a result of importing foreign goods.

•  Argument strong
•  Argument weak

This argument is strong.

This provides both a relevant and important challenge to the question. If the focus is on the protection of domestic jobs, then risking the reduction of foreign imports through tariffs (by consequent price-increases) could reduce the number of jobs in some domestic industries.

Watson Glaser Preparation Strategies

There are many general tips on how to prepare for a test. The following preparation strategies, however, are customized for the Watson Glaser test. Follow them, and ensure yourself a better chance of passing the test.

Forget What You Know About Logic – Learn Watson-Glaser’s Logic

Many people who are getting ready to take the Watson-Glaser test have learned about logic and critical thinking at some time in their life. Paradoxically, this might be a threat. The Watson Glaser test is criticized by many critical thinking professors for not being in line with common logic practices. This should not interest you one bit.

In order to do well on the Watson Glaser test, you should only stick to its logic. To do that, study the specific test format and test concepts very well. Also, use a guide that is dedicated to the Watson Glaser test. General critical thinking guides or guides that claim that they cover all the critical thinking tests, including the Watson Glaser test, will not help you do well. Such guides are likely to teach you concepts that you do not need or even concepts that contradict Watson-Glaser’s logic.

Finally, take Watson Glaser practice tests and learn from their solutions. Do not settle for general critical thinking practice tests.

Get Used to Relying Only On The Provided Information

It is very difficult not to rely on your previous knowledge. The new versions of the Watson Glaser test also deal with contemporary issues about which you are already familiar and about which you may have strong opinions. You must put all that aside.

As part of its attitude towards assessing critical thinking, the WGCTA states that all the information that is provided as preliminary information for the questions (arguments, statements, premises, statistics) must be considered as utter truth. Even if you are certain there are inaccuracies in it. This information is the only source from which you must glean your judgments before choosing the correct answer—not what you learned on the internet, not what your parents taught you, and not even what your moral compass is telling you.

This is an intentional feature of the test, as the creators believe that it better assesses the person’s ability to be detached from biases and emotions while making a decision. As a crucial aspect of the test, many people lose points because they provide “external” justifications to their choices. Don’t fall into that trap!

Learn The Differences Between The Three Types Of Conclusions On The Watson Glaser Test

In three types of questions—inference, deduction, and interpretation—you may want to mark a conclusion/inference as “follows/true.” The conditions for the conclusion to follow (or not to follow) in each of these three are somewhat different. To be well-prepared for the test, you must fully understand the differences between the categories and establish three sets of reasoning that you can apply on demand. The question-type descriptions on this page provide some insight into this, and the guides and practice questions of the course explain it well.

Practice Timed Simulations

The Watson Glaser is now a timed test, unlike most of the other critical thinking tests and the practice tests which are available online. This is a very significant step taken by the test publisher as time pressure adds to the test’s difficulty, and it poses a challenge to those who are less confident taking tests under time constraints. Overall, the time constraint (40 questions in 30 minutes) is not considered severe but it adds to the general stress level and may result in careless mistakes.

This is why it is important to practice using Watson Glaser tests that are timed. Familiarizing yourself with the time pressure will reduce its adverse impact while you take the actual test. You may even gain a few time-saving tips along the way.

Develop Your Specialized Toolbox of Solving Techniques

The Watson Glaser test doesn’t only assess your general ability to disseminate information. It may also include bits of information that are meant to confuse you and make you choose incorrect answers.

However, to avoid such mistakes, there are plenty of solving techniques that can be used to solve each of the types of Watson Glaser questions. If you choose courses that are aware of these solving techniques, and share them with you, you will find that they are invaluable in helping you earn points and save time.

The iPrep preparation course introduces such techniques to help you wisely solve each type of question. For example, it teaches you how to evaluate an assumption from contradictory perspectives to understand if it is necessary or not. It also teaches you logic that will help you manipulate the premises in the deduction questions in a way that will make it easier to evaluate the conclusions. 

Even if you do not have access to a preparation guide for the Watson Glaser test, try to create your own toolbox of solving methods and repeatedly apply them to make them more intuitive for you.

Download Your Copy of the Watson Glaser Test PDF

Click here to download

Test Features

Fast facts (tl;dr).

• Total of 40 questions.
• The test has a 30-minute time limit.
• Question types: inferences, recognition of assumptions, deductions, interpretations, and evaluation of arguments.
• Three types of questions are evaluated on a single “drawing conclusions” scale—inference, deduction, and interpretation.

Watson Glaser III was introduced in the US in 2018, and a short time later, it started to be administered in the UK. The newest version of the Watson Glaser Critical Thinking Test introduces some old and some new features.

Three Scoring Scales – The RED Model

Since the introduction of Watson Glaser II, the results of the test have been reported according to a three-scale model—the RED Model of critical thinking:

• Recognition of Assumptions  – this scale is based solely on the second section of the test, which has the same name. It reports how sensitive you are to assumptions and presuppositions in the information. If you do it well, it means that you are likely to reveal information gaps or unfounded logic.
• Evaluating Arguments  – this scale is based solely on the fifth section of the test, which also has the same name. If you do it well, you are skilled in analyzing information objectively and accurately. This means that you won’t let emotions and biases obscure your judgment.
• Drawing Conclusions  – this scale is based on three types of questions, which all deal with the art of drawing conclusions from information—inference, deduction, and interpretation. It is a prominent scale, which is based on 16 questions rather than 12 questions in the first two scales. If you do it well, it means that you have a good sense of judgment and that you will know how to weigh data and information and arrive at solid conclusions that do not overgeneralize or misread the information.

Watson Glaser – Now a Timed Test

Watson Glaser II is proctored and untimed. It is recommended to complete it within 30-40 minutes, though, because your time is registered by the proctors.

Watson Glaser III introduces a new approach—all tests are timed. You have 30 minutes total (excluding instructions that are given in between) to answer 40 questions. The justification for this is that making informed decisions under time constraints is more demanding.

Item Bank Instead of Fixed Forms

Watson Glaser II is based on two carefully established fixed forms—form D and form E. These became so prevalent that people started sharing information about these forms online. 

The new, and now the most prevalent form—Watson Glaser III—no longer suffers from this problem and poses a greater challenge to the test takers. It is based on a bank of carefully selected items that are randomly pulled during the test. The item bank is large enough to ensure that no candidate encounters the same test, yet it maintains a normalized level of difficulty. 

The iPrep Watson Glaser practice tests are also different from one another and make sure that you face a broad variety of items and are not surprised by the various items that may appear on the real test.

Used Primarily by Business and Financial Oriented Organizations

Many legal firms, banks, and other financial institutions use this logical thinking test as a part of their selection process for ensuring they have only the most talented people on board. This trend was acknowledged by the Watson Glaser developers, which gradually changed the topics of the informational passages on the test from general topics to business-oriented topics.

Watson Glaser II Vs. Watson Glaser III

The Watson Glaser test saw some significant changes over the years, adapting it to modern conditions and its business-oriented market. 

Two versions of the Watson Glaser Test Two are currently available:

• Watson Glaser II forms D & E (computerized or pen & paper)
• Watson Glaser III (only computerized)

The main differences between the two versions is that Watson Glaser III is based on an item bank of questions, does not need a test proctor, and has a time limit of 30 minutes. The following table depicts the differences in detail:

Watson Glaser – an international test

The Watson Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal Test is published by Pearson Assessments, an international company with offices in 14 countries. The test features critical reasoning questions and is available in dozens of languages and countries around the world including the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada.  The test is identical no matter where it is administered.

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Results Scale and Interpretations

Watson Glaser test results are broken down into two different reports, a profile report and a development report, which are provided to the prospective employer. Some organizations may share results with test takers, especially if the test was given for developmental purposes.

There is no penalty for guessing the wrong answer on the Watson Glaser test. Since most questions have only two answers to choose from, the raw score is generally rather high and above 50%; therefore, it is usually considered a good score if you get at least 75% of the questions right, which means answering 30 questions out of 40 questions correctly. 

Profile Report

The profile report rates you with an overall percentile score, which is further broken down into the candidate percentile in three subscales:

• Recognize Assumptions:  This test is all about understanding what the question states and analyzing whether the info mentioned is correct, or whether there’s any evidence that backs the stated information.
• Evaluate Arguments:  Evaluating arguments means logically working with a problem and critically evaluating it. It is about symmetrically analyzing the argument and the evidence provided.
• Draw Conclusions:  Candidates need to come to a logical conclusion based on the evidence provided. A candidate with strong critical thinking skills will be able to draw conclusions that would then lead to another conclusion.

While the Profile Report does include the raw number of correct answers, the percentile rank is more important. The percentile scoring system of WG-III accounts for question difficulty. It not only factors in the number of correct answers, but the difficulty of those questions as well. It also takes into account the norm group of the candidate, which provides different score distribution by occupation, position, and level of education.

For instance, here is a sample score report for a candidate for a managerial position. It reports the overall critical thinking percentile and three subscale scores according to the RED model. It portrays an overall average candidate with a high skill of evaluating arguments, average skill of drawing conclusions, and low skill of recognizing assumptions.

Contrary to Watson Glaser III, the WGCTA-II Profile Report also shows employers your raw scores in the three different categories, as seen below. However, this version of the test becomes less and less common, so you are not likely to encounter such a breakdown.

Watson Glaser Passing Score – by Norm Groups

Your raw score is important but it is not the deciding factor for determining whether you pass the test or not. The Watson Glaser score can be interpreted with several established norm groups – either by occupation (accountant, consultant, engineer, etc.), by position type/level (executive, manager, entry-level, etc.), or by educational background (high school, college, graduate, etc.). It is up to the recruiting company to decide which norm group to use when assessing your score. Customized norms may also be created for large organizations.

Development Report

The development report demonstrates the strengths of their employees. When given to the candidates/employees, it also guides them as to how to further explore specific skill areas and improve their skills.

Recognize Assumptions

Candidates with skilled behavior in the area will identify what is being taken for granted, and explore diverse viewpoints on the subject. Identifying the assumptions will help you reveal information gaps and enhance your understanding of the subject.

If you scored “Strength To Leverage” in this skill area, it means you possess strong skills in recognizing assumptions.

Evaluate Arguments

Candidates who can objectively and accurately evaluate arguments are likely to be hired by many organizations. Such candidates can overcome confirmation bias and also possess the capability to analyze an argument’s reasoning and supporting evidence, and explore counter-arguments even when doing so is controversial. When evaluating controversial arguments, emotions can play a negative role, as they can cloud your evaluation capabilities.

If you scored “Further Exploration” in this parameter it means that your skills are average when compared to other candidates.

Draw Conclusions

Drawing conclusions means reaching the conclusion which logically follows the evidence available for a particular problem. Furthermore, reaching a conclusion means evaluating information from diverse sources, and even changing your position on a subject when warranted by the available evidence.

If you scored “Opportunity For Development” in this parameter, it means that you are expected to improve your scores and that your skills are average when compared to other candidates.

Watson Glaser FAQs

There are two current versions of the test. The Watson Glaser II Critical Thinking Appraisal (WGCTA II) forms D & E and Watson Glaser III (WG III). While both versions of the test measure the same type of skills, there are some differences.  WG III, which is the newest version, draws its questions from a large bank of items. Since every instance of the test is different, candidates can take the test without supervision. WG III is almost always timed (with an exception in the US to allow reasonable test accommodations). WG II, on the other hand, requires a proctor, and is not timed.  Watson Glaser I forms A, B, C, and S (Short) are obsolete and are no longer used in most cases.

A good score on the Watson Glaser Test is usually 75%-85%. Each company that administers the test has different standards, and may compare your score against established norm groups. For example, a score of 75% or higher will give you the best chance to be selected by a top law firm, but to become a director in a financial corporation, you are expected to score about 85%. Note that the scoring system takes into account the level of difficulty of each question—incorrectly answering easy questions or correctly answering difficult ones has higher significance on the final score.

The Watson-Glaser test is difficult, especially for individuals who aren’t familiar with the question types in the test. Familiarizing oneself with the test through practice tests will make it easier to move through the test quickly, and the tips and tricks available through most practice test companies will help you quickly answer questions.

The most important thing you can do to pass a critical thinking test is to take a practice test beforehand. The practice test will familiarize you with the type of questions you can expect to see on the test, and help you understand what the test is measuring.

The test will measure your ability to do the following: 1. Draw Inferences 2. Recognize assumptions 3. Think critically and logically interpret information 4. Draw conclusions based on given facts 5. Evaluate arguments as weak or strong

The test is divided into 5 sections:  1. Inferences:  In this section, you will be provided with a list of possible inferences which you will be asked to rate as true or false. 2. Recognition of assumptions:  In this section, you will encounter assumptions-based questions. 3. Deductions:  You will be asked to make deductions using the information from the passage. Given a few proposed conclusions, you will be asked to decide for each if it “follows,” or “does not follow” the passage’s logic. 4. Interpreting information:  In this section, you will need to interpret information from the questions to decide if each conclusion is based on the given information or not. Your answer should be based solely on the provided information and not on prior knowledge which may mislead you. 5. Analyzing arguments:  To examine arguments, you will have to assess whether the provided statement is strong or weak.

There will be 40 multiple choice questions that you need to complete in only 30 minutes in the timed version.

Watson Glaser is a critical thinking test. Critical thinking is considered a crucial factor because candidates who possess this trait are often good decision-makers and arrive at informed, precise, and objective conclusions instantly. Solid decision making, problem-solving skills, and strategic thinking set the foundation for a successful candidate, organizations use these to screen and hire talented people. Companies utilize the Watson Glaser test to hire strong, dedicated employees who will go on to become future leaders. Taking Watson Glaser practice tests will help to effectively use information and make the right decision. This, in turn, will ensure passing the test.

No, yet the Watson Glaser critical thinking test is a very common recruitment phase in many leading law firms, especially in the United Kingdom, even more so for recent university graduates. If you would like to practice law at Hogan Lovells, Clifford Chance, Linklaters, CMS, or Freshfields, you will need to do well on the Watson Glaser and score at least 80%. The test is also the basis for the UK’s BCAT exam.

Yes. Watson Glaser believes that it is essential for employee assessment to analyze and make decisions under pressure, which is why the test is timed. In the timed version, you will only have 30 minutes to complete the test.

The best way to prepare for the Watson Glaser test is with the types of questions you will find on the real test. You should use a prep course, such as iPrep, that will prepare you for the critical thinking questions that appear on the Watson Glaser test, and not on general critical thinking tests, as they differ.

The best way to beat the Watson Glaser test is to prepare yourself in advance, using a similar environment to best simulate the experience. If you are taking the timed version, make sure to time yourself so you can figure out which questions you need more time to answer and which questions you can breeze through.

Many different companies and law firms use the Watson Glaser to evaluate potential employees. They include, but are not exclusive to, the following: Bank of England, BCAT, Deloitt, Dentons, Linklaters, Simmons & Simmons.

Watson Glaser Test Tips

1. answer strictly based on the provided info.

Answer each question solely based on the conditions and facts provided in the question, and not by using your own industry knowledge.

2. Read each question carefully and don’t skip paragraphs or sentences

You might encounter long questions which you may be tempted to skim through. Don’t! By quickly scanning the question, you may miss valuable information you will need to get the right answer. Read thoroughly and then make your decision.

3. Try finding logic in the statements

Answering each question in the Watson Glaser test requires finding a logical connection between the statements. Analyze the statements and try to find logic between them.

4. Learn to manage the time

Since there will be both long and short questions, the time spent on each question is difficult to assess in advance. However, through practice, you should know how to manage time without skipping any question. Learn to pace and compete with time. 

5. Plan and practice

Lastly, to ace any test, precise planning and continuous practice are a must! Therefore, practice as many questions as you can beforehand.

• Test Location:  The Watson-Glaser test is either administered online at home by accessing a link sent to the candidate or by the hiring company, typically in their office.
• Test Schedule:  The test generally takes place following at least an initial interview.  
• Test Format:  Multiple choice questions delivered either online (Watson Glaser II) or in pen-paper format (Watson Glaser II forms D & E only)
• Test Materials:  Computer or pen & paper.
• Cost:  Usually covered by the recruiting organization.
• Retake Policy:  Determined by each employer.

Test Provider

The Watson-Glaser test is owned and published by Pearson, one of the largest educational organizations in the world. It is part of the Pearson Talent-Lens portfolio, which focuses on pre-employment talent assessment and employee growth. The test was initially developed by Goodwin Watson and Edward Glaser. 

With more than 80 years of experience in the assessment field, Pearson’s Clinical Assessment group offers innovative and comprehensive products and services. Some of the company’s brands include the Wechsler and Kaufman families of products, MMPI, BASC, OLSAT, CELF, and PLS. Pearson serves 300,000 customers in the U.S. with assessments for psychologists, speech-language, pathologists, occupational therapists, and related professionals. 

Information Sources

• Pearson Clinical Assessment
• Pearson TalentLens

Disclaimer  – All the information and prep materials on iPrep are genuine and were created for tutoring purposes. iPrep is not affiliated with Pearson’s Clinical Assessment Group, which is the owner of the Watson-Glaser test.

Free Watson Glaser practice test: Get to know what the Watson Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal Test (WGCTA) will be like by taking this free Watson Glaser Practice test:

Question 1 of 5

First Type – Inference

There are three general groups of countries that show the relationship between personal income and happiness levels. In some countries (such as Germany), both personal incomes and happiness levels have increased at the same rate over the past 10 years. In others (such as China), personal incomes have doubled over the past decade, but average happiness has increased by only 0.43 points. In 43 countries (including India and the US), incomes have risen, but happiness levels have declined.

Inference – The happiness level in some countries can be higher or lower than in others with the same personal income levels.

The correct answer is Probably True.

Given that the relationship between personal incomes and happiness levels is shown to have three different correlations, it is probably true that countries with the same personal income levels can be correlated with both those with higher and lower happiness levels. Though one cannot infer this with complete certainty, given that the evidence does not enable such as definite inference, there is sufficient evidence here of the three different correlations between income levels and happiness to make it probably true that these correlations include the possibility given here.

Question 2 of 5

Second Type – Recognition of Assumptions

Statement:  “Those companies that are especially vulnerable to high levels of cyberattacks should invest more in data security, either internally or by bringing in external experts.”

Proposed Assumption – Companies that are especially vulnerable to high levels of cyberattacks do not invest in data security.

This assumption is not made.

The recommendation of the need to “invest more in data security” does not require the belief that companies do not already invest. It is just that they need to invest more.

The negative test shows that, since the negative version isn’t a problem for the statement, this is not assumed.

Companies that are especially vulnerable to high levels of cyberattack  do invest  in data security.

Question 3 of 5

Third Type – Deduction

Premises:  If resources are used to limit future global warming, then spending on current welfare is reduced. If we reduce spending on current welfare, then people’s well-being will be lower. So, if we use current resources to limit future global warming, …

Conclusion – The risk of global warming will be reduced.

• Conclusion follows
• Conclusion does not follow

This conclusion does not follow the premises.

The structure of the premises is “If A, then B. If B, then C. So, if A…” This must lead to “…then C.”

“The risk of global warming will be reduced” is not equivalent to C, being a further claim, such that it becomes D.

Question 4 of 5

Fourth Type – Interpretation

Economic forecasters tend to perform well with three-four-month predictions, but become much less successful beyond this timescale, especially with 22 months or more. The biggest errors occur ahead of economic contractions. This is because, though economies normally have steady but slow growth, when they contract, they do so sharply.

Conclusions – Not considering economic contractions risks overstating the possible growth of economies.

This conclusion follows beyond a reasonable doubt from the premises.

Given the explanations for why errors in economic forecasting are made, the evidence is sufficient for this conclusion to be drawn, since economic predictions based on the normal “steady and slow growth” of economies will be inaccurate unless contractions are taken into account. In this way, the evidence is sufficient for this conclusion to be drawn beyond a reasonable doubt.

Question 5 of 5

Fifth Type – Evaluation of Arguments

Question:  Should all those aged 22-45 be required to save at least 5% of their income in a public savings plan?

No; people aged over 45 would also benefit from saving.

• Argument strong
• Argument weak

This argument is weak.

This does not give a relevant reason against the proposal as such but is more of a reason to extend it. As such, it is not an important issue for the argument itself.

You have completed the Sample Questions section.

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About the course

Welcome to iPrep’s Watson Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal (WGCTA) Course.

This course will help you boost your skills and, with it, your confidence towards your upcoming Watson Glaser test. The course will provide you with the following tools and benefits:

• You will  become familiar with Watson Glaser’s five types of questions— Inference, Recognition of Assumptions, Deductions, Interpretations, and Evaluation of Arguments, get guidance per each section, and have the chance to practice test-level questions before attempting the simulations.
• You will be given  four full-length 40-question Watson-Glaser-style simulation tests . These simulations include similar questions to those you will encounter on the real test with the same level of difficulty. They also have the same estimated time limit as on the real test. Experiencing the test’s time pressure will ensure it will not come as a surprise on test day.
• You will be provided with a  great variety of helpful tips and solving methods  for the different types of questions. Some of the tips are in the guidance sections and additional ones in the detailed explanations that follow each question.

Learning hours

Practice tests

By the end of this course, you will be more knowledgeable and comfortable with the Watson Glaser Test. Knowledge and familiarity with the test are the two most significant factors that can help you maximize your score and improve your chances of success.

The course comprises two parts—guidance and test simulations. In the guidance section, we will review each type of question, its purpose, and its underlying logical mechanism. You will also have a chance to practice several test-level questions before approaching the test simulation to get a feel for the challenge ahead.

Afterwards, you will proceed to the simulation of full-length tests that accurately follow the structure and concepts of the Watson Glaser. Once done, you will be able to see full question explanations and even see how well you performed in comparison with other people who have taken the test.

Wishing you an enjoyable learning experience!

Skills you will learn

Drawing Conclusions

• Course Introduction
• Test-Taking Tips
• Full-Length Watson-Glaser-Style Simulations
• Course Conclusion

About the author

Dr. Roy van den Brink-Budgen

Co-founder and Director of Studies of the Centre for Critical Thinking

Dr. Roy van den Brink-Budgen has been working in the field of critical thinking for over thirty years. His experience has included the development of various assessments in critical thinking, and teaching the subject to a wide range of groups (students from primary to postgraduate, teachers from primary to college, juvenile offenders, and business managers). He has also written seven books on the subject, many journal articles, and online courses for secondary students and MBA students (as well as having produced a critical thinking card game). He has given presentations to various international conferences on critical thinking and creative thinking.

His work in critical thinking has taken him to many countries (including France, India, Malaysia, New Zealand, Spain, the UK, and Singapore – where he is the Director of Studies at the Centre for Critical Thinking). He serves as a consultant on critical thinking to PocketConfidant, an international company that is developing AI for personal coaching. In addition, he runs a company that provides various services in critical thinking – if…then ltd – based in the UK.

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December 2, 2023 at 1:22 PM

iPrep really broke down the Watson Glaser. It simplified the concept to understand the principle behind every section of the test.

December 2, 2023 at 9:35 AM

I acquired this course three days prior to my examination, feeling quite anxious. The course turned out to be precisely what I required. It exceeded the expectations for my exam preparation, providing me with the essential tools and knowledge. I am confident that without this course's practice and guidance, passing the exam would have been a challenge.

I purchased this course 3 days before my test. I was quite quite nervous. This course is just what I needed.they went above and beyond what was expected of me on my exam. This course gives you exactly what you need! I for sure would not have passed if I hadn’t practiced with this first.

November 27, 2023 at 9:31 AM

Great review set with explanations that make you understand your mistakes. This course is just what I needed. Thank you so much!

Jason H****

October 18, 2023 at 11:06 PM

This has been helpful. The questions at times seem tricky, but the explanations help to add clarity on how to reason out the correct answers.

Iyunoluwa F******

September 23, 2023 at 5:45 PM

This test prep has helped me get familiar with the Watson Glaser test, and to identify my areas of strength and weakness. The feedback/ explanations are generally good, but will do with some improvement and fewer typos.

Tracy P******

August 27, 2023 at 12:50 AM

The iPrep review program is the best. I highly recommend it to anyone who is preparing for employment related assessments for new role or seeks promotion to a new level. The practice tests really help build confidence and calm your anxiety.

Paula R*******

August 2, 2023 at 8:59 PM

I purchased the course 4 days before taking the test. The practice tests, supplemented with some YouTube videos on how to think through questions, made a big difference in my ability to do well. With the timed practice tests I scored consistently at 70%. My actual test was untimed however; without that pressure and because of all the practice I scored 37 out of 40, ranked at the 98th percentile.

Megan R********

July 8, 2023 at 9:27 PM

Pretty frustrating explanations. phrases like "this goes too far" are so very subjective. Trying to understand what the test wants is like walking through a fun house. I've been tested as gifted, was my high school salutatorian, was top 5% of my ivy league college and only about 2/3s of the explanations provided made any sense. I walked away from the other third believing the test is wrong. (Which obviously it's not, it's just not very effective at teaching...) I went through the whole course and my scores did not improve. Womp womp. Wish I could get my money -- and my time -- back.

RAFAEL F*****

July 2, 2023 at 8:51 PM

I didn't like the quality of the explanations and have some doubts on some of them. I've studied on other sites and haven't had this problem. I won't continue studying this course. Could you please reimburse me?

Watson Glaser Test Practice 2023: Practice Tests & Study Guide

Test Simulations:

• 1 Watson Glaser Diagsnostic Test
• 3 Full Watson Glaser Test Simulation

Practice Tests & Drills:

• 3 Infecernces Practice Tests
• 3 Assumptions Practice Tests
• 5 Deductive Reasoning Practice Tests
• 4 Interpretations Practice Tests
• 3 Arguments Practice Tests

Study Guides:

• 5 Interactive Study Guides Covering All The Test Sections
• Watson Glaser Test Practice
• Watson Glaser Practice Test

Watson Glaser Test Practice 2023: Practice Tests & Study Guide

Watson Glaser Test is widely considered to be among the most challenging employment tests, as it contains very specific rules and often requires counterintuitive solving methods.

In the past two years, our experts have helped more than 3,000 candidates pass the Watson Glaser test. With the experience we've gained, we've developed a tailored and accurate PrepPack that will ensure your readiness on test day. Our Watson Glaser Test PrepPack includes:

• A Watson Glaser Diagnostic Test  will let you get an initial familiarity with the test and know where you stand in each section.  Afterwards,  you will receive a detailed analysis of the sections you struggled with, enabling you to focus on the key skills you need to improve. 
• 23 Additional Practice Tests  covering all the topics and sections you'll face in the Watson Glaser Exam. You'll be able you use these practice tests to thoroughly practice the issues you are weaker on, as revealed in the Diagnostic Test.
• 2 Full-Length Watson Glaser Test Simulations  will allow you to practice the actual test's time constraints, formatting, and content and determine whether you have improved from the Diagnostic Test after practising. 
• 5 Interactive Study Guides that will give you a professional grasp of the theory behind each test section and the best ways to solve questions. 

Our PrepPack is the most comprehensive product in the market, and it is trusted by top law schools and universities in the UK, including Oxford University and Cambridge University! 

-Scroll down for more information about the Watson Glaser Test, Study Guides and Free Practice Tests-

Avia , Watson Glaser Test specialist at JobTestPrep.

What Is the Watson Glaser Test?

The Watson Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal (WGCTA), also known as the Watson Glaser Test, is a pre-employment test designed to assess candidates’ critical thinking and reasoning skills.

The test contains 40 multiple choice critical thinking questions to be solved in 30 minutes, covering 5 sections:

• Inference – 5 questions
• Recognition of Assumptions – 12 questions
• Deduction – 5 questions
• Interpretation – 6 questions
• Evaluation of Arguments – 12 questions

In the following section, we will give an overview of each section, including a free sample question for each. You can check out our free practice test for more.

Watson Glaser is one of the biggest assessment companies. However, there are many other assessment companies including SHL ,  Korn Ferry , cut-e , Thomas , Cubiks , Pymetrics , Saville , aon, Matrigma ,  McQuiag , Arctic Shores , and many more.

The Most Professional Prep Course on the Market!

The Complete Watson Glaser Test Preparation includes focused and tailored practice drills for each of the 5 test sections.

Covering all test versions and forms: WG-II Form D and Form E, and WG-III.

Watson Glaser Test - 5 Sample Questions Solved [Video]

Watson Glaser Assessment Sample Questions

Sample Question #1 – Inference

The Inference section will present you with a statement followed by a series of inferences (conclusions). Your task is to determine how true or false each inference is .

James is a human rights activist who was fined £60 on three different days during the past month for smoking in public at his workplace. On each of the occasions, he admitted to the act peacefully, telling policemen that he is unwilling to conform to such a breach of people's right to privacy. James paid the three fines shortly after receiving them.

James has spent at least a couple of hundreds of pounds in his struggle to oppose violations of civil liberties this year.

You know that James had paid 180 pounds in the past month alone. You also know he is a human rights activist who is willing to spend money for his cause, based on his actions and testimony.

As such, even though it is not explicitly mentioned in the text, it is safe to assume that sometime in the year James had spent at least 20 more pounds on his activism, smoking-related or otherwise.

The “Probably True” and “Probably False” answer choices are unique to the Watson Glaser and are considered the main challenge of the inference section.

Learn more about the Inference Section.

Sample Question #2 – Recognition of Assumptions

The Assumptions section will present you with a statement followed by a proposed assumption. Your task is to decide whether a person, in making the given statement, is making the proposed assumption.

Complaints were raised against the town's sole French teacher for using her monopoly to charge more than her late predecessor. In fact, however, she does not earn more money on each lesson than she would have before, because she lives out of town and her fee reflects higher transportation costs than those of her predecessor, who lived in town.

Service providers who spend more on transportation are more expensive.

This is a generalisation of what happened in the town. This statement is a logical rule—it refers to all service providers in the world.

The author might think this is true, but he doesn't have to assume it in order for the passage to make sense. Therefore, it is not assumed.

The Recognition of Assumptions section is considered by most candidates as the hardest section of the Watson Glaser test.

Learn more about the Recognition of Assumptions Section.

Sample Question #3 – Deduction

In the Deduction section , you will be presented with a premise followed by a suggested conclusion. Your task is to determine whether the conclusion ABSOLUTELY AND NECESSARILY follows the premise.

Some citizens pay taxes. Many citizens receive income support.

More citizens receive income support than citizens who pay taxes.

Let's solve this question with the safest possible method for solving deduction questions - Letter Coding.

Citizens = A, pay taxes = B, receive income support = C. According to the premises, (A+B)some, and (A+C)many.

The conclusion states (A+C) > (A+B).

Some refer to a portion - a quantity between 1 to everything, while many others refer to multiplicity – at least 2 and up to everything. However, you have no grounds to infer an accurate quantity of either statement; therefore, the conclusion does not necessarily follow.

In other words:

This one is tricky. Although there is a hierarchy between words that indicate a quantity, and “many” is more than “some”, that is only true when discussing the same group .

For example, if the conclusion was “there are some citizens who receive income support”, it would follow, because you can infer “some” from “many”. However, you cannot compare the quantities of two different groups this way.

The Deduction section does not allow the use of common sense.

Learn more about the Deduction Section.

Sample Question #4 – Interpretation

In the Interpretation section , you will be presented with a premise followed by a suggested conclusion. Your task is to determine whether the conclusion follows the premise BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT.

In the years 2011-12, 32% of pupils entitled to free school meals (an indicator of low socioeconomic status) achieved five GCSE passes at grade C or above. This is compared to 65% of pupils who were not entitled to free school meals.

Most of the pupils who were not entitled to a free school meal achieved five GCSE passes at grade C or above.

The logic behind this answer is mathematical: the passage states that 65% of the pupils who were not entitled to a free school meal achieved five GCSE passes at a minimum of a C grade.

Since 65% is greater than 50%, we can conclude that they are the majority.

The “beyond a reasonable doubt” element is a common source of confusion for candidates, making this section substantially more difficult than the Deduction section.

Learn more about the Interpretation Section.

Sample Question #5 – Evaluation of Arguments

In the Arguments section , you will be presented with a yes/no question, followed by an argument. Your task is to determine whether the argument is strong or weak in answering the question.

Should parents put their children in preparation courses for gifted tests, in order for them to reach their full potential?

Yes. Parents are responsible for their children’s future and should do whatever they can to help them succeed in life.

This argument, although of great general importance, is not directly related to the question. The question specifically asked about preparation courses for gifted tests, and the arguments do not even mention them.

If, for example, the argument made the connection between preparation courses and success, the argument would have been strong. Since it does not, it is weak.

The most common type of mistake in the Evaluation of Arguments section is letting your own personal views and opinions affect your judgement.

Learn more about the Evaluation of Arguments Section.

For more sample questions, check out our  Watson Glaser free practice test .

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• Accurate  - mock tests that EXACTLY simulate the real test's rules, format, and difficulty level.
• Personalized  - additional practice tests and study guides for each section, to focus your practice on your personal weak spots.
• Trusted  - the official preparation kit for Oxford and Cambridge law students.

What Is A Good Score on the Watson Glaser Test?

The Watson Glaser test doesn't have a pre-determined pass mark, and each employer may very well have a different passing Watson Glaser test score.

As a rule though, you should aim for a score of above 80% of the test-takers in your norm group - keeping in mind that what's considered a good score changes depending on where you're applying. For instance, a Watson Glaser test score of 28/40 is better than 79% of the general population, 69% of managers, but only 49% of law graduates!

If so, what Watson Glaser critical thinking test score is considered good depends greatly on your potential employer. But there are certain Watson Glaser test results that will almost certainly put you among the top candidates: to rank in the top 80% of the most desirable positions like managers and lawyers, it is recommended to get a Watson Glaser test score of at least 33-34. 

Can you fail the Watson Glaser Critical Thinking Test?

Anything below the estimated 33-34 questions it takes to reach the top 80% will probably lead to you missing out on the position.

Watson Glaser Test Tips and Preparation Guidelines

A challenging, competitive test requires accurate, focused preparation designed specifically for the actual test.

That goes both for your preparation methods  and for your behaviour on the actual Watson Glaser test day .

Here are 4 preparation tips and 3 test-day tips that will maximize your score:

4 Tips for Preparing for the Watson Glaser Test

Preparation Tip #1 – Know the Rules Inside Out

Knowing the rules is important in any test you take, but it is especially important here.

Here’s why:

• The Watson Glaser has its own set of rules, unparalleled by any other critical thinking test.
• Not only that, but rules vary between sections, and what was correct in the Deduction section will be wrong in the Interpretation section.
• On the actual test, the clock keeps ticking as you read the instructions! Being familiar with them in advance will save you precious time.

Preparation Tip #2 – Let Go of Your Own Perceptions

In most sections of the Watson Glaser test sections, intuition and common sense will lead you to the wrong answer.

So, knowing WHEN to use common sense and intuition, and HOW to use them should be a major part of your preparation plan.

This is where tip number 3 can be extremely helpful.

Preparation Tip #3 – Develop “Critical Thinking Algorithms”

Critical Thinking Algorithms are technical procedures that turn any question into a series of simple Q&As that will lead you to the correct answer.

These eliminate the use of common sense and intuition, thus minimizing your chances for an error.

Two examples of these critical thinking algorithms are the ITDN Table and the Negative Test - which you can learn and practice in our Complete Preparation Course.

Preparation Tip #4 – Personalize Your Watson Glaser Practice

Different people will find different sections of the test particularly challenging.

Therefore, it is important to know in advance what YOUR weak spots are, and to address them in your preparation. For instance, if you reach a score of 11/12 in the Evaluation of Arguments section, focus your preparation on sections in which you are weaker.

• Comprehensive  - over 400 practice questions and practice tests and dozens of pages of study guides to get you as prepped as you could possibly be!
• Personalized  - tailored solving techniques specifically designed to address the Watson Glaser test rules and format.

3 Watson Glaser Test-Day Tips

Tip #1 – Use Your Time Wisely

Unlike other tests, time is not a substantial obstacle on the Watson Glaser.

However, there are two key points you should consider when it comes to time:

• Don't spend too much time on a single question. If you finish the questions before the time is up, you can go back to questions you weren't sure of.
• The time it took you to complete the test does not affect your score – for better or worse. So, make sure to use every minute and answer all the questions.

Tip #2 – Out of Options? Guess!

There is no penalty for wrong answers, so it is better to make an educated guess if you’re running out of time. This is one of the advantages of the multiple choice format. 

Tip #3 – Brush Up on the Test Instructions on the Test Day

As I mentioned earlier, the Watson Glaser test instructions are complex and unique.

Being very well familiar with the test instructions before the actual test will have a massive effect on both your score and your ability to finish the test on time.

So, on test day, just before you start your test, make sure you read and understand the instructions perfectly . This will allow you to merely brush over them on the test itself, leaving more time for solving questions.

Remember : On the actual test, the clock does not stop when you read the instructions!

What Employers Use the Watson Glaser?

Nearly all major law firms in the UK use the Watson Glaser test to screen candidates, in addition to commercial law assessment centre tasks . Here are the most important ones:

• Clifford Chance – Clifford Chance uses the Watson Glaser test mainly for entry-level positions – training contracts, vacation schemes, trainee solicitors, and the company’s well-known SPARK scheme.
• Hogan Lovells – Hogan Lovells also uses the test to assess candidates applying to vacation schemes, training contracts, and graduate programmes.
• Linklaters – Besides vacation schemes, summer internships, and graduate positions, Linklaters also uses the test to evaluate candidates for lawyer and associate positions.
• Amazon - The Watson Glaser Amazon assessment is used to select candidates for various positions. 

Apart from the aforementioned law firms firms, an abundance of others also use the test, including CMS, the GLS, Freshfields, Bird & Bird, Dentons and many other law firms. 

Watson Glaser Test Versions and Forms

There are two main versions of the test, however for you as a test-taker, there is no practical difference between the two versions. Both versions have the same content, the number of questions, and time limit.

Watson Glaser II (WG-II) 

The traditional format of the test and is divided into two forms – D and E. Form E is considered slightly more difficult, but the content and formatting of both forms are identical.

Watson Glaser III (WG-III)

A revision of the WG-II test. The main difference is that the WG-III can be taken in an unsupervised setting, due to the "item-bank" from which questions are randomly selected.

Watson Glaser FAQs  

What is a Critical Thinking Test and What Does it Measure?

A critical thinking test, sometimes referred to as critical reasoning test, is an aptitude test that measures your ability to assess a situation through various perspectives. While taking the critical thinking test, you will be asked to acknowledge, extract, and interpret facts, opinions, and assumptions, and identify logical fallacies.

Critical thinking tests are usually used with other assessments in the legal professions’ recruitment process, where critical thinking is needed to make a strong, solid argument. The critical reasoning test measures these critical thinking skills by using paragraphs of text, some short and some very long. 

Why Is Critical Thinking Important to Potential Employers?

Critical thinking skills are an important part of what companies aim to assess in their recruitment process since employees with strong critical thinking can make decisions with limited supervision, allowing them to make independent judgment decisions. Also, critical thinking skills help them solve problems, identify logical fallacies, build strategies, and make them better at their job in general.

Which Professions Use Watson Glaser Tests, and Why?

• Trainee Solicitors and Solicitors
• Graduate Trainees
• Vacation Scheme
• Public Health Registrars

Critical thinking skills are crucial in all of the above, which is why companies use the WG in their recruitment process - to assess critical thinking accurately.

Is the Watson Glaser Test Hard?

The Watson Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal is considered to be one of the hardest pre-employment tests on the market today, due to its unique and counterintuitive set of rules, as well as its focus solely on critical thinking.

Is the Watson Glaser Test Timed?

The test is normally timed and allows you up to 30 minutes to complete all 40 questions. There are also untimed versions for candidates requiring adjustments. Note that every section is timed separately, 30 minutes is the total allotted time.

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Free Watson Glaser Practice Tests - Test Your Skills!

Take our free Watson Glaser Practice Test. Then access even more great Watson Glaser Test practice through our partners at Job Test Prep. Maximise your WGT practice and boost your chances of getting a training contract!

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Enhance your Watson Glaser test preparation with our free Watson Glaser practice test with answers. Track your Watson Glaser test performance and boost your score. Plus, you can try JobTestPrep’s free Watson Glaser Test for extra practice.

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Take our Watson Glaser practice test to support your studies. You can access the free Watson Glaser practice test for free and sharpen your skills to ensure that you are fully prepared for the exam.

Why Try A Watson Glaser Practice Test?

Trying a Watson Glaser free practice test enables you to familiarise yourself with the format and content of the exam, giving you an idea of what to expect when you sit it for real. You will get an understanding of the types of questions asked in the exam, while developing tactics that you can use to answer specific questions.

You can practice Watson Glaser critical thinking test questions under timed conditions to ensure that you give your responses within the allotted time. You can identify points of strength and where improvement is needed, and adjust your study focus accordingly.

Take practice tests as many times as you need, to improve your score and ensure that you are fully ready for the Watson Glaser exam.

Continuously taking Watson Glaser practice tests will improve your ability to draw inferences from facts, recognise assumptions, deduce whether conclusions are supported by facts or not, interpret evidence and evaluate arguments, equipping you to pass the exam.

This increases your employability potential among major employers, such as the Government Legal Service, Linklaters, Clifford Chance and Hogan Lovells among others, who use the Watson Glaser test to pre-screen candidates.

How To Use The Free Online Watson Glaser Practice Test

The free, online Watson Glaser practice exam features 18 questions designed to test your decision-making, critical thinking and judgement forming skills. Your ability to assess strong and weak arguments and recognise whether a conclusion follows the facts or not will also be tested.

The test is structured in a way that replicates the conditions of a real Watson Glaser exam, with questions that could feature in your actual test. You will be presented with a series of questions, each of which you must answer to move on to the next question.

Your responses are timed and recorded. Once you have completed the Watson Glaser practice test you will be presented with a performance score, the time it took you to complete the exam, and how your results compare with others who have taken the practice test.

Any questions that you answer incorrectly you can review and see explanations behind the correct answer.

If you leave the Watson Glaser practice test at any point, it will restart where you left off the next time that you log in.

Use of the Watson Glaser practice exam is unlimited. You can take the practice test as many times as you need, and monitor the improvement in your score.

Why Sign-Up For The Free Watson Glaser Practice Test?

• Realistic simulation – practice answering Watson Glaser test questions under real exam conditions and devise tactics for submitting your answers in ample time.
• See answers – Get the answers to Watson Glaser questions complete with explanations to identify your areas of strength and improvement.
• Monitor performance – Access score records to see your development.
• Compare your results – Track how your Watson Glaser practice test results compare with other test takers with our average test score comparison feature.
• It’s 100% free – Our Watson Glaser test practice is completely free to use.

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Job Test Prep’s Free Watson Glaser Test

Job Test Prep’s free Watson Glaser test samples include 2 full-length exams, 23 additional practice drills and 8 PDF study guides. The 2 full-length tests enable you to familiarise yourself with the structure of the exam, understand the content and test yourself under time constraints.

The 23 additional practice drills give you the opportunity to strengthen your knowledge of topics that you are weaker in. And the 8 study guides equip you to understand the theory behind each test section and the best ways to answer the questions.

Job Test Prep has been providing preparation resources for the Watson Glaser exam in 2014 and is currently the official preparation provider for Oxford and Cambridge.

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Watson Glaser Tests

• https://www.talentlens.co.uk/product/watson-glaser/
• 228 questions

Watson Glaser tests are a form of psychometric assessment that fall under the category of critical thinking tests. They are designed to determine how well an individual can process information from a logical perspective, and then evaluate, analyse and make sound judgements. As such, they are commonly used in the recruitment process for professions that rely on these skills.

What is a Watson Glaser test?

Watson Glaser test is a comprehensive psychometric assessment that falls under the category of critical thinking tests. It is designed to determine how well an individual can process information from a logical perspective, and then evaluate, analyze and make sound judgments. Watson Glaser test is commonly used in the recruitment process for professions that rely on these skills.

Watson Glaser tests have been around since 1925 when they were first developed by American psychologists Goodwin Watson and Edwin Glaser. Subject to many revisions and improvements over the years, they are now produced by test publisher TalentLens and are considered one of the most trusted methods of evaluating critical reasoning.

Critical thinking is a complex skill that requires the ability to interpret information, differentiate fact from fallacy, draw evidence-based conclusions and identify sound arguments, all while remaining objective.

Like many critical thinking tests , the Watson Glaser test measures these skills through verbal information: that is, statements or passages of text from which an individual is required to make deductions and inferences, pinpoint assumptions needed to validate a proposition, and weigh up the strength of an argument.

These are inherent skills, more prominent in some than others. The Watson Glaser test, therefore, requires no prior knowledge. Success relies on existing knowledge being put to one side, the sole focus being the evidence laid out in each question.

You may be asked to sit a Watson Glaser test by the potential employer if applying for a graduate, professional or managerial level position in a sector where critical thinking is a prerequisite. Watson Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal is most commonly used in the legal sector, but also the selection process of organizations like the Bank of England.

The test may be used for screening purposes in the initial stages of the hiring process, or at a later date as part of an assessment day .

What is the format of a Watson Glaser test?

The Watson Glaser test is a timed, multiple-choice assessment, the most recent version of which consists of 40 critical reasoning questions with a 30-minute time constraint.

Questions are split across five areas of logical reasoning ability:

Drawing inferences

To draw inferences is essential to make an educated guess based on the evidence in front of you, without being swayed by any pre-existing knowledge or subconscious bias.

You’ll be presented with a short paragraph, followed by a set of inferred statements. Potential employees need to critically analyse the information in the given paragraph to determine if these statements are true, probably true, false, probably false, or if there is insufficient proof to determine either way.

Recognising assumptions

Assumptions relating to what we understand to be true without needing solid proof. They are the underlying facts that give an argument its validity.

In this section of the test, you’ll be presented with a statement and a set of assumptions. If the statement relies on the assumption being true, you would mark it as ‘assumption made’.

If the assumption is irrelevant to the statement or bears no weight on its validity, you would mark it as ‘assumption not made.

Deductive reasoning is the act of arriving at a fact-based conclusion through a logical thought process. A deduction differs from an assumption in that it is what we take away from an argument, as opposed to the facts on which an argument needs to stand.

Based solely on the evidence presented in a statement or short paragraph, you’ll need to determine if a list of conclusions does or does not logically follow the information in front of you.

Interpreting

The interpretation section of the Watson Glaser test is similar to the deduction section, in that you’ll be asked to determine whether a given conclusion can logically be drawn from an argument.

However, with these questions, you’ll need to be able to identify significant pieces of information and decide if a logical interpretation can be applied in support of the conclusion in question.

Evaluating arguments

This last section looks at your ability to separate a weak argument from a strong one. It is designed to test your impartial evaluation of arguments, not your personal opinion.

A question will be posted, followed by a set of arguments on either side of the debate. You’ll need to decide if an argument is relevant and challenging, and therefore strong, or vague and unrealistic, and therefore weak.

What skills does it look to measure?

The five sections combined to give an overall picture of your performance in key areas, and measure your ability to:

Define a problem

Select key points of information to formulate a solution

Understand when an assumption has been made, and when it has not

Hypothesise, or select an applicable hypothesis based on limited evidence

Draw fact-based conclusions

Determine the probability of an inference

What is a passing score on the Watson Glaser tests?

The results of your Watson Glaser test will be assessed against a norm group: individuals of a comparative educational background or professional standing – within a relevant field – that have previously sat the exam.

It is therefore difficult to state an exact pass score on the test since it depends entirely on the performance of your peers. Ideally, you’d look to reach 75% and above to give yourself a competitive edge.

Which professions use Watson Glaser tests, and why?

Watson Glaser tests are used to assess suitability for several occupations including those in the medical profession, marketing, and education. Those critical reasoning tests are most common in law firms and professional services sectors.

Many positions in law, banking, and finance, for example, require that an individual make informed decisions that can be justified, are rooted in fact, and are free from bias. Since critical thinking is an essential skill here, employers use Watson Glaser tests to determine how well-suited a candidate is for these professions.

How to prepare for a Watson Glaser test

Practice is the first port of call when preparing for your Watson Glaser test. Although critical thinking is an inherent skill, it can be nurtured and improved upon.

Watson Glaser tests are built around a model known as RED . Try to keep this in mind as you approach both practice tests and daily tasks.

The components associated with the RED model are:

Recognising assumptions . Instead of simply taking things at face value, such as the news or a part of a conversation with a friend or co-worker, ask yourself if what you’re hearing can be classified as true, and what the facts are that back it up. Are they evidential, or based on assumptions?

Evaluating arguments . We’re all guilty of seeking out information that confirms our perspective. Instead, actively look for opinions that contradict your own and assess them from an objective point of view. The better you become at seeing both sides of a story, the more prepared you’ll be to critically evaluate arguments in your Watson Glaser test.

Drawing conclusions . Try to get used to drawing fact-based conclusions, rather than those based on emotional reactions or subconscious bias. These conclusions may not align with your perspective, but a Watson Glaser test requires that you conclude impartially – and as with most things in life, practice makes perfect here.

The tests were well suited to the job that I’ve applied for. They are easy to do and loads of them.

Tips for Watson Glaser tests

Study the practice questions.

In the official test, you’ll have the opportunity to complete practice questions. These are there for a reason, so use them wisely. Each section of the test differs slightly in its approach, and the more comfortable you are with what is being asked of you, the more clearly you’ll be able to approach the problem.

Leave instinct and intuition at the door

To succeed on a Watson Glaser test, you need to go against human nature and ignore everything you think you know. Each question will contain all the relevant information you need. Whether you believe it to be true, agree with it, or not, is irrelevant. For the sake of the test, evaluate only the information given. Any outside knowledge should temporarily be forgotten.

Examine each question carefully

The key to strategic critical thinking is to fully understand what is being presented. You cannot draw a valid conclusion, or understand what assumptions support an argument, if you do not fully comprehend what is put forward. You may feel the need to rush under the time pressure, but attention to detail is vital.

Look for keywords and phrases

The statement, proposition or paragraph of text at the start of each question will inevitably include keywords or phrases that relate directly to the assumptions, inferences or conclusions given. These are your clues. Identify them, and you’ll find it much easier to analyse each scenario objectively.

Split your time evenly

Remember, you have a set amount of time to work through all five sections of the test. Split this evenly across the board before you start, and keep track of how much time you spend on each question. It may seem counterintuitive to add to the pressure, but in setting yourself a time frame, you eliminate the risk of dedicated excessive attention to any one part of the test.

For further advice, check out our full set of tips for Watson Glaser tests .

Practice Aptitude Tests is not associated with Watson Glaser. We provide preparation services for Watson Glaser psychometric tests. Our tests are not designed to be identical to any style, employer or industry. Visit https://www.talentlens.co.uk/product/watson-glaser/ to find out more.

Watson Glaser Tests FAQs

How does watson glaser define critical thinking.

According to the methodology behind Watson Glaser tests, critical thinking is the ability to observe a scenario and consider it from various perspectives, whilst identifying what is fact, what is assumed and what is mere opinion. In doing so, you should be able to draw logical conclusions and use these for informed decision making.

How can I improve my critical thinking skills?

Critical thinking is a part of our daily lives; we’re just not always aware that we’re doing it. To improve your skills, tune in to the world around you, ask questions, read actively and look for evidence in every statement or argument you come across. Take practice tests regularly to assess your progress.

Is the Watson Glaser test hard?

Watson Glaser tests are considered among the most challenging of all critical thinking assessments, since they test five separate aspects of logical reasoning ability . Time constraints also add to the pressure. That said, they are typically no harder than the careers for which they test your suitability, and with dedicated practice, you can hone your skills and make critical thinking second nature.

Where can I practice Watson Glaser tests?

There are multiple online resources available to help you prepare for your Watson Glaser test, including our own free practice tests . We recommended you work through these questions to familiarise yourself with the format and improve your critical thinking skills.

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Reviews of our Watson Glaser tests

What our customers say about our Watson Glaser tests

Jozef Bailey

United Kingdom

April 05, 2022

Doesn't cover all aspects of Watson-Glaser tests but useful

The WGCTA uses more categories to assess critical thinking, but this was useful for the inference section.

April 01, 2022

Just practicing for an interview

Good information and liked that it had a countdown clock, to give you that real feel in the test situation.

Jerico Kadhir

March 31, 2022

Aptitude test

It was OK, I didn't understand personally whether or not the "cannot say" option was acceptable or not in a lot of the questions, as it may have been a trick option.

Salvarina Viknesuari

March 15, 2022

I like the test because the platform is simple and engaging while the test itself is different than most of the Watson Glaser tests I've taken.

Alexis Sheridan

March 02, 2022

Some of the ratios were harder than I thought!

I like how clear the design and layout is - makes things very easy (even if the content itself is not!)

Cyril Lekgetho

February 17, 2022

Mental arithmetic

I enjoyed the fact that there were multiple questions pertaining to one passage of information, rather than multiple passages. However I would've appreciated a more varied question type.

Madupoju Manish

February 16, 2022

Analytics are the best questions

I like the test because of its time schedule. The way the questions are prepared makes it easy to crack the original test.

Chelsea Franklin

February 02, 2022

Interesting

I haven't done something like this for ages. Very good for the brain - although I certainly experienced some fog whilst doing it.

[email protected]

January 04, 2022

Population/exchange rates were the hardest

Great test as it felt a bit time pressured. Very different types of questions in terms of difficulty.

faezeh tavakoli

January 02, 2022

More attention to detail + be more time conscious

It was asking about daily stuff we all deal with, but as an assessment it's scrutinising how we approach these problems.

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• How it Works

Prepare for the Watson Glaser with industry expert-made guides and realistic practice test, and show prospective employers that you’re the right choice.

The Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal (WGCTA) is the first step you will need to take when applying for many high-profile job positions. This is especially common with legal professional and managerial jobs. High performance on the Watson Glaser critical thinking test demonstrates to prospective employers that you’re the best fit for the job, both in skill set & competence.

The Watson-Glaser aptitude test is believed to be one of the most difficult and demanding tests on the psychometric test market, and proper prep is essential if you wish to stand a chance against other applicants who are vying for the same job. Prepterminal’s Watson Glaser Prep Course has been designed by industry experts to prepare you for this difficult exam so you can take on the real thing with confidence. Click on Get Started to begin your prep immediately or read on for further information.

What Is the Watson Glaser Test?

Created by Goodwin Watson and Edward Glaser, The Watson Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal Test (WGCTA) evaluates and interprets the critical thinking skills of the test-taker.

Critical thinking assessments are psychometric tests used for recruitment at various levels including, professional, managerial, and graduate and are used in many sectors. However, they are most commonly seen in the legal field.

Employers use this test to measure the abilities of a candidate and to see how they understand arguments, identify assumptions, and form conclusions founded on those assumptions.

The Watson Glaser Test mainly assesses a candidate’s ability to think critically and analytically. For many applicants, this will cover topics they haven’t had to deal with in many years – preparation with Prepterminal’s Watson Glaser Prep Course provides an excellent summary of each topic covered with realistic practice questions and expert guides.

The Structure of the Watson Glaser Test

The Watson Glaser test consists of 40 questions. There is a timed version and an untimed version. Those taking the timed version have 30 minutes to finish the 40 questions.

The test is made up of 5 sections:

• Identification of assumptions
• Interpretation of information
• Assessment of arguments

All questions on the test have multiple-choice answers (five choices are given in the inference section and two choices are given in all the rest of the questions).

There are currently two available versions of the test:

• Watson-Glaser II forms D & E (computerized or pen & paper)
• Watson-Glaser III (only computerized).

The central difference between the two versions is that the Watson Glaser III uses an item bank of questions and doesn’t require a test officer.

The test can be taken offline or online, and keep in mind that no marks are taken off for choosing an incorrect answer.

Start preparing today by taking PrepTerminal’s Free Watson Glaser Practice Test.

Free arguments practice test questions, free inferences practice test questions, free recognizing assumptions practice test, free deduction practice test, free interpretation practice test, what’s included, quick online prep pack.

Get an immediate access to our advanced and adaptive learning software and get fully prepared to beat the Watson-Glaser within a few hours.

Top Quality Watson Glaser Materials

Prepare within a few hours, with the most up-to-date, accurate & effective Watson-Glaser prep materials.

Watson-Glaser Practice Tests

3 timed, full-length Watson Glaser-style practice tests with 10 module quizzes.

Watson-Glaser Expert Lessons

Quickly learn the best tactics for all 5 types of Watson-Glaser questions with fluff-free guides and practice on any device, 100% online.

Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Course Modules

• 1 Introduction Buy this Course: Get full access to all lessons, practice tests and guides.
• Evaluating Arguments - Written Guide
• Arguments Questions
• Arguments Questions 2
• Evaluating Assumptions - Written Guide
• Assumptions Questions
• Assumptions Questions 2
• Evaluating Deductions - Written Guide
• Deduction Questions Part 1
• Deduction Questions Part 2
• Evaluating Inferences - Written Guide
• Inferences Questions
• Inferences Questions 2
• Interpreting Information - Written Guide
• Interpreting Information Questions
• Interpreting Information Questions 2
• Watson Glaser Full Practice Test 1
• Watson Glaser Full Practice Test 2
• Watson Glaser Full Practice Test 3
• 8 BONUS Interview Prep Video Guide Buy this Course: Get full access to all lessons, practice tests and guides.

What does the Watson Glaser Critical Thinking Test Measure?

The Watson Glaser test measures your abilities in 5 key areas: assumptions, arguments, deductions, inferences, and interpreting information. Let’s take a look at each of these question types individually.

You will be presented with a short scenario and then will be given possible inferences. The inferences are concise statements. You will need to assess whether these concise statements have been inferred from the passage.

You will also have to decide the likelihood of the inference. You will be asked to say if the inference is ‘true,’ ‘false,’ possibly true,’ ‘possibly false’ or ‘more information is required.’ You can only select one answer.

Identification of Assumptions

When people have discussions or present arguments, there are underlying assumptions in their arguments. In the test, you will be given an initial statement. You will also be presented with various assumptions. You will be asked to decide if the assumption is evident in the initial statement.

For example, in the statement “only people earning a high salary can buy a big house”, what is being assumed is that big houses are costly because only individuals who earn a high salary can purchase one. However, what’s not being assumed is that people who are not high earners aren’t legally permitted to buy a big house.

In these question types, it is your job to choose whether an assumption has or has not been made. You will need to answer: yes or no.

You will be given a few sentences of information. Another different short statement will also be presented to you, which is meant to be a conclusion that an individual has made. You will need to decide if the conclusion is logical, based on the information presented to you.

If yes, then the conclusion follows on from the information available. If no, then the conclusion does not follow on from the information given. You need to base your decision on the information given and not on your previous experience or knowledge.

Interpreting information

You will be presented with a passage of information and then will be shown various statements. You will be asked to decide whether the ‘conclusion follows,’ or ‘conclusion does not follow’. You choose one of these answers depending on whether or not you think that the statement can be logically arrived at from the information provided.

Here like before you need to base your answer solely on the information given to you in the question.

You will be given an argument, such as “Should school uniforms be compulsory?” You will then be given statements that relate to this argument. You are asked to state whether the statements or responses to the argument “Should school uniform be compulsory?” create a strong or weak argument.

Arguments are deemed strong if they directly relate to the topic. For example, “Yes, many people would benefit from wearing school uniforms because school kids will be less likely to form opinions about each other based on their choice of fashion. This makes for a less judgmental school environment.” The argument given is reasonable and relates to the question.

A weak argument could be something like “No, I don’t trust people who wear baggy clothes”. This second argument has little to do with the topic of making school uniforms compulsory. When you are presented with these questions you need to think objectively about the argument being made and put aside your personal judgments and opinions.

How is the Watson Glaser Test Scored?

A candidate’s score on the Watson Glaser test is given in comparison to a norm group.

A potential employer will compare and contrast the profile of all potential applicants. Applicants with the highest relative scores will pass the Watson Glaser test and likely move on to the next stage of the hiring process.

Doing well on the Watson Glaser test may not be enough, as candidates will have to do better than their competitors if they want to stand out.

A good score on the Watson Glaser test is dependent on the company a candidate is applying to. Ultimately, an applicant should aim to score 80% or more, to be considered a likely candidate for the job.

Practice is thus essential. Prepterminal’s Watson Glaser Test prep course provides Watson Glaser practice test questions and more.

Which Companies Use the Watson Glaser Critical Thinking Test?

The top five companies that use the Watson Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal as part of their hiring process:

• Clifford Chance – Ranked among the top 10 multinational law firms, in the world, Clifford Chance is a key member of the “Magic Circle”.
• Linklater – Linklaters is a “Magic Circle” member and is one of the top three law firms in England.
• Dentons – This is a relatively young law firm. However, it has grown to be the 5th largest law firm – based on revenue.
• Hogan Lovells – This American-British law firm is the 11th largest international law firm.
• GLS – The British Government Legal Services hires lawyers who represent the government in court and give legal advice to the government.
• Clifford Chance – Ranked among the top 10 multinational law firms, Clifford Chance is a key member of the “Magic Circle”.
• Dentons – This is a relatively young law firm. However, it has grown to be the 5th largest law firm based on revenua.

How To Prepare For Watson Glaser Test: Top Tips

Answer solely based on the information provided.

Answer each question using only the facts and conditions given in the question itself. Do not use your own knowledge of the subject matter, even if you are well-versed in a particular area.

Read each question slowly and carefully

Some of the questions featured on the Watson Glaser Practice Test may be long, and you may want to skim through them. Refrain from doing so. If you quickly scan a question, you may skip over valuable information. Read each question thoroughly before choosing an answer.

Manage your time effectively

The Watson Glaser test features both long and short questions, so it may be hard to ascertain in advance how much time you need for each question. Nevertheless, the more you practice the more familiar you will become with the question types and the better you will be at pacing yourself.

Practice, practice, practice

To do well on this test you will need to practice. Take as many practice tests as you can so you can learn to anticipate the type and structure of the questions. This way you can approach the test with confidence.

How Difficult is the Watson Glaser Test?

As you have seen the Watson Glaser test is very tricky. It is especially hard for individuals who are not familiar with the question types.

Enrolling in Prepterminal’s preparatory Watson Glaser Test course with Watson Glaser Practice Test questions will help you become familiar with the structure and nature of the questions featured in this notoriously difficult test.

We will help you understand the specific nuanced rules of the Watson Glaser test and how to accept the statements presented to you in the test and more.

6 Benefits of Prepterminal’s Watson-Glaser Test Prep Course

• Learn how to think like the creators of the test require you to think.
• Understand how to base your judgments exclusively on the information given to you in the test.
• Understand the specific rules of the test.
• Learn how to accept statements presented to you in the test at face value.
• Practice using carefully crafted course material that covers the specific subject matter of the Watson Glaser test.
• Learn how to make decisions without being influenced by your past experiences.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How does the course work.

It’s 100% online and you get immediate access sent to your email as soon as you sign up. No books, No DVDs, No PDFs. You can study and practice on your computer or your phone. It works on any device with an internet connection!

If I’m struggling with a question, can I get help?

Don’t worry – send an email to Matt, our Watson-Glaser expert, at [email protected] and he’ll be back to help you ASAP!

I have a very short notice, do I have enough time to prepare?

How many times will i be charged.

You’ll only be charged once for your course license. There are no recurring payments, and no hidden fees.

Created by: Matthew Appleyard

Psychometric tutor, prepterminal test expert, 6876 students, 4.8 , 1396 reviews.

I’m Matt, Prepterminal’s Watson-Glaser Test Prep Expert. Any questions about the course? Let me know at [email protected]