critical thinking test law

• Numerical Reasoning
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• Deductive reasoning
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• Game based assessments
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• Strengths based interview
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• Saville Assessment
• Talent Q / Korn Ferry
• Watson Glaser
• Test Partnership
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• Criteria Corp
• Aon / Cut-e
• Sova Assessment

Watson Glaser Critical Thinking Tests

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

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About critical thinking tests and how they work, free practice critical thinking test, 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 With Full Answers, Explanations and Tips [2024]

Last Updated: Sep 2024

The Watson Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal (WGCTA) is a pre employment test designed to assess candidates’ critical thinking and reasoning skills. 

The test contains  40 multiple-choice questions  to be solved in  30 minutes . It is a crucial step in particular for training contracts and vacation schemes applications in the legal profession.

On this page, you'll find a  Free Watson Glaser Practice test with answers: 15 questions covering all the five sections you'll face in your Watson Glaser test, including full solutions and our experts' tips.

-Or scroll down for more information about the Watson Glaser Test and Free Practice Tests-

Shlomik , Watson Glaser Test Expert at JobTestPrep Have a question? Contact me at:

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Did you know.

The Watson Glaser test is generally known as one of the more difficult assessment tests provided for 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 . 

Go through the entirety of this Free Practice Test and Watson Glaser Test Tips to understand the required skills and difficulty level and find detailed solutions to help you excel. 

Free Watson Glaser Practice Tests

We will begin our Watson Glaser practice test  with the first Watson Glaser test section – Assessment of Inferences. In this section, each exercise begins with a statement of facts you are to regard as true. After each statement of facts, you will find several possible inferences - that is, conclusions that some people might draw from the stated facts. 

Note: You'll need to examine each inference separately and decide its degree of truth or falsity. 

Assessment of Inferences

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

Correct Answer

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.

Read the following text, and then choose whether each of the statements below is true or false to varying degrees according to the text:

Virtual employees, or employees who work from home via a computer, are an increasing trend. In the US, the number of virtual employees has increased by 39% in the last two years and 74% in the last five years. Employing virtual workers reduces costs and makes it possible to use talented workers no matter where they are located globally. Yet, running a workplace with virtual employees might entail miscommunication and less camaraderie and can be more time-consuming than face-to-face interaction.  

Question # 1

The marked advantage of virtual employee hiring is the ability to benefit from the output of unsociable employees without involving them in face-to-face interactions.

The correct answer is 'False'.

The words “marked advantage” insinuate that the ability to benefit from unsociable employees is the most significant advantage. However, that advantage is not even mentioned in the text. That means that the answer is either False or Probably False.

The text specifically mentions the benefits of face-to-face meetings on social interaction: “a workplace with virtual employees might entail miscommunication and less camaraderie and can be more time-consuming than face-to-face interaction”. The conclusion, however, refers to the problems it creates, which is negated by the general message of the passage.

Question # 2

Today, a majority of the employees in the US are virtual employees.

The correct answer is 'Probably False'.

The passage describes an increasing trend of virtual employment hiring. Yet, it is not specified how prevalent this trend has become compared to the entire workforce. There is no confirmation or contradiction of the statement; the first tendency may be to choose 'insufficient data'.

However, in this test section, you can use common sense to choose the right answer. By applying logic to the answer choices, you can surmise that many jobs cannot be done virtually and that despite the increasing popularity of this trend, it is unlikely that a majority of most US are virtual.

Question # 3

A new study proves that scores on cognitive ability tests, which include critical thinking tests, are strongly related to success in both civilian and military jobs and predict outcomes in all jobs. The added value of these tests, the authors conclude, is that they predict what an individual can do now and the extent to which an individual is likely to learn and develop. Nowadays, occupational psychologists use cognitive ability tests more often than in the past.

The correct answer is 'Insufficient Data'.

The passage presents information about a new possible utility for cognitive ability tests in the occupational consultancy area. Yet, we lack information about the extent of past and present use of these psychometric tests; hence, it is impossible to determine and even to assume whether the statement is correct or not. Therefore, the correct answer is 'Insufficient Data'.

💡 Tip: Understanding Inferences.  An inference is a conclusion drawn from observed or supposed facts. When assessing inferences, integrate commonly accepted knowledge wisely. Remember, while it's useful to consider general knowledge, your primary basis should always be the specific facts presented in each question. This approach helps you accurately determine the truthfulness of an inference without relying solely on external assumptions.

Many more Inference practice questions – in full simulations or as additional practice, with additional, comprehensive guides for tips and solving techniques, can be found in our Watson Glaser Test PrepPack.

The next section in the Watson Glaser test is Recognition of Assumptions . It consists of several statements followed by proposed assumptions. For each assumption, you must decide whether a person, while making the given statement, is making that assumption—taking it for granted, whether justifiably or not.

Note:  These assumptions do not need to align with reality or reason—you are not judging their common sense, but merely whether they are assumed.

Pass Your Watson Glaser Assessment

Many more Assumptions practice questions – in full simulations or as additional practice, with additional, comprehensive guides for tips and solving techniques, can be found in our Watson Glaser Test Practice PrepPack .

With our Watson Glaser PrepPack, available for only £49 , you can guarantee a substantial improvement before the Watson Glaser test.

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Recognition of Assumptions

Sample question – 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.

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.

Question # 4

"Increasing the number of employees in the department will increase its business performance."

Proposed Assumption:

It is possible to predict the impact of department size on business performance.

The correct answer is ‘Assumption Made’.

To see why the assumption is made, let’s use the Negative Test algorithm:

Step #1 – negate the assumption – “It is impossible to predict the impact of department size on business performance.”

Step #2 – check if the validity of the original statement changes. In our case, it does, since if there is no way to measure the effect of department size on business performance, any statement trying to predict such an effect is meaningless.

Step #3 – if the statement is not valid anymore, then the assumption was made.

Question # 5

"In the event of a warmer planet due to global warming, we will need to develop a drought-resistant grass species."

World climate is changing.

The correct answer is ‘Assumption Not Made’.

The actual assumption is that the future holds a possibility for climate change. It is not evident that it is already happening from the text. Remember, you should not make your decision based on whether you think the assumption is true but only based on whether or not the assumption was made.

Question # 6

"I am flying to China next week. I want to be sure to avoid website blocking due to internet censorship policies, so I better ask our IT team to install a satellite-based modem on my laptop."

By getting a satellite-based modem, I decrease the chances of experiencing website blocking.

The second sentence presents a possible problem I might encounter in China. The third sentence presents a technical solution. Under reasonable doubt, one can conclude that the third sentence offers a solution to the possible problem. Without the above assumption, we couldn't connect the second and the third sentence.

💡 Tip: Assumptions recognition.  An assumption is something presupposed or taken for granted. If you think the given assumption is taken for granted in the statement, mark the option Assumption Made. If you think the assumption is not necessarily taken for granted in the statement, mark the option Assumption Not Made. Remember to judge each assumption independently.

What is the Best Way to Study for the Watson Glaser Test?

Watson Glaser is generally considered one of the more difficult assessment tests. The first challenge is that the test focuses primarily on evaluating a single characteristic: critical thinking. This is accomplished using five different strategies and questions, and passing the test requires completing all five successfully. Another challenge of the WGCTA exam is that it employs tactics to deceive and mislead test-takers, undermining intuition and knowledge. 

The recommended score to pass with a high mark and land a job with major employers is 80% - which requires 33-34 minimum correct answers per full test . Achieving high scores is challenging without knowledge of all solving techniques and tips. Your best strategy ought to involve methodical practice.

To overcome these challenges, it is essential to prepare for each section of the test, familiarise yourself with all the question types, fully understand the precise rules of each test section, and practice accordingly.

The Most Trusted Watson Glaser Test Preparation

Our Complete Watson Glaser Test Preparation is the official preparation resource for Oxford and Cambridge law students , designed to cover all 5 test sections with practice questions, and solving techniques tailored for the Watson Glaser test rules and format.

The preparation fits any of the test versions : WG-II Form D and Form E, and WG-III.

Watson Glaser Test - 5 Sample Questions Solved [Video]

The next section in the Watson-Glaser test is Deduction . In this section, each exercise consists of several premises followed by several suggested conclusions. For this test, treat the premises in each exercise as unquestionably true.

Note: Read each conclusion. If you believe it necessarily follows from the premises, mark the option " Conclusion Follows. " If you think it is not a necessary conclusion from the premises, or if the conclusion does not align with the premises, mark the option " Conclusion Does Not Follow. "

Sample Question – 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.

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.

Question # 7

Only technological companies are listed on the OTX stock market. No technological company remains unstable for a long period of time.

Proposed Conclusion:

If your company is listed on OTX, it will not be unstable for a long time.

The correct answer is ‘Conclusion Follows’.

We are going to solve these questions intuitively. However, it is strongly advised to use other, safer methods in the actual Watson Glaser test, such as Venn diagrams or Letter Coding. 

We know two facts:

• Only technological companies are listed on the OTX. This is equivalent to: All companies listed on the OTX are technological.
• No technological company remains unstable for a long period of time. This is equivalent to: All technological companies are not unstable for a long period of time.

Combining these two facts, it is easy to see that all companies on the OTX will not be unstable for a long period of time.

Question # 8

No millionaire who lives in a city has less than two cars. Nonetheless, some but not all the inhabitants of Ergfort city have two cars or more.

A place where none of the inhabitants has two cars or more has no millionaires.

The correct answer is: ‘Conclusion Does Not Follow’.

Millionaire = A, lives in a city = B, has less than two cars = C, any living place = D. According to the premises, (no A + B -> C), which equals (A + B -> ~C), and (B Ergfort + ~C) *some but not all . The conclusion states (D + C) -> ~A. B is a subgroup of D (a city is a kind of place). Rules that apply to B do not necessarily apply to D. This is a generalization. At first, it may be tempting to think that if no one in D has two cars or more, then there are no

millionaires there. However, the first premise only discussed millionaires in cities. You know nothing about millionaires in general. Therefore, the conclusion does not follow.

Question # 9

There are 20 employees in our office; each drinks between 0 to 4 cups of coffee a day. This costs the company $100 per week (5 working days).

Some employees drink 15 cups of coffee a week.

The correct answer is: ‘Conclusion Does Not Follow’

According to the premises, (20 employees)*. When a range is given as data, both limits must appear at least once (both must exist). So: 0 ≤ coffee cups ≤ 4; (employee + 0 cups)*; (employee + 4 cups)*. The conclusion states ~*(5 cups a day) The conclusion would follow if you knew every possibility in the range exists (that is, that at least one employee drinks 0 cups a day, at least one employee drinks 1 cup a day, and at least one employee drinks 2 cups a day, etc.), in which case the employees who drink 3 cups of coffee a day would drink 15 cups a week. But you don’t know that. All you know is that the limits of the range exist.

💡 Tip: Deduction evaluation.  While deciding, you should rely only on the premises, even though you may believe some conclusions may or may not be true according to your general knowledge. Try not to let your prejudices influence your judgment - stick to the premises and judge each conclusion as to whether it necessarily follows from the premises or not.

You can find many more Deduction practice questions—both in full simulations and as additional practice, along with comprehensive guides for tips and techniques—in our Watson Glaser Test PrepPack .  

The next section in the Watson Glaser test is Interpretation . Assume all information in the paragraph is true. Your task is to assess whether each proposed conclusion logically follows beyond a reasonable doubt. If you believe it does, mark " Conclusion Follows. " If not, mark " Conclusion Does Not Follow. "  

Interpretation

Sample question – 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.

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.

Question # 10

I have a nine-month-old baby at home, and she usually agrees to be put to bed, where she falls asleep promptly. But every time her grandparents visit in the evening, she cries when I put her to bed, and she continues to cry for an hour.

My baby’s difficulty is mostly physiological—her grandparents give her chocolates to eat, and the sugar makes her hyperactive.

The conclusion proposes a reason that is neither given explicitly in the text nor probable beyond a reasonable doubt. It provides an explanation that stems from our own personal perceptions.

Question # 11

Ten years ago, not a single Australian city was in the top 50 most expensive cities in the world. Today, three are in the top 15. You can feel it just by looking at the small stuff. A single lime, for example, costs $1.50, 300% more than it cost ten years ago.

A single lime in Australia cost $0.50 ten years ago.

The logic behind this answer is mathematical: a 300% increase is, in fact, equal to an increase by a factor of four. If a lime costs $1.50 today, which is an increase of 300% in price compared to ten years ago, then ten years ago, it was worth $0.375. Previous price X 4 = 1.5, so 1.5 ÷ 4 = previous price = 0.375. When something increases by 100%, it is actually multiplied by 2, so you need to divide the current cost by 4 and not 3. When something increases by 200%, it is multiplied by 3. So, when something increases by 300%, it is multiplied by 4.

Question # 12

Studies conducted over the last 60 years show that adult obesity and the direct medical cost thereof have increased steadily worldwide. The last decade has had the highest rates of both these trends.

Humankind, as a whole, has not advanced much in the ability to maintain optimal body weight.

Even though obesity rates have increased worldwide, we cannot conclude anything regarding advancement. Advancements usually refer to fields of technology and medicine. It is possible that there have been advancements in those fields, but obesity has increased because of poor nutrition and a decrease in active lifestyles. Therefore, the conclusion does not follow.

💡 Tip: Interpretation. While the Interpretation section shares a similar format with the Deduction section, it demands rigorous application of logic. It's essential to follow the information provided closely and ensure you will draw conclusions based on well-supported evidence, while considering all possibilities within a reasonable doubt. For the conclusion to follow "beyond a reasonable doubt," it should be the most logical and direct inference that can be drawn without speculation or additional assumptions.

The final section in the Watson Glaser test is Evaluation of Arguments . In making decisions about important questions, it is desirable to be able to distinguish between arguments that are strong and arguments that are weak, as far as the question at issue is concerned.

Note: For an argument to be strong, it must be both important and directly related to the question. An argument is weak if it is not directly related to the key points of the question (even though it may be of great general importance), if it is of minor importance, or if it is related only to trivial aspects of the question.

Evaluation of Arguments

Sample question – 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.

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 job success itself, 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 .

Decide the correct answer on whether each of the arguments is strong or weak:

Question # 13

Should a company grant employees free time to spend in any manner they choose?

Proposed Argument:

No—employees are likely to use their free time to clean their homes, run errands, and meet with friends, and thus bring no benefit to the company whatsoever.

The correct answer is: ‘Strong Argument’.

This argument is both relevant to the topic and important.

• It is important, as it refers to the benefit the company might (or might not) get from this policy.
• It is relevant, as it addresses the issue itself – the free time given to employees and its consequences.

Note that the trivial details provided ("...clean their homes, run errands, and meet with friends...") are a distractor intended to make the issue seem trivial – however, they do not change the relevance or importance of the given argument. 

Question # 14

When grading tests, should teachers consider that some of their students have native-born parents and other students have immigrant parents?

Proposed Argument :

No. Although some teachers may be sympathetic to students from immigrant families with financial difficulties, their grading should reflect the students’ work and abilities, regardless of ethnic or financial background.

The correct answer is: ‘Strong Argument’

Whether you agree with this argument or not, you must consider it true. As such, it is strong. It both relates to the question directly and raises an important claim that grades should reflect someone’s merits and not take into account factors such as ethnicity or socioeconomic background.

Question # 15

Should the government use software solutions designed to track online behaviors on social networks in order to prevent threats to national security?

Yes—national security is of high enough importance to justify the violation of civil liberties and freedom of thought.

Here you have a reference to the ethical problems involved in data mining in which, unlike in the first question in this set, the ethical aspect is presented in relation to the main question - preventing national security threats. In other words, this argument is related to the question, and the consequence it described is important. For this reason, it is a strong argument.

💡 Tip: Arguments Evaluation. This final section assesses your ability to make decisions regarding importance and relevancy while applying logic. Focus on relevant information and prioritize data that directly influences the logic and outcome of the scenario. Avoid the trap of considering all information as equally important; instead, critically evaluate each piece of data based on how significantly it influences the outcome or conclusion of the scenario.

 Need more practice? Take a quick 15 questions Watson Glaser free practice test.

Impressed with the sample unlock full simulations, comprehensive guides and exclusive resources with our watson glaser test preppack..

Now that you know the different Watson Glaser psychometric test sections and you recognise different solving techniques for critical thinking questions, waste no more time and begin your practice.

For different law firm pre-employment tests, check out our page on the Suited Assessment  or visit our tailored preparation for Clifford Chance , Linklaters or other critical thinking test . 

Our Watson Glaser PrepPack includes comprehensive preparation materials, including:

• A Watson Glaser Diagnostic Test  that 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. 

Watson Glaser FAQs

What is the watson glaser critical thinking test.

The Watson Glaser Critical Thinking Test is a pre-employment critical thinking test widely used by law firms, government legal services, and other employers in their recruitment process.

This test measures your critical thinking ability through several sections, including drawing conclusions, evaluation of arguments, and assumption recognition. This critical reasoning test  includes typically a multiple-choice format, challenging test takers to use a creative and logical manner to navigate tricky questions and insufficient data.

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.

How is the Watson Glaser Test scored?

Your Watson Glaser test score is calculated based on your performance in various test sections, each assessing different aspects of critical thinking.

Scores are often compared against a norm group of previous test takers to gauge your relative performance, and it is known that the larger the number of applicants, the higher the score requirements become.

A typical score on the Watson Glaser Test is around 55%. This score fluctuates based on the version of the test, difficulty, and the test takers' demographics.

Our PrepPack also explains how to interpret your results in each section and how they might impact your chances in the selection process for competitive training contracts.

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.

Is the Watson Glaser an IQ Test?

The Watson Glaser Critical Thinking Test is not an IQ test . Instead, it measures a candidate's critical thinking ability, a crucial skill directly related to making considered conclusions and counterintuitive solving methods.

Unlike general knowledge or IQ tests, the Watson Glaser critical thinking appraisal focuses on your ability to logically evaluate arguments, recognize assumptions, and make decisions based on information from given statements. 

The test is an important part of challenging selection processes, especially in the legal sector, where critical thinking is essential. 

How can I prepare for the Watson Glaser Test?

Because of the challenging nature of the assessment, preparation for the Watson Glaser Test involves utilizing Watson Glaser practice tests to enhance your critical thinking skills. 

Resources like our practice tests, sample questions, and critical thinking test tips will surely help you familiarise yourself with the test format and types of questions. 

Check out our tailored resources that provide practice in critical reasoning tests and help you understand how to tackle tricky assumptions, solid argument formulation, and time constraints effectively.

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.

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More on this topic.

• Watson Glaser Test Tips
• Clifford Chance Watson Glaser
• Linklaters Watson Glaser
• Hogan Lovells Watson Glaser
• Watson Glaser & RANRA Practice Bundle
• Free Aptitude Test
• Free Psychometric Test
• Free Numerical Reasoning Test

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