Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Test (2024 Guide)
Updated May 31, 2024
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The Watson Glaser critical thinking test, initially developed by Goodwin Watson and Edward Glaser and now published by Talentlens/Pearson, is designed to assess an individual’s ability to digest and understand situations and information.
It is a psychometric test often used by organisations where the ability to critically consider arguments or propositions is particularly important, such as law firms.
Most people complete the Watson Glaser test within 50 minutes (approximately 10 minutes per sub-test). Tests administrators normally allow candidates one hour to complete the test.
The Watson-Glaser test has been co-normed on a sample of over 1,500 respondents representative of graduate-level candidates. You will be judged against this respondent group when you sit the test.
You can practise realistic Watson Glaser Tests on TestHQ.
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What Is Critical Thinking?
Critical thinking is the ability to logically and rationally consider information.
Rather than accepting arguments and conclusions presented, a person with strong critical thinking will question and seek to understand the evidence provided.
They will look for logical connections between ideas, consider alternative interpretations of information and evaluate the strength of arguments presented.
Everyone inherently experiences some degree of subconscious bias in their thinking. Critical thinking skills can help an individual overcome these and separate out facts from opinions.
The Watson Glaser critical thinking appraisal is based around the RED model of critical thinking:
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Recognise assumptions. This is all about comprehension. Actually understanding what is being stated and considering whether the information presented is true, and whether any evidence has been provided to back it up. Correctly identifying when assumptions have been made is an essential part of this, and being able to critically consider the validity of these assumptions – ideally from a number of different perspectives – can help identify missing information or logical inconsistencies.
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Evaluate arguments. This skill is about the systematic analysis of the evidence and arguments provided. Being able to remain objective, while logically working through arguments and information. Critical evaluation of arguments requires an individual to suspend their judgement, which can be challenging when an argument has an emotional impact. It is all too easy to unconsciously seek information which confirms a preferred perspective, rather than critically analyse all of the information.
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Draw conclusions. This is the ability to pull together a range of information and arrive at a logical conclusion based on the evidence. An individual with strong critical thinking skills will be able to adjust their conclusion should further evidence emerge which leads to a different conclusion.
Why Is Critical Thinking Important to Potential Employers?
Critical reasoning tests are a common feature of the job application process in many different industries.
Critical thinking is important to employers because individuals who engage in quality thinking make better decisions. They arrive at conclusions which are impartial, well informed and objective.
Furthermore, such people are able to make decisions with limited supervision, enabling them to independently make judgements: in a world where time can be money, waiting for someone else to validate decisions can be costly and result in missed opportunities.
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What Is Involved in the Watson Glaser Test?
The Watson Glaser test evaluates a candidate’s critical thinking ability in five separate areas:
- Inferences
- Recognition of Assumptions
- Deductions
- Interpretations
- Evaluation of arguments
Each of these skills is tested separately and there are therefore five different types of questions in the Watson Glaser test. We will explore each of these below.
1. Inferences
An inference is a conclusion based on evidence and reasoning. It enables conclusions to be drawn that are not explicitly stated.
For example, if we see someone driving a Ferrari we may conclude that they are wealthy.
However, there are a number of alternative explanations: they may have rented or borrowed the car, or they may have acquired huge debt as a result of buying the car.
The problem with inferences is that people often reach a conclusion based on insufficient data, and the conclusion may not, therefore, be correct.
An inference question typically involves a statement (which you are to assume is true) and a number of inferences based on that statement. Your job is to evaluate whether the inference is correct.
You can do this using both the information contained within the passage and information which is commonly accepted knowledge or information that practically every person has.
You will be given five potential responses and you have to select which you feel is most accurate. These options are:
- Definitely True – from the facts given there is no reasonable possibility of it being incorrect.
- Probably True – in light of the facts given, it is more likely to be true than false.
- Insufficient Data – in light of the facts given it is impossible to say whether it is true or not.
- Probably False – in lights of the facts given, it is more likely to be false than true.
- Definitely False – from the facts given, there is no reasonable possibility of it being true.
| Statement: Studies have shown that people who live in England are more likely to own their own homes than people living in Scotland, although there is little difference in the rate of homeownership amongst people who have the same level of educational achievement. The average level of educational achievement is significantly higher in England than in Scotland. | ||
|---|---|---|
| Inference 1: | People with high educational achievements are in a better position to buy their own homes than people with low educational achievements. | |
| Inference 2: | There is a lower rate of homeownership in Scotland among people with relatively high educational achievements than among people in England with much lower educational achievements. | |
| Inference 3: | People with higher levels of educational achievement are more likely to own their own homes since they earn more money than those with lower educational achievement levels. | |
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2. Recognition of Assumptions
An assumption is something we take for granted. An example might be: “When I retire I will receive a final salary pension”. This assumes that you will get to retire, that you will be alive at retirement age, that your pension fund performs well, and that your pension arrangements will not change.
People make many assumptions which may not necessarily be correct; being able to identify these is a key aspect of critical thinking.
An assumption question typically involves a statement and a number of assumptions. Your job is to identify whether an assumption has been made or not, and you will have a choice of two answers: yes or no.
| Statement: We need to save money so we’d better take a holiday in the UK. | ||
|---|---|---|
| Assumption 1: | Holidays in the UK are cheaper than holidays elsewhere. | |
| Assumption 2: | Transport costs make international holidays more expensive than those in the UK. | |
| Assumption 3: | It is possible to take a holiday within the UK. | |
3. Deductions
A deduction is the drawing of a conclusion in a particular instance, by referring to a general law or premise. However, there may be occasions when such deduction is incorrect.
For example, in the statement: "Satsumas, oranges and clementines are all citrus fruits. They are all orange; therefore all citrus fruits are orange." Clearly this is incorrect.
The deduction section will include a statement (which you must assume is true), followed by a number of potential conclusions.
Your job is to identify whether the conclusion logically follows from the given statement and you will have two options: yes or no.
| Statement: It sometimes snows in January. Schools are always closed when it snows. Therefore: | ||
|---|---|---|
| Deduction 1: | Schools are never closed on days when it is not snowing. | |
| Deduction 2: | Schools are sometimes closed in January. | |
| Deduction 3: | Sometimes schools are open in January | |
4. Interpretation
An interpretation is an evaluation of whether a conclusion can logically follow from the information or evidence provided. This requires an individual to understand the precise meaning or significance of a piece of information and applying this information appropriately.
For example, if you are told in a study that the wavelength of light visible to the human eye range from 380–750 nm, you can conclude that no humans can see light at 30 nm.
| Statement: A study of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions within the EU from 1990 to 2010 shows that the volume of CO2 emissions fell consistently, from 24bn tonnes per year in 1990 to 16bn tonnes per year in 2010. | ||
|---|---|---|
| Interpretation 1: | The reductions in CO2 emissions demonstrate that energy efficiency initiatives have been successful. | |
| Interpretation 2: | The amount of CO2 emitted within the EU in 1992 was less that 24bn tonnes. | |
| Interpretation 3: | CO2 emissions in 2011 were lower than in 1990. | |
5. Evaluation of Arguments
This set of questions examines your ability to evaluate the strength of an argument.
You might be faced with strong arguments or weak arguments, and to be strong an argument must be important and directly related to the question.
In these questions, you will be presented by a statement followed by a number of arguments (which you should assume are true) and you must then decide whether each argument is strong or weak.
| Statement: Should the voting age in the UK be lowered to 16? | ||
|---|---|---|
| Argument 1: | Yes; voting provides an opportunity for young people to feel like adults. | |
| Argument 2: | Yes; young people will be affected in the future by decisions made today. | |
| Argument 3: | No; 16-year-olds are unduly influenced by celebrities. | |
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How to Prepare for a Watson Glaser Test in 2024
Step 1. Practice Critical Thinking
Critical thinking ability can be significantly improved by practice. It is a skill that can be learned, although it does come more easily to some people than others.
Look for opportunities to think critically about information every day. Once you start practising, you’ll find useful material everywhere: blog posts, newspapers, and journal articles are great places to look.
It can be useful to organise your thinking and practice around the RED model mentioned earlier in the article:
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Recognise assumptions. Practise identifying the assumption made in the material. What can be objectively proven and what is inferred? Where might there be gaps in your logic? What information is important and relevant, and what isn’t? What is missing? Is there any information that needs to be included which isn’t?
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Evaluate arguments. Practice carefully analysing the arguments presented. What is your perspective on the evidence? Could someone else have a different perspective? Consider the impacts of the arguments from a range of different viewpoints (it can be useful to use a model like PESTLE – political, economic, socio-demographic, technological, legal and environmental – to organise your thoughts). How would someone argue against your position? What merits are there to their arguments?
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Draw conclusions. After you have considered all of the facts, what is the best possible conclusion? Could there be any other conclusions? What new information might change your conclusion? Does this conclusion seem sensible based on your common sense and experience? What are the implications of this conclusion?
Step 2. Develop Self-Awareness
It is also useful to develop your self-awareness. Understanding your biases and thinking patterns can help you identify where your thinking might be limited.
In most of these critical thinking questions, you will need to analyse the text given to you without including any prior knowledge you have.
Step 3. Take Practice Tests
Finally, take some practice questions.
It can be really helpful to work through some examples with explanations as you will really start to understand how they work and how to think through the questions and arrive at the correct answer.
Tips to Pass the Watson Glaser Test
Here are a few tips to help you prepare for and pass the Watson Glaser test:
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Familiarize Yourself with the Test: Gain an understanding of the test format, question types and time constraints. Obtain practice materials, such as sample questions or practice tests, to become familiar with the style of questions and improve your performance.
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Develop Critical Thinking Skills: Enhance your critical thinking abilities by practicing logical reasoning, analyzing complex information, evaluating arguments and drawing sound conclusions. Read articles, engage in debates and solve puzzles to sharpen your critical thinking skills.
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Time Management: The Watson Glaser test is typically timed, so practice working under time constraints. Learn to allocate your time efficiently across the different sections and questions.
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Read Instructions Carefully: Pay close attention to the instructions provided for each question. Understand what is being asked, and ensure you are addressing the specific requirements of the question.
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Practice with Realistic Scenarios: The Watson Glaser test often presents scenarios that simulate real-life situations. Practice analyzing and evaluating arguments and making informed judgments based on the information provided.
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Review Logical Fallacies: Familiarize yourself with common logical fallacies, such as false assumptions, weak correlations, and flawed arguments. Being aware of these fallacies can help you identify weaknesses in the arguments presented.
Remember that preparation is key to performing well on the Watson Glaser test.
By practicing, honing your critical thinking skills, and familiarizing yourself with the test format, you can increase your chances of success.
There is no set pass or fail mark for the Watson Glaser test.
Each employer will have a different benchmark but it is sensible to aim for a score of at least 75%. To achieve this, you will need to correctly answer at least 30 of the 40 test questions.
The recruiting organization will use Watson Glaser test results to compare candidates within the selection pool. The higher your Watson Glaser test score, the better your employment prospects.
Watson Glaser tests comprise 40 multiple-choice questions. Many questions have just two possible answers.
A test-takers score is used to work out their relative position within a norm group. Candidates with the highest relative Watson Glaser test score will progress to the next stage of the hiring process.
Watson Glaser test results are split into a development report and a profile report. Both reports are passed directly to the recruiting organization.
- The development report highlights strengths and areas for development.
- The profile report provides a percentile score, including the raw number of correct answers.
The Watson Glaser score system accounts for the difficulty level of each question, meaning candidates can earn more points for correctly answering a difficult question. The percentile score also considers the education level, occupation and position of the candidate’s norm group.
Watson Glaser test candidates are not required to pay a fee to take the test. The recruiting organization will need to pay a fee to use the Watson Glaser test within the hiring process.
Watson Glaser tests are a popular recruitment tool for law firms in particular, including Allen & Overy, Clifford Chance, Dentons and Linklaters.
The Watson Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal is typically scored on a scale from 0 to 100, with a higher score indicating a better performance.
However, what constitutes a 'good' score can vary depending on the context and the specific requirements of the employer or organization using the test.
Generally, a score above 70 is considered a strong performance, demonstrating strong critical thinking skills and the ability to analyze and evaluate complex information effectively.
The Watson Glaser test is widely used by employers across various industries to assess critical thinking skills and decision-making abilities of job candidates.
It is commonly utilized in the fields of law, finance, consulting, business, and other roles that require strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
Many law firms, financial institutions, consulting firms and large corporations incorporate the Watson Glaser test into their selection processes.
The Watson Glaser test has different versions and forms available, depending on the specific needs of employers.
These variations may include different question formats, content areas, or levels of difficulty. Some commonly used versions include the Watson Glaser Form A, Form B and Form S.
The different forms may contain different question types, such as arguments, deductions, interpretations and evaluations, but they generally assess similar critical thinking skills.
