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.
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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.
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.
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.
Wrong
Correct!
Wrong
Wrong
Wrong
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.
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.
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.
Wrong
Wrong
Wrong
Wrong
Correct!
Answer
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.
Today, a majority of the employees in the US are virtual employees.
Wrong
Wrong
Wrong
Correct!
Wrong
Answer
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.
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.
Wrong
Wrong
Correct!
Wrong
Wrong
Answer
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.
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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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.
Wrong
Correct!
Correct Answer
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.
"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.
Correct!
Wrong
Answer
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.
"In the event of a warmer planet due to global warming, we will need to develop a drought-resistant grass species."
Proposed Assumption:
World climate is changing.
Wrong
Correct!
Answer
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.
"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."
Proposed Assumption:
By getting a satellite-based modem, I decrease the chances of experiencing website blocking.
Correct!
Wrong
Answer
The correct answer is ‘Assumption Made’.
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.
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.
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.
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."
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.
Wrong
Correct!
Correct Answer
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.
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.
Correct!
Wrong
Answer
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:
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.
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.
Proposed Conclusion:
A place where none of the inhabitants has two cars or more has no millionaires.
Wrong
Correct!
Answer
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 (BErgfort + ~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.
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).
Proposed Conclusion:
Some employees drink 15 cups of coffee a week.
Wrong
Correct!
Answer
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."
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.
Correct!
Wrong
Correct Answer
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.
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.
Proposed Conclusion:
My baby’s difficulty is mostly physiological—her grandparents give her chocolates to eat, and the sugar makes her hyperactive.
Wrong
Correct!
Answer
The correct answer is: ‘Conclusion Does Not Follow’.
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.
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.
Proposed Conclusion:
A single lime in Australia cost $0.50 ten years ago.
Wrong
Correct!
Answer
The correct answer is: ‘Conclusion Does Not Follow’.
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.
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.
Proposed Conclusion:
Humankind, as a whole, has not advanced much in the ability to maintain optimal body weight.
Wrong
Correct!
Answer
The correct answer is: ‘Conclusion Does Not Follow’.
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.
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.
Wrong
Correct!
Correct Answer
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:
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.
Correct!
Wrong
Answer
The correct answer is: ‘Strong Argument’.
This argument is both relevant to the topic and important.
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.
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.
Correct!
Wrong
Answer
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.
Should the government use software solutions designed to track online behaviors on social networks in order to prevent threats to national security?
Proposed Argument:
Yes—national security is of high enough importance to justify the violation of civil liberties and freedom of thought.
Correct!
Wrong
Answer
The correct answer is: ‘Strong Argument’
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.
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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