Watson-Glaser Practice Test

Watson-Glaser Test

Have you been asked to sit for the Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal. The Watson-Glaser Test is widely considered one of the hardest employment tests out there. The Watson-Glaser is most commonly used in the law training contract recruitment process and. This test is used by top firms as an early tool to weed out only the top candidates. We are here to walk you through exactly what to expect on the exam, give you Watson-Glaser practice test questions and answers, and study guide PDFs. Let's take a deeper look on what to expect on the exam.


What Is the Watson-Glaser Test?

The Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal (WCGTA), commonly referred to as the Watson-Glaser, is a recruitment tool used to evaluate a potential candidate's critical thinking skills. Critical thinking is an integral skill for most companies. The test is used to evaluate a candidate's ability to find assumptions, break down arguments, and come to conclusions. The Watson-Glaser is used in the selection process for most legal professional and managerial roles. The test is broken down into five sub-sections: inferences, recognition of assumptions, deductions, interpretations, and evaluation of arguments. Each section assesses a different area within critical thinking and has a different question format. The Watson-Glaser Assessment, is computer-based, and usually consists of 40 questions to be completed within 30 minutes. Depending on the company, some exams may have 80 questions to be completed within an hour. Let's take a deeper look at each of the sections.

Inference

In this section you will be asked to draw conclusions based on a series of facts. You will be provided with a statement and a series of inferences based on that statement. You must decide if the inference is true, probably true, insufficient data, false, or probably false. It is important that you take into account all decisions should be based solely on the information provided to you. 

Recognition of Assumption

In this section you are given a statement, and you must determine if an assumption was made within that statement. In this case, an assumption is defined as a declaration that is taken for granted. You are provided two choices when answering: an assumption was made, or an assumption was not made. The point of these questions is to test your ability to avoid assumptions about statements which are not necessarily true.

Deduction

In this section, you are given a set of facts followed by a set of conclusions. You will be required to evaluate whether the conclusion can be logically deduced from the set of given facts. You are given two choices when answering: the conclusion logically follows, or the conclusion does not logically follow.

Interpretation

In this section you will need to read a short passage with information which is assumed to be correct. After the passage, you will be given an interpretation. You must decide if that interpretation logically follows without a shadow of a doubt. You will be provided two answer choices: the conclusion follows, or the conclusion doesn't follow.

Evaluation of Arguments

In this section, you are given an argument. You are then asked to identify whether the argument is strong or weak. An argument is strong if it is connected to the information provided and universally considered significant. An argument is weak if strong connections to the information present cannot be made.

Take a Watson-Glaser Practice Test.


Which Companies Use the Watson-Glaser Test?

The test is used by a wide variety of law firms and for some managerial positions. We have included an example of top firms who use the test and more information about them. Learn more about their competitive hiring process.

Clifford ChanceClifford Chance is a member of the "Magic Circle." They are ranked in the top 10 multinational law firms.
LinklatersLinklaters is also a member of the "Magic Circle." It is one of England's top three firms and employs over 3,000 people across 20 different countries.
DentonsDentons has 190 offices across seven countries and is considered a top revenue producer.
Hogan LovellsHogan Lovells is an American-British international firm, the 11th largest in the world.
ARCO/MurrayARCO/Murray is a multinational construction and real estate firm. If you're applying for an in-house counsel, project manager, or development manager expect to take the Watson Glaser.
Larsen & ToubroLarsen & Toubro also known as L & T is an engineering, construction, manufacturing, and financial services firm.
UnumUnum is a top insurance company which provides comprehensive financial service products. They have offices across the US and the UK.
Bird & BirdBird & Bird is an international law firm with offices across Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific, and North America.
Raising CaneRaising Cane is a fast food chain focusing on chicken fingers. They have almost 400 locations across the US. If you are applying for an area manager position. Expect to take the Watson Glaser.
Hill DickinsonHill Dickinson is an international law firm with offices in the UK, Europe, and Asia.
Burges SalmonBurges Salmon is a UK based law firm.
HiscoxHiscox is an international insurance company. They use a combination of the Watson-Glaser Test and SHL tests
Kennedys Law LLPKennedys is a global law firm with over 50 offices world wide.

What Is a Good Score on the Watson-Glaser Test?

There is no cut and dry answer to this question. Different firms require different scores from their candidates. A safe bet is to aim for a 75-80% or higher. It is not enough to simply pass the test, because law firms use the scores to compare between candidates. So the higher you score the more desirable you become as a candidate.


FREE Watson-Glaser Practice Test Questions and Answers

Inference Sample Questions and Answer

Inference Statement

The Tariff Act of 1883 announced a 10 percent duty on all vegetables coming into the country, but fruit was allowed to enter duty-free. The New York Customs Collector saw this as an opportunity to make more money and declared the tomato to be a vegetable. Angry importers decided to sue. In the court case Nix v. Hedden, Justice Horace Gray ruled: "Although botanists consider the tomato a fruit, tomatoes are eaten as a principal part of a meal, like squash or peas, so it is the court's decision that the tomato is a vegetable as a matter of law."

Proposed Inference 1

The law that levied import taxes on vegetables but not on fruit was a reasonable and just law.

  1. True
  2. Probably True
  3. Insufficient Data
  4. Probably False
  5. False 
Answer + Explanation

C: Insufficient Data

This law is usually presented in the first sentence of the paragraph. From that point onwards the passage focuses on the case of the tomato. Since there are no references to the law itself, we cannot state that law was reasonable or just.

Proposed Inference 2

Before 1883, the tomato was considered, for all intents and purposes, a fruit.

  1. True
  2. Probably True
  3. Insufficient Data
  4. Probably False
  5. False 
Answer + Explanation

D: Probably False

The key to answering the question is in the inclusion of the words "for all intents and purposes". That is, although the passage deals mostly with the debate of whether a tomato is to be considered a fruit or a vegetable, the passage does not directly give an answer to the question of; what was the definition of the tomato before to 1883? We know for a fact two things (as it is explicitly mentioned in the text): First, before 1883, tomatoes were considered a fruit according to the botanical definition, and that after 1883 according to the legal definition it was considered a vegetable. This does not necessarily mean the tomato was known as a fruit in all possible aspects. Why did they choose the tomato of all fruits? Notice that according to the passage, "Nix v. Hedden Justice Horace Gray ruled: 'Although botanists consider the tomato a fruit, tomatoes are eaten as a principal part of a meal, like squash or peas…" This tells us that the tomato has been a confusing food, it is thought of as a vegetable despite its botanical definition. Therefore, it is extremely likely that for some intents and purposes—including eating—the tomato was not thought of as a fruit. Therefore, the answer is 'Probably False'.

Proposed Inference 3

The New York Customs Collector had no basis for declaring the tomato a vegetable other than a desire for more income.

  1. True
  2. Probably True
  3. Insufficient Data
  4. Probably False
  5. False 
Answer + Explanation

D: Probably False

The tomato is, in fact, commonly considered and used as a vegetable, not a fruit. A tomato is considered a fruit only from a botanical point of view. It is very likely that the Customs Collector chose the tomato based on this notion.

Recognising Assumptions Sample Question and Answer

Text

Complaints were brought against the town's only French teacher for using her monopoly to charge more than her late predecessor. But, she doesn't charge more money for a lesson than her predecessor did. You must factor in that she lives out of town and her traveling costs provide a higher expense than those of the previous teacher who lived in town. 

Proposed Assumption 1

The student should absorb the full cost of the teacher's travelling expenses.

  1. Assumption made
  2. Assumption is not made
Answer + Explanation

B: Assumption is not made

We first need to identify the conclusion of this paragraph: The new French teacher is not using her advantage of the monopoly to earn more money. Let's take a look at the premises leading us to this conclusion: First, the new French teacher charges more than her predecessor. Second, the French teacher has transportation expenses that are equal to/more than her fee increase (compared to her predecessor). Therefore, is the proposed assumption NOT necessary for the argument to be valid. Perhaps the student must absorb the cost, perhaps the municipality, perhaps the teacher herself. Therefore, the proposed assumption is a potential one, but not a necessary one.

Proposed Assumption 2

When a new worker takes over a service rendered, they will charge a rate that will almost always be higher than the previous worker who started providing the service many years before.

  1. Assumption made
  2. Assumption is not made
Answer + Explanation

B: Assumption is not made

This is a generalisation of what happened in the town and is not necessarily true - and therefore not necessarily assumed by the author.

Deduction Sample Question and Answer

Statement

In a specific company the candidates for any managerial roles are required to be experienced and/ or assertive. There are 25 candidates applying for the role of department manager, of which 15 are experienced and assertive.

Proposed Conclusion 1

There are between one to ten candidates who are assertive who applied for the role of department manager who are inexperienced.

  1. Conclusion follows
  2. Conclusion does not follow
Answer + Explanation

B: Conclusion does not follow

We are going to use the following abbreviation in the explanations: C = candidate; A = Assertive; E = Experienced.

There are two premises:

  1. In a specific company the candidates for managerial roles are required to be experienced and/ or assertive. We can translate this as C → (E and/or A);
  2. There are 25 candidates for the role of department manager, of which 15 are experienced and assertive. We can translate this as (25 C)*; (15C+E+A)*;

The proposed conclusion is:

There are between one to ten candidates who are assertive who applied for the role of department manager who are inexperienced. We can translate this as (1-10A+~E)*.
Premise number two, considered an existence premise, does not mention anything about the remaining ten candidates. Each of them can be assertive but not experienced or experienced and not assertive (they can't be both experienced and assertive). The possibility of zero candidates being inexperienced and assertive is logically valid but not directly included in the statement. Thus, the conclusion does not follow.

Proposed Conclusion 2

All of the 25 potential candidates for the department manager role may be experienced.

  1. Conclusion follows
  2. Conclusion does not follows
Answer + Explanation

A: Conclusion follows

We are going to use the following abbreviation in the explanations: C = candidate; A = Assertive; E = Experienced.

There are two premises:

  1. In a specific company the candidates for managerial roles are required to be experienced and/ or assertive. We can translate this as C → (E and/or A);
  2. There are 25 candidates for the role of department manager, of which 15 are experienced and assertive. We can translate this as (25 C)*; (15C+E+A)*;

The proposed conclusion is: All of the 25 potential candidates for the department manager role may be experienced. We can translate this as: possible (25E)*.

The premise states that 15 candidates are experienced. Nothing is said about the other 10, so any one of them can be experienced. The second premise allows the possibility of the potential candidates to possess both qualities.

Interpretation Sample Question and Answer

Statement 1

Treating a stroke is a race against time. Blood clots which block the blood supply prevent the flow of oxygen and sugar to brain cells. Which causes the brain cells to then rapidly die. Recent studies show that some brain cells could withstand being starved of oxygen. The goal of today's researchers is to develop a drug that can imitate that phenomena.

Statement 2

No one has ever proven that babies, who are slow to gain weight in the first months of their lives, don't usually catch up to their peers by the age of 13.

Proposed Conclusion 1

If people, who have suffered a stroke, are not treated quickly, they will not survive.

  1. Conclusion follows
  2. Conclusion does not follows
Answer + Explanation

B: Conclusion does not follow

Although the passage states that “treating a stroke is a race against time", it relates to the death of brain cells not necessarily the death of a person. For instance, brain-cell death can result in partial damage, such as paralysis or deterioration in motor abilities. However likely as it may be for brain cell death to be connected to actual death, there is no information in the passage that supports this.

Proposed Conclusion 2

There was no baby, who was slow to gain weight in the first months of its life, that did not catch up with their 13-year-old peers.

  1. Conclusion follows 
  2. Conclusion does not follow
Answer + Explanation

B: Conclusion does not follow

There is no evidence to say that all the babies (without exception) caught up with their 13-year-old peers. The passage only states that nobody has ever proven otherwise.

Evaluation of Arguments Sample Questions and Answer

Statement

Should employers look at the Facebook and Twitter profiles of potential candidates to learn more about them as part of the hiring process?

Proposed Argument

No; the potential employee will find out about it, causing their trust in their potential employer to be compromised and he will no longer be an asset to the company.

  1. Strong argument 
  2. Weak argument
Answer + Explanation

A: Strong Argument

This is an important and relevant argument. The employer's objective in using Facebook and Twitter information is to reduce the chances of employing an unsuitable candidate who will probably cause more damage than good. But, if by doing so, the employer in essence recruits ungrateful, non-productive employees,then they really should not be using these mediums to begin with. Note that it may seem implausible that all employees might find out about their employer looking at their Facebook or Twitter. But, we need to remember that each argument given in this section is deemed TRUE (even if we may believe otherwise) and we need to judge the argument accordingly.

Proposed Argument

No; the potential employee will find out about it, causing their trust in their potential employer to be compromised and he will no longer be an asset to the company.

  1. Strong argument 
  2. Weak argument
Answer + Explanation

B: Weak Argument

Although some of us may feel strongly about our bosses invading our personal life and intuitively feel this is a strong argument, we must examine this argument objectively. When favouring a certain argument it is advisable to try and actively seek strong evidence against it. A potential employer may be stepping out of their boundaries if they look at a potential employee's Facebook or Twitter yet his objective is gaining more insight for deciding whether a certain candidate is actually suitable for the job. Thus, the ethical aspect of this argument is considered trivial because it doesn't directly affect the employer's objective (employing good suitable employees). The ethical point could have been important if it would have directly influenced the employer's objective. For example, if seeking information on the Facebook pages of candidates wasn't legal and the employer was endangering themselves with a potential lawsuit or if it could somehow influence the future work relationship and lead to impairments in the working place.

Take a FREE Watson Glaser Practice Test.


Watson-Glaser Test Tips

  • When you take the Watson-Glaser test you will get example questions at the beginning of each section, before the scored questions begin. Use this time to reset and focus on the specific type of logic question being asked in that section.
  • Even though the Watson-Glaser is a timed test, unlike other tests, the time constraints are not meant to be an obstacle. Most applicants finish the test within the time limit.
  • The logical reasoning and critical thinking asked on the test differ from EVERYDAY reasoning. When answering a question, you should rely solely on the premise given to you, even if you think some conclusions may or may not be true according to your general knowledge. DON'T let your prejudices influence your judgement.
  • You MUST come prepared for the test. Take a look at a free practice Watson-Glaser Test in advance so you get a taste of the style and format of the questions. Practising in advance has proven to be beneficial on this exam.

Why Should You Prepare for the Watson-Glaser?

The Watson-Glaser is considered one of the most challenging cognitive tests. The test is primarily used in the law industry, which is one of the most cut throat industries. They use the Watson-Glaser as an easy way to compare desirable candidates. Even a few points can be what tips the scale in your favor when it comes time to landing the position. We teamed up with JobTestPrep to give you the most accurate Watson-Glaser Practice Test and PDF guide.

Have a Question? Now You Can Ask TSA Test Prep!