Watson Glaser Practice Test

A factual passage is followed by proposed inferences. You rate each on a five-point scale: True, Probably True, Insufficient Data, Probably False, or False. The trap is using general knowledge instead of judging strictly from the passage, and over-committing when the evidence is thin.

A statement is followed by a proposed assumption. You decide whether the statement actually takes that assumption for granted. An assumption is only "made" if the statement could not hold without it; a related or plausible idea is not necessarily assumed.

Premises are given, which you treat as true. You judge whether a conclusion follows by strict formal logic alone. Whether the conclusion sounds true in the real world is irrelevant; only what the premises force to be true counts.

A passage of evidence is followed by a proposed conclusion. Unlike Deduction, you judge whether the conclusion follows beyond a reasonable doubt from the evidence, a weaker standard than formal logic but stricter than mere plausibility. Over-generalising from limited data is the common error.

A question is posed and an argument for or against it is given. You judge whether the argument is strong (directly relevant and important) or weak (trivial, tangential, or based on an unfounded assumption). A strong argument must be relevant regardless of whether you agree with its conclusion.

Which employers use the Watson Glaser test?

It is used almost exclusively by law firms (Clifford Chance, Linklaters, Hogan Lovells and many others), management consultancies, and senior finance roles. It is the standard critical thinking screen for training contracts and vacation schemes.

What is the difference between Deduction and Interpretation?

Deduction uses strict formal logic: a conclusion follows only if the premises force it to be true. Interpretation is evidence-based: a conclusion follows if it is supported beyond a reasonable doubt, even if it is not logically guaranteed. This distinction trips up most candidates.

What does "Cannot Say" or "Insufficient Data" mean?

In the Inference section, Insufficient Data means the passage does not provide enough information to judge the inference either true or false. Choosing it correctly requires resisting the urge to fill gaps with your own knowledge.

Is there a pass mark for the Watson Glaser?

Employers set their own cut-off, and law firms typically set a high one, often around the 60th to 80th percentile. Your score is compared against a norm group, so relative performance matters more than raw score.

How can I improve my Watson Glaser score?

Practise each section until its specific rule becomes automatic: judge inferences only from the passage, treat assumptions as strictly necessary conditions, keep deduction purely logical, hold interpretation to a beyond-reasonable-doubt standard, and judge arguments on relevance and importance.