Critical Thinking Test Practice
Short statements and a judgement on each: does the inference hold, is the assumption made, is the argument strong. Logic, not opinion.
Critical Thinking Practice Tests
Inference
Read a factual passage and judge whether each inference is True, Probably True, Insufficient Data, Probably False, or False. Mirrors Section 1 of the Watson Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal.
Recognition of Assumptions
Decide whether a proposed assumption is actually made in a statement. Judge only whether the statement depends on the assumption being true. Mirrors Section 2 of the Watson Glaser appraisal.
Deduction
Given premises assumed true, decide whether a conclusion Follows or Does Not Follow using strict formal logic - regardless of real-world plausibility. Mirrors Section 3 of the Watson Glaser appraisal.
Interpretation
Read a passage and judge whether a conclusion reasonably Follows beyond a reasonable doubt from the evidence given. Weighs evidence rather than strict logic. Mirrors Section 4 of the Watson Glaser appraisal.
Evaluation of Arguments
Judge whether each argument for or against a proposal is Strong (relevant and important) or Weak (trivial, tangential, or not directly related). Mirrors Section 5 of the Watson Glaser appraisal.
Concepts Critical Thinking
The high-stakes test in the range, and four item types in one sitting: constraint deduction, conclusion evaluation, argument strength on a six-point scale, and inference. Each block carries its own clock.
TestGorilla Critical Thinking
Syllogisms, statement relationships, assumptions and strengthen or weaken items, each opened by the long definitions TestGorilla puts on every question. 12 questions in 12 minutes (TestGorilla does not publish the count, so 12 is ours). The only cognitive test TestGorilla rates Advanced.
What Critical Thinking Measures
Recognising assumptions
Spotting what a statement takes for granted without saying so. TalentLens groups the Watson Glaser into three skills, recognise assumptions, evaluate arguments and draw conclusions, and this is the first.
Evaluating arguments
Telling a strong argument, one that is relevant and important to the question, from a weak one that is trivial or beside the point, however much you agree with it.
Drawing conclusions
Deciding what follows from the evidence and what goes beyond it. The inference, deduction and interpretation sections all sit here.
Question Formats
Inference
A factual passage and possible inferences to rate as true, probably true, insufficient data, probably false or false. Section 1 of the Watson Glaser.
Recognition of assumptions
Is a proposed assumption actually made in the statement? Judge only whether the statement depends on it being true.
Deduction
Premises taken as true and a conclusion that follows or does not, judged by strict logic whatever the real world says.
Interpretation
Does a conclusion follow beyond reasonable doubt from the evidence given? This weighs evidence rather than applying strict logic.
Evaluation of arguments
An argument for or against a proposal, rated strong or weak on whether it is relevant and important.
Mixed critical thinking sets
Test Partnership Concepts mixes constraint deduction, conclusion evaluation, argument strength on a six-point scale and inference. TestGorilla adds strengthen and weaken items, and EEI Analytic Thinking Skills mixes argument, problem-solving and true, false or indeterminable statements.
How to Prepare
Learn each section’s standard
The Watson Glaser sections each judge by their own standard: deduction is strict logic, interpretation is beyond reasonable doubt, and inference allows probably true. Applying one section’s standard to another is an easy way to lose marks.
Leave your own views out
Arguments are rated on relevance and importance, not on whether you agree. A strong argument for a position you dislike is still strong.
Read the instructions every time
TestGorilla opens each question with long definitions, and the Watson Glaser changes its rules at each section. They decide what counts as right, so read them rather than skim.
Practise at the real pace
TalentLens describes the Watson Glaser as 40 items in 30 to 40 minutes, timed. Clifford Chance sets it at its online assessment stage as 40 questions in 30 minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a critical thinking test?
A test of how well you evaluate information: whether inferences hold, what a statement assumes, which conclusions follow and which arguments are strong. The best known is the Watson Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal from TalentLens.
How long is the Watson Glaser test?
TalentLens describes it as 40 items in 30 to 40 minutes, timed, across five subtests. Clifford Chance, for example, sets 40 questions in 30 minutes. Check your own invitation, because the employer chooses the version.
Is critical thinking the same as verbal reasoning?
No. Verbal reasoning asks whether a statement is true according to a passage. Critical thinking asks you to judge the reasoning itself: what is assumed, whether a conclusion is justified and how strong an argument is.
Who uses critical thinking tests?
Law firms are the best known users of the Watson Glaser, and Clifford Chance publishes its use. Outside law, EEI sets Analytic Thinking Skills for system operator roles in the power industry.
Provider guides
Ready to start practising?
Real time limits, full scoring and percentile feedback on every test.