Understanding the Watson Glaser test

There is no doubt that training contract applications can be daunting. Around 30,000 students apply each year, and the process is extensive.

Many firms now require candidates to sit the Watson Glaser test as part of their assessment. Although pass marks vary, you should aim for at least 75 per cent to progress to the next stage. This piece explains how the test is structured and offers practical tips to help you succeed.

What is the Watson Glaser test?

The Watson Glaser test is an aptitude assessment used by law firms to measure critical thinking. Depending on the firm, it will usually consist of either 40 questions in 30 minutes or 80 questions in 60 minutes. Employers use it to evaluate how well you analyse information, assess arguments and draw logical conclusions. The test is divided into five sections: inferences, assumptions, deductions, interpretations and evaluation.

Inferences

An inference is a conclusion drawn from information and reasoning. In this section, you are given a short scenario and asked to treat the information as true. You then receive a statement and must decide whether it is true, probably true, false, probably false or whether further information is required.

You must consider both the facts in the passage and commonly accepted knowledge, but you cannot invent new facts. In simple terms:

• True: the statement cannot be wrong on the facts given.
• Probably true: more likely to be true than false, but not certain.
• Further information required: the scenario does not contain enough relevant facts to decide.
• Probably false: more likely to be false than true, but not certain.
• False: clearly contradicts the scenario.

Assumptions

An assumption is something accepted as true without proof. You are given a scenario followed by a statement and must decide whether the assumption has been made.

If a scenario explains that a family is travelling by plane because they need to arrive quickly, and the statement says that travelling by plane is more expensive than travelling by car, the answer is “Assumption Not Made” because cost is never mentioned. If the statement says that travelling by plane is quicker, the answer is “Assumption Made” because the scenario links plane travel with speed.

• Assumption made: the statement follows directly from the scenario.
• Assumption not made: the scenario does not support the statement, even if you know it to be true in real life.

Deductions

In this section, you are given a scenario and a statement and must decide whether the conclusion follows. If you cannot logically reach the statement from the scenario, the conclusion does not follow.

If the scenario states that May 2022 is the hottest month on record and the statement claims that June 2020 was hotter than May, the conclusion does not follow because it contradicts the given facts. You must treat all information in the scenario as correct, even if it conflicts with your general knowledge. Your task is to work only with the facts provided.

Interpretations

Here, you must decide whether a conclusion follows from the information beyond reasonable doubt. You are given a paragraph and then a statement. Your role is to interpret the information and decide whether the conclusion genuinely arises from it.

A useful approach is to read the passage as if you wrote it, then read the statement and ask whether you intended that conclusion. If the conclusion goes beyond what the passage supports, it does not follow.

Evaluation

This section tests your ability to judge the strength of arguments. Each question presents a statement followed by a possible argument. You must decide whether the argument is strong or weak, assuming that the facts in the question are correct.

A strong argument is directly relevant to the question and shows clear benefits or disadvantages with explanation. A weak argument merely restates the question, is only loosely connected to it or fails to address the key point. For example, if the question asks whether flexible working increases productivity and the answer only says that flexible working makes employees value their company, this is a weak argument unless it clearly links that point back to productivity.

Tips for practising

The Watson Glaser test can feel overwhelming, but breaking it down into its five sections makes it more manageable. Keep a pen and paper nearby to note key facts and structure your thinking. Before sitting the real test, complete several practice versions. Many providers offer detailed feedback reports highlighting your strengths and weaknesses. Use these to focus your preparation on the areas where you struggle most.

The more practice tests you complete, the more familiar you will become with the format and the types of questions asked. Remember that critical reasoning tests are not about what you think but how you think. Avoid relying on general knowledge and base your answers strictly on the information provided.