What Should You Expect from the Watson Glaser Test?
The Watson Glaser test is a commonly used assessment tool by employers in the legal and financial sector, such as The Bank of England, Deloitte, Hiscox, and Clifford Chance.
Developed by Goodwin Watson and Edwin Glaser, the Watson-Glaser test evaluates individuals' critical thinking ability and fundamental aptitudes essential for success in the legal field, namely:
- Understanding assumptions
- Critically evaluating arguments
- Reaching logical conclusions
- Presenting their findings in a logical and concise manner
The online test comprises 40 questions lasting up to 50 minutes. Each question offers multiple choice answers, and candidates can return to previous questions before submitting their answers as final.
The Watson-Glaser test is unique because it evaluates individuals' critical thinking in five distinct sections.
Section 1: Evaluation of Arguments
In this part of the Watson-Glaser test, candidates are evaluated on their ability to analyze and evaluate arguments based on the provided information.
Questions are presented in the form of a short passage of text.
Candidates must assess the logical coherence and consistency of the arguments presented and identify any flaws or weaknesses in the reasoning. Before drawing logical conclusions, they must also evaluate the relevance, sufficiency, and credibility of the evidence or information provided in support of the arguments.
Section 2: Deduction
The deductions section of the test comprises a series of statements or arguments followed by a set of deductions.
Candidates must evaluate the deductions based on those statements and use their inductiveor deductive reasoning skills to determine whether the conclusions follow the statement.
Section 3: Interpretation
This interpretation part of the test involves determining whether specific interpretations or conclusions can be supported by the information given in passages of text. They must read, understand and analyze the information, then consider the evidence presented and decide whether the interpretations given as multiple-choice answers are warranted.
Section 4: Evaluating Inference
The evaluating inferences section of the test aims to evaluate your ability to analyze and assess the logical validity of statements and draw reasonable conclusions based on the provided information.
Candidates are either given passages of text or standalone statements. They must read and analyze the statement or passage to determine whether a specific inference is supported, weakened, or not related to the given statements.
Section 5: Recognizing Assumptions
The recognizing assumptions section measures candidates' critical thinking skills, specifically an individual's ability to identify unstated assumptions in arguments or scenarios based on the information provided. Questions are presented as text passages. Individuals must identify the implicit or stated assumptions underlying the arguments presented in the passage. Then use this to answer the question presented.
10 tips on how to pass the Watson Glaser assessment
Before sitting the Watson Glaser test as part of any recruitment process, it is essential to prepare thoroughly.
In preparing, you can sharpen your critical thinking abilities, become familiar with the format and style of questioning in the test, and build your confidence. These factors help you use your inherent critical reasoning aptitude to perform on the test to the best of your ability.
Here are ten tips to consider when preparing to pass the Watson Glaser test.
#1 Before The Test, Be Aware of Your Test Environment
You must focus entirely on each section to do well in the Watson Glaser test.
Before sitting the test, think about your test environment. Make sure you have a strong wifi connection to avoid disruption.
Ensure you take the test at a time when you will be free from distractions. Turn off any pop-ups on your computer and switch your phone to silent mode.
#2 Understand what each section is assessing
The Watson-Glaser test is a unique test of critical thinking. As the test is split into five sections, each with a different focus, it is essential to understand what each section is assessing. Changing your approach and mindset between each section of the test ensures that you draw on the correct aspect of critical thinking when answering questions in each section.
For example, when completing the arguments section, you must evaluate the argument and identify any discrepancies to inform your answer.
The assumptions section requires you to identify stated or unstated assumptions when answering.
Given the rules change for each section, understanding what each section is assessing is vital to performing well on the test.
#3 Differentiate between assumptions and evidence
In the argument section of the test, arguments may make assumptions unsupported by the information provided. You'll need to recognize these unsupported assumptions and determine if they weaken the argument's validity.
To do this, it's important to differentiate between assumptions and evidence. Assumptions are unstated beliefs or ideas that underlie the argument, while evidence is the factual information or data provided to support the argument.
When sitting the test, you must focus on identifying the underlying assumptions rather than relying solely on the evidence.
#4 Hone your reasoning abilities
The recognizing assumptions section is designed to assess your ability to think critically, identify hidden assumptions, and evaluate the logical coherence of an argument.
Before taking the test, practicing analyzing arguments and identifying implicit assumptions is vital.
Reviewing areas of misconception that lead to typical patterns of flawed reasoning can also help hone your critical thinking abilities.
#5 Be proactive in developing your critical thinking skills
Familiarize yourself with the types of deductions commonly tested in the Watson-Glaser assessment, such as conditional reasoning, syllogisms, and logical inferences. Working through sample questions and practice tests can help you become more comfortable with the format and develop effective deduction strategies. Use puzzles to work on deductive reasoning skills.
Reading articles or text passages and practicing identifying themes or patterns within the information trains your mind to develop your inductive reasoning abilities.
Take part in debates and read articles to develop your overall critical reasoning skills.
#6 Familiarize yourself with the content of the questions
The Watson-Glaser test often includes passages from various fields, such as law, science, business, finance or philosophy.
To perform well, develop a habit of reading different source materials, including newspapers, magazines, academic articles, and opinion pieces.
When reading, take an active approach by paying attention to the main arguments, supporting evidence, and counterarguments presented in the texts.
Familiarizing yourself with the material that can be used in the test ensures that you are used to reading and analyzing detailed and diverse sources of information.
#7 Don't rely on intuition
The Watson Glaser test is a test of your critical thinking skills.
It is essential to analyze and draw inferences or assumptions only from the information given and not let personal opinions or intuition influence your responses.
Recognizing relevant or irrelevant information may also mean disregarding your beliefs or opinions. Basing your answers on only the information you are presented with.
#8 Have a strategy to manage your time
Time management is crucial in the Watson-Glaser test.
The Watson Glazer test allows candidates to move back and forwards between questions. Use this functionality to prioritize questions you find more straightforward and return to more challenging ones later.
Allocate a specific amount of time to each question and avoid spending too much time on a single question, as it may compromise your progress on the rest of the test.
Ensure you note down the number of the question(s) you have skipped. If you have time remaining once you've gone through all questions, you can return to those you found tricky.
#9 Improve your reading comprehension
Enhance your reading speed and comprehension by regularly reading complex and diverse materials; examples include news articles, scientific papers, journal articles, or opinion pieces.
Practice summarizing the main ideas and arguments of the texts you read, as this will help you extract key information quickly during the test.
Develop your ability to identify logical relationships, such as cause and effect, analogies, and contradictions within the text. Discuss your findings with a family member or friend to see if they agree or disagree with your assumptions and inferences.
#10 Keep Your Well-being As a Priority
To do well in the Watson Glaser test, you must be focused and have a clear head. Take care of your well-being in the days leading up to the test. The night before the test, get a good night's sleep.
The morning of the test, make sure you have eaten, are well hydrated, and are in the right frame of mind to sit the test. Taking care of yourself and your well-being is essential to staying focused on the test and performing to the best of your ability.
