Doesn't cover all aspects of Watson-Glaser tests but useful
The WGCTA uses more categories to assess critical thinking, but this was useful for the inference section.
Watson Glaser Test
The five sections, inferences, assumptions, deduction, interpretation and argument evaluation, the 40 items in 30 to 40 minutes, the item-banked format that gives every candidate a different paper, the norm-group scoring law firms use, and where to practise each section.
- 10 practice tests in the Watson Glaser pack
- 250 questions, all solved
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What is the Watson Glaser test?
The Watson Glaser test is a critical thinking assessment published by Pearson TalentLens and the classic screening test at UK law firms. It presents 40 questions in a timed sitting of 30 to 40 minutes, testing five skills: drawing inferences, recognising assumptions, deduction, interpretation and evaluating arguments. Questions are drawn from a randomised item bank, so no two candidates sit an identical paper, and results are available immediately.
Which Watson Glaser test you sit depends on the employer and the role: an entry-level position will not be given the same assessment as a graduate or managerial one.
How a Watson Glaser test works
Four things to know before you sit one. Timings and difficulty vary with the level of the role.
- FormatFive sections, one paper
- Short passages followed by statements, each answered from a fixed set of options that changes by section, such as true, probably true or insufficient data for inferences. Items come from a randomised bank, so no two candidates sit the same paper.
- Pace40 items in 30 to 40 minutes
- The employer sets the limit. At 30 minutes that is 45 seconds an item on passages that need careful reading, so timed practice matters more than volume.
- DifficultyNo knowledge, fine distinctions
- Nothing to revise; the difficulty is in the distinctions, such as a deduction that must follow against an inference that probably does, and in judging an argument's strength rather than its truth.
- ScoringAgainst a norm group, instantly
- Your score is compared with a norm group of similar education or profession and reported to the employer immediately. Competitive law firms look for the upper quarter.
Watson Glaser tests by name, with question counts and timings
Your invitation email will name the assessment rather than describe it. This is what each name means, how many questions it carries and how long you get.
| Assessment | What it measures | Questions | Time limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inferences | How probable a conclusion is, given a passage; true, probably true, insufficient data, probably false or false | Part of 40 | Shared 30 to 40 min |
| Recognising assumptions | Whether a statement takes something for granted that the passage does not say | Part of 40 | Shared 30 to 40 min |
| Deduction | Whether a conclusion necessarily follows from the premises | Part of 40 | Shared 30 to 40 min |
| Interpretation | Whether a conclusion follows beyond reasonable doubt from the information given | Part of 40 | Shared 30 to 40 min |
| Evaluating arguments | Whether an argument is strong or weak, regardless of whether you agree with it | Part of 40 | Shared 30 to 40 min |
Counts and timings vary by role level and by the version an employer licences. Check the instructions on the screen before you start. Facts checked August 2026.
Employers who set Watson Glaser tests
If you know which company invited you, start there: the employer guide tells you which Watson Glaser assessment sits at which stage of that firm's process.
- Hogan LovellsSent by email alongside the online application
- FreshfieldsThe critical thinking test in the application process
Not listed? Browse all employer guides.
Practise the real thing
One question tells you the style. A pack gives you the pace: 45 to 60 seconds a question, marked, with the working shown.
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- 10
- practice tests
- 250
- questions, all solved
The five sections, and what each one is really asking
Every Watson Glaser paper mixes the same five question types, and the marks are lost on the distinctions between them. Inferences ask how probable a conclusion is given the passage, on a five-point scale from true to false with insufficient data in the middle, and the trap is treating a probable inference as a certain one. Recognising assumptions asks whether a statement takes something for granted that the passage never says. Deduction asks whether a conclusion must follow from the premises, however implausible it sounds. Interpretation asks whether a conclusion follows beyond reasonable doubt from the information given. Evaluating arguments asks whether an argument is strong or weak, judged on relevance and importance rather than on whether you agree with it.
TalentLens frames the skill as the RED model: recognise assumptions, evaluate arguments, draw conclusions. It requires no prior knowledge of any subject; success depends on how clearly and impartially you reason from the evidence in front of you, under a limit that leaves little room for hesitation. Practise each section separately, then under the clock: the critical thinking page covers the format, the Watson Glaser test guide walks through the rules of each section, and the top tips for passing the Watson Glaser collect the habits that move a score.
Frequently asked questions
What candidates ask us most often
How does Watson Glaser define critical thinking?
According to the methodology behind Watson Glaser tests, critical thinking is the ability to observe a scenario and consider it from various perspectives, whilst identifying what is fact, what is assumed and what is mere opinion. In doing so, you should be able to draw logical conclusions and use these for informed decision making.
What score do you need on the Watson Glaser?
The results of your Watson Glaser test will be assessed against a norm group: individuals of a comparative educational background or professional standing – within a relevant field – that have previously sat the exam.
It is therefore difficult to state an exact pass score on the test since it depends entirely on the performance of your peers. Ideally, you’d look to reach 75% and above to give yourself a competitive edge.
Is the Watson Glaser the same as the Pearson TalentLens critical thinking test?
Yes. The Watson Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal is published by TalentLens, Pearson’s assessment arm, so an invitation from Pearson, TalentLens or an employer naming the W-GCTA all mean this test. The Pearson guide covers the other TalentLens tests sometimes set alongside it, such as the RANRA.
How can I improve my critical thinking skills?
Critical thinking is a part of our daily lives; we’re just not always aware that we’re doing it. To improve your skills, tune in to the world around you, ask questions, read actively and look for evidence in every statement or argument you come across. Take practice tests regularly to assess your progress.
Reviews
Rated 4.8 out of 5 across 44 reviews. A selection:
Challenging but effective
Got the brain working by asking challenging but not impossible questions which give a good sense of a real WG test
How to to analyse quickly
I really liked that I felt as though it was always getting to look deeper, as there would often be an answer that looked too simplistic. In the future, however, I would not take so long on the first few questions.
Watson Glaser is a trademark of its respective owner. Practice Aptitude Tests is not affiliated with Watson Glaser and our practice tests are not endorsed by them.
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