Watson-Glaser critical thinking test practice
Learn to distinguish probability, assumptions, logical necessity, interpretation and argument strength. These are different decisions, even when the passages look similar.
Study a free worked sampleCompare the five subtests
Pearson's UK practice booklet illustrates five distinct response tasks. The booklet is dated 2002, so we use it to explain those tasks, not to establish current test length, timing or score norms. Read your assessment's own instructions first.
Watson-Glaser is a trademark of its owner, who is not affiliated with this site. Our original practice examples contain no live test questions.
New to these tests? Start with the free diagnostic to explore related learning areas. It is not a Watson-Glaser readiness score.
Free verified example
A deduction skill example, worked through.
This confirmed public-bank example teaches reasoning from premises. It is related skill practice, not an official question or a complete matching test.
If a parcel misses the depot cut-off, it is routed to the late bay. If a parcel is routed to the late bay, it travels on the relief van, which reaches the hub after midnight. If a parcel reaches the hub after midnight, its delivery is rescheduled to the next working day.
Which conclusion follows from the premises?
Verified answer: A — If a parcel misses the depot cut-off, its delivery is rescheduled to the next working day.
The evidence
If a parcel misses the depot cut-off, it is routed to the late bay. If a parcel is routed to the late bay, it travels on the relief van, which reaches the hub after midnight. If a parcel reaches the hub after midnight, its delivery is rescheduled to the next working day.
The highlighted text decides the answer.
What to notice
A three-link chain ringed by an affirm-consequent and a deny-antecedent trap.
The rule
Iterated hypothetical syllogism from cut-off through late bay and relief van to rescheduling.
Why the others are wrong
- B — If a parcel makes the depot cut-off, its delivery is not rescheduled.: Denies the antecedent; making the cut-off does not guarantee no reschedule.
- C — If a parcel travels on the relief van, it missed the depot cut-off.: Reverses premise 2; the relief van does not prove a missed cut-off.
- D — Every parcel reaches the hub after midnight.: Asserts every parcel arrives after midnight, which no premise states.
- E — If a parcel's delivery is rescheduled, it missed the depot cut-off.: Affirms the consequent; a reschedule can have other causes.
Full rehearsal currently unavailable. Our existing argument-evaluation questions use a different response task from the Strong Argument / Weak Argument judgment. We have paused the full rehearsal until reviewed questions cover the correct formats. Buying access does not unlock it now. The free method guides and examples remain available.
What to practise
Start by naming the decision the question asks for. When reviewing an error, identify whether you added an outside fact, confused possibility with necessity, or answered a different question. Keep repeated attempts separate from first attempts: repetition measures familiarity as well as reasoning.
The five subtests and how to practise each one
- Inference : rating how strongly a conclusion follows from given facts on a five-point scale, from “true” to “false”, rather than a simple yes/no.
- Recognition of Assumptions : deciding whether a statement is actually taken for granted by an argument, or not.
- Deduction : judging whether a conclusion follows necessarily from the premises, under strict logical rules, ignoring what you know about the world.
- Interpretation : deciding whether a conclusion follows beyond reasonable doubt from a short passage of information.
- Evaluation of Arguments : taking each argument as true, then judging its importance and direct relevance to the question. Personal agreement is not the test. Each argument is judged independently.
| Subtest | Responses |
|---|---|
| Inference | True / Probably True / Insufficient Data / Probably False / False |
| Recognition of Assumptions | Assumption Made / Assumption Not Made |
| Deduction | Follows / Does Not Follow |
| Interpretation | Follows / Does Not Follow |
| Evaluation of Arguments | Strong Argument / Weak Argument |
Timing, scoring and explanations
Our planned rehearsal uses 40 questions, eight per subtest. Those are VRP design choices, not verified employer subtest weights. Learn without a deadline first. A clock can help you observe your pace, but it does not turn a practice score into a standardized result. Full premium explanations are available in entitled learning modules; ordinary simulator grading does not release every premium answer body.
Applying to Linklaters? Its current application guidance describes the test as untimed. Read our Linklaters preparation guide and follow your invitation and any agreed adjustments. We do not publish an unsupported employer pass mark or convert practice accuracy into a hiring prediction.
How to prepare with this site
Take the free diagnostic first to see which style of reasoning is weakest, then work through the relevant method guides. Each category has related skill practice, but those drills do not necessarily match a provider's response format. The diagnostic and guides are free. Check the availability notice above before buying access for a particular rehearsal.
Frequently asked questions
Is this the real Watson-Glaser test?
No. VRP provides independent learning material, not official questions or a provider-endorsed assessment. We are not affiliated with the test's owner.
Which five subtests does it cover?
The guides explain Inference, Recognition of Assumptions, Deduction, Interpretation and Evaluation of Arguments. Related skill drills are not a complete matching test.
Why is critical-thinking practice different from other verbal tests?
Watson-Glaser rewards discipline over instinct: judging exactly how strongly a conclusion follows, whether an assumption is really being made, and whether an argument is relevant — not whether it feels convincing. Our explanations show the evidence and the reasoning step that decides each answer.
How long should it take?
Follow your employer's invitation. Linklaters' current application guidance describes its test as untimed. A practice deadline is not evidence of the timing you will receive.
What is a good Watson-Glaser score?
VRP cannot convert a practice result into a Watson-Glaser score or hiring prediction. We report raw practice results, not invented percentiles or an unsupported employer pass mark.