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What is the Watson Glaser test?

The Watson Glaser test is often the first hurdle that must be surmounted during the recruitment process for large City law firms. Unlike common aptitude tests that assess a range of skills and competencies, the Watson Glaser test focuses only on critical thinking. This means that if critical thinking is not a particular strength of yours, you’ll face a more difficult challenge, as you won’t be able to use other strengths to boost your scores across other aspects of the test.

Note that the Watson Glaser test is not as time pressured as many other critical thinking tests and with an average of 45 seconds allowed to answer each question, most candidates are able to complete the tests on time. However, psychometric testing experts consider it to be one of the trickiest tests out there, because:

1. It is an objectively difficult test, with its own sets of rules and a unique question format

For example, the test is split into five distinct sections, each with their own rules and question types, whilst unlike standard verbal reasoning tests, some of the Watson Glaser questions include “probably true” and “probably false” answer choices.

2. Applicant scores are benchmarked against the scores of other applicants

This means that there doesn’t tend to be a set “pass” rate. Applicants with the highest scores relative to other applicants will progress through to the next stage of the application process, meaning you have to beat the scores of a certain number of other applicants to progress.

Tips for passing Watson Glaser tests

There are a few key strategies to consider when preparing for Watson Glaser tests:

1. Know the rules

The Watson Glaser test has its own sets of rules, unparalleled by any other critical thinking test. The tests are split into five distinct sections -  inferences, assumptions, deduction, interpretation and arguments – and the rules change between each of these sections. This means you need to shift your mindset as you progress between sections, which requires a strong level of understanding and intellectual discipline.

2. Learn to ignore irrelevant information

A major part of your preparation process for Watson Glaser tests will involve learning when to ignore your intuition and predispositions. At times, to reach the correct answers, you must go against what you believe to be true in the most fundamental way. You must also become adept at identifying and disregarding irrelevant information. It’s not easy. 

3. Don't linger on tricky questions for too long

Unlike some psychometric tests, Watson Glaser tests usually let you scroll back and forth between your answers – and change them if necessary – before you submit your test. As a result, it can be better to initially skip questions that you can’t easily answer, just to make sure that you get through the whole test and answer all the questions that you are comfortable answering. If you get stuck on a few questions and linger for too long, you may then miss the chance to even look at the last few questions (which, for all you know, may be some of the easiest on the test). 

To help with this strategy, consider noting down the number of each question that you’re unable to easily answer as you progress through the test. If you have time at the end, you can then use this list to help you quickly go back to the questions that required more thought, safe in the knowledge that you’ve answered all the others. 

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