The Watson Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal is a core screening tool for several of the Big 4 professional services firms, used to filter graduate and experienced hire applicants before the interview stage. However, not every consulting firm relies on it — and understanding which firms use it, and when, is the first step in your preparation strategy.
Deloitte uses the Watson Glaser as part of its online assessment stage for consulting graduate roles in the UK and select other markets. Applicants typically encounter it after submitting their initial application and completing a brief situational judgement test. Deloitte's use of Watson Glaser is well-documented and consistent across consulting and advisory tracks.
KPMG employs a broader online assessment suite that includes numerical reasoning, verbal reasoning, and situational judgement components — but in some markets and for certain advisory roles, the Watson Glaser is included or substituted for the verbal component. KPMG's exact assessment mix varies by country and hiring cycle, so check the specific role's assessment guidance.
PwC historically used the Watson Glaser for consulting and assurance graduate roles. In recent years, PwC has shifted toward its own digital assessment platform (Game-based assessments and the "PwC Professional" competency framework), though Watson Glaser-style critical thinking questions remain embedded in their process.
EY uses a Watson Glaser-aligned assessment for UK graduate consulting roles through its EY Navigate online portal. The test typically appears in the early screening stage alongside a numerical reasoning component.
For a broader overview of how the test works, read our complete Watson Glaser guide before diving into firm-specific requirements.
McKinsey, BCG, and Bain — the three firms collectively known as MBB — do not use the Watson Glaser as a standard screening tool. Instead, each firm has developed or adopted proprietary assessments that measure analytical reasoning through quantitative and case-based formats rather than verbal critical thinking.
McKinsey uses the McKinsey Solve assessment (formerly the Problem Solving Game, developed with Imbellus). Solve presents candidates with ecosystem simulation games that measure cognitive problem-solving, systems thinking, and data interpretation — quite different from Watson Glaser's verbal inference format. Some McKinsey offices additionally use the Problem Solving Test (PST), a 26-question paper-based case math test.
BCG uses the BCG Online Case (sometimes called the BCG Chatbot case) and Pymetrics neuropsychological game assessments. The BCG Online Case mirrors early-stage case interview logic: interpreting exhibits, making recommendations from data. Pymetrics measures memory, attention, and risk tolerance through gamified tasks.
Bain uses a similar online assessment combining a case-based component with personality and judgement questions. The case component is closest in spirit to the Watson Glaser's inference and interpretation sections.
For consulting applicants, preparing for Watson Glaser builds the deductive reasoning and assumption-identification skills that transfer well to MBB case formats — even if the test format itself differs. See how Watson Glaser scoring works to understand what percentile you need to aim for.
The Watson Glaser is scored on a percentile basis relative to a normative group of graduates. Big 4 firms set internal cut-off scores, typically not published, but candidate reports and employer guidance consistently point to the 70th percentile as the minimum viable benchmark for consulting roles — with competitive applicants targeting the 75th–80th percentile.
In practical terms, the Watson Glaser Form D (40 questions, 30–40 minutes) requires roughly 32–36 correct answers to reach the 75th–80th percentile range, depending on the norming cohort. The test's five sections — Inference, Recognition of Assumptions, Deduction, Interpretation, and Evaluation of Arguments — each contribute equally, so balanced preparation across all five is essential.
Consulting applicants should note that verbal reasoning speed matters as much as accuracy. Unlike law firm applicants, who often sit the Watson Glaser as the primary screen, consulting applicants may sit Watson Glaser alongside a numerical reasoning test in the same session — making time management across the combined assessment equally important. Review our Watson Glaser scoring guide for full percentile tables and pass rate data.
The Watson Glaser serves different screening purposes depending on the profession. Law firms use it primarily as a proxy for legal reasoning — the ability to draw precise inferences and avoid over-reading evidence aligns closely with legal analytical skills. Watson Glaser is often the primary cognitive screen for law firm applicants, with significant weight placed on it relative to other assessment components.
For consulting applicants, the picture is different. Watson Glaser is one component of a multi-stage online assessment that usually includes numerical reasoning, situational judgement, and sometimes personality questionnaires. The cognitive horsepower tested by Watson Glaser matters for consulting, but the bar is framed differently: consulting firms are equally concerned with quantitative aptitude, communication under pressure, and structured problem-solving — all assessed elsewhere in the process.
This has practical implications for how much time consulting applicants should invest in Watson Glaser preparation specifically. Compared to law firm applicants — for whom Watson Glaser prep is often the single most impactful preparation activity — consulting applicants should balance their prep time across all assessment formats they will face. Our Watson Glaser for law firms guide explains how the assessment is positioned differently in legal recruitment.
Additionally, consulting firms often assess Watson Glaser results in the context of academic record and application quality — meaning a borderline Watson Glaser score may not eliminate a strong candidate with exceptional grades and a compelling application, whereas a very high Watson Glaser score does not guarantee progression. The assessment is a threshold, not a differentiator.
For preparation resources, our Watson Glaser preparation guide covers study strategies applicable to both consulting and law firm applicants, with notes on where the emphasis should differ.