Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal Practice Test

Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal Practice Test

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What the Watson Glaser Inference Section Tests

The Watson Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal (WGCTA) is the standard assessment used by Magic Circle law firms — including Clifford Chance, Freshfields, Linklaters, Allen & Overy, and Slaughter and May — as well as leading consulting firms and graduate employers worldwide. Of its five sections, the Inference section is consistently rated the most difficult by candidates.

The Inference section tests your ability to distinguish between what a passage actually states and what you might assume, infer, or believe to be true. Each question presents a short passage of factual information followed by a series of proposed inferences. Your task is to evaluate how well each inference is supported by the facts in the passage alone — not by your background knowledge, not by common sense, and not by what seems likely in the real world.

This is a fundamentally different skill from reading comprehension. You are not asked whether something is true in general — you are asked whether it follows necessarily and directly from the passage. Law firms prize this skill because it mirrors the analytical rigour required to advise clients: an associate who conflates evidence with assumption is a liability.

The section typically contains 5 passages, each with 5 proposed inferences, giving 25 items total. You must classify each inference using a 5-point scale.

Detailed preparation resources, including timed practice sets and full-length simulations, are available on our Watson Glaser complete guide and via our Watson Glaser practice test.

check-circle True

The inference follows definitely and necessarily from the passage. There is no room for doubt whatsoever. The passage explicitly states — or logically necessitates — the inference beyond any question. Use this only when the conclusion is airtight. If you feel even a sliver of uncertainty, it is not True.

thumbs-up Probably True

The inference is more likely true than not based on the passage. The passage provides solid supporting evidence but does not make it certain. The inference goes slightly beyond what is stated but is a reasonable, well-supported conclusion. This is the answer when evidence points in one direction without being conclusive.

question-circle Insufficient Data

The passage provides no meaningful evidence for or against the inference. You cannot tell from the passage alone whether the inference is true or false. The information needed simply is not there. This is often the correct answer when candidates are tempted to rely on outside knowledge or gut feeling.

thumbs-down Probably False

The inference is more likely false than true based on the passage. The passage contains evidence that contradicts or undermines the inference, but the contradiction is not absolute — there remains a small possibility the inference could be true. Use when the passage leans against the inference without fully ruling it out.

x-circle False

The inference directly contradicts what the passage states. The passage makes it impossible for the inference to be true. This is a strong answer — reserve it for cases where the passage explicitly rules out the inference, not merely where the inference seems unlikely or unsupported.

Common Mistakes — And How to Avoid Them

Even strong analytical thinkers make predictable errors on the Inference section. Understanding these traps in advance is half the battle.

1. Using Outside Knowledge

This is the single most common error. Candidates read a passage about, say, economic growth in a country they know well, and mark an inference True because they know from experience that it is correct. The inference section does not care what you know — it only cares what the passage says. If the passage does not support it, the answer cannot be True or Probably True, regardless of real-world accuracy.

2. Confusing True and Probably True

Candidates frequently mark inferences as True when the passage only makes them Probably True. True requires absolute certainty from the passage. A passage stating “most employees were satisfied” does not make it True that “the majority of staff would recommend the company” — it makes it Probably True at best. Precision here separates high scorers from the rest.

3. Confusing False and Insufficient Data

When a passage says nothing about a topic, the answer is Insufficient Data — not False. False means the passage actively contradicts the inference. A passage that simply does not mention a topic leaves the inference neither supported nor contradicted: that is Insufficient Data. Many candidates default to False when they cannot see support for an inference; this is incorrect.

4. Reading Too Much Into Qualifiers

Words like “always,” “never,” “all,” and “none” in an inference are red flags. A passage that supports a general trend rarely supports an absolute. “Sales increased in most regions” does not support “sales increased in all regions.” Absolute qualifiers in inferences almost always indicate False or Probably False.

5. Rushing the Passage Read

Under time pressure, candidates skim passages and miss nuance. Each passage is short — rarely more than 4–5 sentences — so read it carefully twice before answering. The few seconds saved by skimming cost more in wrong answers than they gain in time.

For broader test strategy, see our 7 tips to pass the Watson Glaser. For practice on related analytical skills, our verbal reasoning and numerical reasoning sections also help build precision.

The Golden Rule of Watson Glaser Inference
Only what IS explicitly stated or necessarily implied in the passage counts. Your background knowledge, real-world experience, and common sense are irrelevant. The moment you find yourself thinking "but everyone knows that…" or "in real life…", stop. That thought is leading you toward a wrong answer. Anchor every judgement to the passage text — nothing else.
Read the entire passage twice before looking at any inference statement
Identify the key facts stated — underline or note them mentally
For each inference, ask: does the passage state this directly? (True)
If not direct, ask: does the passage make this more likely than not? (Probably True)
If the passage gives no evidence either way, mark Insufficient Data — not False
Watch for absolute words (all, never, always) in inferences — they usually push toward False
Never use outside knowledge — if you are thinking beyond the passage, stop and reset
On timed practice tests, aim for 35–40 seconds per inference item to build pace

What is the Watson Glaser Inference section?

The Inference section of the Watson Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal presents short factual passages followed by proposed inferences. Candidates must rate each inference on a 5-point scale: True, Probably True, Insufficient Data, Probably False, or False — based solely on the passage content, not outside knowledge.

How many questions are in the Inference section?

The standard Watson Glaser format includes 5 passages in the Inference section, each followed by 5 proposed inferences, for a total of 25 items. The section is timed as part of the overall assessment, which typically limed at 30–40 minutes for the full test depending on the version used by the employer.

What is the difference between True and Probably True?

True means the inference follows with absolute certainty from the passage — there is no room for any doubt. Probably True means the passage provides strong supporting evidence that makes the inference more likely than not, but it is not conclusively proven. If you have any uncertainty, it should be Probably True rather than True. This is the most common distinction candidates get wrong.

When should I choose Insufficient Data?

Choose Insufficient Data when the passage gives you no meaningful evidence either for or against the inference. If the topic is simply not addressed in the passage, you cannot classify the inference as true or false — so Insufficient Data is correct. A key error is marking Insufficient Data inferences as False; False requires the passage to actively contradict the inference.

Which law firms use the Watson Glaser test?

The Watson Glaser is used extensively across the legal and consulting sectors. All five Magic Circle law firms — Clifford Chance, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Linklaters, Allen & Overy (now A&O Shearman), and Slaughter and May — use it as a screening tool, typically at the online application or vacation scheme stage. Many Silver Circle firms and Big Four consulting practices also use it.

What score do I need to pass the Watson Glaser Inference section?

Employers do not publish official cut-off scores, and they vary by firm and role. For Magic Circle firms, the competition is very high — candidates should aim for 75th percentile performance or above. Our Watson Glaser complete guide has detailed score benchmarks and preparation timelines. Use our free practice tests to gauge where you stand before the real assessment.
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