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It’s tempting to get it out of the way as soon as possible and to show your enthusiasm for your training contract application. However, it’s best to take the test at a time when you feel readily prepared and are at your most alert.
Unlike school or university exams, the Watson Glaser test offers you the luxury of being able to choose when and where you take the test. So choose a time and place you know will work well for you.
If you’re not a morning person, don’t feel bad about not completing the test first thing in the morning if it’s on your to-do list. Working with, rather than against, your natural body clock will benefit you here as you’ll be switched on and ready to perform at your best.
Make sure you are familiarised with the kind of questions you will be asked and the answers you need to provide. For example, take your time to really understand logical fallacies (such as the red herring argument) before you book your test. Critical thinking is a skill that takes time to perfect, so do not rush into taking your test.
Like most things in life, preparation is key. You’ll need to practice the test beforehand to ensure you are prepared to take it and achieve a good score.
Job Test Prep’s free Watson Glaser test samples include 2 full-length exams, 23 additional practice drills and 8 PDF study guides. The 2 full-length tests enable you to familiarise yourself with the structure of the exam, understand the content and test yourself under time constraints.
The best way to get a feel for whether you’re ready to take the test is to map your performance throughout your practice sessions.
If it takes longer than you thought it would, continue to practice and you’ll eventually find yourself at the stage where you feel ready to tackle the test.
We go through sample questions and answers in our Watson Glaser guide.
Here are the most common types of questions you will get during your Watson Glaser test:
When you infer something, you draw a conclusion based on information that you have been provided. You have to consider all the given information as true, and not assume anything outside it. Instead, you have to able to draw an inference. Inferences are fundamentally based on evidence. So, if you cannot find any evidence for your answer in the information provided, your answer does not constitute an inference. In your Watson Glaser test, you will be provided with a number of inferences which you will need to label as True or False.
Similar to inferences, deductions are based on evidence. In your Watson Glaser test, you will be given a passage to read and asked to select its logical conclusion.
For this assessment, you will be given a passage and a number of statements. You will then need to decide on the level of importance of the information provided. This tests your ability to prioritise logically.
Once again, this task tests your decision-making skills. You will be asked to decide whether an argument can be categorised as either strong or weak based on the information provided. Although the terms ‘strong’ and ‘weak’ might appear vague, they are used to refer to the level of logical strength an argument has.
Critical thinking is absolutely key in the legal profession. Law firms are not simply testing your abilities for fulfilling a training contract through the Watson Glaser. Rather, they are testing your suitability for future roles as well. You are expected to already have leadership and decision-making skills when embarking your career journey – and the Watson Glaser test asks you to employ them.
As a lawyer, you will be expected to challenge assumptions and propose solutions. Moreover, the more your career progresses, the more decisions you will be required to make. You will need to learn to be effective and logical.
To ensure you’re prepared to succeed during the actual test, have a look at your previous practice tests to identify where, if anywhere, you have gone wrong.
It can be tempting to go over what you already know and feel comfortable with, but this won’t be as helpful as pushing yourself to achieve good results in your weaker areas. It might take time, so prepare to spend longer on certain questions than others and plan your preparation accordingly.
Job Test Prep’s resources include Critical Thinking Algorithms, which are systematic procedures designed to transform any inquiry into a sequence of basic Q&As leading to an accurate response.
By following these methods, you can avoid relying on your intuition or common sense, resulting in a reduced likelihood of making mistakes. The ITDN Table and Negative Test are two examples of such algorithms. This should lead to a vast improvement in your test ability.
You might feel that you know an answer to a certain question intuitively. It’s easy to be lulled into a false sense of security with a time limit looming over your head – but remember: the Watson Glaser is not testing your intuition. Instead, it is testing your ability to apply knowledge logically.
It pays to read through the passages carefully and double-check that you read them correctly. Sometimes, questions are especially designed to catch rushed candidates out. Forcing yourself to read through the information given twice will ensure you have a good understanding of what the question is asking of you before attempting to answer it.
After all, this kind of attention to detail could ultimately make the difference between a law firm progressing your application on to the next stage or being rejected.
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