critical thinking skills assessment sample questions

What is the Critical Thinking Test?

Critical thinking practice test, take a free practice critical thinking test, practice critical thinking test.

Updated November 16, 2023

The Critical Thinking Test is a comprehensive evaluation designed to assess individuals' cognitive capacities and analytical prowess.

This formal examination, often referred to as the critical thinking assessment, is a benchmark for those aiming to demonstrate their proficiency in discernment and problem-solving.

In addition, this evaluative tool meticulously gauges a range of skills, including logical reasoning, analytical thinking, and the ability to evaluate and synthesize information.

This article will embark on an exploration of the Critical Thinking Test, elucidating its intricacies and elucidating its paramount importance. We will dissect the essential skills it measures and clarify its significance in gauging one's intellectual aptitude.

We will examine examples of critical thinking questions, illuminating the challenging scenarios that candidates encounter prompting them to navigate the complexities of thought with finesse.

Before going ahead to take the critical thinking test, let's delve into the realm of preparation. This segment serves as a crucible for honing the skills assessed in the actual examination, offering candidates a chance to refine their analytical blades before facing the real challenge. Here are some skills that will help you with the critical thinking assessment: Logical Reasoning: The practice test meticulously evaluates your ability to deduce conclusions from given information, assess the validity of arguments, and recognize patterns in logic. Analytical Thinking: Prepare to dissect complex scenarios, identify key components, and synthesize information to draw insightful conclusions—a fundamental aspect of the critical thinking assessment. Problem-Solving Proficiency: Navigate through intricate problems that mirror real-world challenges, honing your capacity to approach issues systematically and derive effective solutions. What to Expect: The Critical Thinking Practice Test is crafted to mirror the format and complexity of the actual examination. Expect a series of scenarios, each accompanied by a set of questions that demand thoughtful analysis and logical deduction. These scenarios span diverse fields, from business and science to everyday scenarios, ensuring a comprehensive evaluation of your critical thinking skills. Examples of Critical Thinking Questions Scenario: In a business context, analyze the potential impacts of a proposed strategy on both short-term profitability and long-term sustainability. Question: What factors would you consider in determining the viability of the proposed strategy, and how might it affect the company's overall success? Scenario: Evaluate conflicting scientific studies on a pressing environmental issue.

Question: Identify the key methodologies and data points in each study. How would you reconcile the disparities to form an informed, unbiased conclusion?

Why Practice Matters

Engaging in the Critical Thinking Practice Test familiarizes you with the test format and cultivates a mindset geared towards agile and astute reasoning. This preparatory phase allows you to refine your cognitive toolkit, ensuring you approach the assessment with confidence and finesse.

We'll navigate through specific examples as we proceed, offering insights into effective strategies for tackling critical thinking questions. Prepare to embark on a journey of intellectual sharpening, where each practice question refines your analytical prowess for the challenges ahead.

This is a practice critical thinking test.

The test consists of three questions . 

After you have answered all the questions, you will be shown the correct answers and given full explanations.

Make sure you read and fully understand each question before answering. Work quickly, but don't rush. You cannot afford to make mistakes on a real test .

If you get a question wrong, make sure you find out why and learn how to answer this type of question in the future. 

Six friends are seated in a restaurant across a rectangular table. There are three chairs on each side. Adam and Dorky do not have anyone sitting to their right and Clyde and Benjamin do not have anyone sitting to their left. Adam and Benjamin are not sitting on the same side of the table.

If Ethan is not sitting next to Dorky, who is seated immediately to the left of Felix?

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Critical Thinking Test: Sample Questions with Explanations (2024)

Employers value and seek candidates who demonstrate advanced critical thinking skills. They often administer critical thinking tests as part of their hiring process. Critical thinking tests can be very difficult for those who don’t prepare. A great way to start practicing is by taking our critical thinking free practice test.

What Does The Critical Thinking Test Include?

The Critical Thinking Test assesses your capacity to think critically and form logical conclusions when given written information. Critical thinking tests are generally used in job recruitment processes, in the legal sector. These tests measure the analytical critical thinking abilities of a candidate.

Why Is Critical Thinking Useful?

Critical thinking is put into action in various stages of decision-making and problem-solving tasks:

• Identify the problem
• Choose suitable information to find the solution
• Identify the assumptions that are implied and written in the text
• Form hypotheses and choose the most suitable and credible answers
• Form well-founded conclusions and determine the soundness of inferences

What is Watson Glaser Test and what Critical Thinking Skills it Measures?

The most common type of critical thinking test is the Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal (W-GCTA). Typically used by legal and financial organizations, as well as management businesses, a Watson Glaser test is created to assess candidates’ critical thinking skills.

The test consists of 10 questions to be answered in 10 minutes approx (although there is no timer on the test itself). Our test is slightly harder than the real thing, to make it sufficiently challenging practice.

You need to get 70% correct to pass the test. Don’t forget to first check out the test techniques section further down this page beforehand.

Questions          25

Pass percentage          70%.

The test is broken down into five central areas:

• Assumptions
• Interpretation

Critical Thinking Course

• 1 BONUS Interview Prep Video Guide Buy this Course: Get full access to all lessons, practice tests and guides.

The Five Critical Thinking Skills Explained

1. recognition of assumption.

You’ll be presented with a statement. The statement is then followed by several proposed assumptions. When answering, you must work out if an assumption was made or if an assumption was not made in the statement. An assumption is a proclamation that an individual takes for granted. This section of the tests measures your ability to withhold from forming assumptions about things that are not necessarily correct.

• 1: Assumption Made
• 2: Assumption Not Made

Although the passage does state that Charlie’s fundraising team is doing its best so that the charity event can meet its goal, nowhere did it state that their team is leading the event.

2. Evaluation of Arguments

You will be presented with an argument. You will then be asked to decide whether the argument is strong or weak. An argument is considered strong if it directly connects to the statement provided, and is believed to be significant.

No, participation awards should not be given in every competition because studies have shown that this would cause the participants to put in less effort because they will get a prize no matter what the outcome is.

• 1: Strong Argument
• 2: Weak Argument

This is a strong argument as it provides evidence as to why participation awards should not be given in every competition

3. Deductions

In deduction questions, you will need to form conclusions based solely on the information provided in the question and not based on your knowledge. You will be given a small passage of information and you will need to evaluate a list of deductions made based on that passage. If the conclusion cannot be formed for the information provided, then the conclusion does not follow. The answer must be entirely founded on the statements made and not on conclusions drawn from your knowledge.

In a surprise party for Donna, Edna arrived after Felix and Gary did. Kelly arrived before Felix and Gary did.

• 1: Conclusion Follows
• 2: Conclusion Does not Follow

For questions like this, jot down the clues to help you out. Use initials as a quick reference.

K | F&G | E

Looking at the simple diagram, “K”, which stands for “Kelly,” arrived before Edna “E” did. The answer is A.

4. Interpretation

In these questions, you are given a passage of information followed by a list of possible conclusions. You will need to interpret the information in the paragraph and determine whether or not each conclusion follows, based solely on the information given.

A number of students were given the following advice:

“The use of powerful words is a technique, which makes you a better writer. Your choice of words is very important in molding the way people interaction with the article. You should use powerful words to spice up your article. Power words should be used liberally to enhance the flavor of what you write! ”

In the fourth sentence, it is stated, “Power words should be used liberally to enhance the flavor of what you write!”

Thus, if you were to write an essay, using powerful words can give more flavor to it.

5. Inferences

An inference is a conclusion made from observed or supposed facts and details. It is information that is not apparent in the information provided but rather is extracted from it. In this section, you will be provided with a passage of information about a specific scene or event. A list of possible inferences will then be given, and you will need to decide if they are ‘true’, ‘false’, ‘possibly true’, ‘possibly false’, or whether it is not possible to say based on the information provided.

With the advancement of technology, the need for more infrastructure has never been higher. According to the plan of the current U.S. Administration, it aims to put a $1 trillion investment on improving infrastructure, a portion of which will include priority projects and technologies that can strengthen its economic competitiveness such as transportation, 5G wireless communication technology, rural broadband technologies, advanced manufacturing technologies, and even artificial intelligence.

It stated that it expects to work with Congress to develop a comprehensive infrastructure package, which is expected to have a budget of $200 billion for certain priorities.

• 2: Probably True
• 3: Not Enough Information
• 4: Probably False

Although it was mentioned in the passage that the U.S. government is to allocate $200 billion on certain priorities, it did not specify if these certain priorities were for ‘transportation, 5G wireless communication technology, rural broadband technologies, advanced manufacturing technologies, and artificial intelligence’ or if the aforementioned priorities will have a different allocation.

What we can be sure of, however, is that at least a portion of the $1 trillion infrastructure budget will be used on the mentioned priorities regardless, meaning that there is a chance that $200 billion will be used on those aforementioned areas.

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Critical Thinking test

By 123test team . Updated May 12, 2023

Critical Thinking test reviews

This Critical Thinking test measures your ability to think critically and draw logical conclusions based on written information. Critical Thinking tests are often used in job assessments in the legal sector to assess a candidate's  analytical critical  thinking skills. A well known example of a critical thinking test is the Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal .

Need more practice?

Score higher on your critical thinking test.

The test comprises of the following five sections with a total of 10 questions:

• Analysing Arguments
• Assumptions
• Interpreting Information

Instructions Critical Thinking test

Each question presents one or more paragraphs of text and a question about the information in the text. It's your job to figure out which of the options is the correct answer.

Below is a statement that is followed by an argument. You should consider this argument to be true. It is then up to you to determine whether the argument is strong or weak. Do not let your personal opinion about the statement play a role in your evaluation of the argument.

Statement: It would be good if people would eat vegetarian more often. Argument: No, because dairy also requires animals to be kept that will have to be eaten again later.

Is this a strong or weak argument?

Strong argument Weak argument

Statement: Germany should no longer use the euro as its currency Argument: No, because that means that the 10 billion Deutschmark that the introduction of the euro has cost is money thrown away.

Overfishing is the phenomenon that too much fish is caught in a certain area, which leads to the disappearance of the fish species in that area. This trend can only be reversed by means of catch reduction measures. These must therefore be introduced and enforced.

Assumption: The disappearance of fish species in areas of the oceans is undesirable.

Is the assumption made from the text?

Assumption is made Assumption is not made

As a company, we strive for satisfied customers. That's why from now on we're going to keep track of how quickly our help desk employees pick up the phone. Our goal is for that phone to ring for a maximum of 20 seconds.

Assumption: The company has tools or ways to measure how quickly help desk employees pick up the phone.

• All reptiles lay eggs
• All reptiles are vertebrates
• All snakes are reptiles
• All vertebrates have brains
• Some reptiles hatch their eggs themselves
• Most reptiles have two lungs
• Many snakes only have one lung
• Cobras are poisonous snakes
• All reptiles are animals

Conclusion: Some snakes hatch their eggs themselves.

Does the conclusion follow the statements?

Conclusion follows Conclusion does not follow

(Continue with the statements from question 5.)

Conclusion: Some animals that lay eggs only have one lung.

In the famous 1971 Stanford experiment, 24 normal, healthy male students were randomly assigned as 'guards' (12) or 'prisoners' (12). The guards were given a uniform and instructed to keep order, but not to use force. The prisoners were given prison uniforms. Soon after the start of the experiment, the guards made up all kinds of sentences for the prisoners. Insurgents were shot down with a fire extinguisher and public undressing or solitary confinement was also a punishment. The aggression of the guards became stronger as the experiment progressed. At one point, the abuses took place at night, because the guards thought that the researchers were not watching. It turned out that some guards also had fun treating the prisoners very cruelly. For example, prisoners got a bag over their heads and were chained to their ankles. Originally, the experiment would last 14 days. However, after six days the experiment was stopped.

The students who took part in the research did not expect to react the way they did in such a situation.

To what extent is this conclusion true, based on the given text?

True Probably true More information required Probably false False

(Continue with the text from 'Stanford experiment' in question 7.)

The results of the experiment support the claim that every young man (or at least some young men) is capable of turning into a sadist fairly quickly.

• A flag is a tribute to the nation and should therefore not be hung outside at night. Hoisting the flag therefore happens at sunrise, bringing it down at sunset. Only when a country flag is illuminated by spotlights on both sides, it may remain hanging after sunset. There is a simple rule of thumb for the time of bringing down the flag. This is the moment when there is no longer any visible difference between the individual colors of the flag.
• A flag may not touch the ground.
• On the Dutch flag, unless entitled to do so, no decorations or other additions should be made. Also the use of a flag purely for decoration should be avoided. However, flag cloth may be used for decoration - for example in the form of drapes.
• The orange pennant is only used on birthdays of members of the Royal House and on King's Day. The orange pennant should be as long or slightly longer than the diagonal of the flag.

Conclusion: One can assume that no Dutch flag will fly at government buildings at night, unless it is illuminated by spotlights on both sides.

Does the conclusion follow, based on the given text?

(Continue with the text from 'Dutch flag protocol' in question 9.)

Conclusion: If the protocol is followed, the orange pennant will always be longer than the horizontal bands/stripes of the flag.

Please answer the questions below. Not all questions are required but it will help us improve this test.

My educational level is

-- please select -- primary school high school college university PhD other

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Critical Thinking Test: Online Preparation & Free Practice Questions – 2024

• Information
• Free Example Questions

What Is Critical Thinking?

Critical thinking is a form of decision making and reasoning using data and observations. Someone who is a strong critical thinker can find quality solutions efficiently and can evaluate issues objectively.

What Is a Critical Thinking Test?

Critical thinking tests provide companies valuable insight into the leadership, reasoning, and overall capabilities of candidates. Because strong critical thinking skills are highly sought after, the critical thinking test can be applicable to any field and discipline across multiple levels of expertise from recent graduate to executive. However, it is commonly administered to those applying for criminal justice and business-related occupations.

Job seekers with upcoming critical thinking tests will be evaluated on more than their ability to rationalize, critical thinking tests also measure the following subsets:

• Organizing & Planning
• Strategizing
• Decision Making
• Problem Solving

The format of the critical thinking uses hypothetical scenarios to assess candidates. The scenarios are typically relevant to the field you are interested in to assess your knowledge of the role. There will also be general questions concerning more basic issues or problems that commonly occur in a workplace environment.

The critical thinking test is multiple-choice with thirty minutes to complete the assessment. Candidates will receive a notification stating whether or not they passed within a week of completion.

How Is the Critical Thinking Test Scored?

The critical reasoning test is scored based on your raw score and your percentile in comparison with your norm group. It’s important to note that these will not be the same number.

A norm group is a collection of scores from individuals in your field at your level of experience. The percentile score is used to alert employers if you exceed, meet or miss the benchmark for the average expectations of candidates. You will be rated on a scale of one to one hundred with fifty consisting of the mean and median scores.

A raw score is simply the number of correct answers. The critical thinking test comprises your raw score based on the performance in the following areas:

• Recognizing Assumptions The candidate must be able to understand when a statement is made with no supporting evidence and how this can affect a decision. Further, candidates are asked to identify these discrepancies, whether they are stated explicitly or implicitly, and assess its relevance to the given scenario.
• Evaluating Arguments Candidates must evaluate arguments without considering inferences or being subjective. Beyond that, candidates must assess the supporting evidence, the structure of the argument and the degree of its influence. It is very important to dismiss emotions for this portion of the critical thinking test.
• Drawing Conclusions Drawing conclusions puts a large emphasis on reasoning. In this section, it’s important to assess all of the available evidence and data to form a plausible conclusion that accurately applies to all the given information. Employers also want to see candidates that will consider all possible solutions rather than making the evidence fit a desired narrative.

Employers will receive all of this information in a performance report construed by the assessment company. Employers will also be given insight into your overall potential, job knowledge, creativity and job performance per the report.

Where Will I Take a Critical Thinking Test?

Critical thinking tests are non-proctored online assessments that are typically sent via email after an initial screening. For some occupations, the company may ask that the candidate take the critical thinking test again on-site either before their final interview or during an assessment day. The most common test candidates are asked to take is the Watson Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal (WGCTA) created by the popular assessment company, Pearson . This assessment company is on their third edition with new scoring and subsets described above. The WGCTA gained popularity because of its ability to assess a candidate’s potential alongside their aptitude. Another established assessment is the SHL Critical Reasoning Battery that contains sixty questions with a thirty-minute time limit. Both of the aforementioned critical thinking tests are multiple choice.

How to Prepare for the Critical Thinking Test?

The critical thinking test is difficult to study for because the test is designed to assess your bare knowledge and raw skills. In order to prepare successfully, it is important to focus on the areas of the test that you can equip yourself for. One aspect of the test that demands preparation is the time limit. Many candidates’ scores are negatively impacted because they skip or guess too many of the questions in an attempt to beat the clock. If you want to optimize your chances of achieving a good score, use online practice tests to acquaint yourself with the time constraint and the general theme of the questions. By utilizing the online practice tests, you can find the pace that works best for you. Another helpful way to prepare is running through sample questions. This way, you can warm-up your brain and gain an understanding of the expectations that both the test and the company have of you.

Free Sample Questions to Practice

• Look over her past quizzes to see what she missed.
• Set aside more time during the week to review the material for the quiz.
• Get to class on early Wednesday and briefly look over the chapters.
• Get a good night’s sleep.
• Parents should find an alternative way to get their kids to school next week.
• The premiums must be over-priced.
• Collective bargaining is no longer a feasible solution.
• Their employers are being unreasonable.
• People in Hawaii dislike living on an island.
• Colder climates induce more happiness than warmer climates.
• The high scores on the Alaska survey were produced by people who enjoy snow.
• People in Hawaii should move to Alaska.
• Jenny’s credit card was declined at the mall.
• Jenny’s bank keeps charging her $30 overdraft fees.
• Jenny’s check bounced when she attempted to purchase a new TV.
• Jenny spends more money than she makes.
• Lori has thirty cans of soda in a refrigerator in her garage and another fourteen sitting on the counter. Lori does not have anymore cans of soda. Therefore, Lori has 44 cans of soda.
• The accounting department loves math. My friend works in the accounting department. My friend loves math.
• Everyone southbound on the freeway yesterday was late to work. Jackie was southbound on the freeway. Jackie was late to work.
• Adrian lives in either Springfield, California, or Springfield, Illinois. If he lives in Illinois, then he is an American.

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Free Critical Thinking Practice Test with Questions, Answers, and Explanations

The questions on this free Critical Thinking practice test are a true representation of the questions you'll face on the actual Critical Thinking Aptitude Test.

These Critical Thinking sample questions were specifically chosen from our full Critical Thinking test practice pack to help improve your score and ace your pre-employment process.

Good Luck !

Free Critical Thinking Practice Questions

1. United Bank is concerned about the increasing media coverage of suspicions of corruption among its top management staff. The VP of finance was accused of embezzling ten million dollars, for which the maximum penalty is eight years in prison. The bank's attorneys advised management to offer him a plea bargain according to which he will admit to the crime, return the money plus compensation, and serve one year of community service. The VP of finance is reluctant to accept, pleading his innocence. If the VP of finance is found guilty of the charge and the judge gives him the maximum sentence, the VP of finance can be sentenced to a jail term of eight years.

A. True B. Probably True C. Insufficient Data D. Probably False E. False

Answer: The correct answer is 'True'.

The passage says: 'for which the maximum penalty is eight years in prison'. If there is a possible penalty of eight years in prison for the felony the VP is charged with, and he is found guilty, then it is possible that he would be sentenced for this period. As the statement uses the word 'can' it recognizes this is only one possibility of many. Therefore, the statement is true.

2. A new study proves that scores on cognitive ability tests, which include critical thinking tests, are strongly related to success in both civilian and military jobs, and predict outcomes in all jobs. The added value of these tests, the authors conclude, is that they predict both what an individual can do right now, as well the extent to which an individual is likely to learn and develop. Nowadays, occupational psychologists use cognitive ability tests more often than in the past.

Answer: The correct answer is 'Insufficient Data'.

The passage presents information about a new possible utility for cognitive ability tests in the occupational consultancy area. Yet, we lack information about the extent of past and present use of these tests; hence, it is impossible to determine and even to assume whether the statement is correct or not. Therefore, the correct answer is 'Insufficient Data'.

3. Following a reduction in the number of applicants, the college has been asking students to evaluate faculty teaching performance for the last two years. The college's management announced that the purpose of these evaluations is to provide information to faculty about teachers' strengths and weaknesses, and to help higher management make decisions about pay raises and promotions to reward the better teachers. Last week, Professor Burke, a recently retired senior lecturer at the college, wrote a letter in which he objected to these evaluations, claiming they compromise academic standards.

The college management does not care about academic excellence at all.

Answer: The correct answer is 'Probably False'.

This is a very definitive assertion that cannot be derived from the text. Even if the purpose of the evaluation is student satisfaction rather than trying to promote academic standards, it is very unlikely that the management does not care about academic level at all. Remember, you can use common sense and world knowledge when deciding between 'Probably' and 'Insufficient Data'.

We offer full preparation for the Watson Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal .

If you are slated to take the Watson Glaser, make sure you come prepared with one of the best practice courses available!

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Evaluation of Arguments - This section asks you to evaluate arguments. There is a question followed by an argument. The argument appears to be valid, however, you have to decide whether it is a strong argument or a weak argument, meaning that it should be both important and relevant to the question. You can find more Evaluation of Arguments sample questions in the following guide or purchase JobTestPrep's full Watson Glaser preparation .

4. Retailer groups opposed to Visa and MasterCard’s $7.25 billion settlement of a lawsuit over merchant credit card fees said they have garnered support from about 1,200 businesses covered by the deal. These groups urged U.S. District Judge in Brooklyn not to grant initial approval to the settlement, however, the ruling will probably be in its favour. That could end seven years of litigation over an alleged conspiracy by the card companies and banks to fix the fees that retailers are charged when customers pay with cards.

The judge thinks that a conspiracy between the credit card companies has not occurred.

There are possible reasons for the judge to rule in favour of a settlement that have nothing to do with the judge’s own opinion on the case, like wanting to avoid further costs for both sides in an already long and expensive process. The text simply does not provide any information regarding the judge’s beliefs. Therefore, the answer is 'Insufficient Data'.

5. Virtual employees, or employees who work from home via computer, are an increasing trend. In the US, the number of virtual employees has increased 39% in the last two years and 74% in the last five years. Employing virtual workers reduces costs and makes it possible to use talented workers no matter where they are located globally. Yet, running a workplace with virtual employees might entail miscommunication and less camaraderie, and can be more time-consuming than face-to-face interaction. Today, a majority of the employees in the US are virtual employees.

The passage describes an increasing trend of virtual employment hiring. Yet, it is not specified how prevalent has this trend become in comparison to the entire work force. There is no confirmation or contradiction of the statement, and the first tendency may be to choose 'insufficient data'. However, in this section of the test, you are allowed to use common sense to choose the right answer. By applying logic to the answer choices, you can surmise that there are many jobs which cannot be done virtually, and that despite the increasing popularity of this trend, it is unlikely that a majority of employees in the US are virtual.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Probably False'.

6. We forecast that completion of the development of supercomputers will be followed by a shortage of people who know how to make use of all this computing power. Proposed Assumption: It's only a matter of time until the development of supercomputers will be completed.

A. Assumption Made B. Assumption Not Made

Answer: Assumption not made.

The forecast does not relate to more than a hypothetical scenario (the completion of supercomputers development). It is neither certain that such a scenario will occur, nor that it is only a matter of time until it will. For example, 'we forecast that an alien invasion will force the nations of this world to work together' does not assume an alien invasion is bound to happen at some point.

Recognising Assumptions - In these types of exercises, you must recognize whether an assumption is justifiable or not. The exercises usually consist of a statement followed by an assumption about it. Your job is to identify whether this assumption is supported by the statement. Check out these Recognising Assumptions questions . Other Critical Thinking practice preps include Hogan , Watson Glaser , and RANRA .

7. Wife to husband: Our joint income is lower than it could be. But soon I will begin to work at an additional part-time job, and I will earn extra income. Proposed Assumption: The couple's expenses have increased significantly lately.

Answer: Assumption is not made.

There may be many reasons for the wife's wish to increase her household's incomes.

8. A career at DX Electronics is the best choice—it is the most stable workplace.

Proposed Assumption:

Most of DX Electronics' employees are satisfied with their current company management.

The above text does not relate to employee satisfaction in any way. It might make sense that a workplace’s employees must be satisfied for it to be stable, but one does not have to make this assumption to make this statement.

9. Ethics committee member: 'This person was the proctor at the exam during which the two students were caught allegedly cheating. Yet she claims to recognize the student who was giving the answers but not the student who was getting the answers. Therefore, the proctor's testimony should be excluded.' Proposed Assumption: If a proctor claims to recognize both parties involved in cheating, then the proctor's testimony should be included.

Answer: Assumption not made. The passage gives a reason to disqualify a proctor’s testimony, but it does not say the absence of that reason should automatically qualify the testimony. For example: If you are not an American citizen, you cannot run for president. However, if you are an American citizen, it does not necessarily mean you can run for president. There are other conditions, such as your age and the amount of time you have been an American resident.

10. About 330 marketing professionals attended this year’s Media Innovations Forum. This indicates that social media engagement is a substantial feature of brand marketing plans. Proposed Assumption: The extent of attendance in professional media forums is not negligible.

Answer: The assumption is made. Premise 1: Spotting attendance in professional forums allows one to recognise a trend or behaviour in a certain industry. Premise 2: The Media Innovations Forum is important enough to indicate trends in the marketing industry. Conclusion: Social media engagement is a substantial feature of brand marketing plans In other words: According to the above, attendance in professional forums must be significant, or else how can one use it to justify or recognise a noticeable trend in the marketing world? Remember, you are not asked to judge whether the assumption is justified, only whether the speaker had made it.

When dealing with an inference question , you must draw conclusions from observed or assumed facts. You are presented with a short text containing a set of facts with an inferred statement. On the basis of what you've read, you need to make an assessment of this statement's validity.

11. You are nervous if you are stuck in traffic. Everyone stuck in traffic is anxious.

If you are stuck in traffic, you are both anxious and nervous.

A. Conclusion follows B. Conclusion does not follows

Answer: Conclusion follows.

Stuck in traffic = A, nervous = B, anxious = C. According to the premises, if A -> B, and every A -> C, which also means A -> B + C.

The conclusion states A -> B + C.

The conclusion is the combination of the two premises; therefore, it follows.

12. In a certain recycling company that generously rewarded workers for each new client they brought in, it was found that 15 percent of the workers brought in three or more new clients last year. Among workers who had bribed clients to get their business, 25 percent brought in three or more new clients last year.

The workers that had not used bribes earned more money than the ones who did, because the bribers also lost money in the process of bringing in clients.

Answer: Conclusion does not follow. Though it makes sense, that conclusion does not follow beyond a reasonable doubt. Altogether, the workers who had used bribes may have brought more clients than those who had not, so their reward was greater even after subtracting the cost of the bribes. In addition, neither the reward nor the bribe discussed are necessarily cash-related incentives. One might bribe someone by offering free tickets to the theatre owned by his family, or give away something that is not material in nature.

13. When I go to work in the morning, I usually leave my house at 7:00 am and take the bus into the city. On rare occasions, however, I stay overnight at my aunt’s house and take the underground to work.

My workplace is in the city.

Answer: Conclusion does not follow. Although it is stated that the narrator takes the bus into the city when he goes to work, we cannot deduce, beyond a reasonable doubt, that his workplace is actually in the city. The city could just be a stop on the way to the workplace.

14. Studies conducted over the last 60 years show adult obesity and the direct medical cost thereof have increased steadily worldwide. The last decade has the highest rates of both these trends.

Adult obesity and the direct medical cost thereof have increased because fast food has become more prevalent worldwide.

Answer: Conclusion does not follow. From our general knowledge, one may infer that this statement is correct. However, it does not follow from the passage since the passage contains no indication whatsoever concerning fast food. Although fast food could be a good reason for the above-mentioned problems, there may be other reasons as well, so the conclusion does not follow.

Deduction - In this section, you must evaluate information and decide whether the conclusions drawn are justified. Based on the information you have read, a statement of facts is presented followed by a conclusion. Analyse whether the conclusions follow or contradict the statement. Improve your skills with more Deduction questions or purchase the full Watson Glaser preparation . Other Critical Thinking practice preps include Hogan , Watson Glaser , and RANRA .

15. I have a nine-month-old baby at home, and she usually agrees to be put to bed, where she falls asleep promptly. But every time her grandparents visit in the evening, she cries when I put her to bed, and she continues to cry for an hour.

My baby reacts to some changes in routine by refusing to go to sleep quietly.

Answer: Conclusion does not follow. This is a generalization which the passage does not imply. It may be the case, but there could also be many other reasons why the baby will not fall asleep easily. For example, whenever the grandparents visit, the house is noisier, so the baby cannot sleep. It is not possible to conclude beyond a reasonable doubt what the reason for the baby’s problem is.

Interpretation - Here, you evaluate the strength of different arguments in support of a particular topic. Presented to you is a short paragraph, which should be taken as fact. There is a suggested conclusion following this paragraph, which must be verified beyond a reasonable doubt. There are two options: Conclusion follows, and conclusion does not follow. Challenge yourself with more Watson Glaser Interpretation questions . Other Critical Thinking practice preps include Hogan , Watson Glaser , and RANRA .

16. Should the US government welfare program exchange the current system of food stamps, which act like cash, for a list of approved foods?

Argument: No. While fraudulent schemes using food stamps are well known and can therefore be prevented, the fraudulent schemes that undoubtedly will be used with a list of approved foods are unknown and therefore cannot be prevented.

A. Strong argument B. Weak argument

Answer: Strong argument. This argument is both important and related to the issue. If fraudulent schemes related to food stamps are currently being successfully prevented, it would not promote the general welfare of the people to change the system to one with unknown dangerous of fraud.

17. Should employees who have over five years of experience in the company be bound by law to give employers an advance notice of 60 days upon resignation?

Argument: No. Labour laws such as this one that protect employers discourage employees, making them less efficient in the workplace.

Answer: Strong argument. If you consider this argument as true, as you are required to, then this argument is strong. It is relevant to the question of whether there should be a law forcing employees to give two months’ notice before they can resign, and it is important, stating that such laws would only render employees less motivated and productive. Therefore, the argument is strong.

18. When grading tests, should teachers consider that some of their students have native-born parents and other students have immigrant parents?

Argument: No. Although some teachers may be sympathetic to students from immigrant families with financial difficulties, their grading should reflect the students’ work and abilities, regardless of ethnic or financial background.

Answer: Strong argument. Whether you agree with this argument or not, you must regard it as true. As such, it is strong. It both relates to the question directly, and raises an important claim, that grades should reflect someone’s merits, and not take into account factors such as ethnicity or socioeconomic background.

19. Should the government close ageing and polluting power stations even if the result is more energy imports?

Argument: No; importing is highly expensive, and the world-wide financial crisis has had a major impact on the government's ability to pay for such expensive schemes.

Answer: Strong argument. Like the argument in the previous question, the argument addresses one of the main issues presented in the statement—importing energy. More specifically, it addresses the reduced financial ability of the government to execute energy imports due to a world crisis. Therefore, it offers a reliable reason as to why it is probably not desirable to close local power plants.

20. Should the government allow rehabilitated convicted criminals the right to expunge their criminal record after a waiting period of five years?

Argument: Yes; expunging criminal records reduces social stigma and helps rehabilitated criminals assimilate better in society.

Answer: Strong argument. This argument is both directly related to the question and is important. It gives a substantiated reason for why expunging criminal records would have a positive effect. Therefore, it is a strong argument.

In the Critical Thinking Watson Glaser PrepPack , you will find the largest selection of practice tests, study guides and tutorials. We offer straightforward expert explanations as well as predictive score reports that show your skill level and progress. With our materials, you will be able to significantly boost your potential within a short period of time, thereby improving your chances of being hired.

Answer Index

Continue Practicing for the Critical Thinking Exam

Access more Critical Thinking Test practice tests and other valuable critical thinking test prep materials so that you take the test while being as prepared as possible:

• The Watson Glaser Practice Course -  2 full-length Watson Glaser practice test simulations and 23 extra practice drills to sharpen your abilities.
• The Complete Clifford Chance Assessment Preparation   - Prepare with 3 RANRA-style practice tests, 2 Watson Glaser-style full practice assessments and 300 practice questions and drills.
• Linklaters Watson Glaser Test - 1 Diagnostic Test, 6 Full-length Watson Glaser Simulations, 23 Specialized Practice Tests for All Five Watson Glaser Sections.
• Hogan Lovells Watson Glaser Assessment  - Full-Length Watson Glaser Simulations, Inference Drills, Deduction Drills, Arguments Drills, Interpretation Drills, Assumptions Drills.
• Combination of RANRA Watson Glaser Tests - 3 RANRA-style, 29 Watson Glaser-style, and 12 Numerical Exercises practice tests.

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Sample Test

Online critical thinking basic concepts sample test, part one: on the nature of critical thinking, q: critical thinking is essential to reasoning well through complicated issues..

•   True
•   False

Q: Critical thinking and creativity entail two distinctly different processes.

Q: one should not analyze sympathetically points of view that are revolting and obviously wrong., q: if a statement is irrelevant, we benefit by asking how it helps us answer the question at issue., q: inferences are implications embedded in a situation., q: critical thinkers are mainly concerned with assessing their own thinking, rather than the thinking of others, since their own thinking is the only thinking under their control., part two: on the nature of critical thinking, q: one main requirement of critical thinking is.

•   to articulate arguments as well as possible
•   to identify every aspect of another person’s thinking
•   to analyze thinking into its most basic components
•   all of the above
•   none of the above

Q: An important fact that supports the need for ananalytic dimension of critical thinking is that

•   people don’t typically recognize the importance of assessment in thinking
•   most people don’t think
•   the analysis of thinking is presupposed in every subject

Q: Critical thinkers assess thinking in order to

•   look carefully at the parts of thinking
•   adhere to the standards implicit in examinations
•   think at the highest level of quality

Q: Depth in reasoning best relates to

•   difficulties in the issue
•   logical implications
•   exemplifying the purpose.

Q: Fairminded thinking is

•   something most people strive to do.
•   primarily about having a good heart.
•   connected with the accurate assessment of one’s own reasoning.

Q: It is important to clarify thinking whenever

•   you are trying to determine whether something is relevant
•   you are formulating thoughts for a paper.
•   there are complexities in an issue.

Part Three: On Recognizing Important Distinctions in Critical Thinking

Q: perspective.

•   element
•   standard
•   trait
•   ability
•   obstacle

Q: sufficiency

Q: prejudice in thinking, q: intellectual sense of justice, q: socialism, q: narrowmindedness, q: completeness, q: clarifying issues, conclusions, or beliefs.

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A Critical Thinking test, also known as a critical reasoning test, determines your ability to reason through an argument logically and make an objective decision. You may be required to assess a situation, recognize assumptions being made, create hypotheses, and evaluate arguments.

What questions can I expect?

Questions are likely based on the Watson and Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal model, which contains five sections designed to assess how well an individual reasons analytically and logically. The five sections are:

Arguments : In this section, you are tested on your ability to distinguish between strong and weak arguments. For an argument to be strong, it must be both significant and directly related to the question. An argument is considered weak if it is not directly related to the question, of minor importance, or confuses correlation with causation, which is the incorrect assumption that correlation implies causation.

Assumptions : An assumption is something taken for granted. People often make assumptions that may not be correct. Being able to identify these is a key aspect of critical reasoning. A typical assumption question will present a statement and several assumptions, and you are required to identify whether an assumption has been made.

Deductions : Deduction questions require you to draw conclusions based solely on the information provided in the question, disregarding your own knowledge. You will be given a passage of information and must evaluate whether a conclusion made from that passage is valid.

Interpretation : In these questions, you are given a passage of information followed by a proposed conclusion. You must consider the information as true and decide whether the proposed conclusion logically and undoubtedly follows.

Inferences : Inference involves drawing conclusions from observed or supposed facts. It is about deducing information that is not explicitly stated but implied by the given information. For example, if we find a public restroom door locked, we infer that it is occupied.

Critical Thinking example:

Read the following statement and decide whether the conclusion logically follows from the information given.

Statement: Every librarian at the city library has completed a master’s degree in Library Science. Sarah is a librarian at the city library.

Conclusion: Sarah has completed a master’s degree in Library Science.

Does this conclusion logically follow from the statement?

Answer Options:

Explanation: Select your answer to display explanation.

The statement establishes that every librarian at the city library has completed a master’s degree in Library Science. Since Sarah is identified as a librarian at this library, it logically follows that she has completed a master’s degree in Library Science. The conclusion is a direct inference from the given information.

Where are Critical thinking tests used?

Critical thinking tests are commonly used in educational institutions for admissions and assessments, particularly in courses requiring strong analytical skills. In the professional realm, they are a key component of the recruitment process for roles demanding problem-solving and decision-making abilities, and are also utilized in internal promotions and leadership development. Additionally, these tests are integral to professional licensing and certification in fields like law and medicine, and are employed in training and development programs across various industries.

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Try a free critical thinking test. This free practice test contains 10 test questions and has a time limit of 6 minutes.

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Watson Glaser Critical Thinking Tests

Complex and challenging critical thinking tests, including the Watson-Glaser, are used mostly by law firms.

Page contents:

About critical thinking tests and how they work, free practice critical thinking test, the watson glaser critical thinking appraisal, what is measured by a watson glaser critical thinking test, what should i know before taking a watson glaser critical thinking test, major publishers' critical thinking tests, advice for all critical thinking tests, assessmentday's practice tests can help you to prepare for a critical thinking test, one final point, other test publishers.

Updated: 08 September 2022

Critical thinking tests, or critical reasoning tests, are psychometric tests used in recruitment at all levels, graduate, professional and managerial, but predominantly in the legal sector. However, it is not uncommon to find companies in other sectors using critical thinking tests as part of their selection process. This is an intense test, focusing primarily on your analytical, or critical thinking, skills. Some tests are still conducted by paper and pen, but, just like other psychometric tests, critical thinking tests are mostly administered online at home or on a computer at a testing center.

The questions are multiple choice, and these choices and the style of questions are explained in more detail further down the page. The tests will often follow these two common timings:

• 30 questions with a 40 minute time limit
• 80 questions with a 60 minute time limit

Critical Thinking can be defined in many ways and an exact description is disputed, however, most agree on a broad definition of critical thinking, that 'critical thinking involves rational, purposeful, and goal-directed thinking...by using certain cognitive skills and strategies.' An absence or lack of critical thinking skills at times may lead us to believe things which aren't true, because we haven't sufficiently analysed and criticized the information we've received or used this to formulate and independently test our own theories, arguments and ideas. These are all examples of critical thinking skills put into practice. Glaser (An Experiment in the Development of Critical Thinking, 1941) stated that to think critically involved three key parts:

• An attitude of being disposed to consider in a thoughtful way the problems and subjects that come within the range of one's experiences
• Knowledge of the methods of logical inquiry and reasoning
• Some skill in applying those methods

Note: AssessmentDay and its products are not affiliated with Pearson or TalentLens. Our practice tests are for candidates to prepare for the Watson Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal; we do not sell tests for employers to select candidates.

Free Critical Thinking Test

Here, we have a full critical thinking test for you to practice for free. You can dive straight in and practice the full test (in blue at the bottom), or tackle each individual section one at a time.

All answers and explanations are included at the end of the test, or alternatively you can download the Solutions PDF. Each test has been given a generous time limit.

Critical Thinking Test 1

• 40 questions

Critical Thinking Test 2

Critical thinking test 3, critical thinking test 4.

TalentLens' Watson Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal (WGCTA) is the most common critical thinking test. You can visit their official site here: Watson Glaser . Most other critical thinking tests are based on the Watson Glaser format. More than 90 years' of experience have led to many modifications and improvements in the test.

The Watson Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal is widely regarded as a good predictor of work productivity and at identifying candidates with a good potential to become managers and occupy other positions as a senior member of staff. The latest edition of the Watson Glaser Critical Thinking Test has improved its validity, appealed more to businesses by focusing on business-relevant topics, switched to the Item Response Theory (IRT) for its scoring, updated norm groups, and integrated anti-cheat measures by having an online retest, which can be used to validate results.

Developed by Goodwin Watson and Edward Glaser, the Watson Glaser test is favored by law firms , keen to measure people's abilities to reason, reach conclusions and know when leaps in logic have been made. Skills which are required in the legal sector. The questions in each of the 5 sections aims to evaluate the candidate's ability to:

• 1. Arrive at correct inferences
• 2. Identify when an assumption has been made
• 3. Use deductive reasoning
• 4. Reach logical conclusions
• 5. Evaluate the effectiveness of arguments

Did You Know

The most recent revision of the W-GCTA was published in 2011 with notable improvements being better face validity and business-relevant items, scoring based on Item Response Theory (IRT), updated norm groups, and an online retest which can be used to validate a paper and pencil test result.

A Critical thinking tests assesses your ability in 5 key areas mentioned above; assumptions, arguments, deductions, inferences and interpreting information. Often in this order. A short paragraph of text a few sentences long or a single sentence is used as a starting point. This passage will contain information which you will base your answer to the question on. Another sentence is then presented to you and you will be asked to judge something about this sentence based on the information in the short paragraph. The five sections are explained in more detail here:

• Assumptions - You are being asked to state whether the information in the second set of text you are presented is an assumption made in the first paragraph. Quite a tricky concept to get your head around at first. In a nutshell, when people speak or make arguments, there are underlying assumptions in those arguments. Here you are presented with some assumptions and are asked to judge if that is being made in the original statement. For example in the statement "only people earning a high salary can afford a fast car," what's being assumed is that fast cars are expensive because only people who are earning a lot of money can buy one, however, what's not being assumed is that people without high salaries aren't legally allowed to buy a fast car. You are asked to choose whether an assumption has been made or has not been made.
• Arguments - You are presented with an argument, such as "Should college fees be abolished?" Regardless of your own opinions and thoughts on the argument, you are then presented with statements related to this original argument. You are asked to say whether the responses to the original argument of "Should college fees be abolished?" make for strong or weak arguments. Arguments are considered strong if they are related to the topic such as, "Yes, many people who would benefit from a college education do not because they cannot afford it. This hurts the country's economic growth." The argument presented is sound, related to the original question. Compare this with a weak argument, "No, I do not trust people who read a lot of books." It is clear that the second argument bears very little relation to the subject of the abolition of college tuition fees. This is not to say that an argument against the original argument will always be a weak one, or that an argument in favor will always be a strong one. For example, "Yes, I like people that read books," is in favor of the abolition as indicated by "yes," but that person's like or dislike of others that read books isn't related, or hasn't been explained how it's related to removing the fees. Carefully considering what is being said, remove it from your own personal opinions and political views to objectively analyse what someone else has put forward.
• Deductions - A few sentences of information are presented to you. Another separate short statement will also be shown to you, which is supposed to represent a conclusion that someone has reached. You will have to determine whether this conclusion logically follows from the information given to you. Can the statement be deduced from the information available>? If so, and without a doubt, then the conclusion follows, if not, then the conclusion does not follow. Your decision must be based on the information given and not from your own knowledge.
• Inferences - A short scenario is described to you, followed by possible inferences. The inferences are short statements. Imagine that these are what people have said is inferred from the scenario. Use your judgement and the short scenario to assess whether what's being said has actually been inferred from the passage and the likelihood of this inference. You are asked to rank each inference as either 'true,' 'false,' 'possibly true,' 'possibly false.' For some proposed inferences there isn't enough information to say either 'true' or 'false' so a fifth option is included; 'more information required.' You can only select one option from the five.
• Interpreting Information - Following a similar format to the previous four sections, a short passage of information and then a series of statements are shown to you. You are asked to judge whether the information in the passage can be interpreted as the statements suggest. The answer options are straightforward here; you either select 'conclusion follows,' or 'conclusion does not follow,' depending on whether or not you believe that the statement can be logically reached from the information given. Again, for this section and all others, you are to base your choice of answer on what you're given, not on any specialized knowledge you might have.

If a watson glaser critical thinking test is used in the early stages of the application process it's likely to be used as a screening tool. This puts some pressure on candidates to meet a minimum pass mark, which will allow them to be selected to go on to the next stage of the selection process. If it's used at a later stage in the process, the results from this will be combined with performance in other assessments, tests, exercises and interviews. All the information you need to answer the questions will be in the test. Below the details of a few companies' critical thinking tests are pointed out.

Here is a list of critical reasoning tests on the market at present, which candidates may be likely to encounter for recruitment, selection or development.

• W-GCTA - The Watson Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal as it is formally called is the most ubiquitous critical thinking test out there. This is the one that you are most likely to encounter.
• GMAT - The general management aptitude test, used by business schools and colleges test students' critical thinking ability. The critical thinking questions are written in a business or finance context.
• SHL - SHL have produced the Critical Reasoning Test Battery composed of 60 critical reasoning questions with a strict time limit of 30 minutes.
• Cornell - Cornell have developed a critical thinking test to be used in educational environments. The two levels, X and Z, are aimed at children and adults, respectively.
• Area-specific - There are tests which focus on either numerical critical reasoning skills and verbal critical reasoning skills. These tests will ask only numerical or only verbal questions to assess your skills in a specific area.

Here is some general advice to help you perform to the best of your ability for your critical reasoning test.

• No prior knowledge - The key point here is that critical reasoning tests are measuring your ability to think, or the method that you use to reach a conclusion. You should therefore not rely on prior knowledge to answer the question. Questions will be written so that you do not need to know any specialist knowledge to answer the question. For example, you will not be expected to know mathematical formulas or laws of nature and to answer questions with that information. If you are given the formula and its description in the questions, you are expected to use that information to reach the answer.
• Carefully read the instructions - There are 5 sections to most critical thinking tests and each will assess a slightly different skill. Make sure you have read the instructions and understand what it is you are expected to do to answer the questions for this section. There is quite a difference between the Assumptions section and the Deductions section for example. Applying the rules of one to the other would lead to just guessing the answers and making many mistakes.
• Keep your eye on the timer - These tests are complex. You might find yourself fixated on answering one question and taking up a lot of the time you are allowed. Checking how much time you have every so often can help you to more evenly distribute your time between the questions. This is done to avoid spending too much time on one question when that time would be better spent answering more or checking your answers. This time management applies to all tests, but is particularly important with Critical Thinking tests, as many people believe they have such a large amount of time, but underestimate the number of questions they have to answer.
• Logical fallacies - Identifying logical fallacies is key to many parts of this test, and researching the difference between sound and fallacious logic will prove helpful in a critical reasoning test. A fallacy is an error in reasoning due to a misconception or a presumption, and an argument which employs a formal fallacy, logical fallacy or a deductive fallacy in its reasoning becomes an invalid argument. Researching the different types of fallacy (i.e. red herring argument, straw man argument, confusing correlation and causation etc.) can help you spot these in the test and correctly answer the question.

The practice tests that we have cover all of the sections of the Watson Glaser Critical Thinking test and these overlap with many of the variations in Critical Thinking tests produced by major publishers. practice helps to increase your confidence, gives you a chance to learn from your mistakes in a risk-free environment, and can reduce stress before an exam.

The best place to get advice on taking a critical thinking tests is the test publisher's website, for example this one for the Watson Glaser .

If you have already successfully passed a few initial stages of the application process, it's unlikely that companies will focus solely on your results in the Watson Glaser Critical Thinking test when deciding whether or not to hire you. This type of selection by results on one test is more likely if it is part of the early stages of the process. However, towards the later stages the company will look at your results across interviews, group exercises, other aptitude tests and your résumé and will collate all of this information before reaching a decision. If you have been invited to undertake a critical reasoning test then the organisation clearly has an interest in hiring you, let that fact inspire confidence and perform to the best of your ability on your test, good luck!

You may also be interested in these popular tests sections.

Full Critical Thinking Test Guide 2024

An increasing number of companies are incorporating tests of critical thinking into their recruitment procedures. Get ready for these evaluations by using the preparation tools available from JobTestPrep. Our materials offer insights into the tests, along with practice exams, thorough explanations for each answer, results analysis, and additional features. Begin your preparation for critical thinking assessments now to enhance your chances of success.

What Is Critical Thinking?

Critical thinking, often referred to as critical reasoning, involves evaluating a situation and understanding different viewpoints. It requires recognizing, analyzing, and distinguishing between facts, opinions, and assumptions.

Why Is the Critical Thinking Test Important to Employers?

Employers use  reasoning aptitude questions to assess your ability to make reasoned decisions when faced with a problem, without letting emotions sway your judgment. This ability to separate feelings from analysis allows you to remain objective, self-assured, and decisive, leading to choices that are more reasoned and well-founded.

When Is Critical Thinking Used?

Critical thinking plays a key role throughout various phases of problem-solving and making decisions:

• Identifying the issue at hand.
• Choosing pertinent data needed to address the issue.
• Acknowledging both explicit and implicit assumptions present in the information.
• Formulating theories and determining the most pertinent and trustworthy solutions.
• Arriving at sound conclusions and evaluating the strength of the deductions made.
• Critical Thinking Skills Tests

Tests of critical thinking often include multiple parts or subsections that evaluate different cognitive skills.

Inference In the inference segment, you're tasked with drawing conclusions from given or assumed facts. You'll read a brief passage with facts to accept as true, and then you'll see a statement that might be derived from the passage. Your job is to decide if this statement is valid based on the information provided. You must determine if the statement is true, probably true, not enough information to decide, probably false, or false. For instance, if a baby cries at mealtime, you might infer that the baby is hungry, though other reasons could be possible, like discomfort from heat.

Recognizing Assumptions This part requires you to identify if an underlying assumption is reasonable. You'll be presented with a statement and an associated assumption. Your task is to figure out if the assumption is supported by the statement. This tests your ability to not automatically accept things as true without evidence. For example, saying "I’ll still have my job in three months" assumes that you won't be laid off or decide to leave for other opportunities. You must decide if an assumption is made or not.

Deduction The deduction section evaluates your ability to consider information and determine if certain conclusions are justified. After reading a set of facts, you'll be given a potential conclusion. Your role is to decide if this conclusion logically follows the facts. For instance, from the statement "No one in authority escapes making tough choices," you must deduce if it logically means "All people must make tough choices." You must judge whether the conclusion follows or does not follow from the statement.

Interpretation In this part, your skill in understanding and weighing various arguments about a question or issue is assessed. You'll read a paragraph, assumed to be true, followed by a proposed conclusion. You must decide if the conclusion is logically sound beyond a reasonable doubt. The options you have are whether the conclusion follows or does not follow.

Evaluation of Arguments Here, you're asked to judge the strength of an argument. You'll be given a question and an argument that is taken as true. Your task is to decide if the argument is strong or weak, meaning if it is significant and directly related to the question.

• Watson Glaser

The Watson Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal (WGCTA) , a widely recognized psychological test created by Pearson Assessments, serves primarily for evaluating critical thinking skills. It's frequently utilized for selecting candidates for employment and managing talent, as well as for assessing students academically. This test can be taken either through an online platform or in a traditional face-to-face setting.

Additionally, access our Free Watson Glaser practice questions !

Critical Thinking Examples

Critical thinking comes in many forms, so we have put together a variety of questions to test your critical thinking skills.

Example 1 – Identifying Assumptions

A wife tells her husband that their combined income is not as high as it could be. She plans to start working a part-time job soon to earn more money. Hypothesized Assumption: The wife should not ask for a raise at her current job to increase her income.

A. Assumption is present

B. Assumption is absent

The correct answer is (B), Assumption is absent.

Explanation for the answer:

The wife's main point: Our total income will soon go up. Her reasoning: I'll start a new part-time job. The assumption that must be correct for her conclusion to hold: A part-time job will bring in additional income. The assumption that she shouldn't ask for a raise at her current job is not necessary for her conclusion to hold water.

Example 2 – Drawing Conclusions

Years ago, Harold and his wife adopted a two-year-old named Betty. Now, Betty is a college student living away from home. Harold feels sad and misses her a lot, wishing she would visit more. Hypothesized Assumption: Harold’s wife isn’t sad.

A. Conclusion is valid

B. Conclusion is invalid

The correct answer is (B), Conclusion is invalid.

Harold's wife isn't mentioned in the story, so we can't make any assumptions about her emotions.

Example 3 – Making Inferences

After a drop in applications, a college has had students review their professors' teaching for two years. The college leaders say the reviews are to help teachers improve and to reward the best ones with raises and promotions. Professor Burke, who just retired, wrote a letter criticizing these reviews, saying they lower academic standards. Hypothesized Assumption: The college leaders have more motives than they're admitting.

B. Probably true

C. Insufficient data

E. Probably false

The correct answer is (B), Probably true.

The introduction shows that the college's announcement is a response to fewer student applications. Although the announcement seems to focus on improving teaching quality, it's likely that there's also a concern about the college's reputation and application rates. So, the answer "probably true" fits best.

Professions That Use Critical Thinking Tests

Below are some professions that use critical thinking tests and assessments during the hiring process as well as some positions that demand  critical thinking and reasoning skills:

Prepare for Critical Thinking and Critical Reasoning Assessments

The Critical Thinking PrepPack™ offers a comprehensive preparation journey to enhance your critical thinking abilities. With our collection of practice questions, detailed study guides, and informative score reports, we aim to boost your skillset. Begin your prep now to secure your success.

JobTestPrep is not affiliated with any specific test provider. Therefore, while our materials are extremely helpful and styled similarly to most critical thinking tests, they are not an exact match.

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How to Prepare for a Critical Thinking Test: Effective Strategies and Tips

Preparing for a critical thinking test can be challenging, as it requires you to use your intellectual skills to critically analyze evidence and reach logical conclusions. Critical thinking tests, sometimes known as critical reasoning tests, are often used by employers to evaluate how a candidate makes logical deductions after scrutinizing the evidence provided, while avoiding fallacies or non-factual opinions.

Key Takeaways

Understanding critical thinking, critical thinking skills.

Critical thinking is the ability to scrutinize evidence using intellectual skills and reflective abilities to reach clear, coherent, and logical conclusions, rather than just accepting information as it is provided 1 . It involves a range of logical skills that are essential for effective decision-making and problem-solving. Some of the key critical thinking skills include:

Strategies to Enhance Critical Thinking Ability

Fundamentals of critical thinking test, evaluation of arguments, types of critical thinking tests.

There are different types of critical thinking tests available online, covering a range of question formats and testing methods. Some tests focus on analyzing written passages, while others present the information in diagrams or charts. Most tests evaluate an individual’s ability to:

Importance of Critical Thinking Tests for Employers

For employers, critical thinking tests play a vital role in the application process. Employers use these tests to assess a candidate’s ability to scrutinize evidence, make logical deductions, and avoid fallacies or non-factual opinions. This evaluation is essential in deciding whether an individual is suitable for a role that requires complex decision-making, troubleshooting, or problem-solving skills.

Guidelines to Prepare for the Test

Assessing and recognizing assumptions, drawing logical conclusions.

A critical component of critical thinking is drawing logical conclusions based on the information provided. To master this skill, begin with analyzing different scenarios and identifying the relevant details. This process involves making inferences and connecting multiple pieces of information to arrive at a sound conclusion. Engage in activities that challenge your interpretation and decision-making abilities, as these skills will be beneficial on assessment day.

Implementing Problem Solving Techniques

Sharpening deduction skills.

In conclusion, enhancing your critical thinking skills requires diligent practice and an understanding of key principles. By following the guidelines above, you can confidently prepare for the test and emerge with a strong foundation in critical thinking.

Critical Thinking Tests in Different Sectors

Critical thinking in the legal sector, critical thinking in the banking sector.

The banking sector similarly places great importance on critical thinking abilities. SHL Critical Reasoning Battery is commonly utilized in the banking industry to assess candidates’ logical reasoning and decision-making skills. You can practice critical thinking tests here .

Banks need employees who can make well-founded decisions and effectively handle intricate financial scenarios. Assessing critical thinking skills during recruitment ensures that companies hire professionals with the ability to make rational choices and excel in their roles.

Relevant Psychometric Assessments

When preparing for a critical thinking test, it is important to familiarize yourself with relevant psychometric assessments that employers might use to evaluate your cognitive abilities. Two widely known assessments are the Watson Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal and the SHL Critical Reasoning Battery .

Watson Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal

Shl critical reasoning battery.

Another important test to be aware of is the SHL Critical Reasoning Battery . This assessment evaluates a candidate’s aptitude for logical reasoning and analysis, focusing on their ability to identify alternative interpretations and make well-informed decisions.

Each type of assessment measures different cognitive abilities, making it necessary for candidates to practice and develop their skills in all three areas to perform well during the test.

In conclusion, preparing for a critical thinking test requires understanding the relevant psychometric assessments, such as the Watson Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal and the SHL Critical Reasoning Battery. By focusing on the specific categories and cognitive abilities assessed in these tests, you can improve your critical thinking skills and increase your chances of success in the recruitment process.

Approach to Sample Questions

Interpreting information, evaluating arguments, recognizing assumptions.

Recognizing assumptions is a crucial aspect of critical thinking, as it involves identifying biases, values, and beliefs underlying the presented information. Make a habit of questioning assumptions and considering alternative viewpoints. As you practice recognizing assumptions, challenge yourself to consider counterarguments and explore different perspectives. Developing this skill will enable you to approach sample questions with a more open mind and balanced judgment.

Practice Tests

Preparing for a critical thinking test involves a combination of honing your intellectual and reflective skills. One key aspect is to practice regularly with different test assessments to familiarize yourself with the format and question types.

Lastly, persistence and dedication are crucial in refining your critical thinking skills. Be prepared to invest time and effort into this process, and do not become disheartened if you face difficulties along the way. Remember to learn from your mistakes, adapt your strategies, and you will undoubtedly see progress in your critical thinking capabilities.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the key elements to focus on while practicing, how can one improve problem-solving skills, what are the best sources for critical thinking test samples.

The best sources for critical thinking test samples are reputable websites and platforms that offer practice tests and resources tailored to the specific critical thinking test format. Some examples include Psychometric Success , Practice Aptitude Tests , and Practice4Me . These platforms offer sample questions, tips, and techniques to help candidates familiarize themselves with the test format and content.

How essential is time management in critical thinking tests?

What strategies can be employed to enhance logical reasoning, how can one effectively analyze arguments during the test.

Analyzing arguments effectively during a critical thinking test involves evaluating the evidence presented, understanding the structure of the argument, determining the validity of the argument, and identifying potential fallacies or biased reasoning. To achieve this, test-takers should practice critically analyzing various types of arguments, focusing on the logical and evidentiary components, and maintaining a neutral and objective viewpoint throughout the process.

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Critical Thinking Test: Online Preparation & Free Practice Questions – 2024

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What Is Critical Thinking?

Critical thinking, also known as critical reasoning, is a form of decision making and reasoning using data and observations. Someone who is a strong critical thinker can find quality solutions efficiently and can evaluate issues objectively.

What Is a Critical Thinking Test?

Critical thinking tests provide companies valuable insight into the leadership, reasoning, and overall capabilities of candidates. Because strong critical thinking skills are highly sought after, the critical thinking test can be applicable to any field and discipline across multiple levels of expertise from recent graduate to executive. However, it is commonly administered to those applying for criminal justice and business-related occupations.

Job seekers with upcoming critical thinking tests will be evaluated on more than their ability to rationalize, critical thinking tests also measure the following subsets:

• Organizing & Planning
• Strategizing
• Decision Making
• Problem Solving

The format of the critical thinking uses hypothetical scenarios to assess candidates. The scenarios are typically relevant to the field you are interested in to assess your knowledge of the role. There will also be general questions concerning more basic issues or problems that commonly occur in a workplace environment.

The critical thinking test is multiple-choice with thirty minutes to complete the assessment. Candidates will receive a notification stating whether or not they passed within a week of completion.

How Is the Critical Thinking Test Scored?

The critical reasoning test is scored based on your raw score and your percentile in comparison with your norm group. It’s important to note that these will not be the same number.

A norm group is a collection of scores from individuals in your field at your level of experience. The percentile score is used to alert employers if you exceed, meet or miss the benchmark for the average expectations of candidates. You will be rated on a scale of one to one hundred with fifty consisting of the mean and median scores.

A raw score is simply the number of correct answers. The critical thinking test comprises your raw score based on the performance in the following areas:

• Recognizing Assumptions The candidate must be able to understand when a statement is made with no supporting evidence and how this can affect a decision. Further, candidates are asked to identify these discrepancies, whether they are stated explicitly or implicitly, and assess its relevance to the given scenario.
• Evaluating Arguments Candidates must evaluate arguments without considering inferences or being subjective. Beyond that, candidates must assess the supporting evidence, the structure of the argument and the degree of its influence. It is very important to dismiss emotions for this portion of the critical thinking test.
• Drawing Conclusions Drawing conclusions puts a large emphasis on reasoning. In this section, it’s important to assess all of the available evidence and data to form a plausible conclusion that accurately applies to all the given information. Employers also want to see candidates that will consider all possible solutions rather than making the evidence fit a desired narrative.

Employers will receive all of this information in a performance report construed by the assessment company. Employers will also be given insight into your overall potential, job knowledge, creativity and job performance per the report.

Where Will I Take a Critical Thinking Test?

Critical thinking tests are non-proctored online assessments that are typically sent via email after an initial screening. For some occupations, the company may ask that the candidate take the critical thinking test again on-site either before their final interview or during an assessment day. The most common test candidates are asked to take is the Watson Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal (WGCTA) created by the popular assessment company, Pearson . This assessment company is on their third edition with new scoring and subsets described above. The WGCTA gained popularity because of its ability to assess a candidate’s potential alongside their aptitude. Another established assessment is the SHL Critical Reasoning Battery that contains sixty questions with a thirty-minute time limit. Both of the aforementioned critical thinking tests are multiple choice.

How to Prepare for the Critical Thinking Test?

The critical thinking test is difficult to study for because the test is designed to assess your bare knowledge and raw skills. In order to prepare successfully, it is important to focus on the areas of the test that you can equip yourself for. One aspect of the test that demands preparation is the time limit. Many candidates’ scores are negatively impacted because they skip or guess too many of the questions in an attempt to beat the clock. If you want to optimize your chances of achieving a good score, use online practice tests to acquaint yourself with the time constraint and the general theme of the questions. By utilizing the online practice tests, you can find the pace that works best for you. Another helpful way to prepare is running through sample questions. This way, you can warm-up your brain and gain an understanding of the expectations that both the test and the company have of you.

Free Sample Questions to Practice

• Look over her past quizzes to see what she missed.
• Set aside more time during the week to review the material for the quiz.
• Get to class on early Wednesday and briefly look over the chapters.
• Get a good night’s sleep.
• Parents should find an alternative way to get their kids to school next week.
• The premiums must be over-priced.
• Collective bargaining is no longer a feasible solution.
• Their employers are being unreasonable.
• People in Hawaii dislike living on an island.
• Colder climates induce more happiness than warmer climates.
• The high scores on the Alaska survey were produced by people who enjoy snow.
• People in Hawaii should move to Alaska.
• Jenny’s credit card was declined at the mall.
• Jenny’s bank keeps charging her $30 overdraft fees.
• Jenny’s check bounced when she attempted to purchase a new TV.
• Jenny spends more money than she makes.
• Lori has thirty cans of soda in a refrigerator in her garage and another fourteen sitting on the counter. Lori does not have anymore cans of soda. Therefore, Lori has 44 cans of soda.
• The accounting department loves math. My friend works in the accounting department. My friend loves math.
• Everyone southbound on the freeway yesterday was late to work. Jackie was southbound on the freeway. Jackie was late to work.
• Adrian lives in either Springfield, California, or Springfield, Illinois. If he lives in Illinois, then he is an American.

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What Is the Watson Glaser Test?

Who uses the watson glaser test and why, why is it so important to be a critical thinker, what is the watson glaser red model, how to pass a watson glaser test in 2024, how to prepare for a watson glaser critical appraisal in 2024, frequently asked questions, the watson glaser critical thinking appraisal.

Updated May 10, 2024

Modern employers have changed the way that they recruit new candidates. They are no longer looking for people who have the technical skills on paper that match the job description.

Instead, they are looking for candidates who can demonstrably prove that they have a wider range of transferrable skills.

One of those key skills is the ability to think critically .

Firms (particularly those in sectors such as law, finance, HR and marketing ) need to know that their employees can look beyond the surface of the information presented to them.

They want confidence that their staff members can understand, analyze and evaluate situations or work-related tasks. There is more on the importance of critical thinking later in this article.

This is where the Watson Glaser Critical Thinking test comes into play.

The Watson Glaser critical thinking test is a unique assessment that provides a detailed analysis of a participant’s ability to think critically.

The test lasts 30 minutes and applicants can expect to be tested on around 40 questions in five distinct areas :

Assumptions

Interpretation.

The questions are multiple-choice and may be phrased as true/false statements in a bid to see how well the participant has understood and interpreted the information provided.

Employers around the world use it during recruitment campaigns to help hiring managers effectively filter their prospective candidates .

The Watson Glaser test has been used for more than 85 years; employers trust the insights that the test can provide.

In today’s competitive jobs market where every candidate has brought the best of themselves, it can be increasingly difficult for employers to decide between applicants.

On paper, two candidates may appear identical, with a similar level of education, work experience, and even interests and skills.

But that does not necessarily mean both or either of them is right for the job.

There is much information available on creating an effective cover letter and resume, not to mention advice on making a good impression during an interview.

As a result, employers are increasingly turning to psychometric testing to look beyond the information that they have.

They want to find the right fit: someone who has the skills that they need now and in the future. And with recruitment costs rising each year, making the wrong hiring decision can be catastrophic.

This is where the Watson Glaser test can help.

It can provide hiring managers with the additional support and guidance they need to help them make an informed decision.

The Watson Glaser test is popular among firms working in professional services (such as law, banking and insurance) . It is used for recruitment for junior and senior positions and some of the world’s most recognized establishments are known for their use of the test.

The Bank of England, Deloitte, Hiscox, Linklaters and Hogan Lovells are just a few employers who enhance their recruitment processes through Watson Glaser testing.

Critical thinking is all about logic and rational thought. Finding out someone’s critical thinking skill level is about knowing whether they can assess whether they are being told the truth and how they can use inferences and assumptions to aid their decision-making.

If you are working in a high-pressure environment, having an instinctive ability to look beyond the information provided to the underlying patterns of cause-and-effect can be crucial to do your job well.

Although it is often thought of concerning law firms and finance teams, it is easy to see how critical thinking skills could be applied to a wide range of professions.

For example, HR professionals dealing with internal disputes may need to think critically. Or social workers and other health professionals may need to use critical thinking to assess whether someone is vulnerable and in need of help and support when that person does not or cannot say openly.

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Critical thinking is about questioning what you already know . It is about understanding how to find the facts and the truth about a situation or argument without being influenced by other people’s opinions .

It is also about looking at the bigger picture and seeing how decisions made now may have short-term benefits but long-term consequences.

For those working in senior managerial roles, this ability to think objectively can make a big difference to business success.

As part of the critical thinking assessment, the Watson Glaser Test focuses on the acronym, 'RED':

• R ecognize assumptions
• E valuate arguments
• D raw conclusions

Put simply, the RED model ensures you can understand how to move beyond subconscious bias in your thinking. It ensures that you can identify the truth and understand the differences between fact and opinion.

To recognize assumptions , you must understand yourself and others: what your thought patterns and past experiences have led you to conclude about the world.

Evaluating arguments requires you to genuinely consider the merits of all options in a situation, and not just choose the one you feel that you ‘ought’ to.

Finally, to draw an accurate and beneficial conclusion you must trust your decision-making and understanding of the situation.

Watson Glaser Practice Test Questions & Answers

As mentioned earlier, the Watson Glaser Test assesses five core elements. Here, they will be examined in more depth:

This part of the test is about your ability to draw conclusions based on facts . These facts may be directly provided or may be assumptions that you have previously made.

Within the assessment, you can expect to be provided with a selection of text. Along with the text will be a statement.

You may need to decide whether that statement is true, probably true, insufficient data (neither true nor false), probably false or false.

The test looks to see if your answer was based on a conclusion that could be inferred from the text provided or if it is based on an assumption you previously made.

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Example Statement:

500 students recently attended a voluntary conference in New York. During the conference, two of the main topics discussed were issues relating to diversity and climate change. This is because these are the two issues that the students selected that are important to them.

Many people make decisions based on assumptions. But you need to be able to identify when assumptions are being made.

Within the Watson Glaser test , you will be provided with a written statement as well as an assumption.

You will be asked to declare whether that assumption was made in the text provided or not .

This is an important part of the test; it allows employers to understand if you have any expectations about whether things are true or not . For roles in law or finance, this is a vital skill.

We need to save money, so we’ll visit the local shops in the nearest town rather than the local supermarket

As a core part of critical thinking, 'deduction' is the ability to use logic and reasoning to come to an informed decision .

You will be presented with several facts, along with a variety of conclusions. You will be tasked with confirming whether those conclusions can be made from the information provided in that statement.

The answers are commonly in a ‘Yes, it follows/No, it does not follow’ form.

It is sometimes sunny on Wednesdays. All sunny days are fun. Therefore…

If you need to prepare for a number of different employment tests and want to outsmart the competition, choose a Premium Membership from TestHQ . You will get access to three PrepPacks of your choice, from a database that covers all the major test providers and employers and tailored profession packs.

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Critical thinking is also about interpreting the information correctly. It is about using the information provided to come to a valuable, informed decision .

Like the deduction questions, you will be provided with a written statement, which you must assume to be true.

You will also be provided with a suggested interpretation of that written statement. You must decide if that interpretation is correct based on the information provided, using a yes/no format.

A study of toddlers shows that their speech can change significantly between the ages of 10 months and three years old. At 1 year old, a child may learn their first word whereas at three years old they may know 200 words

Evaluation of Arguments

This final part requires you to identify whether an argument is strong or weak . You will be presented with a written statement and several arguments that can be used for or against it. You need to identify which is the strongest argument and which is the weakest based on the information provided.

Should all 18-year-olds go to college to study for a degree after they have graduated from high school?

There are no confirmed pass/fail scores for Watson Glaser tests; different sectors have different interpretations of what is a good score .

Law firms, for example, will require a pass mark of at least 75–80% because the ability to think critically is an essential aspect of working as a lawyer.

As a comparative test, you need to consider what the comparative ‘norm’ is for your chosen profession. Your score will be compared to other candidates taking the test and you need to score better than them.

It is important to try and score as highly as you possibly can. Your Watson Glaser test score can set you apart from other candidates; you need to impress the recruiters as much as possible.

Your best chance of achieving a high score is to practice as much as possible in advance.

Everyone will have their own preferred study methods, and what works for one person may not necessarily work for another.

However, there are some basic techniques everyone can use, which will enhance your study preparation ahead of the test:

Step 1 . Pay Attention to Online Practice Tests

There are numerous free online training aids available; these can be beneficial as a starting point to your preparation.

However, it should be noted that they are often not as detailed as the actual exam questions.

When researching for online test questions, make sure that any questions are specific to the Watson Glaser Test , not just critical thinking.

General critical thinking questions can help you improve your skills but will not familiarize you with this test. Therefore, make sure you practice any questions which follow the ‘rules’ and structure of a Watson Glaser Test .

Step 2 . Paid-for Preparation Packs Can Be Effective

If you are looking for something that mimics the complexity of a Watson Glaser test , you may wish to look at investing in a preparation pack.

There are plenty of options available from sites such as TestHQ . These are often far more comprehensive than free practice tests.

They may also include specific drills (which take you through each of the five stages of the test) as well as study guides, practice tests and suggestions of how to improve your score.

Psychologically, if you have purchased a preparation pack, you may be more inclined to increase your pre-test practice/study when compared to using free tools, due to having invested money.

Step 3 . Apply Critical Thinking to All Aspects of Your Daily Routine

The best way to improve your critical thinking score is to practice it every day.

It is not just about using your skills to pass an exam question; it is about being able to think critically in everyday scenarios.

Therefore, when you are reading the news or online articles, try to think whether you are being given facts or you are making deductions and assumptions from the information provided.

The more you practice your critical thinking in these scenarios, the more it will become second nature to you.

You could revert to the RED model: recognize the assumptions being made, by you and the author; evaluate the arguments and decide which, if any, are strong; and draw conclusions from the information provided and perhaps see if they differ from conclusions drawn using your external knowledge.

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Nine Top Tips for Ensuring Success in Your Watson Glaser Test

If you are getting ready to participate in a Watson Glaser test, you must be clear about what you are being asked to do.

Here are a few tips that can help you to improve your Watson Glaser test score.

1. Practice, Practice, Practice

Critical thinking is a skill that should become second nature to you. You should practice as much as possible, not just so that you can pass the test, but also to feel confident in using your skills in reality.

2. The Best Success Is Based on the Long-Term Study

To succeed in your Watson Glaser test , you need to spend time preparing.

Those who begin studying in the weeks and months beforehand will be far more successful than those who leave their study to the last minute.

3. Acquaint Yourself With the Test Format

The Watson Glaser test has a different type of question to other critical thinking tests.

Make sure that you are aware of what to expect from the test questions. The last thing you want is to be surprised on test day.

4. Read the Instructions Carefully

This is one of the simplest but most effective tips. Your critical thinking skills start with understanding what you are being asked to do. Take your time over the question.

Although you may only have 30 minutes to complete the test, it is still important that you do not rush through and submit the wrong answers. You do not get a higher score if you finish early, so use your time wisely.

5. Only Use the Information Provided in the Question

Remember, the purpose of the test is to see if you can come to a decision based on the provided written statement.

This means that you must ignore anything that you think you already know and focus only on the information given in the question.

6. Widen Your Non-Fictional Reading

Reading a variety of journals, newspapers and reports, and watching examples of debates and arguments will help you to improve your skills.

You will start to understand how the same basic facts can be presented in different ways and cause people to draw different conclusions.

From there, you can start to enhance your critical thinking skills to go beyond the perspective provided in any given situation.

7. Be Self-Aware

We all have our own biases and prejudices whether we know them or not. It is important to think about how your own opinions and life experiences may impact how you perceive and understand situations.

For example, someone who has grown up with a lot of money may have a different interpretation of what it is like to go without, compared to someone who has grown up in extreme poverty.

It is important to have this self-awareness as it is important for understanding other people; this is useful if you are working in sectors such as law.

8. Read the Explanations During Your Preparation

To make the most of practice tests, make sure you read the analysis explaining the answers, regardless of if you got the question right or wrong.

This is the crux of your study; it will explain the reasoning why a certain answer is correct, and this will help you understand how to choose the correct answers.

9. Practice Your Timings

You know that you will have five sections to complete in the test. You also know that you have 30 minutes to complete the test.

Therefore, make sure that your timings are in sync within your practice, so you can work your way through the test in its entirety.

Time yourself on how long each section takes you and put in extra work on your slowest.

What score do you need to pass the Watson Glaser test?

There is no standard benchmark score to pass the Watson Glaser test . Each business sector has its own perception of what constitutes a good score and every employer will set its own requirements.

It is wise to aim for a Watson Glaser test score of at least 75%. To score 75% or higher, you will need to correctly answer at least 30 of the 40 questions.

The employing organization will use your test results to compare your performance with other candidates within the selection pool. The higher you score in the Watson Glaser test , the better your chances of being hired.

Can you fail a Watson Glaser test?

It is not possible to fail a Watson Glaser test . However, your score may not be high enough to meet the benchmark set by the employing organization.

By aiming for a score of at least 75%, you stand a good chance of progressing to the next stage of the recruitment process.

Are Watson Glaser tests hard?

Many candidates find the Watson Glaser test hard. The test is designed to assess five different aspects of logical reasoning skills. Candidates must work under pressure, which adds another dimension of difficulty.

By practicing your critical thinking skills, you can improve your chances of achieving a high score on the Watson Glaser test .

How do I prepare for Watson Glaser?

To prepare for Watson Glaser , you will need to practice your critical thinking abilities. This can be achieved through a range of activities; for example, reading a variety of newspapers, journals and other literature.

Try applying the RED model to your reading – recognize the assumptions being made (both by you and the writer), evaluate the arguments and decide which of these (if any) are strong.

You should also practice drawing conclusions from the information available to you.

Online Watson Glaser practice assessments are a useful way to prepare for Watson Glaser. These practice tests will give you an idea of what to expect on the day, although the questions are not usually as detailed as those in the actual test.

You might also consider using a paid-for Watson Glaser preparation pack, such as the one available from TestHQ . Preparation packs provide a comprehensive test guide, including practice tests and recommendations on how to improve your test score.

How long does the Watson Glaser test take?

Candidates are allowed 30 minutes to complete the Watson Glaser test . The multiple-choice test questions are grouped into five distinct areas – assumptions, deduction, evaluation, inference and interpretation.

Which firms use the Watson Glaser test?

Companies all over the world use the Watson Glaser test as part of their recruitment campaigns.

It is a popular choice for professional service firms, including banking, law, and insurance. Firms using the Watson Glaser test include the Bank of England, Hiscox, Deloitte and Clifford Chance.

How many times can you take the Watson Glaser test?

Most employers will only allow you to take the Watson Glaser test once per application. However, you may take the Watson Glaser test more than once throughout your career.

What is the next step after passing the Watson Glaser test?

The next step after passing the Watson Glaser test will vary between employers. Some firms will ask you to attend a face-to-face interview after passing the Watson Glaser test, others will ask you to attend an assessment center. Speak to the hiring manager to find out the process for the firm you are applying for.

Start preparing in advance for the Watson Glaser test

The Watson Glaser test differs from other critical thinking tests. It has its own rules and formations, and the exam is incredibly competitive. If you are asked to participate in a Watson Glaser test it is because your prospective employer is looking for the ‘best of the best’. Your aim is not to simply pass the test; it is to achieve a higher score than anyone else taking that test .

Therefore, taking the time to prepare for the Watson Glaser test is vital for your chances of success. You need to be confident that you know what you are being asked to do, and that you can use your critical thinking skills to make informed decisions.

Your study is about more than helping you to pass a test; it is about providing you with the skills and capability to think critically about information in the ‘real world’ .

You might also be interested in these other Psychometric Success articles:

Or explore the Aptitude Tests / Test Types sections.

Critical Thinking Explained: What Is It?

What is a critical thinking test, preparing for a critical thinking assessment (2024), top tips for critical thinking tests (2024), frequently asked questions, critical thinking test tips & questions 2024.

Updated October 4, 2023

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Critical thinking is a form of reflective reasoning that evaluates information and arguments by applying a range of intellectual skills to reach clear, logical and coherent judgements within a given context.

Instead of accepting arguments and conclusions presented, a person with strong critical thinking will question and scrutinize the evidence provided. They will look for logical connections between ideas, consider alternative interpretations and evaluate the strength of arguments presented.

Everyone experiences some degree of subconscious bias in their thinking. Critical thinking skills can help an individual separate out facts from opinions.

These tests are used to determine an individual's ability to think critically and as a way of assessing a candidate's suitability for an organisation or a specific position within it.

The critical thinking test is designed to test your ability to analyse text and use logic in your reasoning.

A critical thinking test is designed to assess your capacity to conceptualise, analyse and reason when presented with a specific scenario.

Within the legal sector, critical thinking is a necessity in many different areas of work. Therefore these tests are often used in applications for law roles, to determine whether you are sufficiently skilled to handle the day-to-day challenges that legal professionals face.

It is not unusual for candidates to be asked to complete a situational judgement or personality test in addition to the critical thinking assessment.

You can practise realistic critical thinking tests here .

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Critical Thinking Practice Questions and Test Structure

During a crucial thinking test you will be presented with a paragraph of information, usually setting out a given scenario and including both numerical and written data.

Accompanying this paragraph will be a statement asking you to determine how truthful you think the statement is based on the information provided.

The test will typically include five sections as described below, which are used to measure how effectively you can work through information using analytical reasoning.

Assumptions

Here the candidate will be expected to carefully evaluate the scenario and then conclude whether any assumptions are present in the statement.

As an example, a statement within the paragraph could include the phrase "only employees in senior roles can afford to purchase luxury vehicles". In this statement, it is assumed that the luxury vehicle will cost more than a standard car.

In these types of question, the information is provided for the candidate to review. It is up to the candidate to determine whether any assumptions have been made.

What assumptions might someone make when they say, "If it's natural, it must be good"?

Analysis of Arguments

This type of question will present a scenario such as whether the government should cover the cost of tuition fees for students. Following the question are a set of arguments in favour of and against the given scenario.

Candidates will then need to determine whether the arguments are weak or strong, based on their relevance and the way in which they address the question. If the argument directly relates to the statement the argument is considered to be strong; conversely, if the argument is not directly related to the question, the argument would be weak.

Analyze the following argument: "Social media is addictive because everyone I know spends hours on it every day."

A deduction-based question is one where the candidate is expected to assess a set of deductions made about the information presented. If the candidate cannot deduce a statement from the data provided, the deduction is not applicable and the candidate must select which deductions apply and which ones don’t.

The answer must be based on the information provided, rather than conclusions that the candidate may reach based on their existing knowledge.

If all humans are mortal, and Socrates is a human, what can you deduce about Socrates?

In this type of question, the candidate will be presented with a collection of possible inferences. The candidate will be asked to state whether the inferences are possibly false, possibly true, absolutely true or absolutely false, or it is not possible to reach a decision based on the information provided.

Based on the information provided, what can you infer about the character's personality in a short story where the character is described as meticulous and always punctual?

• Interpretation

The final type of question within a critical thinking test is one that asks the candidate to interpret information. As with all of the other questions above, candidates are presented with a paragraph of information accompanied by a set of possible conclusions.

The candidate will then need to interpret this information and reach a decision as to whether any of the conclusions are possible based on the information.

Interpret the meaning of the phrase, "Actions speak louder than words," in the context of a political speech.

If you need to prepare for a number of different employment tests and want to outsmart the competition, choose a Premium Membership from JobTestPrep . You will get access to three PrepPacks of your choice, from a database that covers all the major test providers and employers and tailored profession packs.

The majority of firms who use critical thinking tests are those in the legal sector, since legal jobs require candidates to critically review propositions and arguments as part of their daily duties. That being said, they can also be used for any industry where critical thinking skills are required.

When a critical reasoning test features as part of an assessment day , it is very unlikely that it will be the main factor in deciding whether you are suitable. Critical reasoning will just be one of the elements that the recruiter will use, in combination with a variety of other tools they will use to build up a bigger picture of your overall abilities.

If however, the critical thinking test appears towards the beginning of the recruitment process, it may be used as an initial screening tool to shortlist candidates. A poor performance during the test at this stage could result in early elimination.

To be successful in a critical reasoning test, you do not have to learn new material or conduct any research, nor will you be asked to draw on your existing knowledge.

All of the information that you need to complete the test will be provided at the time. It is simply a case of evaluating the information that you have been presented with. However this should not be underestimated: the tests can be a challenge to say the least.

The most widely used critical thinking test is known as the Watson Glaser .

To succeed in a critical thinking test, there are various steps that you can take to make sure that you perform as well as possible:

Step 1 . Review all the information

This may seem like an obvious tip, but is surprising how many people skip through the content just to get the question finished. Failure to read and absorb the information can have disastrous consequences.

Quickly skimming through the content can result in missed understanding or the omission of key pieces of data. Some candidates may find that reading the question several times can help, but remember these tests are usually timed so you may have to think quickly.

Step 2 . Timing

Before you attempt the real test, practice as much as possible and if you can, try to find out how many questions there will be so you can plan your time.

When you are completing the test, keep an eye on the time and don’t spend too long on one question. You can always come back to it at the end if you have time.

As critical thinking tests are usually quite complex in nature, they tend to have a generous time limit (in some rare cases, no time limit at all). Use this to your advantage when reading the passage of information, evaluating the question and providing your response.

Step 3 . Read the Instructions

At the beginning of each section, you will be provided with instructions detailing how to answer that section correctly. If, for example, the question asks you to evaluate whether the given arguments are strong or weak, the instruction cover page will advise what is classed as being a strong or a weak argument.

Take sufficient time to read these instructions so you can answer the questions properly.

Step 4 . Logic

This is a crucial part of the critical thinking test and understanding the difference between fact and fallacy can optimise your performance.

A fallacy is essentially an error or something misleading in the information due to a presumption or misconception. Where this type of logic is used, it can result in an argument that is invalid.

Researching the various types of confusing, misleading or false information that may appear in these tests enables you to be more alert to something in the information which has been deliberately used to throw you off or cause confusion.

Step 5 . General Knowledge

Sometimes you may encounter a question in the test that is based on real information. As a result, there’s a risk that you base your answer on your general knowledge rather than the information presented in the test. During the tests, always avoid using your existing knowledge . Rely only on the information you are presented with.

Step 6 . Practice

Critical thinking tests are complex and certainly designed to challenge. Therefore it is strongly advised that you carry out sufficient practice before the tests so you can become accustomed to the five different areas.

The more practice you undertake, the more confident you will be in approaching the questions in the real critical thinking test.

What is the Watson-Glaser critical thinking test?

The Watson-Glaser critical thinking test is one of the best-known critical thinking tests in the world.

It is a common test for professional services as it allows employers to see how a candidate may identify assumptions, understand information and create conclusions.

In addition, the Watson-Glaser test is commonly used within the legal sector.

How do I crack the critical thinking tests?

Passing a critical thinking test relies on understanding what the question is asking you to do. Therefore, you must come to your answer using only the information provided.

It can be tempting to use your knowledge and understanding to create a conclusion. Still, critical thinking tests are looking to see how you can interpret and understand the information presented to you.

You need to look carefully at what you are being asked to do and establish as much logic as possible. Try to see if there are any contradictions between the information provided, which could contrast with the logic that you’ve discovered.

An easy tip to help you practice is to read as much non-fiction as possible. Try to read various newspapers; you’ll start to discover how different approaches and perspectives can alter how a news story is written. The more you do this, the easier it will be to see how different logic patterns and conclusions emerge.

Another tip is to practice critical thinking tests as much as you can. It will help you identify what you are being asked to do and familiarise yourself with the test, but it can help you practice your timings. For example, Watson-Glaser tests are timed, so you must practice to see how long you have to answer each question.

Is the critical thinking test hard?

Critical thinking tests aren’t difficult, but your success may depend on how good your critical thinking skills are. These aren’t inherent skills; instead, they are skills that we have to learn and work towards. Therefore, the more time you spend focusing on how to improve your critical thinking skills, the easier you may find the test.

If you have not prepared, you may find the Watson-Glaser test hard. This is because it is a very specific type of test. If you are not familiar with the questioning style or are unsure what the questions are asking you to do, you could end up with a lower score.

Why does Amazon use critical thinking tests?

Big brands such as Amazon choose to use critical thinking tests within their recruitment strategies because they want to identify those candidates with the potential to succeed.

In addition, they want to learn more about individuals than just their resumes. Using critical thinking tests can predict how you may behave in certain scenarios. They can see how you work and how you arrive at conclusions. This tells them whether you are right for the job role that you are applying for, and it also gives them insights into your future leadership potential.

How does the critical thinking test benefit businesses?

Businesses do not have the time or budget to review their recruitment strategies. Therefore, they need to hire the right people who can get started with the job quickly and easily. Critical thinking tests are common within professional industries, especially the legal sector because they give employers an insight into each candidate and their critical thinking skills.

Critical thinking tests are useful for two reasons.

Firstly, they are a standardized assessment. This means that employers can judge each candidate fairly within the recruitment process, on an even playing field. They can directly compare and contrast the test results.

Secondly, critical thinking is a crucial skill in today’s workplace. It’s an essential component of problem-solving and helps people to work effectively. Therefore, businesses need workforces who can look beyond the information provided to them and think about what they should be doing and why .

Where can I get a sample of a critical thinking assessment?

If you are looking to practice a critical thinking test before your official assessment, you could look to sites such as JobTestPrep . Here, you can use their comprehensive study guides to prepare for the Watson-Glaser test and familiarise yourself with the types of questions you could ask.

What mark do you need to get in critical thinking tests?

This depends on the test itself, as well as the employer. The Watson-Glaser test doesn’t have a specific score, but broadly speaking, many law firms will expect candidates to achieve a minimum of 75-80% on the assessment.

This is because the law is an area where critical thinking is a vital skill set. Other professions may have lower pass requirements.

You should be aware that these tests are competitive. The higher your score, the more likely you will impress a hiring manager.

How many questions are on critical thinking tests?

If you are asked to take a Watson-Glaser test , you can expect to be asked 40 questions. These will be split across five distinct areas;

• Recognition of Assumptions
• Evaluation of Arguments

How do you answer assumption questions in critical thinking tests?

When it comes to critical thinking tests , assumptions are where you have come to a conclusion without the answer being specifically inferred within the text provided.

You will be provided with a passage that you must read through carefully. In the end, you will be given a series of assumptions relating to that passage. You will need to identify which assumptions could be justified based on the information you have just read.

The assessment aims to see whether you can justify if an assumption is true or false according to the information provided.

Assumptions are important in critical thinking because they link understanding and refuting specific arguments.

Is the critical thinking test timed?

Critical thinking tests are timed. You will likely have anywhere between 30 to 60 minutes.

You can expect to have at least one minute to answer each question. Therefore, as part of your test preparation, you should practice some online critical thinking tests to check your timings.

Who invented the Watson Glaser critical thinking test?

Edward Glaser and Goodwin Watson developed the Watson-Glaser critical thinking test .

What companies use critical thinking tests?

Many professional services increasingly use critical thinking tests as part of their application process. In particular, the legal sector is known for incorporating the Watson-Glaser tests in their recruitment drives.

Specific companies that have previously used critical thinking tests as part of their recruitment campaigns include Amazon, Bank of England, Deloitte, Hiscox, Linklaters, and Simmons & Simmons.

As critical thinking tests become more reliable and affordable, you can anticipate that they will become more commonplace in small and medium-sized companies.

Can I fail a critical thinking assessment?

Critical thinking tests have no right or wrong answers because assessors are more concerned with how you come to an answer. But, even if you cannot ‘fail’ a critical thinking test, you could achieve a lower score than your peers.

Companies often use critical thinking tests as a standardized assessment to directly compare applicants. If you achieve a low score or are significantly lower than your peers, you will be less likely to proceed to the next stage of the recruitment process.

What are the three best critical thinking exam questions and answers?

Here are a few tips to give you the best possible chance for success in your next critical thinking test .

Read the question carefully. The critical thinking test will look carefully to see how you interpret and assess information. Therefore, you need to be crystal clear that you know exactly what you are asked to do. Read the question several times before you submit your answer.

The test is divided into five sections: Inference, Recognition of Assumptions, Deduction, Interpretation, and Evaluation of Arguments. Use your preparation to focus on each area to be 100% confident in each aspect of the test. You may wish to divide the test time by five, so you are allocating a similar timescale for each part of the assessment.

Use practice test papers and online practice tests to familiarise yourself with the test format. This will help you identify which areas may need additional study, but it will help you practice your timings. The more familiar you are with critical thinking tests, the more confident you will feel on test day.

Focus on improving your critical thinking skills in ‘real life. An easy way to improve your skills is to read different media types. Broaden your horizons and read as much non-fiction as possible. You may be surprised to learn that different perspectives and writing styles could report on the same story differently.

What are the three best critical thinking questions and answers?

If you are trying to improve your critical thinking skills , you should always come back to the question you were taught at school; who, what, and where? With these three questions, you can start establishing more information that will help you create a conclusion.

Critical thinking questions beginning with who :

• Who is it about?
• Who said what?
• Who could be affected by this?
• Who is responsible for this?

Critical thinking questions beginning with what:

• What would happen if?
• What are the pros and cons?
• What is the impact of this?
• What is the other side of the discussion?

Critical thinking questions beginning with where :

• Where did this happen?
• Where were the consistencies in the story?
• Where were the inconsistencies in the story?
• Where can you get more information?
• Where can you find the answer?

You may be asked questions along these lines within your critical thinking test. Again, try to use the who, what, and where format to improve your logical thinking.

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TSA (Thinking Skills Assessment) Tests

• 274 questions

Unleash your potential with the TSA Practice Tests - Think, Assess, Succeed!

What are TSA (Thinking Skills Assessment) tests?

When it comes to the TSA (Thinking Skills Assessment), it’s all about measuring your critical thinking and problem-solving skills. These are the abilities that you’ll flex during the test, as they are hugely important in a variety of professional environments. Employers value the TSA because it’s a reliable way for them to gauge a candidate’s capacity to analyze information, understand arguments, and think logically. Over the course of the test, you’ll encounter various sections that push your thinking skills to the limit. It’s an assessment that places emphasis on reasoning, the ability to grasp complex concepts quickly, and your skill in making informed decisions. To ace this test, you’ll need to sharpen your deductive reasoning, gain an understanding of the principles of logic, and get a good handle on problem-solving strategies.

Why do employers use TSA (Thinking Skills Assessment) tests?

Within industries where decision-making is paramount, the TSA is a go-to for hiring managers. It’s not just about knowing stuff; it’s about processing that knowledge effectively and efficiently. This test delves deep into how you organize and apply your thoughts. In high-stake sectors like finance, consulting, and technology, it’s not the amount of information you can memorize that matters, but how you navigate through complex challenges. These skills are crucial in roles that demand swift, yet calculated, decisions on a daily basis, and that’s exactly what the TSA assesses. By ensuring candidates are tested on these competencies, employers can better predict job performance in intellectually demanding positions.

How do TSA (Thinking Skills Assessment) tests work?

If you’re gearing up for the TSA, think of it as stepping into a lab where your mind’s agility is scrutinized. You’ll be confronted with questions that evaluate how well you can dissect arguments and make logical deductions. The tests are time-pressured – designed to mimic the real-world constraints where every minute counts. Knowing the amount of time to allocate per question is part of the challenge, and it usually boils down to balancing speed with accuracy. Beyond the timed aspect, you’ll want to focus on sharpening those thinking muscles – the qualities of reasoning, evaluating, and problem-solving will be your trusty companions through every tick of the clock.

What skills do TSA (Thinking Skills Assessment) tests cover?

These types of tests are an intellectual workout. They span a range of skills from verbal and numerical reasoning to more specialized problem-solving capabilities. Strap in for a blend of reading comprehension, where you’re wading through complex texts to pinpoint key information, to grappling with numeric data in the form of graphs and tables. Add a dash of abstract reasoning, and you’ve got a full menu of mental challenges to conquer. So, if you’re up for showcasing your intellectual breadth – agility with words, comfort with numbers, and a knack for logical patterns – these tests are your proving ground.

Sample TSA (Thinking Skills Assessment) Assessments question Test your knowledge!

Identify the underlying assumption in the argument presented.

• An explicitly stated premise that supports the argument's conclusion.
• An implicit premise that must be true for the conclusion to hold.
• A conclusion derived from a premise already given in the argument.
• A statement of fact that does not interact with the argument's logic.

If a sequence of numbers is established in a pattern of consecutive primes, which of the following numbers is the next logical number in the sequence: 5, 11, 17, ...?

Analyze the following series and choose the option that should logically fill the blank: 1, 1, 2, 6, 24, 120, ...?

In a critical thinking task, four arguments are presented. Choose the argument that contains a logical fallacy.

• All birds have feathers, and swans are birds, so swans have feathers.
• No reptiles have fur, and all dogs have fur, so no dogs are reptiles.
• Humans can speak, parrots can speak, therefore parrots are humans.
• All roses are flowers, and all flowers have petals, so all roses have petals.

Evaluate the argument: 'If a substance is acid, it turns litmus paper red. The litmus paper has turned red; therefore, the substance is an acid.'

• Logically valid
• Affirmation of the consequent
• Denial of the antecedent
• Modus ponens
• Circular reasoning

Choose the next number in the Fibonacci sequence: 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, ...?

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TSA (Thinking Skills Assessment) Assessments Tips

1 get familiar with the format.

Dive into the structure of the TSA to prevent any surprises on test day.

2 Hone Your Reasoning Skills

Strengthen your logic and problem-solving muscles with focused practice.

3 Manage Your Time Wisely

Learn to pace yourself; remember that practice makes perfect when it comes to timing.

4 Free Practice Tests Available

Head to Practice Aptitude Tests to try out free TSA practice exams to boost your preparation!

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TSA (Thinking Skills Assessment) Assessments FAQs

What is the tsa (thinking skills assessment) test.

The TSA test is an assessment designed to measure your critical thinking and problem-solving skills, both of which are crucial for academic and career success.

How do I prepare for TSA (Thinking Skills Assessment) test?

To prepare for the TSA test, familiarize yourself with the question types and practice regularly to enhance your critical thinking and time management skills.

How difficult is the TSA (Thinking Skills Assessment) test?

The difficulty of the TSA test varies per individual but it broadly aims to challenge your reasoning and problem-solving abilities under time pressure.

What types of questions can I expect?

Expect a range of questions on the TSA test that assess critical thinking, including argument analysis, data interpretation, and complex problem-solving tasks.

Where can I practice free TSA (Thinking Skills Assessment) test questions?

Practicing and taking practice tests are the best way to prepare for the TSA test, and you can find many free practice tests at Practice Aptitude Tests to help you succeed.

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INSIGHT BASECAMP: The new comprehensive and innovative platform for developing your critical thinking.

Insight Assessment’s high-quality, expertly designed, and interactive critical thinking self-development tools are now available for the first time directly to individuals through INSIGHT BASECAMP . Adults, teens, and children can gain the reasoning skills and habits of mind that will last them a lifetime. With new short courses, quizzes, and surveys designed by experts in the training of critical thinking, everyone can build their critical thinking skills and fortify their positive thinking habits of mind in as little as one hour.

What you will find at INSIGHT BASECAMP

Insight Basecamp offers a wide range of courses and activities to help individuals hone their critical thinking skills and mindset. These courses, quizzes, and surveys are designed so that individuals can identify their own strengths and weaknesses, develop strategies for improving their critical thinking skills, and gain a confident mindset necessary to make sound decisions in their everyday and professional lives.

Oracle HR technology has immense potential in Human Resources, bringing the same evidence-based approach that has succeeded in fields like…

Chatbots can make us better critical thinkers. Humans use critical thinking to manage problems, some serious enough to threaten our…

Standardized tests are used to measure the strength of important skills and attributes in large groups of people. A standardized…

Critical thinking definition

Critical thinking, as described by Oxford Languages, is the objective analysis and evaluation of an issue in order to form a judgement.

Active and skillful approach, evaluation, assessment, synthesis, and/or evaluation of information obtained from, or made by, observation, knowledge, reflection, acumen or conversation, as a guide to belief and action, requires the critical thinking process, which is why it's often used in education and academics.

Some even may view it as a backbone of modern thought.

However, it's a skill, and skills must be trained and encouraged to be used at its full potential.

People turn up to various approaches in improving their critical thinking, like:

• Developing technical and problem-solving skills
• Engaging in more active listening
• Actively questioning their assumptions and beliefs
• Seeking out more diversity of thought
• Opening up their curiosity in an intellectual way etc.

Is critical thinking useful in writing?

Critical thinking can help in planning your paper and making it more concise, but it's not obvious at first. We carefully pinpointed some the questions you should ask yourself when boosting critical thinking in writing:

• What information should be included?
• Which information resources should the author look to?
• What degree of technical knowledge should the report assume its audience has?
• What is the most effective way to show information?
• How should the report be organized?
• How should it be designed?
• What tone and level of language difficulty should the document have?

Usage of critical thinking comes down not only to the outline of your paper, it also begs the question: How can we use critical thinking solving problems in our writing's topic?

Let's say, you have a Powerpoint on how critical thinking can reduce poverty in the United States. You'll primarily have to define critical thinking for the viewers, as well as use a lot of critical thinking questions and synonyms to get them to be familiar with your methods and start the thinking process behind it.

Are there any services that can help me use more critical thinking?

We understand that it's difficult to learn how to use critical thinking more effectively in just one article, but our service is here to help.

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