Free Practice Test

Free Watson-Glaser Practice Test: Critical Thinking for Law Firms

The Watson-Glaser is the gold standard screening test for Magic Circle, Silver Circle, and elite US law firm training contracts. Forty questions across five reasoning sections in 30 minutes. This free simulation matches the real test format and scores you against the law-graduate norm group used by Clifford Chance, Linklaters, and Allen and Overy.

Questions

Time Limit

30 min

Difficulty

High

Cost

Start Free Watson-Glaser Practice

What this free Watson-Glaser practice includes

The real Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal has five distinct sections: inference, recognition of assumptions, deduction, interpretation, and evaluation of arguments. Each section tests a different branch of formal reasoning that law firms consider essential for training contract work. This free practice mirrors all five sections at the same 8 items per section, 30-minute-total pace.

At the end, you receive a raw score out of 40, a percentile against a law-graduate norm group, a section-by-section breakdown, and worked explanations showing exactly why the correct answer is correct under the strict Watson-Glaser rubric. The rubric matters: candidates who answer these questions using general common sense rather than the formal rubric typically score in the 40th percentile or lower.

All 5 sections included

Inference, assumptions, deduction, interpretation, and argument evaluation. Same 8-item-per-section format.

Strict Watson-Glaser rubric

Answers are scored on the same "true, probably true, insufficient data, probably false, false" scale used by the real test.

Law-graduate norm percentile

Your score mapped against law graduates applying for UK training contracts. Magic Circle firms typically cut at the 70th percentile or above.

Detailed walkthroughs

Every missed item gets a rubric-based explanation. Most candidates miss inference items because they apply real-world knowledge. Our explanations show exactly where to stop.

Free first attempt, no card

Your first simulation is anonymous. No signup required.

Three sample Watson-Glaser questions with walkthroughs

The Watson-Glaser punishes candidates who reach past the given facts. Read literally.

Sample 1: Inference

Given fact: In 2022, a London law firm reported that 38 percent of its incoming trainee cohort held a first-class undergraduate degree, up from 31 percent in 2019. Inference to evaluate: "The firm has raised its academic requirements for trainees since 2019." Rate this inference.

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

Answer and walkthrough

C. The fact establishes a percentage change in composition, not a change in firm policy. The higher percentage of first-class degrees could reflect a stronger application pool rather than a raised threshold. The inference goes beyond the data. Answer: Insufficient Data. A classic Watson-Glaser trap is treating a correlation as implied causation. Always ask whether the inference requires any fact not in the stimulus.

Sample 2: Recognition of Assumptions

Statement: "We should hire more paralegals to reduce the billable hours our associates spend on document review." Proposed assumption: "Paralegals can perform document review at a lower billable rate than associates."

A.Assumption Made
B.Assumption Not Made

Answer and walkthrough

A. The statement only makes sense if paralegals are a cheaper substitute for associate time. If paralegals cost the same or more, the recommendation would not reduce billable hours. Therefore the assumption that paralegals are cheaper is necessarily made. Watson-Glaser assumption items reward candidates who identify the load-bearing premise, the one without which the argument collapses.

Sample 3: Deduction

Premises: All partners at the firm attended a top-10 law school. Some partners at the firm specialize in M&A. Conclusion to evaluate: "Some top-10 law school graduates specialize in M&A."

A.Follows
B.Does Not Follow

Answer and walkthrough

A. From "all partners are top-10 graduates" and "some partners do M&A," it follows that some top-10 graduates (specifically, the M&A partners) do M&A. The conclusion follows because the M&A partners are necessarily a subset of top-10 graduates. Watson-Glaser deduction items are strictly syllogistic. Do not add real-world knowledge. If the conclusion can be drawn from the premises alone, it follows. Otherwise, it does not.

What the real Watson-Glaser feels like

The Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal is delivered through Pearson TalentLens or through a law-firm-branded portal. The timed version is 30 minutes for 40 questions. You cannot revisit previous items. The untimed version exists but is rarely used by major firms.

Every Magic Circle firm (Clifford Chance, Linklaters, Allen and Overy, Freshfields, Slaughter and May), Silver Circle firms (Herbert Smith Freehills, Hogan Lovells), and several US firms with UK training contracts use the Watson-Glaser as a screening gate. The typical cutoff is the 70th percentile against a law-graduate norm, which corresponds to roughly 29 correct out of 40.

Unlike cognitive speed tests, the Watson-Glaser rewards discipline over quickness. Fifteen to twenty seconds per item is appropriate. The mistake most candidates make is rushing the first section (inference) and bringing real-world knowledge into rating statements. The rubric is strict: you rate inferences only against the stimulus, not against what you know to be true.

Keep prepping

Full Watson-Glaser prep guide

Watson-Glaser deep-dive

All 5 sections explained, Magic Circle cutoffs, and a 14-day prep plan for trainee applications.

Question type

Deductive reasoning practice

Watson-Glaser deduction items follow strict syllogistic rules. Build the instinct with dedicated drills.

For

Watson-Glaser for law students

How to prep alongside LLM finals and training contract deadlines.

Guide

How law firms rank candidates

Where the Watson-Glaser fits in the overall firm application pipeline.

Watson-Glaser practice FAQs

Training contract season punishes unprepared candidates.

Free Watson-Glaser simulation with strict rubric scoring and Magic Circle cutoff overlays.

Start Free Watson-Glaser Practice