Watson Glaser
Updated November 5, 2026How do you pass the Watson Glaser test?
The Watson Glaser, from Pearson TalentLens, tests critical thinking through short written passages: what follows, what is assumed, which argument holds. None of it needs subject knowledge, which is exactly what trips people up. A US version with US norms exists, so if an employer sends you one for a summer 2028 role, here is how to get ready.
40
Questions
multiple choice
30 min
Time limit
tutorial not counted
~45 sec
Per question
5
Question types
Quick answer
Learn the five question types until each feels routine, then practice at the real pace of 40 questions in 30 minutes, about 45 seconds each. Answer only from the information given, never from what you know, and take Pearson's free practice test first. There is no fixed pass mark: you are ranked against a comparison group the employer picks.
Key points
- W-G III is 40 multiple-choice questions in a maximum of 30 minutes; instructions and untimed practice questions come on top, up to about 40 minutes in all.1,2,3
- There are five subtests: inferences, assumptions, deduction, interpretation and evaluating arguments.1
- Every test is drawn from a question bank, so learning answers is pointless; learning the question types is not.1,2
- Pearson recommends a desktop or laptop with a reliable connection, not a phone or tablet.2
The five question types
Each question gives you a short passage and asks you to judge statements against it. Pearson names five subtests.1
Drawing inferences
Rate how likely a statement is to be true, based only on the information given.1 Stay inside the passage: a statement that is probably true in real life can still be unsupported by the text.
Recognizing assumptions
Decide whether a statement is an unstated assumption behind what was said.1 Ask whether the speaker must take it for granted to say what they said, not whether it is reasonable.
Deduction
Decide whether a conclusion follows logically from the information given.1 Only a conclusion that must be true passes; one that is likely is not enough.
Interpreting
How you are scored, and why it changes your tactics
Your results are reported as an overall percentile against a comparison group, plus percentiles for three areas: Recognize Assumptions, Evaluate Arguments and Draw Conclusions.1,3 Pearson scores the difficulty of the questions you got, not just how many you got right.2 There is no published pass mark, and the employer chooses the comparison group and the bar.1,2
Two tactics follow. First, a weak area pulls the total down, so practice all five types rather than the ones you like.3 Second, pace yourself to finish: 40 questions in 30 minutes leaves about 45 seconds each.1,2
Test day for a US applicant
Pearson offers the test in US English, keeps US comparison groups, and markets it to legal employers among others.1,2,5 It publishes no client list, so the invitation email is where you learn whether an employer uses it.
Take it on a desktop or laptop with a dependable connection.2 The instructions and practice questions do not count toward the 30 minutes, so read them properly.2 If you need an accommodation, ask before you start: Pearson offers an untimed version in the US for cases where an employer must make reasonable accommodations.2
Do it alone. Pearson tells employers they can re-test the final applicants under supervision when an unsupervised score looks doubtful, so a score you could not repeat is a risk.2,3
How to prepare
- 01
Take Pearson's free practice test
It shows each subtest and ends with a report of advice. It is not scored, so use it to learn the formats.4
- 02
Drill one question type at a time
Work through the five types separately until the rule for each is automatic, then mix them.1
- 03
- 04
Read only what is on the page
Check every answer against the passage, not your own knowledge or views; that is what the arguments and conclusions areas reward.3
This answer is general guidance for orientation, not a guarantee. Test formats, timings and employer cut-offs change, so verify the details on the provider or employer site before you apply. Last updated November 5, 2026.
Sources
- 1.Watson-Glaser, Critical Thinking Test, Pearson TalentLens. Read Nov 5, 2026.
- 2.Watson-Glaser III (W-G III) Frequently Asked Questions (archived Jun 13, 2024), Pearson TalentLens, via the Wayback Machine. Read Nov 5, 2026.
- 3.Watson-Glaser III Profile Report, sample (UK English version, archived Jul 28, 2021), Pearson TalentLens, via the Wayback Machine. Read Nov 5, 2026.
- 4.Practice Tests (free critical thinking practice test), Pearson TalentLens. Read Nov 5, 2026.
- 5.Law Industry, Pearson TalentLens. Read Nov 5, 2026.