What is critical thinking?

The disciplined evaluation of information, arguments and evidence to reach a well-reasoned judgement: questioning assumptions, checking sources, considering alternatives and avoiding bias.

What does the Watson-Glaser test measure?

Five skills: inference, recognition of assumptions, deduction, interpretation and evaluation of arguments. It is widely used in legal and managerial recruitment.

Practice Critical Thinking Test

Q: How does critical thinking differ from logical reasoning?

Logical reasoning asks whether a conclusion follows from the premises. Critical thinking also asks whether the premises are credible, what is missing, and which assumptions or biases shape the argument.

What is a critical thinking test?

A critical thinking test measures how well you evaluate information and arguments: drawing sound inferences, spotting unstated assumptions, judging whether conclusions follow, and weighing the strength of reasons.

It overlaps with deductive reasoning, but goes further. Logic asks whether a conclusion follows from its premises; critical thinking also asks whether the premises are credible, what's missing, and what the argument takes for granted. The best-known format is the Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal, widely used in law and management recruitment.

By What's Your IQ · Published 4 Oct 2026 · Updated 4 Oct 2026

Format: A short passage or argument, then a judgement
Answer styles: True–false scale, made / not made, follows / doesn't, strong / weak
Employer versions: Around 40 items in about 30 minutes
This test: 10 items, 12 minutes, free, worked answers

Five skills, five ways to answer

Each Watson-Glaser section asks a different question and uses its own answer scale. Pick one to see how it works.

THE QUESTION IT ASKSHow likely is this, given only the passage?You rate a proposed inference on a five-point scale. “True” means it must follow; “insufficient data” means the passage simply doesn't say.

TrueProbably trueInsufficient dataProbably falseFalse

WORKED EXAMPLEPassage: sales rose 10% in the quarter the new manager started. Inference: the new manager caused the rise.Insufficient data.The timing fits, but nothing in the passage connects the manager to the sales.

Take the test

10 items · 12 minutes · judge only from what's given

Inference2 itemsAssumptions2 itemsDeduction2 itemsInterpretation1 itemEvaluation3 items

Item 1 of 10Inference

00:00

PASSAGE

A survey of 400 members of a city gym found that 82% exercise at least four times a week.

PROPOSED INFERENCEMost of the people surveyed exercise at least four times a week.

0/10Review the five skills, then try again.Weakest: inference (0/2) · 29854919:22

Inference0/2Assumptions0/2Deduction0/2Interpretation0/1Evaluation0/3

Item 1 · InferenceAnswer True · you chose nothing82% of those surveyed is a majority, stated directly. Nothing outside the passage is needed.

Item 2 · InferenceAnswer Insufficient data · you chose nothingThe passage says nothing about other gyms. With no comparison group, the data is insufficient.

Item 3 · AssumptionsAnswer Assumption made · you chose nothingThe reason only works if outdoor-gear timing applies to this product. Remove that and the argument has no link.

Item 4 · AssumptionsAnswer Assumption not made · you chose nothingThe speaker assumes the train will get you there in time today, not that it is never late. “Never” is far stronger than the argument needs.

Item 5 · DeductionAnswer Conclusion does not follow · you chose nothingNothing says Lena is a board member. If she isn't, her approval is irrelevant. The trap is filling in a fact that feels likely.

Item 6 · DeductionAnswer Conclusion follows · you chose nothingThe IT staff who are contractors fall under “no contractor has access”, so at least some IT staff lack access.

Item 7 · InterpretationAnswer Conclusion follows · you chose nothingIf the total is flat and the evening share rose, the rest of the week must have fallen. The figures leave no other way.

Item 8 · EvaluationAnswer Strong argument · you chose nothingIt is directly relevant and addresses the main risk the policy targets. That's what makes an argument strong, not whether you agree.

Item 9 · EvaluationAnswer Weak argument · you chose nothingIt's a minor inconvenience set against account security, and doesn't address whether 2FA reduces breaches. Relevant-sounding, but trivial.

Item 10 · EvaluationAnswer A major employer relocated out of the city that month · you chose nothingAn alternative cause for the drop undermines the claim that the bus line was responsible. The other options are either irrelevant or mildly supportive.

Six traps the test is built around

Each sounds convincing in the moment. Name it, and it stops working on you.

Unrepresentative sample“Everyone I know supports this policy, so most citizens must.”Who was asked, and are they like the people the conclusion is about?

After, so because“Traffic fell after the bus line opened, so the bus line did it.”What else changed at the same time?

Appeal to authority“A famous economist says this diet works.”Is the source an expert in this, and what is the evidence?

False choice“Either we cut the budget or the company fails.”Are there really only two options?

Loaded wording“This reckless scheme will waste taxpayers' money.”Strip the adjectives. What claim is left?

Filling the gap“Lena hasn't approved it, so the budget isn't final.”Am I adding a fact the passage never gave me?

Keep going

Deductive reasoningPure logic: what must, could or cannot be true.Open

Verbal reasoningTrue, false or cannot say, from a written passage.Open

Logical reasoningRules, sequences and arrangements.Open

References

Watson, G., & Glaser, E. M. (1980). Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal. Psychological Corporation.
Facione, P. A. (1990). Critical Thinking: A Statement of Expert Consensus for Purposes of Educational Assessment and Instruction (The Delphi Report). American Philosophical Association.
Kahneman, D. (2011). Thinking, Fast and Slow. Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

Sounding right isn't being right.

What is a critical thinking test?

Five skills, five ways to answer

Take the test

Six traps the test is built around

Keep going