Mastering the Watson Glaser Test – Essential Tips for Hong Kong Law Applicants
Many Hong Kong law firms use the Watson Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal to assess candidates’ reasoning skills. Scoring well can fast-track you to interviews. Here’s everything you need to know about the Watson Glaser test and how to excel at it.
What is the Watson Glaser Test?
The Watson Glaser test is a standardized critical thinking assessment used worldwide, including by numerous law firms in Hong Kong, especially international firms. It isn’t a legal knowledge test – instead, it evaluates your ability to analyze information, draw logical inferences, recognize assumptions, evaluate arguments, and make sound decisions. The test typically has five sections:
Inference – decide if a given conclusion follows from the information.
Recognizing Assumptions – identify unstated assumptions in statements.
Deduction – determine if conclusions logically follow from premises.
Interpretation – judge if conclusions are warranted based on data.
Evaluation of Arguments – decide if arguments are strong or weak.
Each question is usually multiple-choice. You might get around 40 questions to answer in about 30 minutes (though formats can vary). Hong Kong firms use Watson Glaser results to gauge if you have the analytical sharpness needed for complex legal work. A high score can differentiate you in a competitive applicant pool, while a low score might eliminate you early.
Tip 1: Know What to Expect – Practice Each Section
Inference: You’ll read a short passage and then see a statement – you must determine if that statement is true, probably true, insufficient, probably false, or false based on the passage.
Recognizing Assumptions: You’re given a statement and asked if an assumption is made. It’s like reading between the lines – what must be true for the statement to hold?
Deduction: You receive a few premises (facts) and a conclusion. You must decide if, given those premises, the conclusion necessarily follows. This is pure logic – no outside knowledge.
Interpretation: Similar to deduction, but you judge whether a conclusion is warranted beyond a reasonable doubt by the given info.
Evaluation of Arguments: You read a question or statement (often a decision to be made) and then multiple arguments for or against it. You judge if each argument is strong or weak.
Practice each type separately at first. There are free sample questions available (our Free Watson Glaser Test is a great place to start). By practicing, you’ll start to recognize patterns – for example, in assumption questions, extreme words like “always” or “never” in the assumption are red flags that it might not hold. Deduction and interpretation questions often hinge on all-or-nothing logic: if any exception is possible, the conclusion doesn’t necessarily follow.
Tip 2: Don’t Apply Outside Knowledge
One of the biggest pitfalls candidates face is using their own knowledge or opinions to answer questions. The Watson Glaser is self-contained – meaning you rely only on the given information. If a passage says, “All Hong Kong law students are hard-working” and a question asks, “Is the statement ‘Hong Kong law students never relax’ true or false?”, the correct approach is to analyze only what’s provided. In this case, “hard-working” doesn’t mean “never relax,” so the statement would be “Probably False” or “False” based on the info given. It’s not asking whether you think HK law students relax or not; it’s about logical implication. This can feel counterintuitive, because as educated individuals we often have background knowledge or strong opinions. Train yourself to be objective and stick to the evidence presented. If the info is insufficient to conclude something, that’s the answer – even if in real life you might lean one way or the other.
Tip 3: Master Time Management
The Watson Glaser is timed, and while the time per question might seem generous, some questions can be genuinely puzzling. It’s crucial to use your time wisely:
Pace yourself: Know roughly how many questions there are and the total time, then keep track of whether you’re on schedule. If it’s 40 questions in 30 minutes, that’s about 45 seconds per question on average. Some will take less, some more.
Don’t get stuck: If a question is really confusing you, it’s better to mark your best guess and move on, then return if time permits. Because each question is standalone (there’s no building narrative where one answer depends on another), you’re better off securing the easy marks first.
Practice full-length tests: Stamina and focus come into play. Doing a full practice test in one sitting helps condition you to maintain concentration for the entire period. It also helps you figure out if you tend to finish too slow or too fast, so you can adjust. Some candidates rush and finish early – which might mean careless mistakes – so practice helps you find the right balance.
Tip 4: Learn the Common Traps and Tricks
Watson Glaser questions often have tempting wrong answers designed to trick those who rush or don’t analyze carefully. Here are a few common traps:
For Inferences: A statement might sound obviously true in real life, but if the passage doesn’t explicitly or implicitly support it, you should answer “Not Enough Information” or “Probably True/False” rather than a definitive true/false.
For Assumptions: If you can negating the assumption and it destroys the original statement, then the assumption was necessary. Trick questions often include assumptions that are related but not necessary. Ask yourself, “Did the speaker need to believe this for their statement to make sense?”
For Deductions: Watch out for qualifiers. For instance, premises might say “All A are B” and another says “Some B are C.” A proposed conclusion “Some A are C” is not necessarily true – maybe the “some B that are C” are not the A’s. These syllogism puzzles can be tricky; drawing quick diagrams or using letters can help.
For Interpretation: Similar to deductions, ensure the conclusion doesn’t overstate what’s given. If the passage evidence strongly suggests something but doesn’t guarantee it, the conclusion is not warranted beyond doubt.
For Evaluating Arguments: A strong argument is one that is both directly relevant and impactful to the question at hand. Traps here include arguments that sound emotionally compelling or are true in general but don’t actually address the specific scenario. Always ask, “Does this argument, if true, significantly affect the decision in question?”
By learning these patterns, you become quicker at eliminating wrong choices. There are prep guides and even courses focused on Watson Glaser strategies (our Watson Glaser Academy breaks down these patterns in detail), which can be very helpful if you’re struggling to improve your score.
Tip 5: Stay Calm and Focused During the Test
Test anxiety can be a real barrier. The Watson Glaser, with its sometimes convoluted wording, can intimidate even the best students. On test day (or when practicing):
Find a quiet environment: Distractions are your enemy. If you’re taking it at home online, ensure you won’t be interrupted. If it’s at an assessment center, try to tune out the presence of other candidates.
Read carefully: Misreading a single word like “not” or misinterpreting the question format can lead to a wrong answer. Especially for assumption and deduction questions, read every word of the premise and question stem carefully.
Use the process of elimination: Often, you can eliminate one or two obviously wrong answers quickly, and then focus on the remaining options. This improves your odds even if you have to guess.
Keep an eye on stress: If you feel panic rising (heart racing, mind blanking), take one deep breath. Remind yourself that you’ve prepared and that many questions can be reasoned out with a clear mind. Confidence truly helps – if you’ve practiced, trust your logic.
The Watson Glaser test might seem like a hurdle, but think of it as an opportunity to showcase a key lawyerly skill: critical thinking. By thoroughly preparing and practicing, you can turn this into a strong point on your application. Law firms in Hong Kong use this test to find analytical thinkers who can handle complex information – prove to them you’re one of those people. Use the tips above to guide your study. Consider leveraging practice resources (like our free test or training modules) to get comfortable with every question type. When you finally sit for the real test, you’ll not only have the skills but also the confidence to tackle it head-on. Good luck, and happy reasoning!