How to prepare for a Watson Glaser Critical Thinking Test?

Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal (WGCTA) Briefly

Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal (WGCTA) is gold and verbal-styled testing standard, which started its journey in early 1920. The assessment has a remarkable history spanned over 85 years, and its development has seen quite a few astonishing eras. Currently, it has been enjoying very healthy growth under the banner of Pearson TalentLens in the United Kingdom.

The Watson-Glaser critical thinking test can either be unsupervised (usually at home or in some cases, Pearson VUE test Center) or supervised (a paper-based test conducted in an assessment centre).

There have been many variations of the Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal (WGCTA)

Test over the years. The two widely used variations include one more extended version, which consisted of eighty questions, to be solved within 60 minutes, whereas a relatively short and newer version of the test, used nowadays consists of 40 questions, to be answered within 20-30 minutes. The timing of the test is determined by the nature of the test.

Watson-Glaser test assesses a candidate on five intertwined criteria, each designed to test a specific ability; inferences, assumptions, deduction, interpretations, and evaluation of arguments. You can practice these five criteria on Assessment-Training.com in our extensive Watson Glaser Preparation Package.

How to prepare for a Watson Glaser Critical Thinking Test?

Practice with Online Resources

To be honest and fair, the Watson-Glaser test is famed to be unique, and a tough-nut-to-crack. It requires the highest capability of reasoning skills, and to improve one’s critical thinking sounds like a goal to set, but in reality, it is challenging to discipline your thoughts. In that perspective, we suggest that you do it old school, with a lot of practice.

Assessment-Training.com offers an extensive Watson-Glaser Preparation Package that will get you ready for your Critical Thinking test!

It is to be kept in mind that you are practising to learn, not just to pass the test. Almost all of the test takers keep the passing percentage confidential, rendering it no matter, so focus on what really does matter, i.e., getting better at critical thinking.

You can also check Critical Thinking Skills: Developing Effective Analysis and Argument (Palgrave Study Skills)

Cover the basic RED Model of Critical Thinking

There is a thought process model that can be used to develop self-awareness. With the identification of thought patterns and understanding one’s biases, one build on thought process with the help of the Pearson RED critical thinking model. Every candidate needs to know everything there is to know about the RED Model as it lists;

Recognize Assumptions from the extensive set of material that are justifiable, and logical.

Evaluate arguments based on the strengths and weakness, concerning underlying assumptions.

Conclude carefully after considering all the basic underlying facts, and do think about the consequences of conclusions.

Improve Critical Thinking

Watson-Glaser tests challenge a candidate’s critical thinking ability. Critical thinking as defined by The Foundation for Critical Thinking says;

“Critical thinking is the intellectually disciplined process of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and/or evaluating information gathered from, or generated by, observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, or communication, as a guide to belief and action.”

Critical thinking ability comes from;

a) Conceptualization of one’s idea
b) Analysis based on the conceptualization
c) Synthesizing the justification for ideas and their conceptualization
d) Evaluation of the justification, whether they are accurate or have been formed on a misguided notion.

This thought process generates observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, and communication. All of these steps lead to a place, where a person forms his beliefs and act on them.

Critical thinking comes from the roots of everyday activities, and with the improvement in the learning curve, one’s critical thinking improves. Critical thinking may not be as strong for a candidate, as it is for another one, but it can be improved by employing a basic strategy by;

a) Go to the basics

While taking the practice test, ask the most basic questions that are out there, because sometimes a situation needs to be understood, from its origin. Some of the most basic questions that come along are; what, why, and how.

b) Reevaluate assumptions

While taking a practice test, it is advised that you question, even the most basic assumptions to understand better. As said by Isaac Asimov; “Your assumptions are your windows on the world. Scrub them off every once in a while, or the light won't come in.”

c) Master your thought process.

As Albert Einstein said;

"The world as we have created it is a process of our thinking. It cannot be changed without changing our thinking."

The human mind uses a heuristic approach and arrives at the most obvious conclusion, whereas one, who has mastered his thought process, has the ability to make unbiased assumptions and go further, drawing more accurate conclusions. So, while taking a test, never take the easy route and never accept the most obvious answer.

d) Go back to the basics now and then and reverse them

One of the most basic evaluation tactics is to try reversing things. The pursuit of reverse knowledge has been used widely and is believed to give way to sound judgments. So use the reverse strategy, whenever you feel confused and hesitant.

Conclusion

Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal (WGCTA) is used in the induction process because it works, and because it predicts how a candidate will perform in a corporate environment, over a period of time, makes it much more reliable.

So if you want to work in a highly competitive market, be prepared. Practice more and make sure you come prepared for your critical thinking test!