Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal® III
The Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal® III (WG-III) is an industry-standard cognitive evaluation designed to measure critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities in job applicants and current professionals. Built on the analytical R.E.D. Model, the test gauges a candidate’s capacity to Recognize Assumptions (separating fact from opinion), Evaluate Arguments impartially, and Draw Conclusions to decide on a course of action. The online version features a secure, randomized “item-banked” format that prevents cheating, making it perfect for untimed or 30-minute unsupervised remote screening pipelines. As of 2027 this will be replaced with the Critical Thinking Test.
About this Test
As of January 2027 the Watson-Glaser III will be updated and renamed as the Critical Thinking Test
Click here for the new version
The Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal® III (WG-III) is an industry-standard cognitive evaluation designed to measure critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities in job applicants and current professionals. Built on the analytical R.E.D. Model, the test gauges a candidate’s capacity to Recognize Assumptions (separating fact from opinion), Evaluate Arguments impartially, and Draw Conclusions to decide on a course of action. The online version features a secure, randomized “item-banked” format that prevents cheating, making it perfect for untimed or 30-minute unsupervised remote screening pipelines.
Improve critical thinking in the workplace and accurately identify top performers with the Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal® III
Timed: 30 minutes
Untimed: US English only coming late Spring 2018
Uses: Applicant screening, Selection, development, high potential identification, college recruiting
Languages: US English now available; French coming late Spring 2018; all other dates to be confirmed: UK, Australian, Indian English, US Spanish, Castilian Spanish, Dutch, and French Canadian
How long will your company survive if your staff has poor decision making? For nearly a century, the Watson-Glaser™ Critical Thinking Appraisal has been helping companies make data-driven decisions on staffing and development, and is now the leading critical thinking test available. Can your employees, managers, and future leaders examine a situation and clearly understand it from multiple perspectives, while separating facts from opinions and assumptions? Watson-Glaser will find out!
Thousands of organizations, colleges, and schools use this critical thinking assessment to hire great managers, develop high-potential employees, and admit students into challenging programs.
Uses for the Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal® III:
- Assess decision making and critical thinking for entry-level through executive positions in all industries
- Emphasize the need for critical thinking in the workplace for high-stakes roles like police officers and airplane pilots
- Measure deductive reasoning skills of lawyers, insurance analysts, and IT professionals
- Professional development for current and future leaders
- Measure student potential and work-readiness
What It’s Best Used For
- Vetting high-stakes professionals: Filtering personnel for high-risk roles where sound operational judgment is a matter of safety, such as police officers or pilots.
- Measuring advanced analytical reasoning: Testing deductive logic and data evaluation accuracy for lawyers, IT engineers, and insurance analysts.
- Screening broad organizational tiers: Assessing decision-making capabilities across all internal job levels, from entry-level positions to C-suite executive recruitment.
- Identifying leadership potential: Pinpointing high-potential employees to build custom talent development tracks and organizational succession structures.
- Predicting academic or job readiness: Evaluating student logical aptitude for challenging higher-education admissions or direct workforce placements.
What’s new with the Watson-Glaser?
- Item-banked format enables unsupervised (unproctored) screening of job applicants
- Questions are randomly selected from a large pool, making it unlikely that two individuals receive the same test
- Item-banked test design increases item security and protects test validity
- New timed version promotes a consistent candidate experience
- Improved Profile report shows standardized scores and more detailed description of subtest performance
- New bank of business-relevant questions suitable for international use
- New platform functionality to add a custom norm, delay test administration, or combine Watson-Glaser with other ability tests
R.E.D Model
- Recognize Assumptions: Separate fact from opinion
- Evaluate Arguments: Impartially evaluate arguments and suspend judgment
- Draw Conclusions: Decide your course of action
Scores are available immediately for online testing.
- New Profile Report: See overall and subtest performance, can-do statements, and standardized scores
- Development Report: Build a custom learning & development plan to enhance an individual’s skills
Reports Available
- Watson-Glaser™ III (Dutch)
- Watson-Glaser™ III (Dutch): Profile Report + Development Report
- Watson-Glaser™ III (PT-BR): Profile Report
- Watson-Glaser™ III (PT-BR): Development Report
- Watson-Glaser™ III (PT-BR): Profile Report + Development Report
- Watson-Glaser™ III (US English – Untimed): Development Report
- Watson-Glaser™ III (US English – Untimed): Profile + Development Report
- Watson-Glaser™ III (US English – Untimed): Profile Report
- Watson-Glaser™ III Test de Pensée Critique (French)
- Watson-Glaser™ Critical Thinking Appraisal III (French Canadian)
- Watson-Glaser™ III (Australian English): Profile and Development Reports
- Watson-Glaser™ III (Castilian Spanish)
- Watson-Glaser™ III (Indian English): Profile and Development Reports
- Watson-Glaser™ III (US English): Development Report
- Watson-Glaser™ III (US English): Profile + Development Reports
- Watson-Glaser™ III (US English): Profile Report
- Watson-Glaser™ III (US Spanish)
- Watson-Glaser™ III (US Spanish): Profile Report + Development Report
© Pearson Assessment Inc.
Additional information
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