Which firms use the Watson Glaser?

May 29, 2024

Written By Natasha Jones

Wondering whether your dream firm uses the Watson Glaser? We’ve compiled a list of UK law firms that use the Watson Glaser test as part of their screening process. You’re welcome.

Brief overview of the Watson Glaser

For some, the thought of taking the Watson Glaser test is daunting. If you’ve never taken the test before, it can take a while to get your head around the different sections. Having said that though, practice really does make perfect when it comes to the Watson Glaser.

As you’re probably aware, the Watson Glaser test is a psychometric test used by a handful of law firms to filter out candidates applying for vacation schemes or direct training contracts. It is a test consisting of 40 questions divided into 5 sections, namely:

- Inferences

- Assumptions

- Deductions

- Interpretations

- Evaluating arguments

A very specific set of rules applies to each section of the test, and you should familiarise yourself with these rules before attempting the assessment. To get a feel for how to do well on the Watson Glaser, visit our dedicated selection and assessment page here.

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Firms using the Watson Glaser

Vacation schemes and training contract application processes differ from firm to firm. While some firms favour the Watson Glaser test, other firms have adopted other online verbal and/or numerical reasoning assessments.

Weightmans, for example, uses the HIPO-I online assessment. This tests applicants’ verbal and numerical reasoning, and also contains situational judgement questions. Some firms favour interactive games to objectively identify a candidate’s strengths. Womble Bond Dickinson, for example, uses pymetrics games to obtain a personalised report about applicants’ behaviours.

On the other hand, some firms don’t incorporate situational judgement or critical reasoning tests into their application process at all. Sometimes, applicants must take the test after submitting the online application form, whilst other firms require applicants to take the test as part of the assessment centre.

Some of the UK’s top law firms do require applicants to sit the Watson Glaser test at some point during their recruitment process, as listed below:

- Norton Rose Fulbright

- CMS

- Bird & Bird

- Osborne Clarke

- HFW

- RPC