The Watson Glaser has 5 sections, each with its own distinct rules. The rules change between sections — what is allowed in Section 1 is explicitly forbidden in Section 4. Know the rules cold before you sit down.
Timing: 30 minutes for 40 questions. In the Public Health version, Section 5 (Evaluation) contains 13 questions while other sections have 5–9 each. That is under a minute per question — do not get stuck.
Section 1 — Inference
Options: True · Probably True · Insufficient Data · Probably False · False This is the only section where common knowledge is allowed.
Trap: Over-inferring. 50–60% of answers in this section are Insufficient Data. Candidates who under-use this option score poorly. If the passage doesn't explicitly confirm or deny — and common knowledge doesn't clearly point one way — choose C.
Trap: Correlation ≠ causation. A passage showing an association does not prove one thing causes another. "Green tea drinkers had lower heart disease rates" → "Green tea prevents heart disease" is Probably False, not True.
Trap: "Expected" ≠ "certain." Words like expected, scheduled, planned introduce uncertainty → Probably True rather than True. Explicit contradictions → False (not Probably False).
Section 2 — Recognising Assumptions
Options: Assumption made · Assumption not made The core question: Must this assumption be true for the statement to make sense?
Trap: Close but not necessary — the most common trap in this section. Many assumptions sound related but are not strictly required. If the statement could still hold without the assumption, answer is B.
Trap: Confusing assumptions with conclusions. An assumption is something taken for granted before the argument. A conclusion is what the argument tries to prove. Don't mark a conclusion as an assumption.
Section 3 — Deduction
Options: Conclusion follows · Conclusion does not follow Use ONLY the information given — even if the premises seem untrue or unusual.
Trap: Reversing the logic. All A are B does not mean all B are A. "All certified managers completed training. Maria has a certificate → Maria completed training" follows. "All marketing staff use laptops" from "some marketing staff work remotely" does not.
Trap: "Some" to "all." Some is a weak quantifier. A conclusion requiring "all" cannot follow from a premise that only says "some." Venn diagrams can help visualise these relationships.
Section 4 — Interpretation
Options: Conclusion follows · Conclusion does not follow NO external knowledge whatsoever — stricter than Section 3.
Critical distinction: Section 1 vs Section 4. In Section 1 you can use common knowledge. In Section 4 you absolutely cannot. If you find yourself thinking "well, everyone knows that..." — stop. The answer is probably B.
Trap: Correlation ≠ causation (again). "People who walk 30 minutes daily report lower stress" → "Walking reduces stress" does not follow. The passage shows association only — no causal claim is made.
Section 5 — Evaluation of Arguments
Options: Argument Strong · Argument Weak
A strong argument must be relevant to the question AND important/substantive. Both conditions required.
Trap: Relevant but still weak. An argument can be on-topic but weak if it relies on anecdote, emotion, or only addresses a minor aspect. "Many famous scientists never learned a language yet made great contributions" — anecdotal, not a general argument → Weak.
Trap: Mistaking agreement for strength. Your personal opinion is irrelevant. Judge on logical quality, not whether you agree.
Common Weak patterns: Anecdotal evidence · Appeals to emotion or tradition · Cost-only arguments · Circular reasoning · Irrelevant comparisons · Non-sequiturs.