Watson Glaser Assumptions Section - Samples, Tips, and Hacks [2024]

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The Recognition of Assumptions section is the second section of the Watson Glaser test. It contains 12 multiple-choice questions, each with 2 answer options.

In this brief guide, we will go over the structure of this section, show a solved sample question, and share some tips for success.

Let's go!

Shlomik, Watson Glaser test expert at JobTestPrep.

Have a question? Contact me at: ask_the_team@jobtestprep.co.uk

Watson Glaser Recognition of Assumptions Section Overview

In each question on the Watson Glaser Test Recognising Assumptions section, you will be presented with a statement followed by a proposed assumption.

Your task is to decide whether a person, in making the given statement, is making the proposed assumption – that is, taking it for granted, justifiably or not.

Note that these assumptions do not have to concur with reality or reason – you are not judging their common sense, but plainly whether they are made or not.

Watson Glaser Recognition of Assumptions Sample Question

We forecast that the completion of the development of supercomputers will be followed by a shortage of people who know how to make use of all this computing power.

It's only a matter of time until the development of supercomputers is completed.

Assumption Made

Assumption Not Made

Correct Answer

Incorrect Answer

To see why the assumption is not made, let’s use the Negative Test algorithm.

Step #1 – negate the assumption – “The development of supercomputers will never be completed”.
Step #2 – check if the validity of the original statement changes. In our case, it does not, since the given statement is a merely hypothetical claim, and says nothing about the possibility (or lack thereof) of developing supercomputers.
Step #3 – if the statement is still valid, then the assumption was not made.

Want more questions? Try a free Watson Glaser sample test.

Tips for the Watson Glaser Recognition of Assumptions Section

Tip #1 – Use the Negative Test

The Negative Test is a very useful tool for finding hidden assumptions. We use it in the sample question above, but make sure you practise it to perfection.

The Negative Test is fully covered in the Complete Watson Glaser Preparation Course.

Tip #2 – Go to Absurdity

This one is also a useful trick that can often help in the Watson Glaser Recognition of Assumptions section.

Let’s take the sample question from above once again:

We forecast that the development of supercomputers will be followed by a shortage of people.

Now, let’s turn this into a statement describing an absurd situation and see whether the proposed assumption is made or not:

We forecast that an alien invasion will be followed by a world crisis.

It is pretty evident that the statement does not assume that an alien invasion is probable, or that it is only a matter of time before it happens – only that if it DOES happen, it will result in a world crisis.

The same goes for the original example about supercomputers.

Remember: In the Assumptions section of the Watson Glaser assessment, neither the statements nor the assumptions have to make sense – they just need to concord with one another.

Preparing for the Watson Glaser Test

With questions simulating the rules and formatting of the actual Watson Glaser assessment, JobTestPrep’s Complete Watson Glaser Prep Course will help you ace the test, including the Recognition of Assumptions section.

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