Question 1
Proposed inferenceMore of the operator's trains arrived within five minutes of schedule in the three months after the change than in the three months before.
Watson Glaser inference questions
A short passage of facts, then proposed inferences. You judge how far the facts take each one.
| Questions in the test | 5 of 40 |
|---|---|
| Answers | True, probably true, insufficient data, probably false, false |
| Outside knowledge | Everyday common knowledge only |
| Time | About 45 seconds a question |
How to choose
- True: the facts settle it beyond reasonable doubt.
- Probably true: the facts point towards it, but do not settle it.
- Insufficient data: the facts give no lean either way.
- Probably false: the facts point against it.
- False: the facts contradict it.
Where marks go
- Calling a likely cause True: timing alone never proves cause.
- Calling a missing fact False: missing is insufficient data.
- Doing sums loosely: "more than a third" is not the same as "a third".
Try 5 questions
A regional train operator brought in a new timetable in March. In the three months before the change, 71% of its trains arrived within five minutes of schedule. In the three months after the change, 88% did. The operator ran the same number of trains, on the same lines, in each of the two periods, and no other operator in the region changed its timetable.
Complaints to the operator about delays fell by almost half after March.
Question 2
Proposed inferenceThe new timetable contributed to the improvement in punctuality.
Question 3
Proposed inferenceThe number of complaints the operator received about delays roughly halved after March.
Question 4
Proposed inferencePunctuality on the operator's trains was worse after March than before it.
Question 5
Proposed inferenceThe operator raised its fares in March.
Next step
Questions people ask
What is the hardest part of inference?
Telling probably true from true. Ask whether anything in the passage could still make the inference false. If it could, it is probably true at most.
Can I use what I know?
Only everyday knowledge that most people share, such as more opening hours usually needing more staff time. Never specialist knowledge.
How many inference questions are there?
Five of the 40 in the usual test, all on one or two passages.