10 Top Critical Thinking Skills (And How to

Improve Them)
By Indeed Editorial Team
Updated May 26, 2022 | Published February 15, 2019
Show Transcript

Related: Top Resume Skills

Learn more about what hard skills and soft skills to put on a resume so it stands out from
the others.

Critical thinking skills allow you to understand and address situations based on all available facts and
information. Typically, using critical thinking at work involves processing and organizing facts, data
and other information to define a problem and develop effective solutions.

It’s a good idea to reflect on the critical thinking skills you already possess and which you may need
to develop and highlight them on your resume and during interviews. In addition, you might consider
setting goals and adopting practices to help you build the critical thinking skills necessary to succeed
in your job.

In this article, we explain what critical thinking is, why it’s important and how you can improve your
skills in this area.

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What is critical thinking?

Critical thinking is the act of analyzing facts to understand a problem or topic thoroughly. The critical
thinking process typically includes steps such as collecting information and data, asking thoughtful
questions and analyzing possible solutions. For example, if you’re working in human resources and
need to resolve a conflict between two employees, you will use critical thinking to understand the
nature of the conflict and what action should be taken to resolve the situation.

Related: 6 Examples of Critical Thinking Skills

How to think critically

Here are steps you might take when using critical thinking for problem-solving at work:

1. Identify a problem or issue.

2. Create inferences on why the problem exists and how it can be solved.
3. Collect information or data on the issue through research.
4. Organize and sort data and findings.
5. Develop and execute solutions.
 6. Analyze which solutions worked or didn’t work.
7. Identify ways to improve the solution.

Being objective is a fundamental part of critical thinking. That means analyzing the problem without
allowing personal bias, emotions or assumptions to influence how you think. A strong critical thinker
will only analyze a problem based on the context and facts collected after conducting thorough and
impartial research.

Related: How To Think Critically: 7 Ways To Improve Your Skills

Why critical thinking is important

Critical thinking skills are essential in every industry at every career level, from entry-level associates
to top executives. Good critical thinkers can work both independently and with others to solve
problems.

Issues such as process inefficiencies, management or finances can be improved by using critical
thought. Because of this, employers value and seek out candidates who demonstrate strong critical
thinking skills.

Related: What’s the Importance of Critical Thinking in the Workplace?

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Top 5 critical thinking skills

Here are five common and impactful critical thinking skills you might consider highlighting on your
resume or in an interview:
1. Observation

Observational skills are the starting point for critical thinking. People who are observant can quickly
sense and identify a new problem. Those skilled in observation are also capable of understanding
why something might be a problem. They may even be able to predict when a problem might occur
before it happens based on their experiences.

Improve your observation skills by slowing down your pace of processing information and training
yourself to pay closer attention to your surroundings. You might
practice mindfulness techniques, journaling or actively listening during and outside of work to
thoroughly examine what you’re hearing or seeing. Then, consider if you notice trends in behavior,
transactions or data that might be helpful for your team to address.

Related: Inductive Reasoning: Definition and How To Use It

2. Analysis

Once a problem has been identified, analytical skills become essential. The ability to analyze and
effectively evaluate a situation involves knowing what facts, data or information about the problem are
important. This also often includes gathering unbiased research, asking relevant questions about the
data to ensure it’s accurate and assessing the findings objectively.

Improve your analytical skills by taking on new experiences. For example, you might read a book
about a concept you’re unfamiliar with or take an online math class to push yourself to think in new
ways and consider new ideas. Doing so can help you build the skills to interpret new information and
make rational decisions based on sound analysis.

Read more: Analytical Skills: Definitions and Examples

3. Inference

Inference is a skill that involves drawing conclusions about the information you collect and may
require you to possess technical or industry-specific knowledge or experience. When you make an
inference, that means you are developing answers based on limited information. For example, a car
mechanic may need to infer what is causing a car’s engine to stall at seemingly random times based
on the information available to them.

Improve your inference skills by placing focus on making educated guesses rather than quickly
drawing conclusions. This requires slowing down to carefully look for and consider as many clues as
possible—such as images, data or reports—that might help you evaluate a situation.

Related: Deductive Reasoning: Definition and Examples

4. Communication

Communication skills are important when it comes time to explain and discuss issues and their
possible solutions with colleagues and other stakeholders.
Improve your communication skills within the context of critical thinking by engaging in difficult
discussions, for example, in situations when you and another participant may disagree about the
topic. Maintain good communication habits, such as active listening and respect, to understand other
points of view and to be able to explain your ideas in a calm, rational manner. Doing so can help you
evaluate solutions more effectively with your colleagues.

Read more: Communication Skills: Definitions and Examples

5. Problem-solving

After you’ve identified and analyzed a problem and chosen a solution, the final step is to execute your
solution. Problem-solving often requires critical thinking to implement the best solution and
understand whether or not the solution is working as it relates to the goal.

Improve your problem-solving skills by setting goals to acquire more industry knowledge within your
field. Problem-solving at work typically becomes easier if you have a strong understanding of
industry-specific information. It can also be helpful to observe how others around you solve problems
at work. Take note of their techniques and ask questions about their process.

Related: The Best Ways To Strengthen Your Logical Thinking Skills

More critical thinking skills

While the five skills listed above are essential to successful critical thinking, there are several soft
skills that relate to thoughtful analysis. Here are five more skills to consider when developing your
critical thinking:

 Metacognitive skills
 Inductive reasoning skills
 Creativity skills
 Decision-making skills
 Conceptual thinking skills

Read more: How To Improve Your Soft Skills in the Workplace

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How to improve your critical thinking skills

While you might already have many of the skills above, it may still be helpful to consider other areas
for improvement—especially for specific skills listed on a job description. You can always improve
your critical thinking skills through practice and extended educational opportunities.

To further improve your critical thinking skills, consider taking some of the following steps:
  Expand your industry-specific or technical skills to help you more easily identify
problems.
 Take additional courses in your industry that require critical thinking and analysis.
 Actively volunteer to solve problems for your current employer.
 Seek advice from professionals in your field or desired industry.
 Play solo and cooperative games that require critical thinking skills, such as analysis
and inference.

Asking a friend, colleague or manager to assess your current skill set can also help provide you with
an objective view of your strengths. You may find it beneficial or even necessary to practice your
critical thinking skills to help build your resume or advance in your career.

Is this article helpful?

YesNo

A critical thinking strategy is simply a ‘way’ to encourage or facilitate the cognitive act of thinking critically.
Critical thinking is the ongoing application of unbiased, accurate, and ‘good-faith’ analysis,
interpretation, contextualizing, and synthesizing multiple data sources and cognitive perspectives in
pursuit of understanding.

What are the 7 critical thinking strategies? Someone emailed me recently asking that question and I
immediately wondered how many more than seven there were. 27? 77?

Infinity?

This is a post that’s going to have to be updated over time because do define, clarify, offer tips for and
examples of each would be a short book.

But I did create a graphic and list many dozen to start with below (60 for now). I’ve also started adding
some thinking for each but, as I mentioned, this will take time because it’s such an ambitious list (kind of
like the Types of Questions post I did recently.) So, on with the list.

1. Analyze

One of the more basic critical thinking strategies is ‘analysis’: Identify the parts and see the relationships
between those parts and how they contribute to the whole.

2. Interpret

Explain the significance or meaning of a ‘thing’ in a specific content or to a specific audience. Similar to
‘translate’ but (generally) with more cognitive demand.

3. Infer

Draw a reasonable conclusion based on the best available data. This critical thinking strategy is useful
almost anywhere–from reading to playing a game to solving a problem in the real-world.

4. Use the Heick Domains Of Cognition Taxonomy

In fact, many of these strategies are built-in to the taxonomy.

5. Separate cause and effect

And concept map it–and maybe even consider prior causes to the most immediate causes and predict
future possible effects. For example, if you’re considering an effect (e.g., pollution), you might see one
cause being a new industrial factory built near a river or runoff. But you might also consider what enabled
or ’caused’ that factory to be built–a zoning change or tax break given by the local government, for
example.
6. Prioritize

Prioritizing is an executive neurological function that demands knowledge to then apply critical thinking to
or on.

7. Deconstruct

And narrate or annotate the deconstruction. Deconstruct a skyscraper or a cultural movement or school or
app. This is somewhere between analysis and reverse engineering.

8. Reverse Engineer

9. Write

Writing (well) is one of the most cognitively demanding things students commonly do. It’s also a
wonderful strategy to promote critical thinking–a kind of vehicle to help it develop. Certainly one can write
without thinking critically or think critically without writing but when they work together–in the form of a
thinking journal, for example–the effects can be compelling.

10. Reflect

Observe and reflect is a  basic pattern for thought itself. The nature of the reflection, of course, determines
if it’s actually a strategy for critical thinking but it’s certainly a worthy addition to this list.

11. Separate the subjective from the objective

And fact from opinion.

12. Be vigilant in distinguishing beliefs and facts or truths

To be able to think critically requires

Dewey described critical thinking as ‘reflective thinking’ (see #10)–the “active, persistent and careful
consideration of any belief or supposed form of knowledge in the light of the grounds that support it, and
the further conclusions to which it tends.” (Dewey 1910: 6; 1933: 9) It’s clear that to be able to consistently
do this requires one to separate beliefs (which are personal and fluid) and knowledge (which is more
universal and less fluid–though the depth and nature of knowledge and understanding can change over
time).

13. Link and Connect

This is somewhere between analysis and concept mapping, but seeing the relationship between things–
ideas, trends, opportunities, problems–is not only useful as a strategy but is how the brain learns: by
making connections.

14. Use formal and/or informal inquiry

15. Use the 5 Ws

A flexible strategy for inquiry and thought, the 5 Ws provides a kind of starting point for ongoing thought:
who, what, where, why, and when.

16. Use spiral thinking

17. Concept map

18. Illustrate what’s known, currently unknown, and unknowable

This is part analysis, part epistemology.

19. Use Bloom’s Taxonomy

20. Apply informed skepticism

21. Use question and statement stems

22. Explore the history of an idea, stance, social norm, etc.

Especially change over time.

23. Debate

24. Analyze from multiple perspectives

25. Transfer

26. Patience

27. Adopt the right mindset

28. Humility

29. Judge
30. Study relationships

Between beliefs, observations, and facts, for example.

31. See ‘truth’ in degrees/non-binary

32. Improve something

33. Curiosity

Similar to inquiry but more a cause of inquiry than a strategy itself.

34. Creativity

35. Explore the nature of thinking and belief

This sets the stage for long-term critical thinking.

36. Separate people from their ideas

This isn’t necessarily a pure critical thinking strategy but it can reduce bias and encourage rationality and
objective analysis.

37. Making some abstract concrete or something concrete abstract

38. Challenge something

39. Predict and defend

40. Form a question, then improve that question before gathering information

41. Revise a question after information/observation

42. Critique something

43. Observe something

While not actually ‘critical thinking,’ critical thinking rarely happens without it. It’s one (of many) fuels for
‘higher-order’ thinking.

44. Revise something

45. Transfer a lesson or philosophical stance from one situation to another

A lesson from nature to the design of a tool or solution to a problem.

46. Compare and contrast two or more things

47. Test the validity of a model

Or even create a basic mathematical model for predicting something–stocks, real-world probabilities, etc.

48. Create an analogy

This helps emphasize relationships, rules, and effects.

49. Adapt something for something new

A new function or audience or application, for example.

50. Identify underlying assumptions

51. Analyze the role of social norms on ‘truth’

Or even the nature of ‘truth’ itself.

52. Narrate a sequence

53. Identify first truths or principles

A first principle is a proposition that can’t be deduced from another proposition (or assumption) and
thus can be thought of as ‘first’ or most fundamental.

54. Keep a thinking journal

55. Identify and explain a pattern

56. Study the relationship between text and subtext

Or explicit and implicit ideas.

57. Elegantly emphasize the nuance of something

58. Identify cognitive biases and blind spots

59. Use model-based learning

I’ll provide a model for this soon but I’ve been using it with students for years.

60. Take and defend a position

Similar to debate but it can be one-sided, in writing, on a podcast, or even concept-mapped. It’s a simple
strategy: specify a ‘stance’ and defend it with the best possible data and unbiased thinking

60 Critical Thinking Strategies For Learning

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Founder & Director of TeachThought

Professional Development
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Critical Thinking Test

A Critical Thinking test, also known as a critical reasoning test, determines your ability to
reason through an argument logically and make an objective decision. You may be
required to assess a situation, recognize assumptions being made, create hypotheses,
and evaluate arguments.

What questions can I expect?

Questions are very likely to be based on the Watson and Glaser Critical Thinking
Appraisal model, which contains five sections specially designed to find out how good an
individual is at reasoning analytically and logically. The five sections are:

Arguments: In the argument section you are tested on your ability to distinguish between
arguments that are strong and arguments that are weak. For an argument to be strong, it
must be both important and directly related to the question. An argument is weak if it is not
directly related to the question, of minor importance, or it confuses correlation with
causation (which is incorrectly assuming that just because two things are related, they are
the cause of each other).

Assumptions: An assumption is something we take for granted. People make many

assumptions which may not necessarily be correct; being able to identify these is a key
aspect of critical reasoning. An assumption question will include a statement and a
number of assumptions. You are required to identify whether an assumption has been
made or not.

Deductions: In deduction questions you have to draw conclusions based on only the
information given in the question and not your own knowledge. You will be provided with a
small passage of information and you will need to evaluate a conclusion made based on
that passage. If the conclusion cannot be drawn from the information given, then the
conclusion does not follow.

Interpretation: In these questions you are given a passage of information followed by a

proposed conclusion. You are to regard the information you are given as true and decide
whether the proposed conclusion logically and beyond doubt follows.

Inferences: Inference is a conclusion drawn from supposed or observed facts. It is

information that does not appear directly in the given information, but is drawn from it. If,
for instance, we go to a public restroom and find the door locked, we will assume/make
the inference that it is occupied.

Where are Critical Thinking tests used?

These tests are used in graduate, professional, and managerial recruitment. They are very
common in the legal and banking sector.

Practice Critical Thinking Test

 Try a free Critical Thinking Test.
This test is a short practice test, the test contains 10 test questions and has a time limit of
6 minutes.

What is a critical thinking test?

A critical thinking test is used to assess your ability to logically analyse assumptions,
arguments, deductions, inferences and interpreting information. Critical thinking can be
defined as ‘the ability to consider a range of information derived from many different sources,
to process this information in a creative and logical manner, challenging it, analysing it and
arriving at considered conclusions which can be defended and justified’ (Moon, 2008).

Critical reasoning tests, also known as critical thinking tests, are psychometric tests commonly used
in graduate, professional and managerial recruitment. These high-level analytical test are most
commonly encountered in the legal sector, but other organisations such as the Bank of England also
use them as part of their selection process. This test may be pencil and paper or it may be
administered online depending on the format and the structure of the recruitment process. The
questions will be multiple choice format and will usually be administered under time constraints

Critical Thinking Test Formats - Common test formats as follows:

 40 questions - 30 minutes
 80 question - 60 minutes

If we lack critical thinking skills, it is possible to be misguided into believing that an argument is
strong, when in actual fact there is little evidence to support it. Critical thinking skills therefore include
the ability to structure a sound, solid argument, to analyse and synthesise available information, and
to make assumptions and inferences. Critical thinking skills are also about being able to evaluate the
information and draw conclusions that can be supported.

Overview of the watson glaser critical thinking appraisal

By far the most common type of critical thinking test is the Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal (W-
GCTA) which is published by TalentLens. You can visit their official site here: Watson Glaser. With over 85
years' worth of development, the Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal is the most popular measure of
critical thinking ability. The test is most commonly used by law firms, which is understandable as the abilities
measured by the W-GCTA are good predictors of future success in roles which require clarity of understanding
from multiple perspectives and the ability to reason with fact versus assumption.

The Watson-Glaser Thinking Appraisal (W-GCTA) is one of the main evaluating tools for cognitive abilities in
professionals, since it measures critical thinking. It is seen as a successful tool to predict job success, as well as
being used to select good managers and finding possible future leaders. It is also used in order to select the right
person for a specific job role, especially for careers in the law.

The most recent revision of the W-GCTA was published in 2011 with notable improvements being better face
validity and business-relevant items, scoring based on Item Response Theory (IRT), updated norm groups, and
an online retest which can be used to validate a paper and pencil test result.
 The W-GCTA was originally developed by Goodwin Watson and Edward Glaser. The W-GCTA measures the
critical skills that are necessary for presenting in a clear, structured, well-reasoned way, a certain point of view
and convincing others of your argument. The test questions are looking at the individual’s ability to:

 1.Make correct inferences

 2.To recognise assumptions
 3.To make deductions
 4.To come to conclusions
 5.To interpret and evaluate arguments

What does a critical thinking test measure?

Critical thinking tests assess your ability to logically analyse assumptions, arguments, deductions, inferences
and interpreting information. You will be given a passage of information which may contain a mixture of verbal
and numerical data, and will be provided with a statement which requires the candidate’s critical assessment of
how true that statement is based on the above passage.

The Watson and Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal contains five sections which are specially designed in order
to find out how good an individual is at reasoning analytically and logically. There are five sections:

 1. Assumptions: In these questions a statement will be presented and the candidate will have to decide if an
assumption has been made in making the statement. For example in the statement “only people earning a high
salary can afford a fast car” it is assumed that fast cars cost more than not fast cars (this is just one of many
assumptions implicit in the statement). An assumption is something someone effectively takes for granted.
Statements are given for the individual to read and they are then followed by several proposed assumptions. The
candidate has to select whether an assumption has or has not been made. Here is a video explaining how to
answer an assumptions question.
 2. Analysing arguments: Candidates will be provided with a given scenario i.e. “Should the government pay
student’s tuition fees?” They are subsequently provided with a list of arguments for or against the scenario
presented. The candidate will need to assess if each argument is strong or weak, based on how relevant it is and
how well it addresses the question. The argument is considered to be strong if it directly relates to the question or
statement, and weak if it is not directly related to the question or statement. Here is a video explaining how to
answer an analysing arguments question
 3. Deductions: Candidates will be provided with a passage of information and candidates will need to evaluate a
list of deductions made based on that passage. If one cannot deduce a particular statement from the passage, then
that deduction does not follow, and the candidate must select which deductions follow and which do not follow.
The answer must be entirely based on the statements made and not on conclusions made from one’s own
knowledge. Here is a video explaining how to answer a deductions question
 4. Inferences: In this section candidates will be provided with a passage of information on a scenario. A
subsequent list of possible inferences will follow, and candidates will be asked to rate if they are true, false,
possibly true, possibly false or whether it is not possible to say based on the information in the passage. Here is a
video explaining how to answer an inferences question
 5. Interpreting Information: A paragraph of information will be provided to the candidate, with a list of possible
conclusions. Candidates will need to interpret the information in the paragraph and decide if each conclusion
follows based on the presented information. Once again the decisions must solely be based on the information
given.

With so many sections, each having their own instructions and guidelines, it can be tough to become confident
on all areas.

We asked critical thinking test takers what they found was the most difficult section:

What should you know before a critical thinking test?

If a critical reasoning test is used in the assessment centre stage of the recruitment process then it is unlikely that
it alone will be the sole decider of the selection decision. Instead a mixture of tools will be used and combined
to get a varied view of the candidate’s abilities. However if a critical reasoning test is used at the early stages of
the recruitment process, it may be that this is being used as a screening tool, and poor performance may screen
that candidate out at that early stage. For a critical reasoning test candidates will not be required to learn any
specific material before the test and will not be asked to use prior knowledge. All the information needed to
complete the questions will be provided in the test.
 Most popular critical thinking test publishers
There may be variations in your test depending on the test publisher you have for your critical thinking test.

Throughout 2020, we analysed a sample of critical thinking tests to discover the most popular test
publishers:

Here is a list of critical reasoning tests on the market at present, which candidates may be likely to encounter for
recruitment, selection or development.

 1. Watson Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal: The W-GCTA is the most widely-used critical reasoning test on
the market, and the one candidates are most likely to encounter.
 2. SHL Critical Reasoning Test Battery: The SHL Critical Reasoning Test Battery is a collection of 60 critical
reasoning questions with varying difficulty depending of the level of candidate. This test has a time limit of 30
minutes.
 3. Cornell Critical Thinking Assessment: The Cornell Critical Thinking Assessment is a test primarily used in
educational settings. There are two versions of this test, one for children and one for adults. This test may be used
for entry onto particular degree courses or for recruitment/development purposes.
 4. Cappfinity Critical Reasoning Test: This assesses your problem solving and decision making skills. Its topics
have similarities with the Watson Glaser.
 5. Test Partnership Concepts Critical Thinking Test: This also shares some similarities with the Watson
Glaser. Test Partnership assesses the classic aspects of critical thinking with a modern candidate experience.

General Critical Thinking Test Advice

 Here is some general advice to help you perform to the best of your ability for your critical reasoning test.

 1. Only use the information contained in the test: When reading the passages of information within the test,
your first instinct may be to use general knowledge or your own personal experience. Critical reasoning tests are
not tests of what you think; they are tests of how you think. You will not be required to utilise any prior
knowledge when answering a question, and at times the correct answer will completely contradict what you know
to be true based on your own knowledge, but is true in the context of the passage.
 2. Read the instructions thoroughly: Critical reasoning tests will require numerous separate types of logical
reasoning, and reading the instructions will inform you of how to answer questions correctly. For example if a
question requires you to evaluate the strength of an argument, the instruction page will inform you what
constitutes a strong or weak argument. Take ample time to ensure you know how to answer questions regardless
of any time limits.
 3. Time limits: Due to the complex nature of critical reasoning tests, there will often be no time limits or there
will be generous time limits. Candidates are advised to use this to their advantage and take plenty of time when
reading, evaluating and answering. An easy mistake to make is treating this type of test like a verbal or numerical
reasoning test and answering questions as quickly as possible. Rushing through a critical thinking test may lead to
candidates missing key points, and answering incorrectly as a result.
 4. Logical fallacies: Understanding logical fallacies is an important part of the test, and researching the difference
between sound and fallacious logic can help maximise performance on a critical reasoning test. A fallacy is an
error in reasoning due to a misconception or a presumption, and an argument which employs a formal fallacy,
logical fallacy or a deductive fallacy in its reasoning becomes an invalid argument. Researching the different types
of fallacy (i.e. red herring argument, straw man argument, confusing correlation and causation etc.) can help you
identify them in the test and therefore answer the question correctly.

How AssessmentDay Can Help With Critical Thinking

Tests
Practice critical reasoning tests as offered by AssessmentDay are a useful method of preparation. Having
actually undertaken a critical reasoning test before the real thing can be a great confidence booster, and help you
to learn from your mistakes in the practice test.

You can also visit the test publisher's website where they may explain what critical reasoning tests are, for
example,Talentlens.

Other test publishers