This technical note describes a comparison between the results obtained from single-stage and multistage ring shear tests on two different types of normally consolidated clay. The results confirm the brittle behavior of normally consolidated soils containing a high proportion of clay particles and the curved nature of the residual stress failure envelope. Detailed examination of the test data shows that while the multistage technique offers a considerable advantage in terms of the test duration, it may give erroneous results for soils with a high proportion of platy clay particles.