GMAT EXAM Strategies for Success Critical Reasoning Introduction

GMAT EXAM Strategies for Success

Critical Reasoning Introduction • 13— 14 questions total • Each C. R. passage is about 100 words • Expect 1— 2 questions per passage SKILLS: ü Understand how to construct an argument ü Understand how to evaluate an argument ü Know how to form or evaluate a plan of action

Critical Reasoning Format SHORT PASSAGE is LOCATED HERE Question located here, followed by five answer choices • Choice one • Choice two • Choice three • Choice four • Choice five

Similarities to Reading Comprehension • Same reading strategies; read actively, visualize, paraphrase, analyze • Same attack strategies, but always pre-read the question • Always consider all answer choices • Use the same elimination strategies

Differences from Reading Comprehension • Fewer factual questions, more hidden level questions • Don’t judge the actual truth; test the logical soundness of what’s presented • Understand WHAT the conclusion is and WHERE it is located • Understand the progression of the passage: order of premise, evidence, conclusion

Critical Reasoning Question Categories Repeats from Reading Comprehension: 1. Main Idea Questions

Critical Reasoning Question Categories Repeats from Reading Comprehension: 1. Main Idea 2. Strengthening or Weakening

Strengthening Question Roots – – – – “Which of the following, if true, provides the strongest…” “Which of the following, if true, helps to explain…” “Which of the following, if true, most strongly justifies…” “Which of the following, if true, provides the best reason…” “Which of the following, if true, would most strengthen…” “Which of the following, if true, would be most useful…” “Which of the following strategies would be most likely to…” “The conclusion above would be more reasonably drawn if which of the following were inserted…”

Weakening Question Roots “Which of the following, if true, would most weaken…” “Which of the following, if true, would undermine…” “Which of the following most challenges…” “Which of the following, if true, most casts a doubt…” “Which of the following, if true, raises the most serious doubt…” – “Which of the following, if it occurred, would constitute a disadvantage…” – “Which of the following, if true, could present the most serious disadvantage…” – – –

Critical Reasoning Question Categories Repeats from Reading Comprehension 1. Main Idea 2. Strengthening or Weakening New/Unique to Critical Reasoning: 3. Passage Completion

Critical Reasoning Question Categories Repeats from Reading Comprehension 1. Main Idea 2. Strengthening or Weakening New/Unique to Critical Reasoning: 3. Passage Completion 4. Assumptions on which the argument depends

Critical Reasoning Question Categories Repeats from Reading Comprehension 1. Main Idea 2. Strengthening or Weakening New/Unique to Critical Reasoning: 3. Passage Completion 4. Assumptions 5. Method of Argument

Critical Reasoning Question Categories Repeats from Reading Comprehension 1. Main Idea 2. Strengthening or Weakening New/Unique to Critical Reasoning: 3. Passage Completion 4. Assumptions 5. Method of Argument 6. Identify the flaws in the argument

Critical Reasoning Practice Test Questions and Review

Verbal Section Final Advice • Practice daily, concentrate on improving accuracy before efficiency • Analyze why non-credited answers are wrong • Analyze your own “misses” • Analyze your own strengths and weaknesses • Keep practicing!

You Can Do It! GOOD LUCK ON THE GMAT EXAM!