13. Intro to Critical Reasoning (CR)

Question 1

In the verbal reasoning section of the GMAT, between 9 and 13 of the 36 questions that appear will be Critical Reasoning questions.

Answer 1

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Question 2

Each Critical Reasoning question begins with a written stimulus, usually in the form of a short passage of about 100 words or fewer. Accompanying the stimulus is a question and five answer choices. The question will always ask us to determine which of the five answer choices is logically related to the stimulus in a particular way.

Answer 2

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Question 3

GMAT Critical Reasoning questions are designed to test our skill in making, analyzing, and evaluating arguments and plans.

Answer 3

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Question 4

Arriving at the correct answers to GMAT Critical Reasoning questions generally involves three aspects….

Answer 4

1) what we know
2) what we see
3) what we do

Question 5

What is an argument?

Answer 5

A series of statements that logically explain a point of view.

Question 6

What is the conclusion of the argument?

Answer 6

The sentence that states the argument’s point of view. An author’s conclusion is always a statement of opinion. In other words, whenever an author sets forth a conclusion, she’s presenting what she believes to be true.

Question 7

Where can an argument’s conclusion be found?

Answer 7

Although quite often it is found at the end of the passage, the truth is that it can be found anywhere within the passage. So don’t expect the conclusion to always be the last sentence of a passage.

Question 8

How do we effectively and efficiently answer a Critical Reasoning question that is based on an argument?

Answer 8

By relentlessly seeking out and understanding the argument’s conclusion.

Question 9

What is evidence or premises in the context of critical reasoning?

Answer 9

facts that support the conclusion and used to build the argument

Question 10

When answering Critical Reasoning questions, do we ever argue with evidence presented to us?

Answer 10

No, we never argue with evidence presented to us. If something is presented as a fact, we must consider it a fact.

Question 11

An author presents us with background information to “get us up to speed” on anything we may need to know in order to effectively understand the argument

Answer 11

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Question 12

Think of assumptions as the unstated glue, the missing information, that connects the evidence to the conclusion. Without this glue, the argument will fall apart, because, without this glue, the evidence provided does not support the argument’s conclusion.

Answer 12

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Question 13

What should we do when we think we have found the correct answer?

Answer 13

Go through all of the five options before choosing a correct answer.

Question 14

Is there such thing as a truly correct answer in Critical Reasoning?

Answer 14

Yes, there will only be one truly correct answer for every question, and the difference between the correct answer and the “runner-up” will be significant.

Question 15

What do we do if we have eliminated all the answer choices?

Answer 15

Simply take a moment to be sure that you have properly understood the passage. Then go back through the answer choices and carefully reevaluate them. This time though you need to really bear down on each answer choice and rigorously evaluate its merits.

Question 16

Is it wise to “pre-think” answers in Critical Reasoning?

Answer 16

Not at all. By attempting to read the question passage, read the question stem, and then “pre-think” what the correct answer will be. Doing so will likely limit your ability to become skilled at answering Critical Reasoning questions.

Question 17

Pre-thinking? Is this smart?

Answer 17

No, you are are not playing a elementary school game; you’re trying to get into business school

Question 18

Often, a test-taker who pre-thinks goes through all the answer choices in a question looking for a pre-thought answer only to have to go through all the choices again when none of the choices matches the pre-thought answer.

Answer 18

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Question 19

What happens when we pre-think?

Answer 19

We’re liable to be affected by one of a number of extremely well-researched cognitive biases, and choose trap choices.

Question 20

Pre-thinking can make our lives harder by…

Answer 20

…making it significantly harder for us to arrive at the correct answers to Critical Reasoning questions and, at the same time, make it significantly easier to fall into a trap.

Question 21

TTP with consistent study will help you score well on Critical Reasoning, don’t worry.

Answer 21

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Question 22

Do not eliminate or choose a critical reasoning answer choice because of the presence of one word

Answer 22

Eliminating Critical Reasoning answer choices on the basis of the presence of a single words is an unreliable, low quality approach to answering Critical Reasoning questions. For reliable results and high scores, we have to carefully evaluate the effect of every Critical Reasoning answer choice regardless of what words it uses.

Question 23

Don’t skip words when reading Critical Reasoning Passages, question stems, or answer choices!

Answer 23

This can be devastating to Critical Reasoning performance. So, to maximize performance, when answering a Critical Reasoning question, carefully read every word.

Question 24

Don’t eliminate an answer choice just because it brings in new information

Answer 24

• Many correct answers to Critical Reasoning questions bring in new information that is different from anything said by the passage
• We cannot eliminate an answer choice simply because it brings in new information that is different from what is discussed in the passage.

Question 25

What is one way to improve Critical Reasoning performance?

Answer 25

• Discover and then address habits that lead you to choosing incorrect answers.
• Log why you got a question wrong in the TTP drop down menu every time

Question 26

Do we need specialized, outside knowledge to answer Critical Reasoning Questions?

Answer 26

• No, we don’t. Any outside information is considered “common knowledge” among people with common sense and a basic level of education
• Therefore, any answer choice that would require us to have advanced or specialized knowledge in any particular field to choose that answer choice is clearly incorrect/can’t be the right answer.

Question 27

How long should you spend on test day to answer each Critical Reasoning question?

Answer 27

1.75-2mins. Max 3 mins depending on the difficulty level

Question 28

How long should you spend during training to answer each Critical Reasoning question?

Answer 28

You are untimed. Take as much time as you need during training.