MGMAT

Question 1

For every question, you should begin by understanding what you are given:

Answer 1

What is this author actually arguing?
What are the pieces of this argument?
How do they fit together?

Question 2

Premise

Answer 2

• Is part of the core of the argument; present in every argument
• Supports the author’s conclusion
• Can be a fact or an opinion; can be a description, historical information, data, or a comparison of things
• Is often signaled by words or phrases such as because of, since, due to, or as a result of

Question 3

Signal word: Premise

Answer 3

This point is used to support a claim or conclusion elsewhere in the argument

Because, since, for, after all

Question 4

Signal word: Cause and effect

Answer 4

One fact or claim leads to another

Therefore, thus, so, consequently, for this reason, it follows that, as a result

Question 5

Signal word: Concession

Answer 5

These words concede or acknowledge an opposing point but the author doesn’t necessarily change his or her mind

Even though, though, although, whereas, despite, while it is true that

Question 6

Signal word: Contrast

Answer 6

These words cross the line: the author is changing direction or disputing an earlier point

However, but, yet, nevertheless, even so

Question 7

Argument structure cheat sheet

Answer 7

• a premise is a piece of evidence (fact or claim) that supports the author’s conclusion
• a (final) conclusion is the author’s main claim
• an intermediate conclusion is both a claim and a premise; it supports the final conclusion
• background information helps to set the context for an argument
• a counterpoint or counterpremise goes against the author’s conclusion

Question 8

MGMAT’s four-step approach for all CR questions:

Answer 8

1) Identify the question
2) Deconstruct the argument
3) State the goal
4) Work from wrong to right

Question 9

The structure-based family

Answer 9

These questions ask you to determine something based upon the building blocks of the argument.
What pieces are included in the argument and how do they fit?

Question 10

The two types of structure-based family questions

Answer 10

Describe the role

Describe the argument

Question 11

The assumption-based family

Answer 11

These questions all depend upon an understanding of the assumptions made by the author to reach a certain conclusion

Question 12

Assumption

Answer 12

Something that the author does not state in the argument; for this reason, such assumptions are called unstated.

An assumption is, however, something that the author must believe to be true in order to draw the given conclusion. Without the assumption, the argument fails.

An assumption should plug a hole in the argument. The assumption will be necessary to the argument; that is, if the assumption isn’t true, the argument breaks down.

Question 13

Five types of assumption questions

Answer 13

• Find the assumption
• Strengthen the argument
• Weaken the argument
• Evaluate the argument
• Find the flaw

Question 14

The evidence-based family

Answer 14

These arguments all lack conclusions; they consist entirely of premises. They also won’t include any assumptions.

You’re asked to find something that must be true or something that eliminates a discrepancy in order to answer the question.

Question 15

Two types of evidence-based questions

Answer 15

Inference

Explain a discrepancy

Question 16

An effective argument map will summarize:

Answer 16

the core of the argument, including the premises and the conclusion

Question 17

On GMAT Verbal in general, you’re asked to find the “best” answer. You’re going to use a two-step process to do so:

Answer 17

1) First, look through all five answers and eliminate as many “definitely wrong” answers as you can. Do not try to decide which is the right answer right now. Instead, concentrate on eliminating wrong answers.
2) If you have only one answer left after this first pass, great; you’re done. If yo have two or more answers left, then compare those remaining answers.

Question 18

Methodology cheat sheet

Answer 18

1) Identify the question: The question type indicates what kind of information you can expect to find in the argument and what kind of reasoning will help you to answer the question.
2) Deconstruct the argument: Break the argument down into its building blocks. Make a very abbreviated map showing both the details and the “flow” of the information.
3) State the goal: Very briefly articulate your goal based upon this question type.
4) Work from wrong to right: Plan to go through the answers twice. On the first pass, focus on eliminating anything that is definitely wrong; leave everything else in. On the second pass, compare any choices that remain, then pick.

Question 19

Counterpoint or Counterpremise

Answer 19

• Is not part of the core; only present occasionally
• Opposes or goes against the author’s conclusion in some way
• Introduces multiple opportunities for traps: believing that the conclusion is the opposite of what it is, mistakenly thinking that a counterpoint is a premise (and vice versa)
• Is often signaled by a transition word such as although, though, however, yet, and but

Question 20

Background

Answer 20

• Is not part of the core; not always present
• Provides context to help understand the core; similar to premises, but less important to the argument itself
• Is almost always fact-based; can be in almost any form: historical information, data, descriptions of plans or ideas, definitions of words or concepts, and so on.

Question 21

Conclusion

Answer 21

• Is part of the core of an argument; present in most arguments
• Represents the author’s main opinion or claim; can be in the form of a prediction, a judgment of quality or merit, a statement of causality, or the outcome of a plan
• Is supported by at least one premise
• Is often signaled by words such as: therefore, thus, so, or consequently