Avoid Prethinking Answers to Critical Reasoning Questions!
You may have heard of or even tried using a GMAT Critical Reasoning strategy called “prethinking.” This approach involves attempting to come up with a possible answer to a Critical Reasoning (CR) question before evaluating the answer choices provided. While the idea might sound logical at first, prethinking is actually a flawed strategy for several reasons—chief among them being that it wastes valuable time.
Why Prethinking Wastes Time
1. The Answer Choices Are Already Provided
Prethinking unnecessarily duplicates effort. The five answer choices are right there in the question. Instead of expending time and mental energy crafting your own answer, you can focus directly on evaluating the options presented. Every second counts on the GMAT, and prethinking adds an avoidable step to your problem-solving process.
2. Prethinking Creates a Bias
When you prethink an answer, you may inadvertently become fixated on finding an option that matches your initial idea. This can lead to a bias in how you evaluate the choices, even though your prethought answer may not align with any of them. In fact, for medium- or high-difficulty questions, there’s a strong likelihood that your prethought answer will not even be among the options.
3. Doubling Back Wastes Time
In the best-case scenario, your prethought answer serves as a distraction, slowing your evaluation of the actual answer choices. In the worst-case scenario, you may end up going through the choices twice—once in search of your prethought answer, and again to analyze them properly when you realize your idea doesn’t fit. This process not only wastes time but also increases the likelihood of confusion and error.
Why Prethinking Is Unnecessary
The underlying reason some GMAT instructors advocate for prethinking is to encourage students to stay engaged and pay close attention to the CR passage. However, this objective can be achieved more effectively without prethinking. By practicing active reading and focusing on the logic of the argument presented, you can grasp the question’s requirements without adding extra steps.
The Takeaway
To save time and improve accuracy in the GMAT Verbal section, skip the prethinking strategy. Trust the answer choices and focus on evaluating them logically. You’ll streamline your process, reduce unnecessary mental strain, and work more efficiently under timed conditions.
Happy studying!
Warmest regards,
Scott Woodbury-Stewart
Founder & CEO, Target Test Prep
