advise on how to attempt critical reasoning weaken question

Expert replies

saurabhdhakad: Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts; Posts: 29; Joined: Mon Jan 16, 2012 9:22 pm; Location: India; Thanked: 1 times

by saurabhdhakad » Sat Aug 17, 2013 1:00 pm

Hi,

Need help on critical reasoning weaken and strengthen questions.
I can identify the conclusion and the flow, but i still struggle with right answer a lot.
I try to guess the assumption before attacking the question , but sometimes they are near by but mostly they are very different from what we say - linking the conclusion with premises-.
I am unable to figure out where i am stuck.

Any advise would be really helpful.

Like this post

Source: Beat The GMAT — Critical Reasoning | Sat Aug 17, 2013 1:00 pm

GMAT/MBA Expert

[email protected]: Elite Legendary Member; Posts: 10392; Joined: Sun Jun 23, 2013 6:38 pmFollowed by: 511 members; Location: Palo Alto, CA; Thanked: 2867 times; GMAT Score:800

by [email protected] » Sat Aug 17, 2013 3:57 pm

Hi saurabhdhakad,

CR prompts tend to follow a standard format: someone has a conclusion that is based on a limited amount of evidence. It's important to be clear on the SPECIFICS of the prompt because the correct answer will almost always discuss the same things that the paragraph discussed. Taking notes while reading (and linking the ideas that the author discusses) will help you to find the correct answer. You do need to know that sometimes CR prompts have more than 1 central assumption (hard CR prompts will have up to 4 assumptions), so if you predict an answer that isn't there, that does not mean that you're wrong - it means that there are other predictions that you could have made and one of those is the correct answer.

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

Contact Rich at [email protected]

Like this post

saurabhdhakad: Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts; Posts: 29; Joined: Mon Jan 16, 2012 9:22 pm; Location: India; Thanked: 1 times

by saurabhdhakad » Sun Aug 18, 2013 5:08 am

Thanks Rich.

I will try to find unusual gaps and make notes from other questions.

But sometimes these assumption are presented in a really twisted manner that even negating two of the options sound to affect the argument and thats what really adds to confusion.Whether one you seem u thought is correct or one thats new and also affecting the argument is correct

[/img]

Like this post

GMAT/MBA Expert

[email protected]: Elite Legendary Member; Posts: 10392; Joined: Sun Jun 23, 2013 6:38 pmFollowed by: 511 members; Location: Palo Alto, CA; Thanked: 2867 times; GMAT Score:800

by [email protected] » Sun Aug 18, 2013 2:16 pm

Hi saurabhdhakad,

It sounds like you're talking about a tactic called "the negation test", which is a tactic that is taught by certain prep companies. While some people are a fan of this approach, I am not because it forces to you into spending lots of time thinking about answers that really have nothing to do with the prompt. You'll find it more useful to put your time and effort into understanding the author's logic and predicting what you'll see in the correct answer (instead of trying to figure out if each answer fits the prompt). The EMPOWERgmat course uses a method called the CR Box which allows you to quickly take notes and determine what the correct answer would say.

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

Contact Rich at [email protected]

Like this post

Post new topic Post Reply

• Page 1 of 1

GMAT Course Reviews

559 reviews

1168 reviews

431 reviews

359 reviews

147 reviews

5/5

5 Star (560 Reviews)

"Target Test Prep is the closest to the official version of the GMAT exam, about 99% accuracy in terms of the quality and quantity of information. The course has excellently created singular sets of focused lessons and tests for every possible topic that one could come across in the official GMAT exam."

"The TTP course maximizes the efficiency of the time you spend studying. It will take time and effort but I could almost guarantee that if you complete the course exactly as it is laid out you will get an amazing score. They also have a very responsive team willing to help with any questions you might have."

"TTP has two things that I think no other test prep company offers: A teaching approach that reinforces understanding and an attitude that will give you the mental preparedness needed to succeed on the test. TTP gives you a deep understanding of the concept you need to know while teaching you how to think."

Write a Review