How to enhance accuracy in weakening questions?

One great way to approach weakening questions is to turn them into strengthen questions. What you do is you clearly identify the conclusion as it is written in the weaken question.

Then you negate the conclusion. Do this by either 1) negating the quantifier (such as all or none or some) OR 2) if there is no quantifier, negate the main verb.

Now you simply strengthen the negated conclusion.

Most of the problems that people seem to have with weaken questions result from confusion. This should help you to keep from getting confused.


Try the following Veritas weaken question: Identify the main conclusion and then negate it. Strengthen the opposite of the main conclusion.

ssagar1801 - when you have done this provide your answer and also let me know what you found as the opposite of the main conclusion.

More and more computer programs that provide solutions to mathematical problems in engineering are being produced, and it is thus increasingly unnecessary for practicing engineers to have thorough understanding of fundamental mathematical principles. Consequently, in training engineers who will work in industry, less emphasis should be placed on mathematical principles, so that space in the engineering curriculum will be available for other important subjects.

Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument given for the recommendation above?

A) The effective use of computer programs that provide solutions to mathematical problems in engineering requires an understanding of fundamental mathematical principles.

B) Many of the computer programs that provide solutions to mathematical problems in engineering are already in routine use.

C) Development of composites and other such new materials has meant that the curriculum for engineers who will work in industry must allow time for teaching the properties of these materials.

D) Most of the computer programs that provide solutions to mathematical problems in engineering can be run on the types of computers available to most engineering firms.

E) The engineering curriculum already requires that engineering students be familiar with and able to use a variety of computer programs.

Hi Rich,

For Strengthening the arguments questions, my accuracy is far better than the accuracy for weakening the argument. But for assumption based questions, the accuracy is just above to that of weakening the argument's.

Hi David,

Is the answer A.
Main Conclusion:- in training engineers who will work in industry, less emphasis should be placed on mathematical principles,

2nd conclusion:- thus increasingly unnecessary for practicing engineers to have thorough understanding of fundamental mathematical principles.

Negating the 2nd conclusion gives us :- thus increasingly NECESSARY for practicing engineers to have thorough understanding of fundamental mathematical principles.

Yes. It is A!

You are correct, but one thing, do not negate the "2nd conclusion" always the Main Conclusion. You should have been looking for "NO LESS emphasis should be placed on math principles. It did not matter on this question, but on a tougher question it would. So just be sure to negate the main conclusion. Try some weaken questions and see how that works for you.

Remember, try to make everything in the verbal section less complicated!

Thanks David.

It helped a lot.