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How to Master Critical Reasoning in GMAT?

"How to Master Critical Reasoning in GMAT?" is a common concern of numerous GMAT aspirants. Explore strategies to master Critical Reasoning in GMAT and excel with high scores.
authorImageShivani Kumari23 May, 2024
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How to Master Critical Reasoning in GMAT?

How to Master Critical Reasoning in GMAT? Critical Reasoning questions in GMAT are primarily based on facts and conclusions. Additionally, GMAT critical reasoning questions are most tricky to solve. These questions directly challenge candidates' thinking skills across a wide range of situations requiring logical reasoning, critical analysis, and attention to detail.

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Most candidates attempting to take the GMAT find Critical Reasoning GMAT questions highly challenging in the Verbal section. To master GMAT CR, candidates should learn to employ smart, efficient strategies for analysing arguments and eliminating answer choices that are deliberately included to trick and confuse them.

GMAT Critical Reasoning Question Types

The GMAT Critical Reasoning section includes nearly 13 questions aimed at evaluating candidates' ability to analyse arguments. This section aims to assess the following skills of candidates:
  • Find out the focus of an argument.
  • Identify the strong and weak points of an argument.
  • Recognise the assumptions provided in an argument.
  • Evaluate the evidence provided in an argument.
  • Derive conclusions supported by the evidence.

How to Master Critical Reasoning in GMAT

Strategies to Solve GMAT Critical Reasoning Questions

To excel in the GMAT Critical Reasoning section, candidates must develop solid analytical skills. Following are some valuable tips and strategies to enhance analytical skills and enhance accuracy in GMAT CR questions:

Review the Question First

Before delving into the argument, candidates must carefully read the question to determine its type or category. Understanding the type of question is crucial to determine the solution process and select the correct answer choice.

Clarify the Question

After reading the question, test takers should carefully analyse what is being asked. Additionally, they should determine if they are required to draw conclusions based on provided information or find contradictory statements. This clarity regarding the question guides how to approach the answer choices.

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Identify Key Elements

Mastering GMAT critical reasoning requires the ability to isolate the key components within an argument. These 'keys' act as clues to determine the question type. Here's how to effectively understand the key elements:
  • For Premises, grasp their fundamental logic to become acquainted with the topic.
  • For Assumptions, find out the conclusion they imply.
  • For Conclusions, search for a premise that it could potentially support.

Identify Argument Structure

Recognise the structure of the argument. This includes identifying the premises, evidence, and conclusion. Understanding these elements is crucial for comprehending the logical flow of the argument. Additionally, it guides candidates to assess the argument's strength and detect any inaccuracy or gaps in reasoning.

Distinguishing Assumptions

Assumptions are crucial for assessing the argument's accuracy. Therefore, candidates must recognise the assumptions in the question by considering the most valid and obvious argument. Strengthening or weakening an assumption can significantly influence the overall argument.

Improve Time Management

Time management is critical in the GMAT. Candidates must practise effective time management by setting time limits for each question during the preparation phase. This approach is crucial to establish a set a specific time for solving every question. Rushing through the questions and only focussing on completing the answers quickly results in marking wrong answers. Therefore, candidates must strive to attain a balance between speed and accuracy.

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Apply Elimination Technique

The GMAT Critical Reasoning section often presents answer choices that initially appear correct for the provided question. However, only one option is most accurate for the provided question. To enhance analytical skills, candidates must practise employing the elimination process. Through this process, candidates can remove answer choices that do not directly address the question or include irrelevant information. This method increases the likelihood of selecting the correct answer by narrowing down the options.

Evaluate Performance During Practise Sessions

After completing a sample paper or a mock test, candidates must thoroughly evaluate their performance to find out the correct and incorrect answers. This analysis helps identify common errors that may happen during the exam. By understanding the reason behind marking incorrect answers, candidates can refine their analytical abilities and avoid similar errors in the future.

Candidates struggling to improve the GMAT Critical Reasoning section must get expert guidance during the preparation phase. PW GMAT Online Coaching provides regular live classes to help candidates enhance their preparedness for GMAT and qualify with a high score.

Also Read

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GMAT Exam Date GMAT Preparation GMAT Result
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GMAT Exam Pattern    
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxtW68yl5R8

How to Master Critical Reasoning in GMAT FAQs<span style=

How to improve on Critical Reasoning in GMAT?

To improve the critical reasoning section of the GMAT, candidates must learn to identify the argument and use analytical skills to select the most relevant answer choice for the provided question. Thorough practice of CR questions in a time-bound manner helps improve speed and accuracy, which is essential to scoring well in the exam.

How to crack Critical Reasoning?

Critical Reasoning is the moist trick GMAT section. To crack CR in the GMAT, candidates must follow a strategic preparation approach, solve multiple CR questions, develop reasoning and analytical skills to identify arguments and assumptions, and evaluate mock test performance to streamline the exam-taking approach.

Why are GMAT critical reasoning questions tricky?

GMAT CR questions present answer choices that seem to meet the requirement of the question. However, only on option is most accurate and candidates need to have strong analytical and critical reasoning skills to identify the correct option.
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