Student: My paper was not graded in accordance with the professor's

Question

Student: My paper was not graded in accordance with the professor's stated criteria. The professor said that she would give A's only to papers whose conclusions were supported by reliable statistical evidence. The professor acknowledges that my conclusions were supported by reliable statistical evidence, but she gave my paper a B.

The reasoning in the student's argument is flawed in that the argument

(A) discusses the professor's stated criteria in order to draw attention away from the shortcomings of the student's paper

(B) attempts to draw an evaluative conclusion solely on the basis of factual claims

(C) takes a condition that is among the requirements for a particular grade to be a condition that is enough to guarantee that grade

(D) is based on the report of a biased participant in the controversy

(E) fails to make a necessary distinction between the professor's grading criteria and the objective criteria of a paper's quality

UpHa · Answer

IMO, C. As it correlates fulfilment of a necessary condition to the sole condition.

guddo · Answer

Student: My paper was not graded in accordance with the professor's stated criteria. The professor said that she would give A's only to papers whose conclusions were supported by reliable statistical evidence. The professor acknowledges that my conclusions were supported by reliable statistical evidence, but she gave my paper a B.
 
 The reasoning in the student's argument is flawed in that the argument

The professor said reliable statistical support was required for an A. The student had reliable statistical support and therefore thinks the paper should have received an A.  The flaw  is treating a necessary condition as if it were  enough  to guarantee the grade.

(A) discusses the professor's stated criteria in order to draw attention away from the shortcomings of the student's paper

This is not the flaw. The student may be ignoring other possible shortcomings, but the precise logical error is about misunderstanding the stated condition.

(B) attempts to draw an evaluative conclusion solely on the basis of factual claims

This is too broad. The issue is not simply factual claims versus evaluation. The issue is that the student misuses the professor’s grading rule.

(C) takes a condition that is among the requirements for a particular grade to be a condition that is enough to guarantee that grade

This is correct. “A’s only to papers with reliable statistical evidence” means reliable evidence is required for an A. It does not mean every paper with reliable evidence must get an A.

(D) is based on the report of a biased participant in the controversy

This is not the main flaw. Even if the student is biased, the logical error can be identified directly from the argument.

(E) fails to make a necessary distinction between the professor's grading criteria and the objective criteria of a paper's quality

This is not the issue. The argument concerns the professor’s own stated criteria, not objective standards of paper quality.

Answer: (C)

Jayneel16 · Answer

i dont understand how c is the correct option. the argument clearly states that the "The professor said that she would give A's only to papers whose conclusions ". according to me the use of the word "only" is sufficient to remove option c as a contender

guddo · Answer

I’d say the word  “only”  actually confirms why (C) is correct.

“She gives A’s only to papers with reliable statistical evidence” means reliable evidence is  required  for an A.

It does not mean reliable evidence is enough for an A.

Example: “Only students with tickets may enter” does not mean every student with a ticket must enter. It means a ticket is required, but other conditions may still matter.

So the student’s mistake is exactly (C): treating one requirement for an A as enough to guarantee an A.

yc168 · Answer

"Only" (as well as "only if") is actually an indicator word used to introduce a necessary condition, rather than a sufficient condition.

Auro411 · Answer

In this Stem, If we pre think the answer or the flaw is taking the necessary condition ( give A's only to papers whose conclusions were supported by reliable statistical evidence), as a sufficient condition.

If we look at options, C matches the criteria, hence,  C  is the answer.

Student: My paper was not graded in accordance with the professor's

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GMAT Critical Reasoning (CR) Questions

Student: My paper was not graded in accordance with the professor's

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