Help needed in Assumption based questions

Question

any one who has given GMAT can help me with assumption based questions? How do y’all solve the assumption based questions?

kingbucky · Answer

It would be helpful to go through the following post: https://gmatclub.com/forum/cr-methods-a ... ml#p718589

bb · Answer

I find the approach of guessing the assumption or coming up with assumptions upfront like a pretty fun game.

This can get a little tricky with harder GMAT questions but for medium and easy assumption questions it’s a fun logic game.

Another approach that I found helpful was identifying assumptions as I was reading the passage. I would just do it almost automatically. I would read a sentence and I could immediately spot in my mind and assumption that would be required for that sentence to work. Most questions can have multiple assumptions and many of them do but there are certain patterns to assumptions that GMAT follows.

If you run into trouble with a particular question, it’s always helpful to have an example

Archit3110 · Answer

Use mgmat book CR question its best, for assumption question find conclusion weaken the answer options the one which most likely breaks the conclusion is correct option..

elongrimer · Answer

Most questions can have multiple assumptions and many of them do but there are certain patterns to assumptions that GMAT follows.

ManifestDreamMBA · Answer

Sharing some tips for anyone who reaches here:
1. Always understand the passage fully and pre-think; don’t go in blind
2. Start with easier questions to build confidence
3. Use negation to test or break ties between close answer choices
4. Remember: an assumption must be both true and new (not stated in the passage)

AllisonBell · Answer

Hi!

I think the advice given so far – to learn assumption patterns, predict answers, and practice identifying conclusions – is spot on.

Here are a few specific techniques that have helped my students:

Learn wrong answer patterns . These can be just as helpful, if not more so, than generating predictions! It can be really hard to accurately identify an assumption in advance, since many arguments have multiple gaps. Practice your process of elimination and, when reviewing, study up on the common characteristics of wrong answers. Some classics include answers that are  beyond the scope of the conclusion ,  hurt rather than help the argument,  or  address “real-world” concerns that aren’t relevant.  
  Be precise about the premise and conclusion.  In order to spot assumptions, you first have to clearly understand the nature of the argument. Most Critical Reasoning problems include some background info or counterpoints that aren’t at the heart of the author’s point. Focus on identifying and understanding the conclusion, then determining what the intended support is. It’s common for trap answers to play off misunderstandings or misreads of the conclusion. 
  Think like a debater.  As you read the problem, get argumentative! Take a stance of  no way that will work  and start generating reasons why not. Just make sure your focus is on the conclusion — issues with the premise or context won’t be part of the correct answer.  
 
  Look for causal cues in the argument.  If you see them, generate alternative causes. Causality is very commonly tested in GMAT Critical Reasoning. Let’s say you see a causal claim in the conclusion, like  Clearly, dogs’ superior sense of smell is the reason that they bark a lot . Causal arguments like this ( smell → bark ) can typically be challenged with other possible causes ( maybe dogs bark because they are very social! ). Practice identifying causal language, like reason, due to, primary factor, and jotting down a few alternate causes.  
 
  Use the negation technique.  If an answer is something the conclusion depends on, then the argument won’t work without it. So narrow down your answers and, for the last two, ask yourself: “What if this weren’t true? Would the conclusion still be possible?” If the conclusion falls apart without that answer, then you’ve found your assumption.

ManhattanPrep’s  has a thorough, live lesson on CR that covers the building blocks of arguments  and assumptions — with a teacher to answer your questions.

Best,

Ally Bell
ManhattanPrep GMAT Instructor

Help needed in Assumption based questions

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Help needed in Assumption based questions

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