1. Strategies for Success
GMAT EXAM
Strategies for Success

2. Critical Reasoning Introduction
13—14 questions total
Each C. R. passage is about 100 words
Expect 1—2 questions per passage
SKILLS:
Understand how to construct an argument
Understand how to evaluate an argument
Know how to form or evaluate a plan of action

3. Critical Reasoning Format
SHORT PASSAGE is LOCATED HERE
Question located here, followed by five answer choices
Choice one
Choice two
Choice three
Choice four
Choice five

4. Similarities to Reading Comprehension
Same reading strategies; read actively, visualize, paraphrase, analyze
Same attack strategies, but always pre-read the question
Always consider all answer choices
Use the same elimination strategies

5. Differences from Reading Comprehension
Fewer factual questions, more hidden level questions
Don’t judge the actual truth; test the logical soundness of what’s presented
Understand WHAT the conclusion is and WHERE it is located
Understand the progression of the passage: order of premise, evidence, conclusion

6. Critical Reasoning Question Categories
Repeats from Reading Comprehension: 1. Main Idea Questions

7. Critical Reasoning Question Categories
Repeats from Reading Comprehension: 1. Main Idea 2. Strengthening or Weakening

8. Strengthening Question Roots
“Which of the following, if true, provides the strongest…”
“Which of the following, if true, helps to explain…”
“Which of the following, if true, most strongly justifies…”
“Which of the following, if true, provides the best reason…”
“Which of the following, if true, would most strengthen…”
“Which of the following, if true, would be most useful…”
“Which of the following strategies would be most likely to…”
“The conclusion above would be more reasonably drawn if which of the following were inserted…”

9. Weakening Question Roots
“Which of the following, if true, would most weaken…”
“Which of the following, if true, would undermine…”
“Which of the following most challenges…”
“Which of the following, if true, most casts a doubt…”
“Which of the following, if true, raises the most serious doubt…”
“Which of the following, if it occurred, would constitute a disadvantage…”
“Which of the following, if true, could present the most serious disadvantage…”

10. Critical Reasoning Question Categories
Repeats from Reading Comprehension 1. Main Idea 2. Strengthening or Weakening New/Unique to Critical Reasoning: 3. Passage Completion

11. Critical Reasoning Question Categories
Repeats from Reading Comprehension 1. Main Idea 2. Strengthening or Weakening New/Unique to Critical Reasoning: 3. Passage Completion 4. Assumptions on which the argument depends

12. Critical Reasoning Question Categories
Repeats from Reading Comprehension 1. Main Idea 2. Strengthening or Weakening New/Unique to Critical Reasoning: 3. Passage Completion 4. Assumptions 5. Method of Argument

13. Critical Reasoning Question Categories
Repeats from Reading Comprehension 1. Main Idea 2. Strengthening or Weakening New/Unique to Critical Reasoning: 3. Passage Completion 4. Assumptions 5. Method of Argument 6. Identify the flaws in the argument

14. Practice Test Questions and Review
Critical Reasoning
Practice Test Questions and Review

15. Verbal Section Final Advice
Practice daily, concentrate on improving accuracy before efficiency
Analyze why non-credited answers are wrong
Analyze your own “misses”
Analyze your own strengths and weaknesses
Keep practicing!

16. You Can Do It!
GOOD LUCK
ON THE
GMAT EXAM!