Understanding Arguments | Best GMAT Books for Critical Reasoning

Overview of GMAT Critical Reasoning

GMAT Critical reasoning is a type of question that appears in the GMAT Verbal section. It makes up about 1/3rdof the Verbal section. GMAT CR questions are 13 in number and present arguments. You will be required to analyze the presented arguments by strengthening them, weakening them, understanding their underlying assumptions, or using some other techniques. Although reading is definitely involved in GMAT CR, this section of GMAT primarily aims to assess your logic and thinking skills. The argument that you will come across in the GMAT Verbal section will be less than 100 words, which is a lot shorter than a Reading Comprehension passage. Also, there will only be a single question on the critical reasoning argument.

Why does GMAT CR Exist?

Preparation for GMAT inevitably means joining a business school which in turn implies a career in management. The business world runs purely on the aspects of buying and selling. Therefore, every sale is an argument, but, this argument is only the beginning. Important questions such as – how can my company determine which is the best policy, what causes my company to buy from a particular supplier, what motivates my company’s customers to buy from us, and what are the concerns of my investors, can be settled through arguments. In the business world, you will be expected to have the skill of argument evaluation. GMAT CR exists to assess this essential skill.

Types of GMAT CR Questions

When you reach the GMAT CR component of the GMAT Verbal section, ensure that you read the question before proceeding to the argument itself. Understand which kind of question you are expected to answer and then begin reading the argument while keeping that question in mind.

The eight types of GMAT CR questions are –

• Type 1 - Strengthening the argument
• Type 2 - Weakening the argument
• Type 3 - Finding the assumption
• Type 4 - Drawing an inference/conclusion
• Type 5 - Structuring of the argument
• Type 6 - Paradoxes
• Type 7 - Evaluating the conclusion
• Type 8 - Completing the argument

When GMAT presents an argument, it gives one correct answer and four potentially confusing and tempting statements as the other choices. One can wander through all the answer choices and end up getting completely perplexed. Rather than spending too much time looking at the answer choices, try to approach the question directly. For questions belonging to types 1 to 3, the best option is to find the assumption of the argument. Undercutting or reaffirming the assumption of an argument is a very effective way of weakening or strengthening it. It can also help in finding a flaw in the argument if the flaw is one of the faulty assumptions.

For the other types of questions, answers cannot be easily predicted. What you can do is formulate the argument in your own words. Ask yourself – what is the argument’s structure, what is the paradox that needs to be resolved, or what sort of information is necessary to evaluate a conclusion, and the like. Quite obviously, the more clearly you understand the kind of argument that will satisfy the question, the quicker will be your chances of finding the correct answer.

Kinds of Study Methods in GMAT CR

Self-study method – This method will provide you with the advantage of customization. You can build a GMAT study plan that works best for your needs and lifestyle. The plan will also be self-paced, allowing you to prepare for the GMAT whenever you choose to.

Coaching center method – This method is quite beneficial for those who have to prepare for the GMAT within time constraints. GMAT Coachings in India have a professional learning experience with a fixed study plan from your mentors and motivating competition from your peers.