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GMAT Critical Reasoning - Questions, Strategies, and Practice Papers

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Critical Reasoning is a section of GMAT Verbal Reasoning. It examines the logical reasoning of the candidate in the test. The Critical Reasoning question type is used to measure critical business skills. GMAT Critical Reasoning questions assess a distinct set of qualities associated with logic. The students preparing for the GMAT will experience the argument analysis of Critical Reasoning for the first time to substantiate their logic. Three types of GMAT Critical Reasoning questions are-

  • Before criticising the argument, one must find the flaws in answer choices that either support or weakens the argument
  • The candidates need to analyse and depict the line of reasoning operated within the argument.
  • The candidates must provide a relevant conclusion depending on the discussion of the argument.

The arguments encompass various types of subject areas and strategies. These strategies need to be comprehended by the GMAT test taker. The GMAT Verbal Critical Reasoning passage usually consists of 100 words or less. The Critical Reasoning question is followed by five choices of answers.

GMAT Critical Reasoning Questions

The three types of GMAT Critical Reasoning Questions are:

  • The type 1 questions include strengthen, weaken, assumption, explain the paradox and useful to evaluate.
  • The type 2 questions are generally bold-faced reasoning questions.
  • The type 3 questions refer to the conclusion or interference questions.

Analysis

  • Boldface
  • Reasoning-based questions

Construction

  • Inference
  • Paradox
  • Assumption
  • Logical Inference

Critique

  • Evaluate
  • Strengthen
  • Weaken
  • Flaw

Plan

  • Construction Type
  • Critique Type

Types of GMAT Critical Reasoning Questions 

The GMAT Critical Reasoning question types can be categorized on the basis of the skills level of the candidate. The types of questions are as follows:

Analysis Construction Critique Plan
Boldface Inference Evaluate Construction Type
Reasoning-based questions Assumption Strengthen Critique Type
- Logical Inference Weaken -
- Paradox Flaw -
- - - -

Analysis 

In this case, the candidates must analyse the argument. Analysis of an argument is all about the logical reasoning or structure of the argument. The candidate needs to understand the relationship between different arguments.

  • Boldface

In this Critical Thinking Logical Reasoning Question type, the candidates were given two statements in bold. The candidates need to detect the functions of the bold-faced statements discussed in the argument. Here given below one of the Critical Reasoning Examples with tips to solve the question.

Boldface Sample Question

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Explanation
The candidate needs to identify the boldface statements in the correct way. The candidate should have a complete understanding of the purpose of the arguments. This question assesses the ability of the candidate to derive the conclusion of the argument.

  • Reasoning-based questions

These miscellaneous question types focus on apprehending the reasoning line or apprehending the logical structure of the argument. Presenting a GMAT CR question sample to illustrate the application of critical thinking logical reasoning.

Reasoning-based Sample Question

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Explanation
To solve the intelligence and critical reasoning question type, the candidate needs to determine a well-structured argument. The candidate must understand the passage to evaluate the conclusion logically.

Construction 

Here, the ability of the candidates is tested to create solid arguments. For instance, to find new information, the candidates must conclude or infer the information as given in the argument for holding the truth.

  • Inference

In this phase, the candidates need to conclude logically or reasoned out accurately on the basis of the given passage. Here given below CR question with proper explanation.

Inference Sample Question

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Explanation
The candidate needs to detect the GMAT CR question type to properly infer the argument. It is required to untangle the argument. The candidate must predict the answer by evaluating the choices of critical thinking logical reasoning.

  • Paradox

The paradoxical situation seems to make the argument logical. Therefore, it seems to contradict what is expected logically. Here given below is one of the Critical Reasoning Examples that will give an idea of how to resolve the paradox.

Paradox Sample Question

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Explanation
The candidates initially need to read the prompt to answer the question of GMAT Critical Reasoning Tests. It is important for the candidate to understand the argument of the paradox. The candidates must contradict the paradox in their own words. To solve the question the candidate needs to go through the answer choice that matches well with the argument of the paradox.

  • Assumption

The assumption questions enable the candidate to detect an assumption of the author. The author made the argument to claim a conclusion depending on the information of the argument. The CR question sample is given below to boost up the practice level of the candidate:

Assumption Sample Question

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Explanation
Firstly, to solve the assumption GMAT CR question, the candidates need to go through the statement to identify the assumption. The candidate should not behave too logically with the arguments. It is essential to follow the common assumption without aligning the argument with General Knowledge.

  • Logical Inference

This question includes an incomplete passage that holds a blank. This GMAT CR Question asks the candidate to fill in the blank. The candidate needs to complete the passage in a logical way.

Logical Inference Sample Question

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Explanation
In order to answer this GMAT Critical Reasoning Question, the candidates need to fill in the blank with the correct answer option. The candidate must choose the answer that satisfies the arguments logically. The answer must strengthen or supports the conclusion of the statement.

Critique 

In this point, the validity of arguments is questioned by the candidates. The candidate is able to identify the strength or weaknesses of the arguments. The candidate needs to detect the flaw of the argument. In other words, the candidates are criticizing the argument.

  • Evaluate

An evaluation of an argument assesses the strength and validity of the argument. It is an assessment to evaluate if the conclusion follows the premise logically or not. Here, a Manhattan GMAT Critical Reasoning question sample is given to strengthen the business skills of the candidates.

Evaluation Sample Question

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Explanation
To solve this Manhattan Critical Reasoning question, the candidate needs to identify the flaw of the argument. The candidate should spot the gaps, and doubts of the argument’s logic. The candidate needs to deconstruct the argument logically to state the goal of the argument.

  • Strengthen

In this section of Critical Thinking Logical Reasoning, the candidate must asses the statement logically. The statement of the passage should aim to increase the belief of the candidate in that conclusion.

Strengthen Sample Question

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Explanation
To solve the GMAT CR Strengthen questions, the candidates must identify an argument first. The argument should convey new data that goes with the conclusion of the argument.

  • Weaken

The candidates in this section of Critical Thinking Logical Reasoning asses and identify the statement. The statement mainly discusses the argument that reduces the belief of the candidates in that conclusion.

Weaken Sample Question

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Explanation
To solve the Weaken questions, the candidate must detect the statement of the passage that conveys new data. This information tends to doubt the conclusion of the argument.

  • Flaw

This section asks the candidate to assess the statement of the passage. The candidate needs to find the logical flaw in the argument of the passage.

Flaw Sample Question

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Explanation
This GMAT CR flaw question can be solved with intelligence and critical reasoning skills. The candidate must look for a logical statement among the other options. The candidate needs to focus on a logical flaw present in the argument of GMAT CR.

Plan 

Plan questions examine the capability of the candidates to critique and construct arguments to plan for action. For instance, a question may be given to look over the flaw in the plan, or the underlying assumption may also find a plan to work.

  • Construction Type

This type of GMAT critical reasoning question is logically concluded. The candidate needs to asses to statement to derive a logical conclusion.

  • Critique Type

This type of GMAT critical reasoning question criticises the statements. The candidates must find an argument that supports the notion of the argument.

Read GMAT Critical Reasoning Samples

GMAT CR Strategies

To achieve better scores in GMAT CR, candidates need to follow the below GMAT preparation tips:

  • The candidate initially needs to go through the question stem.
  • The candidate must attack the question to deconstruct the arguments.
  • The candidates need to find flaws within the line of critical reasoning.
  • The candidates must derive a logical conclusion by assessing the argument of the question.
  • The candidates must analyse the answer to get the correct answer.

GMAT Critical Reasoning Book

The candidates need to prepare from the GMAT critical reasoning book to score good marks in GMAT critical reasoning. The students need to follow Powerscore CR Bible and Manhattan GMAT Critical reasoning for better understanding. The GMAT CR Bible is one of the best books that would help candidates to enhance their skills in critical reasoning.

Here given below are certain best Critical reasoning books for GMAT:

  • Powerscore GMAT Critical Reasoning Bible
  • Gmat Critical Reasoning Bible
  • Manhattan Critical Reasoning- Check PDF
  • Wiley GMAT Critical Reasoning

GMAT Critical Reasoning Practice Questions

The GMAT CR question will help the student to perform better. The candidates should prepare them by following the set of questions. This CR question will enable the candidate to identify the weak points. The candidates can improve themselves by looking into their flaws. Here given below are certain critical reasoning practice test papers for GMAT:

The GMAT Critical Reasoning can be aced with the help of proper GMAT resources. The GMAT strategies and CR question samples can make the candidate more logical and analytical to achieve targetted GMAT scores. The colleges accept both GMAT critical reasoning scores as well as GRE critical reasoning scores. Since it is difficult for the candidates to score high in the GMAT CR, the students can opt for GRE CR to get a chance at better colleges.

*The article might have information for the previous academic years, please refer the official website of the exam.

Ask your question

Answered Questions

DP

Daksh Prajapati

20 Apr 23

TAPMI’s WAT includes questions that are mostly related to general knowledge and current affairs. WAT is basically how strong you are in written skills. Try reading current affairs topics from there only. It's all about how you tell them. Write clearly point to point and do not use jargon or bug words. They don't fetch any more points. Just make your point clear.

PI mostly has questions derived from your past experiences, academics, and sometimes current happenings around the world. If you’re aware of and following at least one news source for around 4 months before your PI, you are good to go.

Read the form that you filled out. That's the first thing they are going to ask. Be confident and do not try to beat around the bush. If you do not know something it's ok as long as you say it. But that being said, do not go completely blank.

...Show More

BS

Bhavya Singh

18 Mar 21

Several factors affect the chance of a candidate getting a seat in ISB Hyderabad. Not only the GMAT score, but also the application profile, essays, and performance in the interview combined together decides whether a candidate should get a seat or not in such an elite institute. The points listed below are some important aspects to consider for admission to such institutes.

  • There is no fixed cut-off for ISB Hyderabad, as declared by the institute. There are examples of people with a GMAT score of 720 not getting a seat from the interviews. On the other hand, there are candidates with a score of 700-710 but are successful in getting a seat in ISB Hyderabad.
  • GMAT score is not the only criteria for getting a seat, but the door to get an interview call. The quality of essays written by the candidate, his/her application/ profile, and the performance in the interviews are also considered.
  • For candidates with an average profile, a GMAT score of 720+, along with a complete application and a good essay can be considered to have high chances to receive an interview call. After having a call, the rest depends on how the candidate will perform in his/her interview.

This is the overall scenario for admission in ISB Hyderabad, for a student with an average profile.

...Show More

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