GMAT Verbal Section Testing Tips - Critical Reasoning
The GMAT Verbal is designed to test an individual's reading, writing, and critical thinking skill. In order to evaluate these skills, the critical reasoning questions in the verbal section are designed specifically to evaluate an individual's ability to analyze and apply the information from an argument or plan. However, there are certain key concepts about the critical reasoning questions on the exam that an individual taking the GMAT should keep in mind. First, it is a very good idea to read the critical reasoning question before reading the argument or the plan associated with the question. This may sound strange at first, but it is important, especially when time is a concern, to know what you are looking for in a particular argument or plan prior to actually reading the argument or plan. By reading the question first, you can determine whether the question is looking for you to find the merits of the argument or plan, to find the flaws of the argument or plan, for you to make a conclusion based on the argument or plan, or determine some other type of information based on the argument or plan.
Secondly, if the question asks you to find a flaw in a particular argument, start by looking for generalizations in the argument, for parts of the argument based on inexpert opinions, for parts of the argument that are based on a cause and effect relationship where the cause and effect may not actually be related, and for proof that does not actually defend the argument, but rather is just restating what the argument is trying to prove. Most of the critical reasoning questions on the exam will require you to find the flaws in an argument or plan and these four flaws are the most common flaws found in the critical reasoning arguments on the exam.
Verbal Section Skills - Critical Reasoning
Verbal Section Testing Tips - Critical Reasoning
Verbal Section Skills - Reading Comprehension
Verbal Section Testing Tips - Reading Comprehension
Verbal Section Skills - Grammar and Sentence Structure
Verbal Section Testing Tips - Grammar and Sentence Structure
General Testing Tips - Verbal and Quantitative Sections