Intro to Critical Reasoning
Summary
The content provides an introduction to GMAT Critical Reasoning, focusing on the structure of questions, the nature of arguments, and the role of inductive reasoning.
- Critical Reasoning questions comprise 13 to 15 of the 41 verbal questions on the GMAT, allocating about two minutes per question.
- The essence of Critical Reasoning is to test the ability to reason, primarily through the analysis of arguments made up of premises and conclusions.
- Arguments in Critical Reasoning are based on inductive reasoning, where conclusions are not 100% certain but are supported by premises and assumptions.
- Identifying unstated assumptions is crucial for evaluating the strength of an argument, as these assumptions can either strengthen or weaken the conclusion.
- The content sets the stage for further exploration of attacking these assumptions in subsequent materials.
Chapters
00:01
Introduction to GMAT Critical Reasoning
00:19
Understanding Arguments and Questions
01:22
Inductive Reasoning and Unstated Assumptions
04:24
The Structure of Critical Reasoning Questions
FAQ: Wait, how many questions are on the verbal section? I thought it was 36.
The GMAT verbal section used to be 41 questions long --- but it was reduced to 36 questions in their last set of changes. This video references the old format. You can still expect CR questions to comprise about a third of the GMAT's verbal section. (See this blog post for a more detailed overview of the verbal section's format.)