GMAT CR: Necessary Assumptions to Weaken an Argument

Assumption – Ruling Out the Unexpected

Many students get tripped up on GMAT Assumption questions because they develop a rigid strategy: always look for answers with negative words like “not” or “unless.” This often stems from seeing a few questions where the correct answer is phrased like, “…won’t do X!” While that can be true, it’s not the whole story and can lead you astray.

To be more precise, the answer to this type of assumption question is essentially ruling out factors that could prevent the conclusion from being true.

Think about how we plan things in everyday life. We assume our plans will work out, right? We expect the world to cooperate. But then, out of nowhere, something unexpected happens and throws everything off. These “overlooked factors” or “unexpected events” are the core of this type of Assumption question.

When I approach assumption questions, after reading the passage, I first think about potential ways to weaken the argument. (After all, it’s easier to find fault in others!) If I can identify a possible weakening point, such as an alternative cause or a side effect of a proposed solution, then the assumption is likely “there is no other cause” or “the solution will not lead to side effects.”

Furthermore, many people advise using the “negation” method for assumption questions. However, those who have tried it know that negating long answer choices and then understanding the negated statement can be quite time-consuming. After negating each option, you then have to treat it as a weaken question, which is both time-consuming and mentally taxing.

Therefore, here are two small principles that might help you solve these problems during your self-study:

1. First, Determine Relevance and Filter Out Irrelevant Options.

Don’t jump straight into negating every option. Look at the argument’s conclusion first. If the conclusion is about a company’s profitability, and an option talks about employees keeping their jobs, that option is probably irrelevant. You can eliminate it without needing to test its negation.

2. Use “What If It Doesn’t Happen” to Think About “Negating the Weakener.”

For the remaining options, there’s a more intuitive way to test the assumption than just slapping a “not” on it. Think of it like this: “What if it doesn’t happen?”

• Premise: I bought the train tickets.
• Conclusion: So, we can go on our trip tomorrow.
• Assumption: The train won’t be unexpectedly canceled tomorrow.

The everyday logic works like this: I bought the tickets, so we can go on the trip. BUT, what if the train gets canceled? That’s the potential hole in the reasoning.

So, try negating the suspicious option. Then, ask yourself, “If this negated statement were true, would the argument still hold up?” If the argument falls apart, you’ve likely found your assumption. It’s a much simpler way to think about it.

Dustin