Fact, Opinion and Inference
Distinguish what the passage states, what a speaker evaluates and what may be derived from the stated material.
How to prepare for the LNAT
Practise exact passage reasoning rather than subject recall, then build a repeatable 40-minute process for choosing, planning, writing and reviewing one essay.
Core concepts
Concept 1
For Section A, a stated proposition is treated as passage information even if its real-world truth is doubtful.
Exam cue: Ask whether the passage presents the claim as report, evaluation or implication.
Concept 2
An opinion expresses an evaluation or judgement; identifying it does not by itself show it is unsupported.
Exam cue: Keep real-world verification separate from passage-based reasoning.
Concept 3
An inference must follow from the passage rather than from a reader's background assumptions.
Exam cue: Identify the additional assumption required by a proposed inference.
Risk pitfalls and guardrails
Rejecting a stated passage claim because outside knowledge conflicts with it.
Guardrail: Do not import outside knowledge into Section A or substitute fluent assertion for supported reasoning in Section B.
Calling every disputed statement an opinion.
Guardrail: Do not import outside knowledge into Section A or substitute fluent assertion for supported reasoning in Section B.
Treating a plausible possibility as a necessary inference.
Guardrail: Do not import outside knowledge into Section A or substitute fluent assertion for supported reasoning in Section B.
Memory anchors
Stated
A stated claim appears directly in the passage.
Opinion
An opinion evaluates, recommends or judges rather than merely reports.
Inference
An inference is derived from what the passage gives.
Passage World
Reason from the text even when you doubt its real-world premise.
Plausible Is Not Entailed
A possibility may fit the passage without being required by it.
Hidden Addition
If an answer needs new information, it is not passage-only reasoning.
Checkpoint rule
Do the check-up only after you can summarize each concept in one sentence and identify one dangerous pitfall from memory.
Knowledge Check (after reading)
Short check-up to confirm understanding of this module.
Check-up Questions
For “Signs in Two Languages”, the clutter concern is treated as
For “Signs in Two Languages”, the phrase 'reason for exclusion' is
Answer all questions to submit.
Next step personalized recommendations
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Move forward only after this module is stable.
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