Critical Reasoning and Argument Structure
This topic covers claims, evidence, assumptions, strengthen and weaken tasks, causal reasoning, flaw recognition, and evaluating plans or conclusions.
How to study for the GRE
Build every answer around the exact task: passage evidence, blank logic, argument structure, equation setup, units, data labels, and section-level timing.
Core concepts
Concept 1
Critical Reasoning and Argument Structure questions test reasoning under the current GRE General Test structure.
Exam cue: Name the question type, then mark the evidence, blank logic, argument role, equation, table label, or writing goal.
Concept 2
The best answer identifies the task, evidence, relationship, equation, quantity, or writing move before comparing choices.
Exam cue: Check scope, contrast words, quantifiers, units, graph labels, variable definitions, and whether the answer fits every condition.
Concept 3
Eliminate choices that add outside assumptions, reverse the relationship, ignore wording, misuse units, or answer a nearby but different task.
Exam cue: Use review time to verify the exact prompt, not just the topic that first looked familiar.
Risk pitfalls and guardrails
Choosing a familiar word, formula, or claim without testing it against the exact context.
Guardrail: Use a 15-second safety pause before finalizing your action.
Treating a GRE reasoning item like a memorization item rather than a task about relationships.
Guardrail: Use a 15-second safety pause before finalizing your action.
Skipping the final reasonableness check for passage support, sentence meaning, or quantitative scale.
Guardrail: Use a 15-second safety pause before finalizing your action.
Memory anchors
Conclusion
The conclusion is the claim the argument is trying to prove.
Premise
A premise is evidence offered in support of the conclusion.
Assumption
An assumption is an unstated link needed by the argument.
Strengthen
A strengthen answer makes the conclusion more likely.
Weaken
A weaken answer undercuts the support for the conclusion.
Flaw
A flaw is a reasoning error such as causal overreach or sampling bias.
Causal Claim
A causal claim says one factor produces or affects another.
Alternative Explanation
An alternative explanation can weaken a causal argument.
Plan Evaluation
Plan questions ask whether the proposed action is likely to work.
Scope Shift
A scope shift moves from evidence about one group or idea to a broader claim.
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
A café owner argues: “We should remain open two hours later. On three evenings when a nearby theater had performances, customers filled every table until closing.” Which fact most weakens the argument?
After a protected bicycle lane opened, bicycle commuting in the district rose by 30 percent. An advocate concludes that the lane caused the entire increase. Which fact most weakens the conclusion?
Answer all questions to submit.
Next step personalized recommendations
Continue learning
Move forward only after this module is stable.
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