Critical Reasoning — Prelims Strategy

Prelims Strategy

Underline the conclusion and mark the supporting premise before eliminating options. Restate the argument in one sentence, then identify the exact operation requested. For strengthening or weakening, ask whether the option affects the premise-to-conclusion link, rather than whether it is generally positive or negative about the subject.

Use four checks in causal or policy arguments: an alternative cause, an unrepresentative sample, a missing denominator and a feasibility condition. Apply only those that fit the passage. A universal checklist should not become a reason to invent defects that are irrelevant to the actual conclusion.

In review, rewrite each wrong option as a statement that really would affect the argument. This forces a clear distinction between topical similarity and logical relevance. For arithmetic evidence, calculate the relevant rate once and keep its units visible. Under time pressure, prefer a decisive logical comparison over a long debate about real-world policy preferences. The question concerns the supplied reasoning, not the solver's preferred policy.