Mastering Conclusions and Inferences for GMAT Verbal
The GMAT Verbal section tests your ability to understand and analyze written passages. Two crucial skills within this are drawing conclusions and making inferences. While often used interchangeably, they have distinct nuances that are vital to grasp for high performance. This module will break down these concepts, equip you with strategies, and provide practice opportunities.
Understanding the Difference: Conclusions vs. Inferences
| Feature | Drawing Conclusions | Making Inferences |
|---|---|---|
| Basis | Directly stated information or logical deductions from explicit facts. | Information that is implied or suggested, but not directly stated. |
| Scope | Often broader, summarizing or synthesizing explicit points. | More specific, connecting dots between pieces of information. |
| Certainty | High degree of certainty, often verifiable within the text. | Probabilistic, requiring judgment based on evidence and context. |
| Example | If a passage states 'All birds have feathers' and 'A robin is a bird,' you can conclude 'A robin has feathers.' | If a passage describes a character wearing a heavy coat, gloves, and scarf in a town square, you can infer it is cold outside. |
Think of it this way: a conclusion is like a summary of what you've explicitly read, while an inference is like a detective's deduction based on clues.
Strategies for Drawing Conclusions
Drawing conclusions involves synthesizing information presented in the passage. Focus on identifying the main idea, supporting arguments, and any explicit statements that lead to a logical outcome. Look for keywords like 'therefore,' 'thus,' 'consequently,' 'hence,' and 'in conclusion.'
A conclusion is based on explicitly stated information or direct logical deductions, while an inference is based on implied or suggested information.
Strategies for Making Inferences
Inferences require you to read between the lines. You'll use the explicit information provided as clues to understand what the author implies but doesn't directly state. This involves connecting different pieces of information, understanding tone, and recognizing underlying assumptions.
Imagine a passage describing a character who meticulously organizes their desk, color-codes their files, and always arrives precisely on time for meetings. While the passage might not explicitly state the character is organized or disciplined, you can infer these traits based on their actions and habits. This process involves taking explicit observations (actions, behaviors) and combining them with your general knowledge to form a reasonable, implied understanding (traits). The explicit details act as the foundation, and your interpretation builds upon it.
Text-based content
Library pages focus on text content
Crucially, inferences must be strongly supported by the text. Avoid making leaps of logic or bringing in outside knowledge that isn't hinted at in the passage.
Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them
Be wary of answers that are too extreme, introduce new information not present in the passage, or misinterpret the author's tone or intent. Always refer back to the text to justify your chosen answer.
Making leaps of logic or introducing outside information not supported by the text.
Practice Makes Perfect
The best way to master drawing conclusions and making inferences is through consistent practice with GMAT-style reading comprehension passages. Analyze why correct answers are correct and why incorrect answers are wrong. Focus on the reasoning process for each.
Learning Resources
A sample from the official GMAT guide, providing authentic practice questions and explanations for verbal reasoning, including critical reasoning and reading comprehension.
A forum discussion and explanation of how to approach 'drawing conclusions' questions in GMAT critical reasoning, with examples and tips.
This blog post from Manhattan Prep breaks down the strategy for tackling inference questions in GMAT Reading Comprehension, offering practical advice.
Kaplan's blog post clarifies the distinction between inference and conclusion in GMAT Reading Comprehension, providing examples to illustrate the difference.
A video tutorial explaining how to identify and answer inference questions in GMAT Critical Reasoning, with a step-by-step approach.
While not exclusively about inferences, this resource from The Economist offers general strategies for GMAT reading comprehension that are applicable to drawing conclusions and making inferences.
The official GMAT website's overview of Reading Comprehension, outlining the types of questions you'll encounter, including those that test inference and conclusion drawing.
A detailed explanation and strategy guide for 'drawing conclusions' questions in GMAT Critical Reasoning from Beat The GMAT.
PowerScore's guide to inference questions in GMAT Reading Comprehension, offering a breakdown of how to approach them and common traps.
A comprehensive collection of GMAT verbal practice questions on GMATClub, allowing you to filter by question type, including inference and conclusion drawing.