BMAT Section 1 Critical Thinking

There are 7 main question types within this subsection. In total there are 16 critical thinking questions. Although each year the topics and passage themes will differ the basic skills and format of the questions are very prescriptive. When preparing find a strategy and question approach for each question type. Make sure you practice all 7 question types:

• Identifying the main conclusion: Questions present you with a brief conclusion around 5 lines long and a series of arguments one of which best expresses the main conclusion. The argument will be aiming to get the reader to accept a principle, this is what you must identify. It is important to be aware that conclusions may not only present at the end of a passage so carefully interpret all the information given. Look for words which signpost you to the conclusion and think of the underlying theme within the reasons provided.
• Drawing a conclusion: The data source provided will not explicitly state a conclusion, you must infer a logical conclusion based upon the force of the argument you have read. From the information provided you should have a good reason to accept one of the statements.
• Identifying an assumption: Within the passage a conclusion will be drawn which must be identified. The passage will be trying to get you to accept an argument and the reasoning for this must be identified. The correct answer contains a consistent statement with the force of the argument but will not be explicitly stated. The incorrect answers will not follow in line with the conclusion.
• Assessing the impact of additional evidence: A passage will provide an argument. The correct statement will significantly strengthen or weaken this argument. Different statements will have different effects on the text. If you are asked to select an answer which weakens the argument, then the correct answer would make the conclusion invalid where it is true.
• Detecting Reasoning Errors: Within the passage there will be a flaw which is inconsistent and does not support the argument or conclusion. The correct answer statement is the statement which the conclusion does not follow from.
• Matching arguments: This section was newly introduced to the BMAT test in 2020. These questions require you to select which statement most closely parallels the reasoning used in the argument. Consider using the X, Y argument technique. Within the passage there will be two important ideas which are mentioned twice: replace the two statements with X and Y. Identify the relationship between X and Y – if X is correct is Y false? Apply X and Y labels to the potential answers.
• Applying principle: One of the 5 answers will present a principle or opinion that is consistent with the argument made in the passage. The official BMAT guidance states that a principle is a “general recommendation, which, in the passage will be applied to just one particular case, but which could also be applied to other cases.” You must identify what principle the conclusion of the argument draws upon. Having identified the principle you must decide which statement best illustrates this idea.