Step 1: Get a Job
This page describes the 1st step of approaching a Reasoning question: figuring out what the question is asking you to do.
Each question provides precise instructions, so you can always figure out what a question is asking on test day, but thinking is expensive. Learning the tendencies of the common families, styles, and types will save you brainpower and time.
On reading the question first...
There's some debate about whether reading the question first is a good idea.
Reading the question first will feel less useful if you have not memorized the common question families, styles, and types.
As always, experiment with my suggestions and do what works best for you.
3 families
Family tells you what to look for in the argument.
| Question Family | Example | Read For... |
|---|---|---|
| DESCRIBE | "The argument proceeds by..." | The structure of the argument |
| ARGUE | "Which of the following is a flaw in the argument above?" | The problem with the argument |
| INFER | "Which of the following follows from the statements above?" | Combinable facts |
How to spot a DESCRIBE question
DESCRIBE questions are neutral. They don't ask you to argue with or extend the argument.
DESCRIBE questions ask you to say what happened in the argument.
How to spot an ARGUE question
ARGUE questions suggest that something could be improved or criticized about the argument.
ARGUE questions ask you to select an answer that adds to the argument.
How to spot an INFER question
INFER questions generally ask you to choose an answer that follows from the argument.
The argument on INFER questions isn't really an argument. There's no conclusion. They only give you facts.
Example
Which of the following most accurately describes the main point of the argument above?
This question is in the DESCRIBE family. You can tell because it says "describe." Your job on all DESCRIBE questions is to distinguish the argument's facts from its conclusion. You won't have to argue with the argument.
All DESCRIBE questions are MECHANICAL in style because you can reliably make a specific prediction about what the answer will be. In this case, once you find the conclusion of the argument, you'll have a strong sense of what ideas you need to see in the correct answer.
Other guides might call this a "conclusion" question. But other than the specific instruction to find the conclusion, which you can read in the question, there's not much that distinguishes this from the rest of the DESCRIBE family. So I don't think it needs a special name.
2 styles
Style determines the type of attention you need to pay to the argument and what kind of prediction you can expect to make before seeing the answers.
MECHANICAL and ORGANIC questions use different parts of your brain. If you don't know the difference, the Reasoning section can feel bewildering, exhausting, and even unfair.
| Style | Type of Attention | Level of Prediction |
|---|---|---|
| MECHANICAL | Pedantic. Robotic. No new ideas. | Specific |
| ORGANIC | Holistic. Creative. "What if"s are welcome. | Flexible |
How to approach the MECHANICAL style
Pay pedantic attention to every word of the argument. The argument may feature conditional logic.
Answers will follow closely from the argument. You can (and should) make a specific prediction.
How to approach the ORGANIC style
Pay holistic attention to the entire argument. To spot problems, it may be useful to ask yourself "What if?"
Answers can include new and surprising information. Your prediction needs to be flexible.
Learn more: how style shapes predictions
9 types
Many questions can be answered by knowing the question's family and style.
There are 9 special Reasoning question types that are worth memorizing:
| Type | Example | Family | Style |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROLE | "What role does 'blah blah blah' play in the argument?" | DESCRIBE | MECHANICAL |
| PARALLEL | "Which of the following is most similar to the argument?" | DESCRIBE | MECHANICAL |
| HURT | "Which of the following is a flaw in the argument?" | ARGUE | ORGANIC |
| ORGANIC-HELP | "Which of the following, if true, most supports the conclusion?" | ARGUE | ORGANIC |
| MECHANICAL-HELP | "Which of the following principles, if valid, would justify the argument above?" | ARGUE | MECHANICAL |
| DEPENDS | "Which one of the following is an assumption the argument requires?" | ARGUE | EITHER |
| (DIS)AGREE | "Which of the following is the economist most likely to agree with?" | INFER | ORGANIC |
| MUST BE FALSE | "Which of the following must be false based on the above?" | INFER | MECHANICAL |
| RULE | "Which of the following examples conforms to the principles stated above?" | INFER | MECHANICAL |
Each type inherits the general tendencies of its family and style. Knowing a question's specific type gives you even more detailed instructions about what to look out for in the argument and answers.
Practice Tip: Memorize the families, styles, and types.
Save time and energy on test day by memorizing how to recognize and approach each family, style, and type of question.
Flashcards are a great tool for memorizing information about common questions.
Not all types are worth learning.
Other guides attempt to give you a complete list of every possible question type. And they give you much more to memorize about each question type.
In contrast, I offer the families and styles to simplify your knowledge. Knowing the family and style helps simplify in three ways:
- You don't have to memorize/track as much knowledge. Knowing family + style will be enough to guide you through most questions.
- You'll remain sensitive to the specific question that's being asked.
- You'll make more connections across question types, giving you more flexible tools.
Example: MECHANICAL-HELP questions
The conclusion can be properly drawn if which one of the following is assumed?
As a member of the ARGUE family, your primary job on MECHANICAL-HELP questions is to figure out what's wrong with the argument.
On all HELP questions, you want to solve the problem. On MECHANICAL-HELP questions, you can expect to come up with that solution before you see the answers. The solution will connect the facts and the conclusion. To find that solution, you may use conditional logic.
Lessons you learn on MECHANICAL-HELP questions can help with other MECHANICAL questions, HELP questions, and ARGUE questions.
Example: (DIS)AGREE questions
The two people above are most committed to disagreeing about which of the following?
This is a variation on ORGANIC INFER questions. Like ORGANIC INFER questions, you want to make a flexible prediction. That flexible prediction might just be knowing what the two people did and didn't say. And like ORGANIC INFER questions, you should favor modest answers because they're more provable.
Unlike ORGANIC INFER questions, you aren't really trying to combine what they said. Instead you're looking for the overlap. Since you have a slightly different mission, it's worth distinguishing this type of question.