What Is Weaken the argument on the GMAT?
Weaken the argument is a critical-reasoning task on the GMAT that asks you to identify the answer choice that most undermines the argument's conclusion. Mastering this question type is essential for a high Verbal score, as it tests your ability to spot logical flaws and evaluate evidence.
Definition
In a Weaken the argument question, you are given a short passage containing a conclusion and supporting premises. Your task is to select the option that, if true, most seriously weakens the argument. The correct answer introduces new information that makes the conclusion less likely to be true.
Why it matters on the GMAT
Weaken questions appear frequently in the Critical Reasoning section. They test your ability to find gaps in reasoning and assess the impact of new evidence. Strong performance here signals that you can think critically under time pressure, a key skill for business school.
A concrete example
Passage: 'Our company's sales have increased by 20% since we started our new advertising campaign. Therefore, the campaign is responsible for the sales increase.'
Weakening option: 'During the same period, the overall market for our product grew by 30%.'
This weakens the conclusion because the sales increase could be due to market growth, not the campaign.
Common mistakes
- Choosing an option that strengthens the argument.
- Selecting an option that is irrelevant to the conclusion.
- Picking an option that attacks the premises rather than the reasoning.
- Overlooking the word 'most' – the correct answer must be the strongest weakening choice.
How to practice it
Start by identifying the conclusion and premises in every passage. Then, before looking at the options, think of possible weaknesses. Practice with official GMAT questions and review explanations to understand why each wrong answer is incorrect. Time yourself to simulate test conditions.