These questions give a statement and ask what necessarily follows (a conclusion) or what must be taken for granted for it to make sense (an assumption). The discipline is the same as syllogisms: judge only by the text.
Statement / assumption rules
A conclusion is something that logically follows after the statement. An assumption is something taken for granted before the statement is made. Both must be fully supported by the statement alone — no outside facts.
- A conclusion is something that logically follows after the statement.
- An assumption is something taken for granted before the statement is made.
- Both must be fully supported by the statement alone — no outside facts.
How to Approach It
- Separate the question type — An assumption is something taken for granted before the statement is made; a conclusion is something that follows from it afterwards. Know which one you are being asked to judge.
- Use the negation test for assumptions — Negate the option and re-read the statement. If the statement no longer makes sense, the assumption was required; if it still stands, the assumption is not needed.
- Demand full support for conclusions — A valid conclusion must be entirely contained within the statement. If it needs even one extra fact from outside, it does not follow.
- Distrust sweeping language — Options carrying 'only', 'always' or 'guarantees' rarely follow from a measured statement. Treat such absolutes with suspicion unless the statement is equally absolute.
Techniques & Methods
- Stay inside the text — Judge only on the statement — import no outside facts.
- Negation test — Negate an assumption; if the statement collapses, the assumption is required.
- Before vs after — An assumption comes before the statement; a conclusion follows from it.
- Kill the absolutes — Reject 'only', 'always', 'guarantees' unless the statement is equally strong.
The Edge
The negation test for assumptions: negate the option. If the statement falls apart with the negation, the assumption is valid; if the statement still stands, it isn't required. Reject conclusions containing absolute words — only, always, guarantees — unless the statement is equally absolute. Test-setters plant these as bait.Worked example
Statement: 'Please switch off the lights when you leave the room.' Is the assumption 'The room has lights that can be switched off' valid?
- An assumption is something that must be taken for granted for the statement to make sense; test it with the negation method.
- Negate the option: suppose 'the room has no lights that can be switched off'.
- Then the instruction 'switch off the lights when you leave' would be meaningless — the statement collapses without the assumption.
- Because the statement needs it to make sense, the assumption is valid.
Answer: Yes, the assumption is valid
Worked example
Statement: 'Study hard to pass the exam.' Does the conclusion 'Hard study guarantees passing' follow?
- A valid conclusion must be fully contained in the statement, adding nothing of its own.
- The statement advises studying hard in order to pass — it presents hard study as helpful, not as a cast-iron promise.
- 'Guarantees passing' is far stronger: it would rule out ever failing despite hard study, a claim the statement never makes.
- Because it adds an absolute the text does not support, the conclusion does not follow.
Answer: No, it does not follow
Worked Drills
Worked example
Statement: 'The college will remain closed tomorrow due to elections.' Assumptions: (I) Students will stay at home. (II) The college is affected by the elections. (a) only I is implicit b) only II is implicit c) both are implicit d) neither is implicit)
- The reason 'due to elections' makes II implicit — the closure is tied to the elections.
- What students do is not assumed by the statement, so I is not necessarily implicit.
- So only II is implicit.
Answer: only II is implicit — option b)
Worked example
Statement: 'Use Brand X soap for glowing skin.' Assumptions: (I) People want glowing skin. (II) Brand X improves the skin. (a) only I is implicit b) only II is implicit c) both are implicit d) neither is implicit)
- An advertisement assumes the desired benefit appeals to people: I is implicit.
- It also assumes the product delivers that benefit: II is implicit.
- So both are implicit.
Answer: both are implicit — option c)
Worked example
Statement: 'Smoking is injurious to health.' Conclusions: (I) One should avoid smoking. (II) Non-smokers are always healthy. (a) only I follows b) only II follows c) both follow d) neither follows)
- If smoking harms health, avoiding it follows: I follows.
- 'Always healthy' is far too strong and is never claimed: II fails.
- So only I follows.
Answer: only I follows — option a)
Worked example
Statement: 'Please submit the form before 5 PM.' Assumption: forms after 5 PM are not accepted. (a) valid b) invalid c) both d) neither)
- Apply the negation test: suppose late forms are accepted.
- Then the deadline 'before 5 PM' would be meaningless.
- So the assumption is required — it is valid.
Answer: valid — option a)
Worked example
Statement: 'Read this book to improve your vocabulary.' Conclusion: reading the book helps vocabulary. (a) follows b) does not follow c) both d) cannot say)
- The conclusion simply restates the benefit the statement claims.
- Nothing outside the text is needed.
- So it follows.
Answer: follows — option a)
Worked example
Statement: 'All successful people work hard.' Conclusions: (I) Hard work guarantees success. (II) Lazy people are not successful. (a) only I follows b) only II follows c) both follow d) neither follows)
- I is the converse ('hard work → success') and is too strong: it does not follow.
- II is the contrapositive of the statement: not hard-working → not successful, so it follows.
- So only II follows.
Answer: only II follows — option b)
Worked example
Statement: 'Exercise daily to stay fit.' Conclusion: only exercise keeps one fit. (a) follows b) does not follow c) partly d) cannot say)
- The statement recommends exercise but never says it is the sole route to fitness.
- 'Only' is an absolute the text does not support.
- So the conclusion does not follow.
Answer: does not follow — option b)
Worked example
Statement: 'Study hard to pass.' Conclusion: hard study guarantees passing. (a) follows b) does not follow c) partly d) cannot say)
- The statement presents hard study as helpful, not as a promise.
- 'Guarantees' is too strong for a measured statement.
- So the conclusion does not follow.
Answer: does not follow — option b)
⚠ Watch out
- Never add real-world knowledge the statement doesn't supply.
- Distinguish a conclusion (comes after) from an assumption (comes before).
- Sweeping words like 'only' and 'always' rarely follow from a measured statement.
Takeaways
- Live strictly inside the statement — import no outside facts.
- Use the negation test to judge whether an assumption is required.
- A conclusion must be fully contained in the statement.
- Distrust 'only', 'always', 'guarantees' unless the statement is equally absolute.