Inference and judgment questions test your ability to draw a reasonable conclusion from a short passage. Your answer must be based on the facts given, not on what may be true in the outside world.

What is an inference?

An inference is a conclusion supported by the information in a passage. It may not be stated word for word, but it must be a logical and reasonable result of the facts presented.

What is a judgment?

A judgment is an assessment of whether a proposed inference is true, false, probably true, probably false, or cannot be determined from the passage. The correct judgment depends entirely on the evidence available.

Types of inferences

• Direct inference: follows immediately from an explicit fact.
• Logical inference: combines two or more facts from the passage.
• Probable inference: is strongly suggested but not certain.
• Unsupported inference: adds a fact, motive, or cause not given in the passage.

Rules for sound judgment

• Use only the facts and language supplied in the passage.
• Distinguish certainty from probability.
• Do not confuse a sequence of events with proof of cause and effect.
• Be careful with absolute words such as all, always, never, and only.
• Do not extend a conclusion beyond the people, place, or time mentioned.

Common traps

• Assuming that an event happened because it occurred after another event.
• Turning “some” or “many” into “all.”
• Using general knowledge when the passage gives no such evidence.
• Confusing an author's observation with a universal rule.
• Choosing an attractive statement that is only possible, not supported.

A quick solving method

1. Read the passage for facts, quantities, conditions, and scope.
2. Restate the proposed inference in simple words.
3. Find the exact evidence that supports or contradicts it.
4. Classify it as certain, probable, false, or undetermined.
5. Reject any conclusion that needs an extra assumption.

Quick revision summary

• An inference must be grounded in the passage.
• Reasonable does not always mean certain.
• Correlation and sequence do not prove causation.
• When evidence is insufficient, choose cannot be determined.