Best free LNAT test practice written by experts

So, what are critical thinking Skills?

Critical reasoning is quite literally applying a critic’s eye (i.e. critical analysis) to verbal information. It encompasses the logical analysis of the following features of complex written arguments and viewpoints: assumptions; inferences; opinions; facts and interpretations. The term “critical reasoning” might sound a bit intimidating, but it is a skill you can learn. With the right practice, most individuals can develop their skills sufficiently to pass this type of verbal reasoning critical reasoning test.

What’s the LNAT’s critical thinking?

The terms might sound a bit scary, but critical thinking skills are a learned skill. With the right practice most individuals who have a learning mentality, can develop sufficient critical thinking skills to pass this type of verbal reasoning test.

• More specifically, you use these skills whenever you try to win a argument by focusing on your own argument and point of view. It is your critical thinking skills that allow you to tear apart other people’s arguments and use of facts/opinions. In fact you probably have used exactly these skills when accusing someone of ignoring the facts and just giving their own opinion.
• Critical reasoning skills allow you to consider different perspectives on an issue, and to perceive the logical consequences of reading or hearing someone’s argued position.

This could be in conversation, what you hear on TV or the radio, and/or written emails/books/articles. You need to reason verbally with this information in order to get to the key points of an issue. To determine what is fact, from what is an opinion or an assumption.  

How does the LNAT critical thinking test work?

• In many job roles that require verbal reasoning skills one of the specific abilities required is that of critical reasoning. The critical reasoning skills that are key to many senior managerial and executive positions require you to assess evidence effectively and to communicate your position clearly.
• Critical thinking tests and verbal reasoning tests are high-level analytical tests that assess how you think about and process verbal information. These tests are used – typically in addition to a verbal reasoning test –  for graduate and managerial assessment. Within certain professions where verbal dexterity is needed to interpret complex verbal information (e.g. the legal profession’s LNAT critical thinking test – see case study below) critical thinking tests are more commonly found.  

  What skills does the LNAT test?

  • Critical verbal reasoning is quite literally applying a critic’s eye (i.e. critical analysis) to verbal information. It encompasses the logical analysis of the following features of complex written arguments and viewpoints: assumptions; inferences; opinions; facts and interpretations.
  • Now the passage is likely to be longer and comprise of more complex written material then the verbal reasoning test formats presented in this book. Again, as with a verbal comprehension test, some questions will ask the candidate – just as a verbal comprehension test does – whether a statement is True or False.
  • However there is a much wider variety of other types of critical reasoning question, including the analysis and interpretation of arguments, assumptions, inferences and deductions.
  • There are plenty of excellent LNAT-specific practise testing books available – in addition to the practice test materials that are available on the official website. Self-directed and disciplined practice is likely to prove more fruitful than paying for an LNAT coach.
   

  Test-taking tips for passing your LNAT

  The LNAT specifically asks you to use different types of logical reasoning to “test” the accuracy and the interpretation presented in the passage of a particular topic. Read the passage quickly the first time to get a feel for the main points. Then read the passage a second time more carefully, mentally noting the key content of each paragraph.  
• Improving the speed with which you can digest complex prose will help your test performance.
• Focus on the core of the argument and its supporting evidence, together with the author’s stance on the issue.
• Expect that each passage contains at least two sides from the “undecided debate” of a contentious issue.
• Whilst you need to absorb the test passages as efficiently as possible, that does not mean that you need to rush your answers. Quite the opposite since there will be many different question formats. Some questions will be relatively easy. For other more involved questions you will need to allow yourself more time.

More LNAT preparation tips

• Double check that you are 100% clear on what the question is asking for.
• Take care when interpreting the meaning of complex words.
• Look out for any words that imply something absolute, such as “always”, “never”, “all”. Do not confuse these with similar words or phrases that are not so definitive (e.g. “almost always, most of the time, invariably” and “often”) and the weak forms (e.g. “sometimes”, “some of the time” etc).

• You need to understand the development of an argument. In particular what points are relevant to a specific argument and what points are irrelevant. Familiarise yourself with how journalists write comment and Opinion articles online or in the broadsheet newspapers.

• The most useful preparation that you can do is to try some of the practice question tests presented in the next section. There are 3 broad types of critical thinking question in this practice test section. Firstly, Interpretation-type questions, for example: – Which sentence best summarizes the passage – Identify the word that could be substituted for another in the passage.

LNAT sample questions

– How are individual’s opinions, counteracts and factual evidence expressed?

– Is there one or more argument? One or more conclusion?

– Look out for any assumptions and consider which specific pieces of information are being used to make a conclusion.

– Is each piece of information reliable? Would you draw the same conclusion yourself?

– What additional information would you need to frame a counterargument?

So, what’s the difference between inference and deduction ?

This last question almost defines logical deduction or deductive reasoning; the critical reasoning from linking one or more general statements, or premises, to make a logically certain conclusion. It’s important to clarify at this point the difference between deductive reasoning and inductive reasoning (inference).

• Inductive reasoning (inference); Induction is based on what is probable or what is likely to be true from true premises.
• Deductive reasoning; deduction is based on what must logically follow from true premises. Deductive reasoning links premises with conclusions.

Critical reasoning involves the use of inductive and/or deductive reasoning in arguments. If the form of a deductive argument is valid and the premises are true, it is logically impossible for the conclusion to be false.  

LNAT summary questions

Secondly, summary-type questions. For example:

– Which is the most accurate summary of what the author means by ” “?

– The main point of the second paragraph is to illustrate what?

– Which of these does not form part of the passage’s discussion of ” “?

• Yes, there are a wide range of other types of question format which occur in different types of critical verbal reasoning tests. When completing tests such as the LNAT if you are applying to law school (the LSAT or the GMAT in the United States then you will need to understand terms such as inferences, assumptions, opinions and deductions

Critical Reasoning Test Introduction

• Critical reasoning tests, such as the LNAT, ask you to identify assumptions, inferences and the points made within “overall” arguments.
• It’s the critical analysis of verbal information. It encompasses the logical analysis of the following features of complex written arguments and viewpoints: assumptions; inferences; opinions; facts and interpretations. The term “critical reasoning” might sound a bit intimidating, but it is a skill you can learn. With the right practice, most individuals can develop their skills sufficiently to pass this type of verbal critical reasoning test.

Who uses critical reasoning skills?

Everyone uses these skills sometimes, but some job roles specifically require a high level of verbal critical reasoning. For example, many senior managerial and executive positions require you to assess evidence effectively and to communicate your position clearly.

Lawyers, in particular, need excellent critical reasoning skills. Consider the skills a barrister needs when:

• Summarising the evidence of their case
• Questioning witnesses
• Stating their conclusions as clearly as possible to ensure that the jury understand every aspect of the legal case.
• Remain objective and not to be prejudiced by their own opinions.
• Analyze large amounts of verbal information to build a case for their client.
• Identify the different ways legal doctrine can be interpreted.
• Present their evidence in court and state their conclusion based on it.

Which critical reasoning skills are needed?

Similarly, the jury also has to use their critical thinking skills to balance all the evidence for and against the accused! In summary, a good criminal lawyer has to: – Be objective and not to be prejudiced by their own opinions or any knowledge outside of their current case. – Critically analyse a large amount of information to reach valid conclusions that build a case for their client. – Identify whether legal doctrine can be interpreted differently. A judge (or jury) will in turn use their critical reasoning skills to balance all the evidence for and against the accused and reach a verdict.  

But how does the layperson use critical reasoning skills?

• Just as a lawyer will review all the documented verbal information, so a newspaper reader will need to analyse such a Comments article, asking themselves: – What are the differences in the points being made?
• – Which points are assumptions, facts or opinions?
• – Is each point a valid one?
• – What is presented as fact and what is presented as (the author’s) opinion?
• – Which conclusions can be drawn from the facts?
• – Does the overall conclusion follow on from the evidence and facts presented?
• Journalists also need to have a high level of critical reasoning skills. When commenting on a current affairs debate, a journalist will typically present all sides of the argument. After careful thought, and backed up by evidence, they then commit their own analysis to the page.