Notes on Assertion-Reasoning Questions

Assertion-Reasoning questions are a distinctive form of assessment that evaluates your ability to critically analyse and evaluate statements. 

Widely used in competitive exams, including law entrance tests, these questions assess your capacity to discern the validity of an assertion based on a given reasoning. 

Understanding the Structure

• Assertion: The assertion is a statement or claim that is presented as true.
• Reasoning: The reasoning provides an explanation or justification for the assertion.
• Evaluation: Your task is to evaluate whether the reasoning effectively supports the assertion. You must determine whether the assertion is valid based on the provided reasoning.

Strategies for Solving Assertion-Reasoning Questions

• Read Carefully: Thoroughly understand both the assertion and the reasoning presented. Pay attention to the context and the logical connection between the two.
• Identify the Relationship: Determine the relationship between the assertion and the reasoning. Does the reasoning genuinely justify or explain the assertion?
• Evaluate Logic: Assess the logical coherence of the reasoning. Does the reasoning logically lead to the assertion or is there a gap in the explanation?
• Counterexample Consideration: Think about scenarios or situations that could disprove the assertion, even if the reasoning appears valid. A strong argument should withstand potential counterexamples.
• Assumption Analysis: Identify any implicit assumptions present in the reasoning. Do these assumptions strengthen or weaken the link between the assertion and the reasoning?
• Check for Relevance: Ensure that the reasoning is directly relevant to the assertion. Extraneous or unrelated information weakens the overall argument.

Practice with Examples

Let’s apply these strategies to a couple of examples:

Example 1:

• Assertion: “Increased exercise leads to weight loss.”
• Reasoning: “Exercise burns calories, which reduces the body’s fat stores.”

Strategy Application:

• The reasoning logically explains the assertion by demonstrating how exercise contributes to weight loss.
• The assumption is that burning calories through exercise leads to reduced fat stores, which supports weight loss.

Example 2:

• Assertion: “All doctors are skilled surgeons.”
• Reasoning: “Doctors undergo rigorous medical training, which includes surgical techniques.”

Strategy Application:

• The reasoning explains how doctors receive surgical training as part of their medical education.
• The assumption is that surgical training is a common component of medical education, which supports the assertion.