IMAT Logical Reasoning · Critical Thinking
Parts of an Argument and the Main Conclusion
An argument is a claim plus the reasons given for it; every critical thinking question starts by telling the two apart.
Why this matters
Main conclusion questions were the most regular single type in the Cambridge papers, asked 20 times between 2012 and 2022. Every other question type in this chapter starts with the same skill: finding the claim and the reasons that support it.
Concept 1 of 2: Parts of an argument: premises, conclusions and indicator words
An argument tries to make you accept a claim by giving you reasons. To work on any argument you first have to label its sentences: which one is the claim, which ones are the reasons, and which ones are only background. Indicator words help, but the real test is which sentence the others are there to support.
Definition
An argument gives reasons to accept a claim.
- Premise: a reason given in support. Often follows because, since, as, given that, for.
- Conclusion: the claim the reasons support. Often follows therefore, so, thus, hence, consequently, it follows that; often a recommendation with should, must or ought.
- Intermediate conclusion: a claim that is supported by premises and in turn supports the main conclusion.
- Counter-argument: a view the author reports in order to reject it, often after 'some people say' or 'it is claimed', with the author's reply after 'but' or 'however'.
- Evidence and examples: facts, figures and cases. They work as premises.
- Background: sentences that set the scene but give no reason. Not every sentence is a premise.
- The therefore test: read 'A, therefore B'. If it makes sense and the reverse 'B, therefore A' does not, then A supports B.
Worked example
Label every part of this argument. 'Some residents say the town's outdoor swimming pool should close in winter, because few people swim in the cold. However, the pool is heated, and last winter the school swimming teams trained in it every weekday morning. Since the teams have no other pool within an hour's drive, closing it would stop their training for four months. The pool therefore serves the schools' sport all year round. So the council should keep it open through the winter.'
Practice this conceptself-check · 4 quick reps
'Therefore' does not always mark the main conclusion
An indicator word shows that a sentence is a conclusion, but it may be an intermediate one that goes on to support something else. The main conclusion is the claim that supports nothing further, and it can sit in the first sentence with no indicator word at all.
Concept 2 of 2: Identifying the main conclusion of an argument
IMAT builds the five options for a main conclusion question out of the passage itself: a premise, an intermediate conclusion, the view the author rejects, a claim slightly stronger than the passage, and the right answer. So you are not looking for something true. You are looking for the one claim that everything else in the passage is there to support.
Definition
The main conclusion is the claim the whole passage is trying to make you accept. It is supported by the other sentences and supports none of them.
- It can appear anywhere: first sentence, middle or last.
- It is often a recommendation (should, must, ought) or an overall judgement.
- Method: list the claims; run the therefore test between them; the one that comes after every 'therefore' is the main conclusion.
- The right option says the same thing with the same strength: not stronger (all, always, must), not narrower, not a different topic.
- Wrong options are usually a premise, an intermediate conclusion, the rejected counter-argument, or an overstatement.
Worked example
Find the main conclusion. 'Offices should not rush to replace every chair with a standing desk. It is true that sitting for many hours is linked to back pain and poor circulation. But standing still for long periods brings its own problems, such as sore feet and swollen legs. What seems to help most is changing position often, and an ordinary desk with short regular walks allows that at almost no cost. A standing desk on its own does not.'
Practice this conceptself-check · 3 quick reps
The last sentence is not always the conclusion
Writers often state their conclusion first and then defend it, or put it in the middle. Find it by the therefore test, never by position.
The intermediate conclusion is the favourite wrong answer
It is a conclusion, it often follows 'so' or 'therefore', and it sounds important. But it is used as a reason for something further. If you can put 'therefore' after it and reach another claim in the passage, it is not the main conclusion.
Summary — formulas & gotchas at a glance
A revision cheat-sheet for the formulas and gotchas above. Click any concept name to jump back to its full explanation.
Watch out for (3)
- 'Therefore' does not always mark the main conclusion→ Parts of an argument: premises, conclusions and indicator words
- The last sentence is not always the conclusion→ Identifying the main conclusion of an argument
- The intermediate conclusion is the favourite wrong answer→ Identifying the main conclusion of an argument
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