GMAT Ninja CR Ep 1: How to Approach GMAT Focus Critical Reasoning

How should you approach a Critical Reasoning question on the GMAT Focus or Executive Assessment? Can you find the "heart of the passage"? Do you know what it means to read for structure? How should you eliminate answer choices to get to the correct answer?

In this video, Charles -- the original GMAT Ninja, and owner of a perfect 800 GMAT score -- will show you how to approach Critical Reasoning questions. He'll talk you through the things you should (and shouldn't) do to succeed in CR.

This is video #1 in our full-coverage series of GMAT Critical Reasoning lessons. For updates on upcoming videos, please subscribe!

Want more GMAT and EA test-prep tips and advice?

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
08:49 Question 1 - The consequences of surgical errors...
17:49 Question 2 - Last year a global disturbance...
27:25 Question 3 - Theater critic: The play La Finestrina...

Here are links to the questions covered in the video:
Question 1 -- The consequences of surgical errors...
To be added to GMAT Club

Question 2 -- Last year a global disturbance...

Question 3 -- Theater critic: The play La Finestrina...

[hckonvicted]

Truth be told, every time I watch Charle's videos It gives me a certain amount of confidence to give my 100% in the game of GMAT. Your confidence and passion for teaching are infectious. Waiting for more CR videos.

[arjunbansal]

Hi Charles, got a 695 on the GMAT Focus yesterday. This would have not been possible without this prep series. Thanks to you and the team for uncomplicating GMAT preparation for me - you guys are stars!

[cloudsofchaos]

Charles and the entire team at GMAT Ninja Tutoring - Can't thank you enough for the entire series for GMAT and EA. I have watch all, well almost all, of the videos produced so far in the series. Excited for the CR videos. Charles - you are a messiah in the GMAT World ! Massive Respect to you !

[saahilbansal]

After having gone through the entire Quant series, and the RC compilation from verbal - I'm starting with CR now. I have my GMAT on the 9th of this month (Monday), but before even getting my final score - I want to thank you and the entire team from the bottom of my heart - you guys are the reason that I could stay motivated for my prep.
I'll post you with what score I get on Monday.
Thanks again

[akshaypandey]

I spend 9 days going through content of CR from various other sources, and ended up getting very poor score. The first 6-8 mins of this video covered everything that I was doing wrong. Thank You! Can't wait to see what I learn next.
:)

[RohitSingh-cuji]

Critical Reasoning a was nightmare for me. I wasn't able to mark a single question correct but this one video gave me a clearer approach, now I'm more confident. Thanks

[lookpad]

Your speaking pace is definitely challenging for a non-native like me, but at the same time save my life as a broke international student. Thanks very much for your tutorial Rap God Teacher!!! :)

[Conk-bepis]

The options were written in a convoluted manner on purpose but questioning the logic of the options and eliminating them really works ... I got 1st and 3rd correct on my own, but your thinking worked for the 2nd one as I would have dismissed it faster

[felixbarnoin]

I started with these videos and got my 700. Going to sit for a final exam in 5 days and try to get my 730. Thank you guys!

[Farouk-voiceover]

Hey Ninja family, i just started for my GMAT exam a few days ago. I have about 2 years to prepare which is a long period compared to everyone else, but I'm working full-time, and during these 2 years i'm planning to score the highest score i can in GMAT and IELTS exams, while taking one or to certificates in Business Management. That's all part of my plan to land a scholarship in one of the top 20 MBA schools around the world.

Will definitely keep you updated with every big milestone i reach during my journey!
P.S I'm going through this journey with my wife, so i hope somehow we both get the scholarship.

Peace and love to y'all! :)))

[chirag]

About to give my GMAT in 2 months, im able to solve the examples, that gives me alot of confidence, ill update you guys on how much i score on the D-day, let's hope I'll be able to deliver a good news!!! 7_5????

[sims_ran]

Thank you for another amazing video, Charles! While I agree Dana, Harry and Bransen are all very good-looking, I wouldn't be so quick to discount yourself! You have a strong fanbase among GMAT aspirants. The GMAT Ninja team as a whole is legendary!!

[devjoshi]

Charles watching your videos motivate me to study more & you seem to really love teaching.

Btw, I got the last one correct but that's not important cause I did not really understand the statement "The considerations given best serve as a part of an argument that " Can you rephrase it in a simpler form?

[ashlin]

man this was pretty useful! I got all three correct but it took time. I wrote important stuff down to the detail and that made me remember it and helped me choose correctly.

[eshach]

Hi Charles- a quick question. When you're trying to attempt a 'weaken the reasoning in the argument' question, why is your approach- to find answer choices that weaken the conclusion statement and not answer choices that undermine the explanation the author provides to arrive at a conclusion (which is what I assumed reasoning is referring to in the question). Thanks, this will really help clarify my approach to the question.

[mihirk]

Genuine appreciation for Charles and the team for their insights and guidance. I self-studied for 7 months using only gmatninja sources in yt and gmatclub, for my verbal, and it helped me take my score from 670 to 760. Pure golden content gmatninja has.
Thanks a ton again Charles and the team!

[naveenpatil]

Hey Charles, amazing video. I love the enthusiasm with which you teach and how you stick to the facts that move the needle instead of focusing on jargons.
I have a totally unrelated question but since you have been around for a while I'll ask it anyway - Did you even come across a student where he had a hard time focusing on the exam because of a constant buzzing sound ringing in his ears (tinnitus)? I was doing decent in my mocks scoring 700+ but on the exam day, because the room was so quiet (and I used the headphones), I suddenly started hearing this constant sound in my ear which was distracting, and I totally crashed my official exam and I feel terrible. And now that i know this condition exists, I am unconsciously dragged to that sound even when I am practising. I am gonna be taking the exam again next week and I am trying to shift my focus away from that buzzing. Any suggestions?

PS - The dog and book joke made me spit my drink lol

[JJ-zyzv]

excellent videos, there is a reason why everyone recommends GMAT Ninja for Verbal.

[nikitataneja]

Amazing videos Charles. 😊
Thank you for being inspiring. Your concepts are crystal clear. Huge fan of your pedagogy.

[aryapandey]

Hi Charles, I didn't get the part where we didn't also consider option (C) of the soybean passage. Isn't the option trying to find a certain analogy between itself and the passage as to how the same series of events occured and the prices rose? Why are we eliminating that option?

Also, your content is absolutely amazing. Thank you making it available for free!