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Master the essential skill of locating the main claim an argument is designed to establish.
The ability to identify the conclusion of an argument lies at the very heart of critical reasoning, a discipline whose formal roots stretch back more than two millennia to the philosophers of ancient Greece. When Aristotle codified the principles of syllogistic logic in the fourth century BCE, he drew a sharp distinction between the premises (the evidence or reasons offered) and the conclusion (the claim those reasons are meant to support). That foundational distinction remains the backbone of every argument-analysis task you will encounter on the GRE.
Over the centuries, logicians, rhetoricians, and educators refined methods for dissecting arguments. The emergence of informal logic in the twentieth century shifted attention from purely symbolic proofs to the kinds of everyday and academic arguments people actually make — exactly the kind tested on standardized reasoning exams. The GRE's Verbal Reasoning section inherits this tradition by presenting short passages in which you must pinpoint the author's main claim, even when it is buried beneath supporting data or counterarguments.
The central question this lesson addresses is deceptively simple: Given a passage that presents an argument, which statement is the conclusion? On the surface, this sounds trivial, but GRE passages routinely place the conclusion in unexpected positions, obscure it with qualifying language, or embed multiple sub-conclusions that can distract an unprepared test-taker. Mastering this skill is the prerequisite for virtually every other argument-based question type — strengthening, weakening, identifying assumptions, and evaluating evidence all depend on first knowing what the argument is actually trying to prove.
Before diving into strategies, it is essential to establish a precise vocabulary. An argument in the logical sense is not a dispute; it is a structured set of statements in which one or more premises are offered as reasons to accept a conclusion. The conclusion is the statement the author wants you to believe or accept on the basis of the premises. Crucially, the conclusion is not always the last sentence — it can appear at the beginning, middle, or end of a passage, and sometimes it is implied rather than explicitly stated.
A reliable heuristic for locating the conclusion is the "therefore" test: mentally insert the word "therefore" before each statement in the passage. The statement that sounds most natural after "therefore" — with the remaining statements serving as its support — is almost certainly the conclusion. This technique works even when the passage lacks explicit indicator words, which is a common GRE tactic designed to increase difficulty.
The following diagram illustrates the structural anatomy of a typical GRE argument passage. Notice how premises feed upward into the conclusion, with background information providing context from below. Intermediate conclusions occupy a middle tier, drawing support from lower premises while themselves supporting the main conclusion at the top.
When approaching a GRE argument, your first task is to mentally reconstruct this hierarchy. Ask yourself: which statement sits at the very top of the pyramid? That is the main conclusion. Every other statement either directly supports it, supports something that supports it, or merely provides context. A common trap is selecting an intermediate conclusion — a statement that is indeed concluded from some evidence but that ultimately serves as a stepping-stone toward a broader claim. Always look for the statement that no other statement in the passage supports further; that is the terminal point of the reasoning chain.
While argument analysis on the GRE is not mathematical in the traditional sense, it does follow a rigorous logical structure that can be expressed systematically. Understanding the mechanics of how conclusions relate to premises will make your identification process faster and more reliable, particularly under time pressure.
The most direct method is to scan for conclusion indicator words. These are transitional expressions that signal the author is about to state the point that the preceding or following evidence is meant to establish. Common conclusion indicators include therefore, thus, hence, consequently, it follows that, this shows that, and we can conclude that. Be cautious, however: the GRE frequently omits these markers to increase difficulty.
Sometimes working backward is more effective. Premise indicator words — such as because, since, given that, for the reason that, and as evidenced by — mark the supporting evidence. Once you identify the premises, the remaining substantive claim is likely the conclusion.
When no indicator words are present, apply the "therefore" test described earlier. For each candidate statement, mentally rewrite the argument so that the other statements come first, followed by "therefore" and the candidate. The arrangement that produces the most logical flow reveals the true conclusion. This test is particularly useful for GRE passages that deliberately strip away indicator words to create ambiguity.
Sometimes the best approach is holistic rather than mechanical. After reading the passage once, pause and ask: What is the author's point? What position is being defended? The answer to this question is the conclusion. This strategy works well when the passage is structured as a counterargument — where the author presents an opposing view and then argues against it. In such cases, the conclusion is the author's own position, not the view being rebutted.
The following table provides a comprehensive reference of the most common indicator words you will encounter in GRE argument passages. Memorizing these categories significantly accelerates your ability to deconstruct any passage under timed conditions.
| Category | Indicator Words / Phrases | What They Signal |
|---|---|---|
| Conclusion | therefore, thus, hence, consequently, so, it follows that, this shows that, we can conclude that, accordingly, as a result, for this reason | The statement that follows is the main claim being argued for. |
| Premise | because, since, given that, for, as, due to, owing to, for the reason that, as evidenced by, the fact that | The statement that follows is offered as support or evidence. |
| Counterpoint | however, although, despite, nevertheless, on the other hand, some argue that, critics claim | An opposing view is being introduced — the author's conclusion is typically the rebuttal that follows. |
| Background | historically, traditionally, it is widely known that, many people believe, in recent years | Contextual framing that is neither premise nor conclusion. |
Pattern D deserves special attention because it is a favorite of GRE test-makers. In this pattern, the passage begins by presenting a view that the author disagrees with — often signaled by phrases like "some researchers argue" or "it has been suggested that." After a pivot word such as "however" or "nevertheless," the author presents evidence for their own position and arrives at their conclusion. The trap is that test-takers who skim too quickly may select the opposing view as the conclusion, especially if it appears authoritative. Always ask: whose position does the passage ultimately defend?
Notice that this passage followed Pattern D (Counter + Rebut) from our earlier diagram: it presented a counterargument ("some managers argue...") and then dismissed it before reaching the conclusion. A test-taker who mistakenly selected "remote work erodes team cohesion" as the conclusion would have fallen for the counterargument trap. The presence of "however" was the critical signal that the author was pivoting away from that view.
Even students who understand the theory behind conclusion identification can fall into predictable traps on test day. The following table contrasts common mistakes with the strategic corrections that high scorers employ. Internalizing these distinctions is the difference between conceptual understanding and reliable test performance.
| Common Pitfall | Why It Happens | Strategic Correction |
|---|---|---|
| Selecting the most dramatic or alarming statement | Emotionally charged premises (e.g., shocking statistics) feel important and "conclusive" | Ask: Does this statement support something else, or is it the thing being supported? Dramatic facts are usually premises. |
| Choosing the last sentence automatically | Many arguments end with the conclusion, creating a positional bias | The conclusion can appear first, middle, or last. Always verify with the "therefore" test regardless of position. |
| Confusing an intermediate conclusion with the main conclusion | Intermediate conclusions are genuine conclusions — but they serve as premises for a larger claim | Trace the logic chain to its endpoint. The main conclusion is the one that no other statement in the passage supports further. |
| Selecting the counterargument as the conclusion | In Pattern D arguments, the opposing view is presented authoritatively before being rebutted | Look for pivot words (however, nevertheless). The author's own position — stated after the pivot — is the conclusion. |
| Selecting background information | Contextual statements (e.g., historical facts) seem neutral and therefore "concluded" | Background neither supports nor is supported. It merely sets the stage. The conclusion makes an active claim. |
Identifying the conclusion is not merely an end in itself — it is the gateway skill that unlocks every other argument-based question type on the GRE. Once you can reliably pinpoint the conclusion, you can systematically approach tasks that ask you to strengthen, weaken, or evaluate arguments, because all of these operations are defined relative to the conclusion. The table below maps how conclusion identification connects to these more advanced tasks.
| Question Type | How It Depends on Conclusion ID | What You Must Do After Finding the Conclusion |
|---|---|---|
| Identify Assumption | An assumption is an unstated premise that bridges the gap between stated premises and the conclusion. | Isolate the logical gap between what the premises establish and what the conclusion claims. The assumption fills that gap. |
| Strengthen the Argument | Strengthening means providing additional evidence or eliminating alternative explanations for the conclusion. | Look for answer choices that make the conclusion more likely to be true, given the premises. |
| Weaken the Argument | Weakening means introducing evidence that makes the conclusion less likely, without necessarily disproving the premises. | Find the answer that attacks the link between premises and conclusion, or introduces a compelling alternative explanation. |
| Evaluate the Argument | Evaluation questions ask which piece of information would be most useful in determining whether the argument is sound. | Identify the most vulnerable assumption connecting premises to the conclusion, then select the answer that tests that assumption. |
| Parallel Reasoning | These questions ask which answer choice follows the same logical structure as the original argument. | Map the abstract relationship between premise types and conclusion type; match that pattern in the answer choices. |
As you progress in your GRE preparation, you will notice that the skill of conclusion identification becomes nearly automatic. At that point, your cognitive resources can be directed toward the more nuanced tasks of gap analysis and evidence evaluation. Think of conclusion identification as the first step in a sequential process: find the conclusion → identify the premises → spot the gap → evaluate or manipulate the gap. Mastering this first step with speed and confidence creates a cascading advantage across all argument-based questions.
Identifying the conclusion of an argument is the foundational skill for all GRE argument-based questions. The conclusion is the main claim the author seeks to establish, while premises are the evidence offered in support. Use conclusion indicator words (therefore, thus, consequently) and premise indicator words (because, since, given that) as your primary identification tools. When indicators are absent, apply the "therefore" test — mentally insert "therefore" before each candidate statement and check which arrangement produces the most logical flow.
Be alert to the four common argument patterns (Standard, Conclusion First, Sandwich, and Counter + Rebut) and avoid the five major pitfalls: selecting the most dramatic statement, defaulting to the last sentence, confusing intermediate conclusions with main conclusions, mistaking counterarguments for the author's position, and selecting background information. Mastering conclusion identification unlocks every subsequent argument task — assumption identification, strengthening, weakening, and evaluation all depend on first knowing exactly what the argument is trying to prove.