Original practice

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LNAT assumption analysis practice

For assumption practice, find what the writer’s conclusion needs to be true. “Assumption questions” is a revision label, not an official LNAT category.

See the answer

Which assumption is necessary?

Choose B. Deny it and the council’s own figures stop supporting its conclusion.

Margin answer audit
ChoiceVerdictWhy
AToo strongThe access claim does not require every Sunday visitor to be unavailable on every other day.
BNecessaryIf unrelated factors caused the whole rise, the figures would not support the claim that Sunday opening increased access.
CNot neededThe council relies on the combined rise. The branches do not need identical results for its reasoning to work.
DNot neededThe conclusion concerns access. It gives no claim about Sunday staffing being cheaper than Saturday staffing.

What is LNAT assumption analysis?

Assumption analysis identifies an unstated idea that an argument needs. LNAT’s guide tells candidates to consider assumptions, but names no such question type.

LNAT preparation guide

How do you find a necessary assumption?

State the conclusion, then deny each possible assumption. If denying one breaks the link between the evidence and conclusion, that choice is necessary to the argument.

What does LNAT say about assumptions?

The preparation guide’s instruction is: “Ask yourself is the writer making an assumption that could be wrong? Could evidence be found to argue against this?”

LNAT preparation guide

Margin is independent LNAT practice. LNAT did not supply this exercise, and it does not predict a Section A score.

Check a draft

Finding the gap in a new argument

Whether an unstated idea is actually needed depends on the conclusion in front of you, so the judgement has to be rebuilt argument by argument. 10 of the 83 questions on the practice page are free. Founder access is £25 for the other 73, each with the passage sentence your answer turned on.