One of the most important things to understand about GRE Critical Reasoning is that the incorrect answer choices are not random. They are written with a very specific purpose in mind. The test makers design these choices to take advantage of the cognitive biases that all of us bring to the exam. In other words, the wrong answers are worded in ways that feel appealing if we read quickly or rely on instinct instead of careful reasoning.

Consider a simple example. If a question discusses incompetent politicians, an incorrect answer choice may include a word such as corruption. The test makers know that many people automatically link politicians and corruption, even when corruption is not relevant to the argument. By placing that word in a wrong answer, they increase the likelihood that a test taker who is not reading carefully will select it. The choice feels familiar and therefore feels correct, even when it does not logically support or weaken the argument.

There is a clear reason behind this design. Critical Reasoning questions are meant to test whether you can think logically and evaluate arguments precisely. They measure your ability to move past personal associations, assumptions, and shortcuts and focus instead on what the argument actually says and what the question is actually asking. If you allow your biases to guide you, these trap answers will catch you again and again. If you slow down and analyze each choice in terms of logic and relevance, you will avoid these traps.

This is why awareness is so important. When you know that the wrong answers are written to appeal to your biases, you can approach each question with a more disciplined mindset. Instead of selecting a choice because it sounds right or aligns with a familiar idea, you evaluate it based on whether it performs the specific task required by the question. This shift in approach leads to stronger accuracy and a more consistent performance across all Critical Reasoning question types.

The GRE rewards clear thinking. When you remain focused on logic rather than instinct, you put yourself in a much stronger position to choose the correct answer and avoid the subtle traps that the test makers carefully design.

Reach out to me with any questions about your GRE prep. Happy studying!

Warmest regards,

Scott Woodbury-Stewart
Founder & CEO, Target Test Prep