Identifying Conclusions

The single most important skill in LNAT Section A is the ability to identify the main conclusion of a passage. Many questions ask you directly: "What is the author's main conclusion?" or "Which of the following best expresses the author's argument?" Even when questions test other skills, you cannot evaluate an argument without first knowing what the author is trying to prove.

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Why Conclusions Are Tricky

In well-written argumentative prose — the kind you encounter on the LNAT — conclusions are not always obvious. Authors do not always place the conclusion at the end, and they do not always use indicator words. You must learn to identify the conclusion from the logical structure of the passage, not from its position or formatting.

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Conclusion Indicator Words

Certain words and phrases frequently signal that a conclusion is about to follow: