Recognising Assumptions

Recognising assumptions is a critical skill tested in the UCAT Decision Making subtest. These questions present an argument or statement and ask you to identify the unstated assumption — the hidden premise that must be true for the argument to hold.

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What Is an Assumption?

An assumption is an unstated belief or premise that is taken for granted in an argument. It is the "missing link" between the evidence and the conclusion — something the arguer has not said explicitly but must believe for their argument to work.

The Structure of an Argument

Every argument has:

1. Evidence / Premises — the stated facts or reasons
2. Conclusion — what the arguer claims follows from the evidence
3. Assumptions — the unstated premises needed to connect the evidence to the conclusion

Example:

• Evidence: "Medical school applications have increased by 20% this year."
• Conclusion: "There will be more doctors in the NHS in five years' time."
• Assumption: Applicants will be accepted, complete their training, and choose to work in the NHS. (This is unstated but necessary for the conclusion to follow.)

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Distinguishing Assumptions from Other Elements