Handling Inference Questions

Inference questions are among the most challenging in Verbal Reasoning because they require you to go beyond what is explicitly stated in the passage. However, there is a critical distinction between a valid inference (a logical step from the evidence) and speculation (a guess based on assumptions). Understanding this distinction is the key to answering inference questions correctly.

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What Is an Inference?

An inference is a conclusion that logically follows from the information in the passage, even though it is not explicitly stated.

Three Levels of Information

Level	Description	Example
Stated	Directly written in the passage	"The population of the city grew by 12% between 2010 and 2020."
Inferred	Logically follows from what is stated	"The city experienced population growth during this decade." (Valid inference)
Speculated	Goes beyond what the passage supports	"The city will continue to grow at the same rate." (Not supported — this is speculation)

The Golden Rule