Recognising Assumptions guide
Recognising Assumptions questions ask which unstated claim the argument depends on. An assumption is a required bridge between the premises and the conclusion — not just any related true fact.
The method
- Apply the negation test: negate the candidate assumption.
- If the argument falls apart once the candidate is false, it was a required assumption.
- If the argument survives the negation, the candidate was not assumed — even if it's true.
- Look for definitional and enabling bridges the conclusion silently relies on.
How to use the negation test without overreaching
An assumption is required, not merely helpful. State the argument's evidence and conclusion, then identify the bridge that must hold for one to support the other. Negate each candidate precisely and ask whether the argument can still work.
Negation should be modest. The negation of some is none; the negation of all is not all. Do not replace a candidate with its strongest possible opposite, because that can make a non-essential statement look load-bearing.
Final check before you answer
- Write the missing bridge between the stated reason and conclusion.
- Negate the candidate accurately, without exaggerating its opposite.
- If the conclusion still has support, the candidate was not required.
Worked method example: test the bridge
Original teaching example. It is not a live provider question or a premium bank item.
The help desk should extend its opening hours because doing so will let more night-shift workers get support.
Task: What does the argument assume?
Answer: It assumes that some night-shift workers who cannot use the current hours would be able to use the extended hours.
Why: Negate that claim: no additional night-shift worker could use the extended hours. The stated reason for extending the hours then disappears, so the bridge is required.
Strongest trap: The argument need not assume that every night-shift worker wants support. That stronger claim is unnecessary for more workers to gain access.
Common mistakes
- Treating 'it's true' as 'it's assumed'.
- Confusing a supporting fact with a required bridge.
- Missing a definitional assumption the conclusion depends on.
- Choosing a claim that strengthens the argument but isn't necessary to it.
Frequently asked questions
Why does the negation test work?
A genuine assumption is load-bearing: deny it and the conclusion no longer follows. If denying it leaves the argument standing, it was never assumed.
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