Must Be True

Connect the dots — read the facts and find what follows.

STEP 1
Identify the Question Stem
  • "if the statements above are true, which must also be true"
  • "properly inferred"
  • "must be true"
Key Insight: Even if the stimulus looks like an argument, treat everything as fact. Don't look for gaps — just connect the dots.
Key Insight: The stem doesn't say "most supported." It says must be true — meaning the answer is 100% supported.
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STEP 2
Read & Connect the Dots
As you read each sentence:
1 Simplify as you read
Put each sentence in your own words. What is it really saying?
2 Connect each sentence to prior sentences
Do any ideas overlap? Can you combine facts to reach something new?
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STEP 3
Is There an Overall Inference?
After connecting, ask: do the facts combine into a bigger conclusion?
A
→
B
→
C
Inference: A → C
While conditionals make connecting easier, you can also infer things based on overlapping facts.
If no inference emerges, the right answer could just be a restatement of a single sentence.
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STEP 4
Answer Choice Strategy
The correct answer will be one of three things:
An inference from connecting the dots
Two or more facts combine to produce something new.
A summary of the stimulus
Captures the overall picture in fewer words.
A restatement of a single sentence
Same idea, different words.
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STEP 5
Answer Choice Check
Every word must be 100% supported by information in the stimulus.
Don't forget: The contrapositive is always valid. If A → B, then not B → not A must also be true.
Keep in mind: It could be a restatement of a single sentence — same idea, different words. Verify every word.
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WATCH OUT
Wrong Answer Patterns
✗ Flipping the conditional or negating the sufficient
If the stimulus says A → B, a wrong answer might say B → A or not A → not B.
✗ Strong answer for a weak inference
If the stimulus says "some" or "might," an answer with "all" or "always" goes too far.
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