This section of our PERT reading study guide will define inferences and guide you through making your own as needed on the test.
What is an Inference?
An inference is a conclusion drawn without having complete information. For example, you might infer that your friend is hungry if they haven’t eaten in many hours, even if they didn’t tell you directly, “I am hungry.”
The PERT will ask you to make inferences based on the information given in a passage. Let’s look at how to answer these questions.
How to Approach Inference Questions
Follow these four techniques when you encounter a question that requires you to draw inferences.
Understand the Passage as a Whole
- Context is key: Inference questions require you to draw conclusions that are not directly stated. This means you need to fully grasp the author’s message and tone, as well as the overall context of the passage. Before answering, ensure you’ve understood the general point the author is trying to make.
- Pay attention to implied ideas: Look for ideas that are suggested but not explicitly stated. These might be inferred through the author’s tone, the way certain facts are presented, or the logical flow of the text.
Use Information in the Passage to Draw Logical Conclusions
- Make reasonable assumptions: Inferences are based on evidence from the text, even if they are not stated word for word. You must use clues provided by the author to draw conclusions that logically follow from the text.
- Avoid overgeneralizing: Be cautious not to jump to extreme conclusions. The inference should be based on solid evidence within the passage, not on any external knowledge or wild speculation.
Look for Patterns or Contradictions
- Identify relationships between ideas: Authors often use cause-and-effect relationships, contrasts, or comparisons to suggest certain conclusions. Pay attention to how ideas are connected, and think about what those connections imply.
- Understand subtle suggestions: In some cases, the author’s opinion may be implied rather than directly stated. For example, if the author uses a negative tone when describing an issue, you can infer their disapproval.
Rule Out Extreme or Unsupported Answers
- Too much speculation: Avoid answer choices that seem too far removed from the passage or require you to add your own ideas to what’s written. The correct inference will still be closely tied to the text.
- Unsupported by the text: Eliminate answers that don’t have any basis in the passage, even if they seem logically plausible. The correct answer must be inferred based on what is actually in the passage.
Key Tip: Although inference questions require you to read between the lines, the correct answer will always be grounded in the information provided in the text. Stick to what’s suggested, and don’t stray too far from the text.