Logical Reasoning and Problem Solving
What Section 1 tests
Logical Reasoning and Problem Solving in HPAT-Ireland asks you to evaluate arguments, identify assumptions, draw only those conclusions that the evidence supports, and solve structured problems. Most arithmetic is simple; the difficulty is precision and time. Treat each passage as a mini legal case: separate claim from support.
Core rules
- Find the conclusion first. Ask what the author wants you to accept.
- Label evidence. Then ask what unstated link is needed; that link is the assumption.
- For conditional statements, keep direction. “If P, then Q” does not mean “If Q, then P.”
- Quantifiers matter: “all”, “some”, “none” and “most” are not interchangeable.
- In problem-solving items, write a compact table or ordering diagram before reading the options.
Worked example
“Every candidate who scores above 80 in the mock is invited to the workshop. Aisling was invited. Therefore Aisling scored above 80.” The first sentence is: score above 80 → invited. The second sentence gives the invited result. The conclusion reverses the conditional and is invalid. Invited people may include others, for example candidates recommended by a tutor. The correct evaluation is that the conclusion does not follow.
Traps
Do not import real-world knowledge that the passage does not state. Do not treat “some” as “most”. Do not accept a conclusion because it sounds plausible. In scheduling puzzles, check the final arrangement against every clue, not only the last one.