To learn in college, students must process information. The information comes from a variety of sources, including the students' own knowledge, textbooks, lectures and from discussions with other students. No intellectual growth takes place when students seek only to validate their own knowledge or to simply accept information from others at face value. Critical thinking stimulates intellectual growth by expanding a student's knowledge base in an informed and reasoned manner.
Asking questions in the classroom allows students to learn more. Students are often reluctant to ask questions because they do not wish to be singled out. Questions are, however, the cornerstone of both critical thinking and of learning. Questions usually generate classroom discussions because the instructor's answer may be, "What do you think?" Turning the question around forces students to evaluate their own perspective, a key ingredient of learning.
The ability to think critically is essential to successfully submitting a research paper, required in many college courses. Conducting research means being an informed consumer of information. Critical thinking helps students recognize what information is needed for a research paper and to assess the value of different sources of information.
College exams tend to have questions requiring the ability to think critically. The questions may be in any form: multiple choice, short answer, true and false or essay. Students typically think critical thinking is needed only to succeed on essay questions, but a well-crafted multiple choice question also tests these skills.