STAT — Special Tertiary Admissions Test (Multiple Choice) — Questions and Answers

Question 1: A chart shows that the number of website visitors doubled each month for 4 months starting at 1,000. Which type of graph would best show this exponential growth?

A two-way table
A back-to-back stem-and-leaf plot
A pie chart
A bar chart with a logarithmic y-axis (Correct answer)

Correct answer: A bar chart with a logarithmic y-axis

A logarithmic y-axis converts exponential growth into a straight line, making the pattern clearer than a standard linear scale.

Question 2: A university research paper studied the dietary habits of 200 undergraduate students at a single city campus and found that 75% consumed unhealthy levels of processed food. The paper's conclusion states: 'The modern Australian diet is overwhelmingly unhealthy and dominated by processed foods.' What is the primary weakness of this conclusion?

The study should have included at least 1,000 participants to be valid.
The term 'unhealthy levels' is not clearly defined.
The conclusion over-generalizes from a specific, non-representative sample to a much larger population. (Correct answer)
The conclusion is based on correlation, not causation.

Correct answer: The conclusion over-generalizes from a specific, non-representative sample to a much larger population.

The conclusion commits the fallacy of 'hasty' or 'faulty generalization'. The study's sample (200 students from one city campus) is not representative of the entire Australian population, which includes people of all ages, locations, and lifestyles. Therefore, it is a logical flaw to extend the findings for this specific group to the whole country.

Question 3: An author writes: 'Data were collected from a convenience sample of university students.' A limitation the reader should acknowledge is:

University students are unreliable respondents
The data were collected unethically
The sample size is definitely too small
The findings may not generalize to all adults (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The findings may not generalize to all adults

Convenience samples are not randomly selected, so results from one narrow group may not represent broader populations.

Question 4: Read the following passage: 'The phenomenon of soil liquefaction occurs in saturated, or partially saturated, soil that substantially loses strength and stiffness in response to an applied stress, such as earthquake shaking. When liquefaction occurs, the soil behaves like a liquid and can no longer support structures. This is most often observed in sandy, silty, or gravelly soils. While devastating to infrastructure built upon it, the process is temporary; the soil regains its solidity after the shaking stops.' Based on the passage, which of the following is the most reasonable inference?

Buildings in earthquake-prone areas should not be built on sandy soils without specific foundation engineering. (Correct answer)
All types of soil are equally susceptible to liquefaction during an earthquake.
The best way to prevent liquefaction is to stop earthquakes from happening.
Soil liquefaction is a permanent change to the geological landscape.

Correct answer: Buildings in earthquake-prone areas should not be built on sandy soils without specific foundation engineering.

The passage explicitly states that liquefaction occurs in sandy/silty soils during earthquakes and causes the soil to lose its ability to support structures. This directly supports the logical inference that building on such soils in earthquake zones requires special precautions or engineering solutions. The other options are either directly contradicted by the text or are impractical and not suggested by it.

Question 5: A graph shows three companies' profit margins over five years. Company 1 is consistently above the others, but its line is nearly flat while the others slope upward steeply. What is the best prediction for year 6?

Company 1 will likely still have the highest margin
All companies will converge to the same margin
Company 1 will drop to zero margin
Company 2 or 3 may overtake Company 1 if current trends continue (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Company 2 or 3 may overtake Company 1 if current trends continue

If the upward slopes of Companies 2 and 3 continue while Company 1 stays flat, one or both will eventually exceed Company 1's margin.

Question 6: Passage: 'If teenagers were taught financial literacy in school, they would make better financial decisions as adults.' Which of the following pieces of evidence would MOST strongly support this claim?

A longitudinal study found that adults who received school-based financial education had significantly lower debt levels (Correct answer)
Many adults report wishing they had learned about finances earlier
Financial advisors agree that young people lack money skills
Countries with strong economies often include financial education in their curricula

Correct answer: A longitudinal study found that adults who received school-based financial education had significantly lower debt levels

A longitudinal study tracking actual outcomes in adulthood provides direct evidence linking the cause (school education) to the claimed effect (better decisions).

Question 7: A narrator describes a childhood home as 'smaller than memory had preserved it.' What does this observation primarily convey?

The narrator had visited many larger homes since childhood.
The house was renovated and partially demolished over the years.
Memory tends to magnify places of emotional significance, making reality disappointing. (Correct answer)
The family had sold part of the property.

Correct answer: Memory tends to magnify places of emotional significance, making reality disappointing.

The discrepancy between remembered and actual size reflects how childhood memories are shaped by perspective and emotional weight rather than objective scale.

Question 8: If y varies directly with x and y = 36 when x = 9, what is the value of y when x = 15?

45
60 (Correct answer)
72
54

Correct answer: 60

The constant of proportionality k = 36 ÷ 9 = 4; y = 4 × 15 = 60.

Question 9: Which of the following pieces of evidence would most strongly support the claim that a new tutoring program is effective at improving student test scores?

A newspaper article quoting the school principal saying the program is a 'resounding success'.
A report showing that the program's lead tutor has a PhD in education.
A controlled study showing that students in the program had a statistically significant greater score increase than a comparable group of students who were not in the program. (Correct answer)
A collection of positive testimonials from students who enjoyed the program.

Correct answer: A controlled study showing that students in the program had a statistically significant greater score increase than a comparable group of students who were not in the program.

A controlled study provides the most robust and objective evidence. By comparing the results of a group that received the tutoring with a similar group that did not, it isolates the effect of the program itself, minimizing the influence of other factors. Testimonials are subjective, tutor qualifications don't guarantee results, and a principal's opinion is not empirical data.

Question 10: Which sentence most effectively acknowledges a counterargument within a personal perspective essay?

Others have different opinions, but mine is correct.
I disagree with those who say technology isolates us.
Some people are wrong to think that technology isolates us.
Admittedly, technology can reduce face-to-face interaction; nevertheless, it can also forge connections across distances that were previously impossible. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Admittedly, technology can reduce face-to-face interaction; nevertheless, it can also forge connections across distances that were previously impossible.

Acknowledging a counterargument and then refuting or contextualizing it demonstrates sophisticated reasoning.

Question 11: A journalist argues: 'Violent video games cause aggression because teenagers who play them are more aggressive.' What critical piece of information is missing from this argument?

The names of the video games studied
Whether the games are rated for mature audiences
The age range of the teenagers surveyed
Whether aggressive teenagers are more likely to choose violent games in the first place (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Whether aggressive teenagers are more likely to choose violent games in the first place

Without ruling out reverse causation — that aggressive individuals are drawn to violent games — the causal direction cannot be established.

Question 12: The flowchart below outlines a customer support ticket escalation process. [A flowchart shows the following path: It starts with 'Receive Ticket'. The first decision diamond asks, 'Is it a technical issue?'. If 'No', it goes to another decision diamond. If 'Yes', it goes to a process box labeled 'Assign to Level 1 Tech Support'. From there, another decision diamond asks, 'Resolved in 24 hours?'. If 'Yes', the process ends at 'Close Ticket'. If 'No', it goes to a process box labeled 'Escalate to Level 2 Tech Support'.] A customer submits a ticket about being unable to log into their account. The Level 1 Tech Support team cannot identify the problem within one day. According to the flowchart, what is the next step for this ticket?

The ticket is assigned to General Inquiries.
The ticket is escalated to Level 2 Tech Support. (Correct answer)
The ticket is assigned to the Accounts Dept.
The ticket is closed.

Correct answer: The ticket is escalated to Level 2 Tech Support.

The issue of being 'unable to log in' is a technical one, so the ticket is correctly assigned to Level 1 Tech Support. The flowchart then specifies the path for an unresolved issue: if it is not resolved in 24 hours (one day), the next step is to 'Escalate to Level 2 Tech Support'.

Question 13: A jacket originally costs $180. It is discounted by 15%, and sales tax of 8% is then applied to the discounted price. What is the final cost?

$162.00
$165.24 (Correct answer)
$163.80
$167.40

Correct answer: $165.24

Discounted price = 180 × 0.85 = $153; after 8% tax = 153 × 1.08 = $165.24.

Question 14: A report includes the statement: 'The mean score was 78, but the median was 62.' What does this disparity most likely indicate?

The data was recorded incorrectly
The test was poorly designed
Most students scored above 78
A few very high scores are pulling the mean upward (Correct answer)

Correct answer: A few very high scores are pulling the mean upward

When the mean significantly exceeds the median, it suggests a positively skewed distribution with high-value outliers inflating the average.

Question 15: An argument is presented: 'All successful entrepreneurs work more than 60 hours a week. Sarah works more than 60 hours a week. Therefore, Sarah is a successful entrepreneur.' What is the unstated assumption required for this conclusion to be logically valid?

All people who work more than 60 hours a week are successful entrepreneurs. (Correct answer)
Sarah wants to be a successful entrepreneur.
People who are not entrepreneurs do not work more than 60 hours a week.
Working more than 60 hours a week is the only requirement for being a successful entrepreneur.

Correct answer: All people who work more than 60 hours a week are successful entrepreneurs.

The argument's structure is: If P (successful entrepreneur), then Q (works >60 hours). Sarah has Q. Therefore, Sarah has P. This is a logical fallacy (affirming the consequent) unless we assume the unstated premise that 'If Q, then P' (All people who work >60 hours are successful entrepreneurs). This assumption makes the conclusion logically follow from the premises.

Question 16: A medicine's dosage is 15 mg for every 2 kg of a patient's body weight. If a patient weighs 70 kg, which of the following is the correct dosage?

500 mg
1050 mg
525 mg (Correct answer)
450 mg

Correct answer: 525 mg

This is a problem of direct proportion. We can set up a ratio: (15 mg / 2 kg) = (x mg / 70 kg). To solve for x, we can cross-multiply: 15 * 70 = 2 * x. This gives 1050 = 2x. Dividing both sides by 2, we get x = 525 mg. Alternatively, you can find the dosage per kg (15 mg / 2 kg = 7.5 mg/kg) and then multiply by the patient's weight (7.5 mg/kg * 70 kg = 525 mg).

Question 17: In evaluating a scientific study as evidence, which factor is most important for assessing its reliability?

The lead researcher is a well-known expert.
The findings confirm widely-held beliefs.
The study was published in a widely-read magazine.
The study was peer-reviewed and used a large sample size. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The study was peer-reviewed and used a large sample size.

Peer review and large sample sizes are key methodological markers of a reliable study.

Question 18: On a map, 1 inch represents 25 miles. Two cities are 3.6 inches apart on the map. What is the actual distance between them?

85 miles
72 miles
90 miles (Correct answer)
100 miles

Correct answer: 90 miles

3.6 inches × 25 miles/inch = 90 miles.

Question 19: Read the following passage and answer the question. The artist did not simply paint landscapes; he dissected them. Each brushstroke was a deliberate inquiry into the nature of light, a study of how it fell upon a leaf, refracted through a drop of water, or cast a shadow on the mountainside. His contemporaries sought to capture a scene in its totality, a grand, sweeping vista. He, however, was obsessed with the particular. For him, the universe was not in the mountain range but in the single, dew-kissed blade of grass at its foot. His work was a testament to the idea that the profound is often found not in the magnificent, but in the minute. The author contrasts the artist with his contemporaries to emphasize the artist's:

Traditional and conventional approach.
Lack of skill in painting large scenes.
Popularity and commercial success.
Unique focus on small, specific details. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Unique focus on small, specific details.

The passage explicitly contrasts the artist's focus on the 'particular' and the 'minute' (like a single blade of grass) with his contemporaries' preference for 'grand, sweeping vista[s].' This highlights his unique and detailed approach to his subject matter.

Question 20: A passage shifts from describing a bustling city market in the morning to depicting the same market as empty and silent at dusk. The most likely purpose of this contrast is to:

criticize the lack of lighting in urban marketplaces.
suggest that the market was abandoned permanently.
argue that markets should extend their hours.
illustrate the passage of time and the rhythms of daily life. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: illustrate the passage of time and the rhythms of daily life.

Contrasting the morning bustle with evening silence highlights the cyclical, time-bound nature of everyday human activity.

Question 21: Read the following passage: 'Employee burnout is a significant issue. Companies that have introduced mental health days report lower staff turnover. These companies also note that productivity remains stable, or even improves. Therefore, to enhance employee retention and maintain productivity, companies should consider implementing a policy of offering dedicated mental health days.' Which of the following best expresses the main conclusion of the passage?

Productivity does not necessarily drop when staff take time off.
Companies with mental health days have lower staff turnover.
Employee burnout is a serious problem in the modern workplace.
Companies ought to adopt a policy of providing mental health days. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Companies ought to adopt a policy of providing mental health days.

The main conclusion is the central claim or recommendation the author is trying to prove. The first three statements are premises or pieces of evidence (the problem, a supporting fact, another supporting fact) used to build the argument. The final sentence, which offers a direct recommendation based on that evidence, is the main conclusion of the passage.

Question 22: The combination chart below shows the average monthly temperature and total monthly tourist arrivals for a coastal town over one year. Graph Description: A combination chart with months Jan-Dec on the x-axis. The left y-axis is 'Average Temperature (°C)' (0-30°C) represented by a line graph. The right y-axis is 'Tourist Arrivals' (0-50,000) represented by a bar graph. The temperature line peaks in July-August at 28°C and is lowest in Jan-Feb at 10°C. The tourist arrival bars are highest in July-August (45,000) and lowest in Nov-Dec (5,000). A travel agency is developing a marketing campaign for tourists who prefer mild weather (15-20°C) and fewer crowds (less than 20,000 arrivals). According to the graph, which period should the agency promote?

July - August
September - October
April - May (Correct answer)
January - February

Correct answer: April - May

We need to find a period where the temperature line is between 15-20°C and the tourist arrival bars are below 20,000. In July-August, both temperature and tourists are at their peak. In Jan-Feb, the temperature is too low (around 10°C). In Sep-Oct, the temperature is still warm (above 20°C) and tourist numbers are dropping but may still be high. In April-May, the temperature line is rising into the 15-20°C range, and the tourist arrival bars are still relatively low, well under 20,000, making it the ideal period.

Question 23: A scatter plot displays height (cm) on the x-axis and shoe size on the y-axis for 50 people. The correlation coefficient is 0.85. What does this value indicate?

A strong negative correlation
A strong positive correlation (Correct answer)
A perfect positive correlation
A weak positive correlation

Correct answer: A strong positive correlation

A correlation coefficient of 0.85 is close to 1, indicating a strong positive relationship between height and shoe size.

Question 24: A report claims: 'Countries with stricter gun laws have lower gun death rates.' A reader responds: 'But Switzerland has loose laws and low deaths.' This response is best characterized as:

A cherry-picked counterexample that may not represent the broader trend. (Correct answer)
A decisive refutation of the report's conclusion.
An anecdote that proves the report is using flawed data.
A valid use of comparative evidence.

Correct answer: A cherry-picked counterexample that may not represent the broader trend.

Selecting one exception to challenge a pattern derived from many countries is cherry-picking and does not disprove the general trend.

Question 25: A histogram shows the distribution of ages in a sample, with most data concentrated between 20–40 and a long tail extending to age 80. What type of distribution is this?

Symmetric (normal) distribution
Bimodal distribution
Left-skewed (negatively skewed) distribution
Right-skewed (positively skewed) distribution (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Right-skewed (positively skewed) distribution

A long tail extending toward higher values (right side) defines a right-skewed or positively skewed distribution.

Question 26: To whom are STAT scores reported after results are released?

To the test-taker and the universities nominated during registration (Correct answer)
Directly to all Australian universities automatically
Only to the test-taker directly
Only to the nominating university, not the test-taker

Correct answer: To the test-taker and the universities nominated during registration

STAT scores are sent to both the test-taker and the universities they nominated at the time of registration.

Question 27: A table shows that Country X spends 6% of GDP on education and Country Y spends 8% of GDP. Country X has a GDP of $500 billion and Country Y has a GDP of $300 billion. Which country spends more on education in absolute terms?

They spend equal amounts
Country X, because 6% of $500B exceeds 8% of $300B (Correct answer)
Cannot be determined from the data
Country Y, because it has a higher percentage

Correct answer: Country X, because 6% of $500B exceeds 8% of $300B

Country X: 6% × $500B = $30B; Country Y: 8% × $300B = $24B; Country X spends more in absolute terms.

Question 28: A line graph shows two companies' stock prices. Company X starts at $50 and ends at $80; Company Y starts at $20 and ends at $38. Which company had a higher percentage growth?

Company Y (Correct answer)
Company X
Both grew by the same percentage
Cannot be determined from this information

Correct answer: Company Y

Company X grew 60% ($30/$50), while Company Y grew 90% ($18/$20), so Company Y had higher percentage growth.

Question 29: Which of the following most strengthens the argument that a reading program improved literacy rates in a school district?

A comparable district without the program showed no improvement over the same period. (Correct answer)
The program was praised by national education journals.
The district spent more on education than the national average.
Teachers in the district voluntarily participated in program training.

Correct answer: A comparable district without the program showed no improvement over the same period.

A control group that did not receive the intervention and showed no improvement helps isolate the program as the cause.

Question 30: Which question is MOST useful for evaluating the credibility of a source cited in an argument?

Is the source frequently quoted by others?
Does the author have relevant expertise and disclose potential conflicts of interest? (Correct answer)
Was the source published recently?
Is the source written in accessible language?

Correct answer: Does the author have relevant expertise and disclose potential conflicts of interest?

Expertise ensures the author can assess the evidence accurately, while disclosed conflicts of interest reveal potential bias.

Question 31: What is the approximate breakdown of the costs associated with dairy and agriculture?

8:3
70:1
9:2
10:1 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 10:1

The ratio of agriculture to dairy expenditure would be the ratio of comparable percentage allocations because budget expense is proportionate to the percentage of area covered. Agriculture/Dairy = 59/6 = about 60/6 = 10/1 as a result.

Question 32: In a personal perspective essay, what is the risk of including too many examples without explanation?

The essay becomes too persuasive
Multiple examples always strengthen an essay
The reader may lose track of the central argument because no single example is developed (Correct answer)
Excessive examples improve clarity by covering all cases

Correct answer: The reader may lose track of the central argument because no single example is developed

Listing examples without analysis produces a superficial essay; depth on fewer examples is stronger than breadth without explanation.

Question 33: Which of the following is logically equivalent to the statement 'If it rains, the game is cancelled'?

If it does not rain, the game is not cancelled
The game is cancelled only if it does not rain
If the game is not cancelled, it did not rain (Correct answer)
If the game is cancelled, it rained

Correct answer: If the game is not cancelled, it did not rain

The contrapositive of P → Q is ¬Q → ¬P, which is logically equivalent to the original statement.

Question 34: A passage describes a pie chart showing market share percentages that add up to 107%. A critical reader should recognize this as:

A data error, since all parts of a whole must total exactly 100% (Correct answer)
Proof that some companies hold negative market share
A rounding convention used in financial reporting
An indication that the market is growing rapidly

Correct answer: A data error, since all parts of a whole must total exactly 100%

Pie charts represent parts of a whole, so slices must sum to exactly 100%; any other total signals a data or presentation error.

Question 35: A gear system consists of two connected cogs. Cog A has 12 teeth and Cog B has 36 teeth. For every complete revolution of Cog B, how many revolutions does Cog A make?

3 (Correct answer)
4
1
1/3

Correct answer: 3

The relationship is based on the ratio of the number of teeth. The ratio of teeth from Cog B to Cog A is 36:12, which simplifies to 3:1. This means that for every one revolution of the larger cog (B), the smaller cog (A) must complete three revolutions.

Question 36: A newspaper editorial states: 'Teen crime rates fell after the youth curfew was introduced; therefore, the curfew caused the reduction.' Which flaw does this reasoning contain?

Appeal to authority
False analogy
Circular reasoning
Post hoc ergo propter hoc (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Post hoc ergo propter hoc

Assuming that because B followed A, A caused B is the post hoc fallacy — correlation in time does not establish causation.

Question 37: A scatter plot has a best-fit line with the equation y = 3x + 5, where x = study hours and y = score. What score does the model predict for a student who studies 8 hours?

29 (Correct answer)
19
32
24

Correct answer: 29

y = 3(8) + 5 = 24 + 5 = 29.

Question 38: A graph displays data points for years 2015-2020. The trend line (line of best fit) suggests the value will reach 100 in 2023. This prediction is an example of:

Regression error
Extrapolation (Correct answer)
Correlation
Interpolation

Correct answer: Extrapolation

Predicting a value beyond the range of existing data (past 2020) is called extrapolation, which carries greater uncertainty than interpolation.

Question 39: A pie chart shows budget allocation: Personnel 50%, Equipment 20%, Research 15%, Admin 10%, Miscellaneous 5%. If the budget is cut by 20% overall but personnel costs remain fixed, which statement must be true?

Personnel now represents more than 50% of the new budget (Correct answer)
Research spending doubles as a percentage
Admin spending is now 12% of the total
Equipment costs increase in absolute terms

Correct answer: Personnel now represents more than 50% of the new budget

If the total budget shrinks but the fixed personnel cost stays the same, personnel's share of the reduced budget rises above 50%.

Question 40: An author writes: 'It should be noted that the funding for this study was provided by the pharmaceutical company whose drug was being tested.' This disclosure is included primarily to:

Allow readers to consider potential conflicts of interest when evaluating the findings (Correct answer)
Satisfy legal requirements unrelated to the study's conclusions
Indicate that the researchers were not independent scientists
Prove the study results are false

Correct answer: Allow readers to consider potential conflicts of interest when evaluating the findings

Disclosing funding sources lets readers assess whether financial ties might have influenced the study's design, analysis, or reporting.

Question 41: A chart shows annual profits for a company: Year 1 = $200K, Year 2 = $180K, Year 3 = $220K, Year 4 = $210K, Year 5 = $250K. What is the average annual profit?

$212K (Correct answer)
$210K
$215K
$200K

Correct answer: $212K

Sum = $200K + $180K + $220K + $210K + $250K = $1,060K; average = $1,060K ÷ 5 = $212K.

Question 42: A water tank holds 2,400 liters when full. It is currently 35% full. How many more liters are needed to fill it to 80% capacity?

1,200 liters
840 liters
1,080 liters (Correct answer)
960 liters

Correct answer: 1,080 liters

80% of 2,400 = 1,920; 35% of 2,400 = 840; difference = 1,920 − 840 = 1,080 liters.

Question 43: An informational text includes a sidebar titled 'Key Terms.' The primary function of such a sidebar is to:

Summarize the author's main conclusion
Provide additional arguments not found in the main text
Define specialized vocabulary to support reader comprehension (Correct answer)
List sources cited in the main text

Correct answer: Define specialized vocabulary to support reader comprehension

Key Terms sidebars exist to give readers quick access to definitions of technical or unfamiliar words used in the text.

Question 44: A bar chart compares four cities' average rainfall. City W = 30mm, City X = 45mm, City Y = 20mm, City Z = 55mm. By approximately what percentage does City Z exceed City Y?

175% (Correct answer)
145%
75%
35%

Correct answer: 175%

City Z (55mm) is 175% of City Y (20mm): (55 / 20) × 100 = 275%, meaning it exceeds City Y by 175%.

Question 45: An author argues that 'the most dangerous ideas are not the ones we reject but the ones we take for granted.' This claim is structured as a:

warning about the influence of radical political movements.
comparison that elevates accepted assumptions above rejected ones as the greater risk. (Correct answer)
argument that new ideas are always superior to traditional ones.
dismissal of the importance of critical thinking.

Correct answer: comparison that elevates accepted assumptions above rejected ones as the greater risk.

The author inverts expected logic by positioning unquestioned assumptions—not challenged ones—as the more serious threat to critical inquiry.

Question 46: In a passage, a character is described as 'never unkind, but rarely warm.' This phrase most precisely implies the character is:

civil and inoffensive but not emotionally generous. (Correct answer)
secretly hostile beneath a polite exterior.
consistently pleasant and well-liked by others.
prone to sudden changes in mood and behavior.

Correct answer: civil and inoffensive but not emotionally generous.

The double negative construction ('never unkind') establishes a floor of politeness while 'rarely warm' establishes a ceiling short of genuine affection.

Question 47: A rectangle has a perimeter of 56 cm and a length that is 3 times its width. What is the area of the rectangle?

147 cm²
175 cm²
147 cm² (Correct answer)
189 cm²

Correct answer: 147 cm²

2(3w + w) = 56 → w = 7, length = 21; area = 7 × 21 = 147 cm².

Question 48: Passage: 'Every war in history has ended. Therefore, the current conflict will also end.' What type of reasoning is this?

Inductive reasoning from past patterns (Correct answer)
Analogical reasoning from a single case
Deductive reasoning from a universal law
Abductive reasoning from the best explanation

Correct answer: Inductive reasoning from past patterns

The argument uses inductive reasoning by generalising from historical patterns to predict a future event.

Question 49: A senator states: 'My opponent has accepted donations from oil companies, so his environmental policy cannot be trusted.' This is an example of:

A false dilemma
An appeal to nature
A straw man fallacy
An ad hominem fallacy (Correct answer)

Correct answer: An ad hominem fallacy

The senator attacks the opponent's funding source rather than the substance of the environmental policy itself.

Question 50: Light travels from water (refractive index 1.33) into air (refractive index 1.00). Compared to its speed in water, the speed of light in air is:

The same
Cannot be determined without the angle of incidence
Faster (Correct answer)
Slower

Correct answer: Faster

Refractive index = c/v; a lower refractive index means higher speed, so light travels faster in air than in water.

Question 51: A box-and-whisker plot for a dataset shows: minimum=10, Q1=25, median=40, Q3=55, maximum=80. What is the interquartile range (IQR)?

15
70
30 (Correct answer)
40

Correct answer: 30

IQR = Q3 − Q1 = 55 − 25 = 30.

Question 52: A chart compares the number of hours studied vs. exam scores for 10 students. As hours studied increase from 1 to 8, scores increase from 45 to 90, but a student who studied 10 hours scored only 70. This outlier most likely indicates:

The relationship between study hours and scores is completely random
Study hours are the only factor affecting scores
All students who studied over 9 hours will score below average
An unusual case that doesn't follow the general trend (Correct answer)

Correct answer: An unusual case that doesn't follow the general trend

A single data point that deviates substantially from the general trend is an outlier and doesn't invalidate the overall pattern.

Question 53: A bar chart shows monthly electricity usage: Jan 320 kWh, Feb 290 kWh, Mar 250 kWh, Apr 210 kWh. What is the average monthly usage over these four months?

260 kWh
280 kWh
270 kWh
267.5 kWh (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 267.5 kWh

(320 + 290 + 250 + 210) ÷ 4 = 1,070 ÷ 4 = 267.5 kWh.

Question 54: A scatter plot shows a cluster of points that slopes downward from left to right. What type of correlation does this indicate?

Negative correlation (Correct answer)
Perfect correlation
Positive correlation
No correlation

Correct answer: Negative correlation

A downward slope from left to right indicates a negative correlation, meaning as the x-variable increases, the y-variable decreases.

Question 55: How does the STAT differ from subject-based standardized admissions tests such as SAT Subject Tests?

There is no meaningful difference between the two types of tests
The STAT is a reasoning and aptitude test, while SAT Subject Tests measure discipline-specific content knowledge (Correct answer)
The STAT measures acquired subject knowledge, while SAT Subject Tests measure reasoning
The STAT is shorter and easier than SAT Subject Tests

Correct answer: The STAT is a reasoning and aptitude test, while SAT Subject Tests measure discipline-specific content knowledge

The STAT is designed to assess general cognitive and reasoning abilities rather than mastery of specific academic subjects.

Question 56: A newspaper editorial claims: 'Real Americans support this policy, so those who oppose it are un-American.' Which rhetorical technique is being used?

Appeal to authority
Straw man
Bandwagon appeal
In-group/out-group framing (no true Scotsman) (Correct answer)

Correct answer: In-group/out-group framing (no true Scotsman)

The argument defines 'real Americans' as those who agree, dismissing dissenters as not belonging to the group — a variant of the No True Scotsman fallacy.

Question 57: A passage ends with: 'Future research is needed to determine whether these findings hold across different demographic groups.' This concluding sentence primarily serves to:

Acknowledge a limitation and identify a direction for further study (Correct answer)
Contradict the main argument of the text
Undermine the reliability of all the data presented
Provide a call to action for policymakers

Correct answer: Acknowledge a limitation and identify a direction for further study

Acknowledging the boundaries of current findings and pointing to future research is a standard way authors signal honest limitations.

Question 58: A passage states: 'Her apology was swift and smooth, which made it harder to believe.' What is the implied relationship between speed and sincerity here?

Smooth language is the most effective form of communication.
The speed of an apology indicates how serious the offense was.
An apology that comes too readily may seem rehearsed or insincere. (Correct answer)
Quick apologies are always more sincere because they are not calculated.

Correct answer: An apology that comes too readily may seem rehearsed or insincere.

The passage implies that an apology's ease and polish undermines its credibility, since genuine remorse is often halting and difficult to express.

Question 59: A scientist records bacteria counts of 200, 400, 800, and 1600 over four consecutive hours. Which model best describes this growth?

Linear growth
Quadratic growth
Exponential growth (Correct answer)
Logarithmic growth

Correct answer: Exponential growth

The count doubles each hour (multiplied by a constant factor of 2), which is the defining pattern of exponential growth.

Question 60: A city council argues: 'Crime rates dropped 15% after we installed more streetlights, so streetlights prevent crime.' What is the main flaw in this argument?

The sample size is too small
The data source is unreliable
The conclusion is too narrow
Correlation is mistaken for causation (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Correlation is mistaken for causation

The argument assumes that because two events occurred together, one caused the other, which is the correlation-causation fallacy.

Question 61: A grouped bar chart compares commute times (under 30 min, 30–60 min, over 60 min) for City A and City B. City A's tallest bar is 'under 30 min' while City B's tallest bar is '30–60 min.' What can be concluded?

City A residents more commonly have short commutes than City B residents (Correct answer)
City A residents always commute faster than City B residents
City B has worse public transportation than City A
City A and City B have identical commute patterns

Correct answer: City A residents more commonly have short commutes than City B residents

The tallest bar indicates the most frequent category; City A's modal commute is under 30 minutes while City B's is 30–60 minutes.

Question 62: To access a university's advanced research archive, the following rules apply: 1. Access is granted only to postgraduate students or academic staff. 2. All users must have completed the 'Research Ethics' training module within the last 12 months. 3. Anyone accessing materials classified as 'Sensitive' must also obtain specific project approval from the Ethics Committee. Dr. Evans is an academic staff member whose 'Research Ethics' training expired 14 months ago. He wants to access materials that are not classified as 'Sensitive'. Based on the rules, is he currently eligible for access?

No, because he has not obtained specific project approval.
Yes, because the materials are not classified as 'Sensitive'.
No, because his ethics training is not current. (Correct answer)
Yes, because he is an academic staff member.

Correct answer: No, because his ethics training is not current.

Rule 2 is a mandatory condition for all users. It states that the 'Research Ethics' training must be completed within the last 12 months. Since Dr. Evans' training expired 14 months ago, he fails to meet this condition and is therefore ineligible, regardless of his status as academic staff (Rule 1) or the non-sensitive nature of the materials (Rule 3).

Question 63: An author describes a scientist as someone who 'pursued truth with monastic devotion.' The word 'monastic' is used to suggest the scientist was:

slow and methodical in performing experiments.
religious and prayerful in their methods.
isolated from colleagues due to disagreements.
dedicated and self-denying in their pursuit of knowledge. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: dedicated and self-denying in their pursuit of knowledge.

'Monastic' evokes the disciplined, self-sacrificing lifestyle of monks, here applied metaphorically to the scientist's extreme dedication.

Question 64: An op-ed argues that a country's economic problems are solely due to the policies of the current government, which has been in power for one year. In evaluating the strength of this argument, which question is most crucial to ask?

How many people have read and shared the op-ed online?
What is the political affiliation of the op-ed's author?
What were the economic conditions and trends before the current government took office? (Correct answer)
Does the current government plan to change its economic policies in the future?

Correct answer: What were the economic conditions and trends before the current government took office?

To evaluate the claim that the current government is solely responsible for economic problems, it is essential to consider the context and pre-existing conditions. Economic trends are often the result of long-term factors, and the previous state of the economy is a critical piece of evidence needed to assess the current government's actual impact.

Question 65: A passage presents a character who consistently interprets neutral events as hostile. The author never directly states that the character is paranoid. This technique allows the reader to:

assume the character is correct in their suspicions.
identify the author's sympathy with the character.
conclude that the events described were genuinely threatening.
infer the character's psychological state from their pattern of perception. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: infer the character's psychological state from their pattern of perception.

When an author shows rather than tells, readers draw conclusions about character psychology from the accumulated evidence of the character's perceptions and responses.

Question 66: A dual-axis graph shows monthly sales volume (bars, left axis) and average sale price (line, right axis). In March, volume is highest but price is lowest. What can be inferred?

Price drives volume in all months
Revenue was necessarily highest in March
The graph contains an error
High volume and low price may offset each other's revenue effects (Correct answer)

Correct answer: High volume and low price may offset each other's revenue effects

Revenue = price × volume; with the highest volume offset by the lowest price, the net effect on revenue is ambiguous without exact numbers.

Question 67: A political advertisement states: 'Candidate X has the most social media followers, so they are clearly the best choice for president.' Which logical fallacy is most evident in this statement?

Straw Man
Ad Hominem
Bandwagon Fallacy (Ad Populum) (Correct answer)
Slippery Slope

Correct answer: Bandwagon Fallacy (Ad Populum)

The Bandwagon Fallacy, or Argumentum ad Populum, asserts that something must be true or good simply because it is popular. This argument incorrectly equates popularity (number of social media followers) with qualification for office, which is the core of the fallacy.

Question 68: The median of the data set {12, 15, 9, 22, 18, 7, 14} is:

15
14 (Correct answer)
13.5
12

Correct answer: 14

Ordered: 7, 9, 12, 14, 15, 18, 22 — the middle (4th) value is 14.

STAT — Special Tertiary Admissions Test (Multiple Choice)

The STAT Multiple Choice test is a 70-question aptitude exam used by Australian universities to assess mature-age and non-school-leaver applicants for undergraduate admission, covering verbal and quantitative reasoning skills.

Questions

130 min

Time Limit

50%

To Pass

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