STAT Content and Preparation 3

Question 1

Which of the following best describes the role of 'assumption identification' questions on the STAT Critical Thinking section?

Accepted Answer

They require you to find unstated premises that must be true for an argument to hold

Answer

Assumption questions test the ability to identify hidden premises — unstated claims that an argument depends on to be valid.

Question 2

A test-taker is deciding how to allocate preparation time between the Multiple Choice and Written sections of the STAT. What approach is generally recommended?

Accepted Answer

Balance preparation across both sections based on individual weakness

Answer

Balanced preparation targeting personal weak areas maximizes overall score improvement across both components.

Question 3

In STAT preparation, what does the term 'argument mapping' refer to?

Accepted Answer

Visually or structurally outlining the premises and conclusions of an argument

Answer

Argument mapping is the practice of diagramming the logical structure of an argument to clarify how premises support the conclusion.

Question 4

Which of the following is a common error students make when answering STAT 'strengthening argument' questions?

Accepted Answer

Selecting an answer that addresses a different argument than the one in the passage

Answer

A frequent mistake is choosing an answer that is generally relevant to the topic but actually addresses a different argument than the one being evaluated.

Question 5

When the STAT Written section prompt asks students to 'argue a position,' what is the primary criterion examiners use to score the response?

Accepted Answer

The coherence and logical support of the argument presented

Answer

Examiners assess how well the argument is structured and supported with reasoning, not whether they agree with the position taken.

STAT - Special Tertiary Admissions Test Practice Test

STAT - Special Tertiary Admissions Test Practice Test

STAT Content and Preparation 3