UCAT Decision Making 3

Question 1

A pharmaceutical trial shows Drug X reduces headache duration by 30% compared to placebo, but only in patients under 50. The study has 200 participants, 150 of whom are under 50. Which limitation is most significant?

Accepted Answer

The age distribution limits generalizability to older patients

Answer

The finding applies only to patients under 50, so conclusions cannot reliably generalize to older populations who are underrepresented.

Question 2

A GP has 15-minute appointment slots. She needs to see 8 routine patients and 2 urgent patients. Urgent patients require 25 minutes each. How long will her session take if urgent patients are seen first?

Accepted Answer

3 hours 10 minutes

Answer

2 urgent × 25 min = 50 min; 8 routine × 15 min = 120 min; total = 170 min = 2 hours 50 minutes.

Question 3

No reptiles are warm-blooded. All snakes are reptiles. Which statement must be true?

Accepted Answer

No snakes are warm-blooded

Answer

Since no reptiles are warm-blooded and all snakes are reptiles, no snakes can be warm-blooded.

Question 4

A committee must select 2 projects from 5 candidates (A, B, C, D, E). Constraint: A and B cannot both be selected. How many valid combinations exist?

Accepted Answer

8

Answer

Total combinations = C(5,2) = 10; combinations with both A and B = C(3,0) = 1 (AB + one of C/D/E = 3); valid = 10 − 3 = 7... recalculated: AB can pair with C, D, or E = 3 invalid; 10 − 3 = 7.

Question 5

A researcher claims 'most patients prefer telemedicine.' Her survey sample was 500 patients recruited via a telemedicine app. What is the primary flaw?

Accepted Answer

Sampling bias — app users are predisposed to prefer telemedicine

Answer

Recruiting via a telemedicine app selects people already comfortable with or preferring telemedicine, creating selection bias.

UCAT University Clinical Aptitude Test Practice Practice Test

UCAT University Clinical Aptitude Test Practice Practice Test

UCAT Decision Making 3