Advice & Insight From UCAT Specialists
In this article I will show you how to tackle recognising assumption questions in the Decision Making section of the UCAT. An assumption is generally regarded as something that is ‘accepted as true or as certain to happen, without proof.’ In these questions, a debate will be posed followed by arguments for and against the topic. You will have to evaluate these arguments and recognise how strong the assumption underlying the argument is. The answer will be the statement that addresses the issue in the question the most. The main thing to remember is to not use your own knowledge or beliefs to answer the questions; just use the information in the statement and their underlying assumptions.
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The key words or phrases are ‘driver-less cars and lorries’ in order to ‘improve road safety and encourage technological development’.
A – This answer doesn’t refer to technology at all or directly to road safety.
B– This refers well to safety but not to technology.
C – This statement talks about the driver’s confidence but has no reference to any of the key words.
D – This statement refers to safety and technology, so it is the strongest argument.
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The key phrases here are: “solar panels on government buildings” to “fulfil environment commitments to cut carbon emissions by 34%”
A – Does not refer to solar panels or the plan in anyway.
B – This statement just rewords what has already been said in the question and does not actually answer the question.
C – It talks about attractiveness of the plan rather than addressing the environmental side of things.
D– This statement discusses why solar panels are unsuitable and also refers to renewable energy, which addresses the environmental issues posed in the question. Thus, it is the strongest argument.
Key phrases are: “charging small fees” in order to “fund new books for public.”
A – Does not refer to readers or the fees.
B – Answers why more income is necessary and justifies a borrower’s fee, therefore addressing the issues in the question. This is the strongest argument
C – It does not refer to the fees at all.
D – The question does not say anything about there being enough books in the library: it is asking how to get new books, not if they are necessary. This statement doesn’t answer the question.
