Free UMAT Resource Material Course Package

What really hurts is when you understand completely the argument but answered the question incorrectly because it wasn't the answer Mr. Question was after. When a question normally asks you to make an ASSUMPTION based on the stimulus given, try NOT TO select the option that looks vaguely to one of the author's evidence from the text.

The most common reason for mistakes in tests/exams is that students say, "But that answer is true!" followed by "...then why would it be written right here?" identifying that similar answer to the passage. Guess what folks? That's not good enough. This isn't preschool where you're called to identify the best answer to the passage, but to pay attention for specific information. Would the test maker honestly make UMAT that simple? After all, it's a nation-wide screening test to become a health professional in this land of milk & honey.

In addition, some basic words like except, doubt and not can possibly reverse the tone of question of the stimulus - changing entirely the statements you're searching among the choices of answers.

THE ANSWER

Simply put, try and prephrase the answer - have an understanding of what you're looking out. By doing so when you come up with a hint of idea for the answer, scanning the choices and choosing the right one will be faster with an natural increase in confidence. Let's say for the Sydney State Library argument went as follows:

The author's argument depends on which of the following assumptions about the new construction service regulations?

What is shown here is that new service regulations apply to already existing buildings [makes sense: safety hazards - no one wants to enter a museum that's built on unstable foundation for the past 40 years]. This is what you read into among the answer choices. Not all questions are good for prephrasing answers, but if used well it works on many questions.

Keep the Stimulus Argument IN MIND!

Generally students toss between 2 real good answers as oppose to all 4 [unless UMAT has increase the amount of answer selections]. And if you're always tossing between 4 then hopefully by now you understand how to approach certain questions! The reason why you can sometimes eliminate 1 or 2 answer selections is purely because they are irrelevant to the stimulus itself - out of scope of the question. This means choices contain ideas that not match the author's idea or sense of direction, but simply go beyond the context of the stimulus. It could possibly go further on from the author's argument for example: Sydney State Library rehabilitation process would be further effective with the clearing and reconstructing of panels supporting the wires.

Bear in mind that words such as always, never, all, none are general terms with strong extreme statements behind the meaning. I would normally stay away from these words but it all depends on the stimulus and question asked. Choices that are more qualified are often correct for arguments moderate in tone, using words such as sometimes, it is possible, usually, probably and so on.

It's alway easier understanding this through simple illustration of examples. Here we go:

The author's argument depends on which of the following assumptions about the new construction service regulations?

Suppose there is one answer that reads the following:

(C) The new construction service regulations are far too stringent.

Through knowing the scope of the argument would help eliminate this choice right away. We know that this argument is about abiding by new regulations for the rehabilitation of the library. It most definitely not a debate about the gravity of the regulations - good or strict. This judgement is outside the scope of argument and recognizing this helps eliminate wrong answers quickly.