Graduate Launch practice
Free Graduate Launch practice with 90 original tasks, worked guidance and links to timed practice and a full mock. These tasks are not live-bank items.
What you will learn
- Practise analytical reasoning in Graduate Launch contexts.
- Practise quantitative data literacy in Graduate Launch contexts.
- Practise communication in Graduate Launch contexts.
- Practise ai digital literacy in Graduate Launch contexts.
- Practise ethical judgement in Graduate Launch contexts.
- Practise collaborative decision making in Graduate Launch contexts.
These 90 tasks teach the Graduate Launch reasoning process. They are public preparation, not a scored sitting, and they do not reuse protected assessment items.
Before you begin
- Use only the information given. State what remains unknown.
- Attempt a task before opening the guidance.
- Write the evidence for the choice, not only the final answer.
- Use timed practice after an untimed pass, then the full mock.
Practice activities
Analytical Reasoning · foundational
Which assumption must hold for that conclusion to follow? Situation: An inbox of client emails arriving before a standup. Five emails: two are FYI, one is a go-live today, one is a complaint from yesterday, one is a meeting invite for next month. A side count of 4 used a different definition from 9.
Review answer guidance
Name the missing premise. If it is unchecked, the conclusion is not shown. The claim in play is that they should be handled in the order they arrived. the go-live and the complaint outrank the FYI and the distant invite The extra figure (A side count of 4 used a different definition from 9) is part of what you must not ignore.
Analytical Reasoning · moderate
Which inference is actually supported by the stated facts? Situation: A dashboard of weekly tickets with missing owners. 14 tickets are 'in progress'; 6 have no owner and 2 are past the client date. The working copy is dated 9 days later than a 20-page cited copy.
Review answer guidance
Keep the conclusion inside the evidence. Do not import a cause that was not given. The claim in play is that in progress means the week is under control. unowned and late tickets are not under control The extra figure (The working copy is dated 9 days later than a 20-page cited copy) is part of what you must not ignore.
Analytical Reasoning · challenging
What alternative explanation still accounts for the difference? Situation: A generative-AI summary of confidential notes. The notes include a client's unannounced product name; the tool is a public model. 14 of 31 rows were added after the first total was announced.
Review answer guidance
A change that arrives with another change is not a cause until those extras are ruled out. The claim in play is that the summary is a harmless time-saver. the unannounced name left a controlled system The extra figure (14 of 31 rows were added after the first total was announced) is part of what you must not ignore.
Analytical Reasoning · foundational
Which of the two arguments is better supported, and why? Situation: A handover note that ranks five overdue tasks. The note ranks by the order the writer thought of them; two tasks block a client demo tomorrow. A second observer recorded 19 where the first sheet shows 42.
Review answer guidance
Score each argument by the evidence it actually cites, not by how confident it sounds. The claim in play is that the list is a prioritisation. thought-order is not impact-order; the demo blockers belong first The extra figure (A second observer recorded 19 where the first sheet shows 42) is part of what you must not ignore.
Analytical Reasoning · moderate
What counterexample would be enough to refute the general rule? Situation: A customer complaint mixing tone and facts. The customer is angry; the order number they quote does not exist; a similar number belongs to another account. The window used for 5 days is not the window used for 16 days.
Review answer guidance
One well-formed contrary case is enough to show that an unrestricted rule fails. The claim in play is that the facts can wait until the tone is answered. the identity of the order is the first fact to fix, or you will answer the wrong case The extra figure (The window used for 5 days is not the window used for 16 days) is part of what you must not ignore.
Analytical Reasoning · challenging
Which constraint is being ignored in the recommended action? Situation: A sprint board with blocked work and a demo tomorrow. The demo story is blocked on a permission that only one person can grant; that person is on leave until Thursday. A note in the margin says 10 cases were excluded without a rule, against 27 kept.
Review answer guidance
List the limits that still bind. An option that needs a resource you do not have is not available. The claim in play is that the demo can slip quietly. a client demo needs an explicit decision: cut scope, find a deputy, or move the demo The extra figure (A note in the margin says 10 cases were excluded without a rule, against 27 kept) is part of what you must not ignore.
Analytical Reasoning · foundational
How far can the claim fairly be extended? Situation: A vendor quote that omits tax and support hours. The headline is 12,000; tax is 20 percent extra; support is 1,800 and listed as optional but required by policy. The same label covers 15 events in one table and 38 in the other.
Review answer guidance
Match the claim's scope to the sample, time window and population that were actually observed. The claim in play is that the cost is 12,000. policy-required support plus tax makes 12,000 the wrong number to compare The extra figure (The same label covers 15 events in one table and 38 in the other) is part of what you must not ignore.
Analytical Reasoning · moderate
What evidence is required before the claim can be treated as shown? Situation: A team chat proposing to skip a safety check. The check takes 15 minutes; the launch window is 20 minutes; someone says 'we have always been fine'. An appendix lists 20 exceptions that the summary of 12 does not mention.
Review answer guidance
Identify the comparison, baseline or source that is absent, and withhold the stronger wording until it arrives. The claim in play is that past luck is a reason to skip. a required safety check is not optional because of a tight window The extra figure (An appendix lists 20 exceptions that the summary of 12 does not mention) is part of what you must not ignore.
Analytical Reasoning · challenging
Which wording is stronger than the evidence permits? Situation: A hiring screen that uses an unvalidated AI ranker. The tool scores CVs; no error rates by group are available; there is no override path. A side count of 6 used a different definition from 23.
Review answer guidance
Replace 'proves' and 'always' with what the observations actually cover. The claim in play is that the ranking can be used as the shortlist. an unexplained score without override is not a hiring decision The extra figure (A side count of 6 used a different definition from 23) is part of what you must not ignore.
Analytical Reasoning · foundational
Which disputed definition would change the result? Situation: A regional sales table without population sizes. Region North has 80 sales, South 40; North has four times the accounts. The working copy is dated 11 days later than a 34-page cited copy.
Review answer guidance
If two sides count different things, agree the definition before arguing about the number. The claim in play is that North is twice as strong. per-account, South may be stronger; population is required The extra figure (The working copy is dated 11 days later than a 34-page cited copy) is part of what you must not ignore.
Analytical Reasoning · moderate
How did the way the cases were chosen affect the conclusion? Situation: A policy draft that copies another firm's wording. A paragraph matches a competitor's public policy, including a phone number that is not yours. 16 of 45 rows were added after the first total was announced.
Review answer guidance
A volunteer, leftover or convenience sample cannot stand in for the group the claim names. The claim in play is that copying a 'standard' policy is safe. the phone number and the commitments may not be yours to make The extra figure (16 of 45 rows were added after the first total was announced) is part of what you must not ignore.
Analytical Reasoning · challenging
Which other variable moved at the same time as the supposed cause? Situation: A delayed shipment affecting two client go-lives. One go-live is contractual with a penalty; the other is internal and movable. A second observer recorded 21 where the first sheet shows 19.
Review answer guidance
Name the co-occurring change and say what comparison would separate the two. The claim in play is that split the remaining stock evenly. even is not fair when one date is contractual The extra figure (A second observer recorded 21 where the first sheet shows 19) is part of what you must not ignore.
Analytical Reasoning · foundational
What comparison is required before calling one option better? Situation: A standup where every ticket is 'almost done'. None has a remaining-work estimate; yesterday the same phrase was used. The window used for 7 days is not the window used for 30 days.
Review answer guidance
Better than what, for whom, over which period, on which measure. The claim in play is that the board shows progress. almost done two days running is a smell; remaining work is the missing number The extra figure (The window used for 7 days is not the window used for 30 days) is part of what you must not ignore.
Analytical Reasoning · moderate
When would the recommended rule not apply? Situation: A shared calendar hold called 'urgent sync'. No agenda; 8 people; the decision needed is a yes/no from one owner. A note in the margin says 12 cases were excluded without a rule, against 41 kept.
Review answer guidance
State the boundary condition. A rule without a stated exception is being oversold. The claim in play is that the meeting is the fastest path. a written yes/no to the owner is faster than eight diaries The extra figure (A note in the margin says 12 cases were excluded without a rule, against 41 kept) is part of what you must not ignore.
Analytical Reasoning · challenging
Who has the burden of proof for the disputed claim? Situation: A post-incident note. It says 'human error' and lists no system change; the same miss happened last month. The same label covers 17 events in one table and 15 in the other.
Review answer guidance
The party asserting a general effect must produce the comparison; the other party need not disprove a slogan. The claim in play is that the incident is closed. repeat misses need a control, not a label The extra figure (The same label covers 17 events in one table and 15 in the other) is part of what you must not ignore.
Analytical Reasoning · foundational
What mechanism is asserted, and what would count against it? Situation: A timesheet with 46 hours and a 35-hour contract. The extra 11 hours are unapproved overtime on a fixed-price piece of work. An appendix lists 22 exceptions that the summary of 26 does not mention.
Review answer guidance
A story about how an effect happens is not evidence that it happened. The claim in play is that the hours show commitment. unapproved overtime on fixed-price work is a cost and a process failure The extra figure (An appendix lists 22 exceptions that the summary of 26 does not mention) is part of what you must not ignore.
Analytical Reasoning · moderate
Which two statements in the account cannot both be true? Situation: A client deck with a screenshot of another client's data, blurred badly. The client name is still readable in the URL bar of the screenshot. A side count of 8 used a different definition from 37.
Review answer guidance
Put the statements side by side. If they conflict, at least one needs a source or a revision. The claim in play is that blurring made it reusable. the URL still identifies the other client The extra figure (A side count of 8 used a different definition from 37) is part of what you must not ignore.
Analytical Reasoning · challenging
Why is the measured proxy a poor stand-in for the stated outcome? Situation: A product metric that rose after the tracking code broke. Reported errors fell 70 percent the same day the tracker stopped firing on mobile. The working copy is dated 13 days later than a 11-page cited copy.
Review answer guidance
Say what the proxy actually captures and what part of the outcome it misses. The claim in play is that quality improved 70 percent. the tracker break is a better explanation The extra figure (The working copy is dated 13 days later than a 11-page cited copy) is part of what you must not ignore.
Analytical Reasoning · foundational
What time-order problem undermines the causal claim? Situation: A colleague's calendar is full of 'focus time' while tickets stall. Three tickets wait on that colleague's review; focus time is treated as untouchable. 18 of 22 rows were added after the first total was announced.
Review answer guidance
A cause must precede its effect. If the 'result' was already trending, the intervention is not shown to be responsible. The claim in play is that focus time always outranks review. if reviews are on the critical path, they are the work The extra figure (18 of 22 rows were added after the first total was announced) is part of what you must not ignore.
Analytical Reasoning · moderate
From this case, which generalisation is unwarranted? Situation: A password in a team wiki. The wiki is readable by the whole company; the password opens a client staging site. A second observer recorded 4 where the first sheet shows 33.
Review answer guidance
A single setting does not licence a rule about all settings of that type. The claim in play is that staging is low risk so sharing is fine. client staging still needs controlled secrets The extra figure (A second observer recorded 4 where the first sheet shows 33) is part of what you must not ignore.
Analytical Reasoning · challenging
Which unstated premise does the author need? Situation: A 'quick' contract change on email. A client asks to add a clause; legal has not seen it; delivery starts Monday. The window used for 9 days is not the window used for 44 days.
Review answer guidance
Write the suppressed step. If that step is false, the argument collapses. The claim in play is that start Monday and tidy the paper later. starting can lock you into the unreviewed clause The extra figure (The window used for 9 days is not the window used for 44 days) is part of what you must not ignore.
Analytical Reasoning · foundational
Which rival hypothesis is most worth testing next? Situation: A diversity statistic in a hiring update. The slide says 50 percent women hired; the table is 2 of 4 intern hires, while 18 of 20 permanent hires are men. A note in the margin says 14 cases were excluded without a rule, against 18 kept.
Review answer guidance
Pick the alternative that would produce the same observations, then name the test that could split them. The claim in play is that hiring is now balanced. interns are not the permanent pipeline The extra figure (A note in the margin says 14 cases were excluded without a rule, against 18 kept) is part of what you must not ignore.
Analytical Reasoning · moderate
Which quantifier in the claim is unjustified? Situation: A retrospective that only lists tools to buy. The failed launch had no owner and no written rollback; the actions are 'buy a new dashboard'. The same label covers 19 events in one table and 29 in the other.
Review answer guidance
All, most, some and none are different claims. Keep the one the data can support. The claim in play is that the actions address the failure. ownership and rollback are the missing controls; a dashboard does not create them The extra figure (The same label covers 19 events in one table and 29 in the other) is part of what you must not ignore.
Analytical Reasoning · challenging
Where does the analogy break? Situation: A support macro that always says 'we have escalated'. Nothing is logged in the escalation queue; customers receive the macro in 40 seconds. An appendix lists 5 exceptions that the summary of 40 does not mention.
Review answer guidance
Name the property that holds in the source case but not in the target case. The claim in play is that the macro is accurate. if the queue is empty, the sentence is false The extra figure (An appendix lists 5 exceptions that the summary of 40 does not mention) is part of what you must not ignore.
Analytical Reasoning · foundational
What decision rule is being used, and is it stated? Situation: A forecast spreadsheet with a hidden column. The visible total is 1.2 million; a hidden column subtracts 300,000 of known risk. A side count of 10 used a different definition from 14.
Review answer guidance
If the threshold is implicit, make it explicit before treating the verdict as fair. The claim in play is that 1.2 million is the figure to present. hiding the 300,000 is presenting a different forecast from the one you run The extra figure (A side count of 10 used a different definition from 14) is part of what you must not ignore.
Analytical Reasoning · moderate
Which source is weakest, and why does that matter here? Situation: A new graduate asked to approve invoices while the manager is away. The policy requires a grade that the graduate does not hold; the invoices are routine. The working copy is dated 15 days later than a 25-page cited copy.
Review answer guidance
Match the source type to the claim type. An opinion column cannot carry a prevalence claim. The claim in play is that routine invoices can be approved informally. the policy names a grade; routine is not a waiver The extra figure (The working copy is dated 15 days later than a 25-page cited copy) is part of what you must not ignore.
Analytical Reasoning · challenging
What was left out that would most change the decision? Situation: A Slack thread marked 'not legal advice' that then tells a client what to sign. The client asks 'so we should sign?'; a teammate replies 'yes'. 20 of 36 rows were added after the first total was announced.
Review answer guidance
Identify the missing group, time period or cost, and say how it would move the recommendation. The claim in play is that the disclaimer makes the yes harmless. the client will treat yes as advice regardless of the disclaimer The extra figure (20 of 36 rows were added after the first total was announced) is part of what you must not ignore.
Analytical Reasoning · foundational
What would you need to see to reverse the current conclusion? Situation: A go-live checklist with 4 of 12 boxes ticked. The unticked boxes include backup restore and access review; the launch party is booked. A second observer recorded 6 where the first sheet shows 10.
Review answer guidance
State a specific observation that would count the other way. If none exists, the claim is unfalsifiable. The claim in play is that momentum means launch. backup restore and access review are not ceremonial ticks The extra figure (A second observer recorded 6 where the first sheet shows 10) is part of what you must not ignore.
Analytical Reasoning · moderate
How does aggregation hide an important subgroup difference? Situation: A performance note based only on who speaks in meetings. A quiet engineer shipped the fix; a vocal engineer restated it in standup. The window used for 11 days is not the window used for 21 days.
Review answer guidance
A total can be right while every important subgroup moves the other way. Ask for the split. The claim in play is that the vocal engineer led the work. shipping is the evidence, not airtime The extra figure (The window used for 11 days is not the window used for 21 days) is part of what you must not ignore.
Analytical Reasoning · challenging
What is the cost of doing nothing, given only the stated facts? Situation: A travel booking that uses personal rewards on a client trip. Policy forbids personal points on client-funded travel; the fare is otherwise identical. A note in the margin says 16 cases were excluded without a rule, against 32 kept.
Review answer guidance
Inaction is an option. Compare it with the proposal using the same outcome and the same unknowns. The claim in play is that identical fare makes points irrelevant. the policy is about the reward, not the fare The extra figure (A note in the margin says 16 cases were excluded without a rule, against 32 kept) is part of what you must not ignore.
Quantitative Data Literacy · foundational
What percentage change is actually shown, and what is still unknown? Situation: An inbox of client emails arriving before a standup. Five emails: two are FYI, one is a go-live today, one is a complaint from yesterday, one is a meeting invite for next month. The same label covers 21 events in one table and 43 in the other.
Review answer guidance
Compute the change from the stated baseline. Percent change without a base, period or definition is incomplete. The claim in play is that they should be handled in the order they arrived. the go-live and the complaint outrank the FYI and the distant invite The extra figure (The same label covers 21 events in one table and 43 in the other) is part of what you must not ignore.
Quantitative Data Literacy · moderate
Which ratio should be compared, rather than the raw totals? Situation: A dashboard of weekly tickets with missing owners. 14 tickets are 'in progress'; 6 have no owner and 2 are past the client date. An appendix lists 7 exceptions that the summary of 17 does not mention.
Review answer guidance
Divide each count by its own eligible population and period before ranking. The claim in play is that in progress means the week is under control. unowned and late tickets are not under control The extra figure (An appendix lists 7 exceptions that the summary of 17 does not mention) is part of what you must not ignore.
Quantitative Data Literacy · challenging
How should the base rate change the reading of the count? Situation: A generative-AI summary of confidential notes. The notes include a client's unannounced product name; the tool is a public model. A side count of 12 used a different definition from 28.
Review answer guidance
A large count from a large group can be a lower rate than a small count from a small group. The claim in play is that the summary is a harmless time-saver. the unannounced name left a controlled system The extra figure (A side count of 12 used a different definition from 28) is part of what you must not ignore.
Quantitative Data Literacy · foundational
The chart's axis does not start at zero. What is the responsible reading? Situation: A handover note that ranks five overdue tasks. The note ranks by the order the writer thought of them; two tasks block a client demo tomorrow. The working copy is dated 17 days later than a 39-page cited copy.
Review answer guidance
Describe the difference in units, not the visual height. A truncated axis exaggerates change. The claim in play is that the list is a prioritisation. thought-order is not impact-order; the demo blockers belong first The extra figure (The working copy is dated 17 days later than a 39-page cited copy) is part of what you must not ignore.
Quantitative Data Literacy · moderate
What is the chance of the stated event on the information given? Situation: A customer complaint mixing tone and facts. The customer is angry; the order number they quote does not exist; a similar number belongs to another account. 22 of 13 rows were added after the first total was announced.
Review answer guidance
Use the given counts as the sample space. Do not import an outside probability. The claim in play is that the facts can wait until the tone is answered. the identity of the order is the first fact to fix, or you will answer the wrong case The extra figure (22 of 13 rows were added after the first total was announced) is part of what you must not ignore.
Quantitative Data Literacy · challenging
How should missing values change the reported rate? Situation: A sprint board with blocked work and a demo tomorrow. The demo story is blocked on a permission that only one person can grant; that person is on leave until Thursday. A second observer recorded 8 where the first sheet shows 24.
Review answer guidance
Recalculate under more than one assumption for the missing cases and say whether the ranking survives. The claim in play is that the demo can slip quietly. a client demo needs an explicit decision: cut scope, find a deputy, or move the demo The extra figure (A second observer recorded 8 where the first sheet shows 24) is part of what you must not ignore.
Quantitative Data Literacy · foundational
Which weighted comparison is the fair one? Situation: A vendor quote that omits tax and support hours. The headline is 12,000; tax is 20 percent extra; support is 1,800 and listed as optional but required by policy. The window used for 13 days is not the window used for 35 days.
Review answer guidance
Weight by the size of each group, not by the number of groups. The claim in play is that the cost is 12,000. policy-required support plus tax makes 12,000 the wrong number to compare The extra figure (The window used for 13 days is not the window used for 35 days) is part of what you must not ignore.
Quantitative Data Literacy · moderate
What order-of-magnitude estimate is defensible from the figures given? Situation: A team chat proposing to skip a safety check. The check takes 15 minutes; the launch window is 20 minutes; someone says 'we have always been fine'. A note in the margin says 18 cases were excluded without a rule, against 9 kept.
Review answer guidance
Round to the precision the data support. A precise-looking figure from rough inputs is a false exactness. The claim in play is that past luck is a reason to skip. a required safety check is not optional because of a tight window The extra figure (A note in the margin says 18 cases were excluded without a rule, against 9 kept) is part of what you must not ignore.
Quantitative Data Literacy · challenging
What per-person figure is required before comparing the two groups? Situation: A hiring screen that uses an unvalidated AI ranker. The tool scores CVs; no error rates by group are available; there is no override path. The same label covers 4 events in one table and 20 in the other.
Review answer guidance
Totals are not comparable when the groups differ in size. Divide by headcount. The claim in play is that the ranking can be used as the shortlist. an unexplained score without override is not a hiring decision The extra figure (The same label covers 4 events in one table and 20 in the other) is part of what you must not ignore.
Quantitative Data Literacy · foundational
The two percentages cover different time windows. What must you do first? Situation: A regional sales table without population sizes. Region North has 80 sales, South 40; North has four times the accounts. An appendix lists 9 exceptions that the summary of 31 does not mention.
Review answer guidance
Put both rates on the same period, or refuse the comparison. The claim in play is that North is twice as strong. per-account, South may be stronger; population is required The extra figure (An appendix lists 9 exceptions that the summary of 31 does not mention) is part of what you must not ignore.
Quantitative Data Literacy · moderate
Which part-whole mistake is being made? Situation: A policy draft that copies another firm's wording. A paragraph matches a competitor's public policy, including a phone number that is not yours. A side count of 14 used a different definition from 42.
Review answer guidance
A percentage of a subset is not the same as a percentage of the whole. The claim in play is that copying a 'standard' policy is safe. the phone number and the commitments may not be yours to make The extra figure (A side count of 14 used a different definition from 42) is part of what you must not ignore.
Quantitative Data Literacy · challenging
What is the conditional rate, not the overall rate? Situation: A delayed shipment affecting two client go-lives. One go-live is contractual with a penalty; the other is internal and movable. The working copy is dated 19 days later than a 16-page cited copy.
Review answer guidance
Restrict the denominator to the group named in the question. The claim in play is that split the remaining stock evenly. even is not fair when one date is contractual The extra figure (The working copy is dated 19 days later than a 16-page cited copy) is part of what you must not ignore.
Quantitative Data Literacy · foundational
What expected value follows from the stated chances and amounts? Situation: A standup where every ticket is 'almost done'. None has a remaining-work estimate; yesterday the same phrase was used. 5 of 27 rows were added after the first total was announced.
Review answer guidance
Multiply each amount by its probability and add. Do not pick the most vivid outcome. The claim in play is that the board shows progress. almost done two days running is a smell; remaining work is the missing number The extra figure (5 of 27 rows were added after the first total was announced) is part of what you must not ignore.
Quantitative Data Literacy · moderate
Why might the mean mislead relative to the median here? Situation: A shared calendar hold called 'urgent sync'. No agenda; 8 people; the decision needed is a yes/no from one owner. A second observer recorded 10 where the first sheet shows 38.
Review answer guidance
A single extreme value pulls the mean. Report both, or use the median when the tail matters. The claim in play is that the meeting is the fastest path. a written yes/no to the owner is faster than eight diaries The extra figure (A second observer recorded 10 where the first sheet shows 38) is part of what you must not ignore.
Quantitative Data Literacy · challenging
The figure is an index, not a count. What does a one-point change mean? Situation: A post-incident note. It says 'human error' and lists no system change; the same miss happened last month. The window used for 15 days is not the window used for 12 days.
Review answer guidance
Read the index definition. A point on an index is not a person, a pound or a percent unless the documentation says so. The claim in play is that the incident is closed. repeat misses need a control, not a label The extra figure (The window used for 15 days is not the window used for 12 days) is part of what you must not ignore.
Quantitative Data Literacy · foundational
Where did rounding create a false exactness? Situation: A timesheet with 46 hours and a 35-hour contract. The extra 11 hours are unapproved overtime on a fixed-price piece of work. A note in the margin says 20 cases were excluded without a rule, against 23 kept.
Review answer guidance
Keep the uncertainty that rounding removed. Do not treat a rounded input as a precise fact. The claim in play is that the hours show commitment. unapproved overtime on fixed-price work is a cost and a process failure The extra figure (A note in the margin says 20 cases were excluded without a rule, against 23 kept) is part of what you must not ignore.
Quantitative Data Literacy · moderate
Which unit conversion is required before the comparison is valid? Situation: A client deck with a screenshot of another client's data, blurred badly. The client name is still readable in the URL bar of the screenshot. The same label covers 6 events in one table and 34 in the other.
Review answer guidance
Convert to one unit. Mixing hours with minutes, or local currency with another, is not a comparison. The claim in play is that blurring made it reusable. the URL still identifies the other client The extra figure (The same label covers 6 events in one table and 34 in the other) is part of what you must not ignore.
Quantitative Data Literacy · challenging
How does double-counting affect the total? Situation: A product metric that rose after the tracking code broke. Reported errors fell 70 percent the same day the tracker stopped firing on mobile. An appendix lists 11 exceptions that the summary of 45 does not mention.
Review answer guidance
If categories overlap, adding them inflates the whole. Use a unique-count. The claim in play is that quality improved 70 percent. the tracker break is a better explanation The extra figure (An appendix lists 11 exceptions that the summary of 45 does not mention) is part of what you must not ignore.
Quantitative Data Literacy · foundational
Why is the percentage unstable at this sample size? Situation: A colleague's calendar is full of 'focus time' while tickets stall. Three tickets wait on that colleague's review; focus time is treated as untouchable. A side count of 16 used a different definition from 19.
Review answer guidance
A few observations swinging the other way would reverse a large-looking percentage. The claim in play is that focus time always outranks review. if reviews are on the critical path, they are the work The extra figure (A side count of 16 used a different definition from 19) is part of what you must not ignore.
Quantitative Data Literacy · moderate
A total is reported without a denominator. What must you obtain? Situation: A password in a team wiki. The wiki is readable by the whole company; the password opens a client staging site. The working copy is dated 21 days later than a 30-page cited copy.
Review answer guidance
Ask for the eligible population and period. Rank rates, not raw totals. The claim in play is that staging is low risk so sharing is fine. client staging still needs controlled secrets The extra figure (The working copy is dated 21 days later than a 30-page cited copy) is part of what you must not ignore.
Quantitative Data Literacy · challenging
Two points are not a trend. What extra series is required? Situation: A 'quick' contract change on email. A client asks to add a clause; legal has not seen it; delivery starts Monday. 7 of 41 rows were added after the first total was announced.
Review answer guidance
Ask for the values before and after the highlighted pair, and for any other change in that window. The claim in play is that start Monday and tidy the paper later. starting can lock you into the unreviewed clause The extra figure (7 of 41 rows were added after the first total was announced) is part of what you must not ignore.
Quantitative Data Literacy · foundational
The share rose while the total fell. What does that mean? Situation: A diversity statistic in a hiring update. The slide says 50 percent women hired; the table is 2 of 4 intern hires, while 18 of 20 permanent hires are men. A second observer recorded 12 where the first sheet shows 15.
Review answer guidance
A larger share of a smaller whole can be fewer people. Report both the share and the count. The claim in play is that hiring is now balanced. interns are not the permanent pipeline The extra figure (A second observer recorded 12 where the first sheet shows 15) is part of what you must not ignore.
Quantitative Data Literacy · moderate
The gap is reported in percentage points. How is that different from percent? Situation: A retrospective that only lists tools to buy. The failed launch had no owner and no written rollback; the actions are 'buy a new dashboard'. The window used for 17 days is not the window used for 26 days.
Review answer guidance
Percentage points are a subtraction of two rates. Percent of a rate is a different number. The claim in play is that the actions address the failure. ownership and rollback are the missing controls; a dashboard does not create them The extra figure (The window used for 17 days is not the window used for 26 days) is part of what you must not ignore.
Quantitative Data Literacy · challenging
How should you normalise before ranking the two sites? Situation: A support macro that always says 'we have escalated'. Nothing is logged in the escalation queue; customers receive the macro in 40 seconds. A note in the margin says 22 cases were excluded without a rule, against 37 kept.
Review answer guidance
Use the same definition, the same hours, and the same eligible group. The claim in play is that the macro is accurate. if the queue is empty, the sentence is false The extra figure (A note in the margin says 22 cases were excluded without a rule, against 37 kept) is part of what you must not ignore.
Quantitative Data Literacy · foundational
What range of rates is consistent with the missing data? Situation: A forecast spreadsheet with a hidden column. The visible total is 1.2 million; a hidden column subtracts 300,000 of known risk. The same label covers 8 events in one table and 11 in the other.
Review answer guidance
Compute the rate if all missing cases are successes, and if all are failures. Report that interval. The claim in play is that 1.2 million is the figure to present. hiding the 300,000 is presenting a different forecast from the one you run The extra figure (The same label covers 8 events in one table and 11 in the other) is part of what you must not ignore.
Quantitative Data Literacy · moderate
At what point do the two options cost the same? Situation: A new graduate asked to approve invoices while the manager is away. The policy requires a grade that the graduate does not hold; the invoices are routine. An appendix lists 13 exceptions that the summary of 22 does not mention.
Review answer guidance
Set the two cost expressions equal and solve. That break-even is the decision boundary given these figures. The claim in play is that routine invoices can be approved informally. the policy names a grade; routine is not a waiver The extra figure (An appendix lists 13 exceptions that the summary of 22 does not mention) is part of what you must not ignore.
Quantitative Data Literacy · challenging
After the stated adjustment, what residual difference remains? Situation: A Slack thread marked 'not legal advice' that then tells a client what to sign. The client asks 'so we should sign?'; a teammate replies 'yes'. A side count of 18 used a different definition from 33.
Review answer guidance
Subtract the explained portion. Do not treat the remainder as noise without saying so. The claim in play is that the disclaimer makes the yes harmless. the client will treat yes as advice regardless of the disclaimer The extra figure (A side count of 18 used a different definition from 33) is part of what you must not ignore.
Quantitative Data Literacy · foundational
What happens to the headline figure if the extreme observation is set aside? Situation: A go-live checklist with 4 of 12 boxes ticked. The unticked boxes include backup restore and access review; the launch party is booked. The working copy is dated 4 days later than a 44-page cited copy.
Review answer guidance
Recompute without it. If the story depends on one point, say so. The claim in play is that momentum means launch. backup restore and access review are not ceremonial ticks The extra figure (The working copy is dated 4 days later than a 44-page cited copy) is part of what you must not ignore.
Quantitative Data Literacy · moderate
What share of the eligible group is actually in the dataset? Situation: A performance note based only on who speaks in meetings. A quiet engineer shipped the fix; a vocal engineer restated it in standup. 9 of 18 rows were added after the first total was announced.
Review answer guidance
Coverage is counted over the group the claim names, not over the files you happened to receive. The claim in play is that the vocal engineer led the work. shipping is the evidence, not airtime The extra figure (9 of 18 rows were added after the first total was announced) is part of what you must not ignore.
Quantitative Data Literacy · challenging
How many significant figures are justified? Situation: A travel booking that uses personal rewards on a client trip. Policy forbids personal points on client-funded travel; the fare is otherwise identical. A second observer recorded 14 where the first sheet shows 29.
Review answer guidance
Match the output precision to the roughest input. Extra decimals are not extra knowledge. The claim in play is that identical fare makes points irrelevant. the policy is about the reward, not the fare The extra figure (A second observer recorded 14 where the first sheet shows 29) is part of what you must not ignore.
Communication · foundational
Rewrite the key message for a reader who has two minutes. Situation: An inbox of client emails arriving before a standup. Five emails: two are FYI, one is a go-live today, one is a complaint from yesterday, one is a meeting invite for next month. The window used for 19 days is not the window used for 40 days.
Review answer guidance
Lead with the decision, then the evidence, then the unknown. Cut decoration. The claim in play is that they should be handled in the order they arrived. the go-live and the complaint outrank the FYI and the distant invite The extra figure (The window used for 19 days is not the window used for 40 days) is part of what you must not ignore.
Communication · moderate
What must change so the same facts work for this audience? Situation: A dashboard of weekly tickets with missing owners. 14 tickets are 'in progress'; 6 have no owner and 2 are past the client date. A note in the margin says 5 cases were excluded without a rule, against 14 kept.
Review answer guidance
Name what the reader must do, by when, and which detail they do not need. The claim in play is that in progress means the week is under control. unowned and late tickets are not under control The extra figure (A note in the margin says 5 cases were excluded without a rule, against 14 kept) is part of what you must not ignore.
Communication · challenging
Which synthesis is faithful to both sources? Situation: A generative-AI summary of confidential notes. The notes include a client's unannounced product name; the tool is a public model. The same label covers 10 events in one table and 25 in the other.
Review answer guidance
Keep agreements, flag conflicts, and do not average two incompatible claims into one smooth sentence. The claim in play is that the summary is a harmless time-saver. the unannounced name left a controlled system The extra figure (The same label covers 10 events in one table and 25 in the other) is part of what you must not ignore.
Communication · foundational
Which sentence should open the note, given the decision that is needed? Situation: A handover note that ranks five overdue tasks. The note ranks by the order the writer thought of them; two tasks block a client demo tomorrow. An appendix lists 15 exceptions that the summary of 36 does not mention.
Review answer guidance
Open with the request or the recommendation. Context follows; it does not lead. The claim in play is that the list is a prioritisation. thought-order is not impact-order; the demo blockers belong first The extra figure (An appendix lists 15 exceptions that the summary of 36 does not mention) is part of what you must not ignore.
Communication · moderate
Which ambiguity would most likely cause the wrong action? Situation: A customer complaint mixing tone and facts. The customer is angry; the order number they quote does not exist; a similar number belongs to another account. A side count of 20 used a different definition from 10.
Review answer guidance
Find the word that could mean two things to two readers, and replace it with a specific noun and a time. The claim in play is that the facts can wait until the tone is answered. the identity of the order is the first fact to fix, or you will answer the wrong case The extra figure (A side count of 20 used a different definition from 10) is part of what you must not ignore.
Communication · challenging
Which recommendation is actually backed by the stated evidence? Situation: A sprint board with blocked work and a demo tomorrow. The demo story is blocked on a permission that only one person can grant; that person is on leave until Thursday. The working copy is dated 6 days later than a 21-page cited copy.
Review answer guidance
A recommendation needs a stated option, a reason from the facts, and a named unknown. The claim in play is that the demo can slip quietly. a client demo needs an explicit decision: cut scope, find a deputy, or move the demo The extra figure (The working copy is dated 6 days later than a 21-page cited copy) is part of what you must not ignore.
Communication · foundational
The tone may be read as blame. What change preserves the facts? Situation: A vendor quote that omits tax and support hours. The headline is 12,000; tax is 20 percent extra; support is 1,800 and listed as optional but required by policy. 11 of 32 rows were added after the first total was announced.
Review answer guidance
Describe the behaviour and the impact, not the person. Keep a specific request. The claim in play is that the cost is 12,000. policy-required support plus tax makes 12,000 the wrong number to compare The extra figure (11 of 32 rows were added after the first total was announced) is part of what you must not ignore.
Communication · moderate
Which structure best reports this to a mixed audience? Situation: A team chat proposing to skip a safety check. The check takes 15 minutes; the launch window is 20 minutes; someone says 'we have always been fine'. A second observer recorded 16 where the first sheet shows 43.
Review answer guidance
Recommendation, evidence, limits. Put technical detail after the decision. The claim in play is that past luck is a reason to skip. a required safety check is not optional because of a tight window The extra figure (A second observer recorded 16 where the first sheet shows 43) is part of what you must not ignore.
Communication · challenging
A summary omits who is affected. What must the next sentence add? Situation: A hiring screen that uses an unvalidated AI ranker. The tool scores CVs; no error rates by group are available; there is no override path. The window used for 21 days is not the window used for 17 days.
Review answer guidance
Name the audience, the action asked of them, and the deadline or uncertainty. The claim in play is that the ranking can be used as the shortlist. an unexplained score without override is not a hiring decision The extra figure (The window used for 21 days is not the window used for 17 days) is part of what you must not ignore.
Communication · foundational
Which subject line would let the right person act without opening every paragraph? Situation: A regional sales table without population sizes. Region North has 80 sales, South 40; North has four times the accounts. A note in the margin says 7 cases were excluded without a rule, against 28 kept.
Review answer guidance
Put the decision and the date in the subject. Curiosity is not a professional purpose. The claim in play is that North is twice as strong. per-account, South may be stronger; population is required The extra figure (A note in the margin says 7 cases were excluded without a rule, against 28 kept) is part of what you must not ignore.
Communication · moderate
Where is the hedge hiding a decision that has already been made? Situation: A policy draft that copies another firm's wording. A paragraph matches a competitor's public policy, including a phone number that is not yours. The same label covers 12 events in one table and 39 in the other.
Review answer guidance
If a choice was made, say it. Softening language after the fact is not caution; it is fog. The claim in play is that copying a 'standard' policy is safe. the phone number and the commitments may not be yours to make The extra figure (The same label covers 12 events in one table and 39 in the other) is part of what you must not ignore.
Communication · challenging
Which term should be replaced so a non-specialist can act? Situation: A delayed shipment affecting two client go-lives. One go-live is contractual with a penalty; the other is internal and movable. An appendix lists 17 exceptions that the summary of 13 does not mention.
Review answer guidance
Swap the in-group word for the ordinary description of the action required. The claim in play is that split the remaining stock evenly. even is not fair when one date is contractual The extra figure (An appendix lists 17 exceptions that the summary of 13 does not mention) is part of what you must not ignore.
Communication · foundational
The facts are in chronological order. What order would help the reader decide? Situation: A standup where every ticket is 'almost done'. None has a remaining-work estimate; yesterday the same phrase was used. A side count of 22 used a different definition from 24.
Review answer guidance
Decision order beats diary order. Time-stamps can sit in an appendix. The claim in play is that the board shows progress. almost done two days running is a smell; remaining work is the missing number The extra figure (A side count of 22 used a different definition from 24) is part of what you must not ignore.
Communication · moderate
What should be cut first so the note stays under one screen? Situation: A shared calendar hold called 'urgent sync'. No agenda; 8 people; the decision needed is a yes/no from one owner. The working copy is dated 8 days later than a 35-page cited copy.
Review answer guidance
Cut repeated background and keep the numbers with units. Length is not thoroughness. The claim in play is that the meeting is the fastest path. a written yes/no to the owner is faster than eight diaries The extra figure (The working copy is dated 8 days later than a 35-page cited copy) is part of what you must not ignore.
Communication · challenging
Which claim needs an attribution before it can be sent? Situation: A post-incident note. It says 'human error' and lists no system change; the same miss happened last month. 13 of 9 rows were added after the first total was announced.
Review answer guidance
A figure without a source is an assertion. Name who measured it, or drop the figure. The claim in play is that the incident is closed. repeat misses need a control, not a label The extra figure (13 of 9 rows were added after the first total was announced) is part of what you must not ignore.
Communication · foundational
What call to action is missing? Situation: A timesheet with 46 hours and a 35-hour contract. The extra 11 hours are unapproved overtime on a fixed-price piece of work. A second observer recorded 18 where the first sheet shows 20.
Review answer guidance
Say who does what by when. A situation report without an ask leaves the work on the floor. The claim in play is that the hours show commitment. unapproved overtime on fixed-price work is a cost and a process failure The extra figure (A second observer recorded 18 where the first sheet shows 20) is part of what you must not ignore.
Communication · moderate
Two people disagree. How should that be reported without taking a side in the prose? Situation: A client deck with a screenshot of another client's data, blurred badly. The client name is still readable in the URL bar of the screenshot. The window used for 4 days is not the window used for 31 days.
Review answer guidance
State each position, the evidence each cites, and the decision that is still required. The claim in play is that blurring made it reusable. the URL still identifies the other client The extra figure (The window used for 4 days is not the window used for 31 days) is part of what you must not ignore.
Communication · challenging
How should the numbers be written so they cannot be misread? Situation: A product metric that rose after the tracking code broke. Reported errors fell 70 percent the same day the tracker stopped firing on mobile. A note in the margin says 9 cases were excluded without a rule, against 42 kept.
Review answer guidance
Keep the unit next to the figure, and write the comparison in the same unit. The claim in play is that quality improved 70 percent. the tracker break is a better explanation The extra figure (A note in the margin says 9 cases were excluded without a rule, against 42 kept) is part of what you must not ignore.
Communication · foundational
What is the honest way to lead with unwelcome news? Situation: A colleague's calendar is full of 'focus time' while tickets stall. Three tickets wait on that colleague's review; focus time is treated as untouchable. The same label covers 14 events in one table and 16 in the other.
Review answer guidance
State the outcome in the first sentence, then the reason, then the next action. The claim in play is that focus time always outranks review. if reviews are on the critical path, they are the work The extra figure (The same label covers 14 events in one table and 16 in the other) is part of what you must not ignore.
Communication · moderate
The draft answers a different question from the one that was asked. What should you do? Situation: A password in a team wiki. The wiki is readable by the whole company; the password opens a client staging site. An appendix lists 19 exceptions that the summary of 27 does not mention.
Review answer guidance
Answer the asked question first. Extra context goes below, labelled as extra. The claim in play is that staging is low risk so sharing is fine. client staging still needs controlled secrets The extra figure (An appendix lists 19 exceptions that the summary of 27 does not mention) is part of what you must not ignore.
Communication · challenging
Where does the passive voice hide the owner? Situation: A 'quick' contract change on email. A client asks to add a clause; legal has not seen it; delivery starts Monday. A side count of 5 used a different definition from 38.
Review answer guidance
Name the person or role who will act. 'It was decided' is not an owner. The claim in play is that start Monday and tidy the paper later. starting can lock you into the unreviewed clause The extra figure (A side count of 5 used a different definition from 38) is part of what you must not ignore.
Communication · foundational
The note says 'see attached' but the reader is on a phone. What belongs in the body? Situation: A diversity statistic in a hiring update. The slide says 50 percent women hired; the table is 2 of 4 intern hires, while 18 of 20 permanent hires are men. The working copy is dated 10 days later than a 12-page cited copy.
Review answer guidance
Put the decision and the one necessary table in the body. The attachment is backup. The claim in play is that hiring is now balanced. interns are not the permanent pipeline The extra figure (The working copy is dated 10 days later than a 12-page cited copy) is part of what you must not ignore.
Communication · moderate
Who should receive this, and who should not? Situation: A retrospective that only lists tools to buy. The failed launch had no owner and no written rollback; the actions are 'buy a new dashboard'. 15 of 23 rows were added after the first total was announced.
Review answer guidance
Send it to people who must act or be accountable. Curiosity copies create noise and risk. The claim in play is that the actions address the failure. ownership and rollback are the missing controls; a dashboard does not create them The extra figure (15 of 23 rows were added after the first total was announced) is part of what you must not ignore.
Communication · challenging
Two drafts disagree. What must the sent version declare? Situation: A support macro that always says 'we have escalated'. Nothing is logged in the escalation queue; customers receive the macro in 40 seconds. A second observer recorded 20 where the first sheet shows 34.
Review answer guidance
Name the version, the date, and which earlier figure it replaces. The claim in play is that the macro is accurate. if the queue is empty, the sentence is false The extra figure (A second observer recorded 20 where the first sheet shows 34) is part of what you must not ignore.
Communication · foundational
Which sentence is the plain-language version of the decision? Situation: A forecast spreadsheet with a hidden column. The visible total is 1.2 million; a hidden column subtracts 300,000 of known risk. The window used for 6 days is not the window used for 45 days.
Review answer guidance
One subject, one verb, one object, one time. If you need a second sentence for the unknown, write it. The claim in play is that 1.2 million is the figure to present. hiding the 300,000 is presenting a different forecast from the one you run The extra figure (The window used for 6 days is not the window used for 45 days) is part of what you must not ignore.
Communication · moderate
What heading would let a scanner find the risk? Situation: A new graduate asked to approve invoices while the manager is away. The policy requires a grade that the graduate does not hold; the invoices are routine. A note in the margin says 11 cases were excluded without a rule, against 19 kept.
Review answer guidance
A heading should name the content, not the document type. 'Risk' beats 'Update'. The claim in play is that routine invoices can be approved informally. the policy names a grade; routine is not a waiver The extra figure (A note in the margin says 11 cases were excluded without a rule, against 19 kept) is part of what you must not ignore.
Communication · challenging
When is a quotation better than a paraphrase here? Situation: A Slack thread marked 'not legal advice' that then tells a client what to sign. The client asks 'so we should sign?'; a teammate replies 'yes'. The same label covers 16 events in one table and 30 in the other.
Review answer guidance
Quote when the exact words are the issue (a commitment, a slur, a legal phrase). Otherwise paraphrase and attribute. The claim in play is that the disclaimer makes the yes harmless. the client will treat yes as advice regardless of the disclaimer The extra figure (The same label covers 16 events in one table and 30 in the other) is part of what you must not ignore.
Communication · foundational
What next step belongs in the last line? Situation: A go-live checklist with 4 of 12 boxes ticked. The unticked boxes include backup restore and access review; the launch party is booked. An appendix lists 21 exceptions that the summary of 41 does not mention.
Review answer guidance
A named owner, a date, and a condition for changing course. The claim in play is that momentum means launch. backup restore and access review are not ceremonial ticks The extra figure (An appendix lists 21 exceptions that the summary of 41 does not mention) is part of what you must not ignore.
Communication · moderate
What would make this message usable for a screen-reader user? Situation: A performance note based only on who speaks in meetings. A quiet engineer shipped the fix; a vocal engineer restated it in standup. A side count of 7 used a different definition from 15.
Review answer guidance
Put the meaning in text, not only in colour or position, and write a unique link label. The claim in play is that the vocal engineer led the work. shipping is the evidence, not airtime The extra figure (A side count of 7 used a different definition from 15) is part of what you must not ignore.
Communication · challenging
What belongs in the written record versus a spoken aside? Situation: A travel booking that uses personal rewards on a client trip. Policy forbids personal points on client-funded travel; the fare is otherwise identical. The working copy is dated 12 days later than a 26-page cited copy.
Review answer guidance
Decisions, owners and numbers belong in writing. Colour commentary does not. The claim in play is that identical fare makes points irrelevant. the policy is about the reward, not the fare The extra figure (The working copy is dated 12 days later than a 26-page cited copy) is part of what you must not ignore.