Undergraduate Benchmark practice
Free Undergraduate Benchmark practice with 80 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 Undergraduate Benchmark contexts.
- Practise quantitative data literacy in Undergraduate Benchmark contexts.
- Practise communication in Undergraduate Benchmark contexts.
- Practise ai digital literacy in Undergraduate Benchmark contexts.
- Practise learning agility in Undergraduate Benchmark contexts.
- Practise collaborative decision making in Undergraduate Benchmark contexts.
These 80 tasks teach the Undergraduate Benchmark 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: A methods class comparing optional library-tool users. Tool users scored 12 percentage points higher; the tool was optional and those who chose it already had higher prior grades. 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 the tool caused the gain. prior grades and self-selection are competing explanations 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 lab group splitting analysis and write-up tasks. One person analysed, another wrote; the write-up reports a p-value the analyst never computed. 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 the group result is jointly owned and correct. a p-value nobody computed is not a result 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 campus survey with 12-point score gaps. The gap is 12 points; n=18 in one hall and n=220 in the other; SDs are unreported. 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 halls truly differ by 12 points. unequal n and missing SDs make the gap hard to trust 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 dissertation proposal citing only three papers. All three are by the same author; the question is a live debate with opposing findings. 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 literature is covered. three papers from one author cannot represent a contested field 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 shared data folder with unsigned consent notes. Interview files are named with people' first names; consent forms are blank templates. 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 folder is ready to share with a supervisor. identifiable files without signed consent are not shareable 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 group presentation using unlabelled chart axes. Bars rise left to right; the axis has no unit and no zero. 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 chart shows growth. without a unit and a zero, growth is a guess 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 peer-review workshop on a first draft. Two reviewers contradict each other on the research question; the author averages their comments into a vaguer question. 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 averaging improves the question. two rival questions need a decision, not a blur 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: An internship report mixing anecdotes and counts. The report says 'most clients complained' and later tables 4 of 40 complaints. 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 most clients complained. 4 of 40 is 10 percent, not most 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 coding notebook that hard-codes a correct p-value. The notebook prints 0.03 from a typed constant, not from the test function. 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 analysis produced 0.03. a typed constant is not a computed result 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 society budget with overlapping event dates. Two events are costed as if they need the same volunteer hours on the same evening. 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 both events are staffed. the same hours cannot be spent twice 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 field trip risk form missing a backup route. The primary route floods at 20 mm of rain; the forecast is 22 mm; no alternative is named. 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 the trip can proceed as planned. the stated flood threshold is already exceeded in the forecast 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 replication attempt with a smaller sample. Original n=120, effect 0.4; replication n=18, effect 0.1, p=0.6. 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 the original effect is refuted. n=18 is underpowered; a non-significant small sample is not a refutation 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 module evaluation. Scores rose after a new lecturer arrived and after the assessment weight changed. 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 lecturer caused the rise. the weight change is a confounder 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 Git repository for a joint coursework. All commits are from one account in the last three hours before deadline. 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 log shows equal contribution. one account and a last-minute dump do not show equal work 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 survey item with a double-barrelled question. 'Do you find the lectures clear and enjoyable?' 80 percent yes. 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 lectures are clear. clarity and enjoyment were not measured separately 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 lab book with a missing unit conversion. A length of 3.2 is used as metres in one calculation and millimetres in the next. 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 two calculations can be compared. 3.2 m is not 3.2 mm 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: An ethics checklist ticked in advance. The student ticked 'anonymised' but the spreadsheet still has student numbers. 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 the data are anonymised. student numbers are identifiers 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 literature matrix. Eight papers are listed; two are unread and marked 'will skim if time'. 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 the matrix represents the evidence base used. unread papers are not used evidence 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 poster session statistic. A QR code collected 60 clicks; 6 unique downloads of the paper followed. 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 60 people read the paper. clicks are not reads; unique downloads are 6 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 group contract. It says decisions are by consensus; a majority of two then overrules the third on the method. 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 the contract was followed. consensus is not a two-to-one vote 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 missing-data footnote. 18 percent of follow-up is missing; the paper reports complete-case results as 'the effect'. 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 the complete cases are the effect in the population. 18 percent missing can move the result; complete-case is an assumption 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 supervisor email. The supervisor asked for a limitation paragraph; the draft adds 'more research is needed' with no specific limit. 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 the limitation was addressed. a cliché is not a limitation of this study 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 citation of a secondary summary. The student cites a textbook's description of a 1998 experiment rather than the experiment. 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 1998 method is accurately represented. a textbook paraphrase can drift; the primary method section is the check 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 colour-only chart in a presentation. Categories are only red versus green, with no labels in the legend text. 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 chart is readable. colour-only encoding fails for some viewers and in print 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 pre-registration that was edited after looking at data. The outcome was swapped because the original was 'not interesting'. 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 the study remains confirmatory. changing the outcome after seeing data makes the test exploratory 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 shared authorship draft. A person who only formatted references is listed as second author under a guideline that requires substantial intellectual contribution. 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 the authorship list matches the guideline. formatting is not the stated contribution threshold 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 confidence interval misread as a range of plausible people. A 95 percent CI of 2 to 8 hours is described as '95 percent of students study 2–8 hours'. 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 CI is a percentile of people. a confidence interval is not a percentile of the sample 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 file named final_final_v7.csv. Three people analysed different files with similar names; results disagree by 9 points. 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 the disagreement is a scientific finding. it may be three versions of the data 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 required word count. The limit is 1,500; the draft is 2,400 including a pasted methods appendix the rubric said to exclude. 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 draft is 900 over. if the appendix is excluded as required, the live count may already be inside the limit — check the rule, do not guess 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 student union poll. A tweeted poll of 90 followers is used to speak for 18,000 students. 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 the student body has spoken. 90 followers are not 18,000 students 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: A methods class comparing optional library-tool users. Tool users scored 12 percentage points higher; the tool was optional and those who chose it already had higher prior grades. 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 the tool caused the gain. prior grades and self-selection are competing explanations 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 lab group splitting analysis and write-up tasks. One person analysed, another wrote; the write-up reports a p-value the analyst never computed. 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 the group result is jointly owned and correct. a p-value nobody computed is not a result 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 campus survey with 12-point score gaps. The gap is 12 points; n=18 in one hall and n=220 in the other; SDs are unreported. 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 halls truly differ by 12 points. unequal n and missing SDs make the gap hard to trust 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 dissertation proposal citing only three papers. All three are by the same author; the question is a live debate with opposing findings. 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 literature is covered. three papers from one author cannot represent a contested field 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 shared data folder with unsigned consent notes. Interview files are named with people' first names; consent forms are blank templates. 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 folder is ready to share with a supervisor. identifiable files without signed consent are not shareable 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 group presentation using unlabelled chart axes. Bars rise left to right; the axis has no unit and no zero. 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 chart shows growth. without a unit and a zero, growth is a guess 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 peer-review workshop on a first draft. Two reviewers contradict each other on the research question; the author averages their comments into a vaguer question. 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 averaging improves the question. two rival questions need a decision, not a blur 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: An internship report mixing anecdotes and counts. The report says 'most clients complained' and later tables 4 of 40 complaints. 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 most clients complained. 4 of 40 is 10 percent, not most 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 coding notebook that hard-codes a correct p-value. The notebook prints 0.03 from a typed constant, not from the test function. 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 analysis produced 0.03. a typed constant is not a computed result 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 society budget with overlapping event dates. Two events are costed as if they need the same volunteer hours on the same evening. 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 both events are staffed. the same hours cannot be spent twice 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 field trip risk form missing a backup route. The primary route floods at 20 mm of rain; the forecast is 22 mm; no alternative is named. 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 the trip can proceed as planned. the stated flood threshold is already exceeded in the forecast 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 replication attempt with a smaller sample. Original n=120, effect 0.4; replication n=18, effect 0.1, p=0.6. 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 the original effect is refuted. n=18 is underpowered; a non-significant small sample is not a refutation 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 module evaluation. Scores rose after a new lecturer arrived and after the assessment weight changed. 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 lecturer caused the rise. the weight change is a confounder 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 Git repository for a joint coursework. All commits are from one account in the last three hours before deadline. 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 log shows equal contribution. one account and a last-minute dump do not show equal work 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 survey item with a double-barrelled question. 'Do you find the lectures clear and enjoyable?' 80 percent yes. 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 lectures are clear. clarity and enjoyment were not measured separately 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 lab book with a missing unit conversion. A length of 3.2 is used as metres in one calculation and millimetres in the next. 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 two calculations can be compared. 3.2 m is not 3.2 mm 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: An ethics checklist ticked in advance. The student ticked 'anonymised' but the spreadsheet still has student numbers. 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 the data are anonymised. student numbers are identifiers 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 literature matrix. Eight papers are listed; two are unread and marked 'will skim if time'. 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 the matrix represents the evidence base used. unread papers are not used evidence 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 poster session statistic. A QR code collected 60 clicks; 6 unique downloads of the paper followed. 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 60 people read the paper. clicks are not reads; unique downloads are 6 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 group contract. It says decisions are by consensus; a majority of two then overrules the third on the method. 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 the contract was followed. consensus is not a two-to-one vote 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 missing-data footnote. 18 percent of follow-up is missing; the paper reports complete-case results as 'the effect'. 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 the complete cases are the effect in the population. 18 percent missing can move the result; complete-case is an assumption 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 supervisor email. The supervisor asked for a limitation paragraph; the draft adds 'more research is needed' with no specific limit. 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 the limitation was addressed. a cliché is not a limitation of this study 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 citation of a secondary summary. The student cites a textbook's description of a 1998 experiment rather than the experiment. 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 1998 method is accurately represented. a textbook paraphrase can drift; the primary method section is the check 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 colour-only chart in a presentation. Categories are only red versus green, with no labels in the legend text. 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 chart is readable. colour-only encoding fails for some viewers and in print 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 pre-registration that was edited after looking at data. The outcome was swapped because the original was 'not interesting'. 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 the study remains confirmatory. changing the outcome after seeing data makes the test exploratory 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 shared authorship draft. A person who only formatted references is listed as second author under a guideline that requires substantial intellectual contribution. 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 the authorship list matches the guideline. formatting is not the stated contribution threshold 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 confidence interval misread as a range of plausible people. A 95 percent CI of 2 to 8 hours is described as '95 percent of students study 2–8 hours'. 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 CI is a percentile of people. a confidence interval is not a percentile of the sample 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 file named final_final_v7.csv. Three people analysed different files with similar names; results disagree by 9 points. 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 the disagreement is a scientific finding. it may be three versions of the data 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 required word count. The limit is 1,500; the draft is 2,400 including a pasted methods appendix the rubric said to exclude. 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 draft is 900 over. if the appendix is excluded as required, the live count may already be inside the limit — check the rule, do not guess 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 student union poll. A tweeted poll of 90 followers is used to speak for 18,000 students. 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 the student body has spoken. 90 followers are not 18,000 students 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: A methods class comparing optional library-tool users. Tool users scored 12 percentage points higher; the tool was optional and those who chose it already had higher prior grades. 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 the tool caused the gain. prior grades and self-selection are competing explanations 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 lab group splitting analysis and write-up tasks. One person analysed, another wrote; the write-up reports a p-value the analyst never computed. 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 the group result is jointly owned and correct. a p-value nobody computed is not a result 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 campus survey with 12-point score gaps. The gap is 12 points; n=18 in one hall and n=220 in the other; SDs are unreported. 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 halls truly differ by 12 points. unequal n and missing SDs make the gap hard to trust 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 dissertation proposal citing only three papers. All three are by the same author; the question is a live debate with opposing findings. 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 literature is covered. three papers from one author cannot represent a contested field 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 shared data folder with unsigned consent notes. Interview files are named with people' first names; consent forms are blank templates. 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 folder is ready to share with a supervisor. identifiable files without signed consent are not shareable 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 group presentation using unlabelled chart axes. Bars rise left to right; the axis has no unit and no zero. 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 chart shows growth. without a unit and a zero, growth is a guess 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 peer-review workshop on a first draft. Two reviewers contradict each other on the research question; the author averages their comments into a vaguer question. 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 averaging improves the question. two rival questions need a decision, not a blur 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: An internship report mixing anecdotes and counts. The report says 'most clients complained' and later tables 4 of 40 complaints. 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 most clients complained. 4 of 40 is 10 percent, not most 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 coding notebook that hard-codes a correct p-value. The notebook prints 0.03 from a typed constant, not from the test function. 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 analysis produced 0.03. a typed constant is not a computed result 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 society budget with overlapping event dates. Two events are costed as if they need the same volunteer hours on the same evening. 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 both events are staffed. the same hours cannot be spent twice 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 field trip risk form missing a backup route. The primary route floods at 20 mm of rain; the forecast is 22 mm; no alternative is named. 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 the trip can proceed as planned. the stated flood threshold is already exceeded in the forecast 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 replication attempt with a smaller sample. Original n=120, effect 0.4; replication n=18, effect 0.1, p=0.6. 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 the original effect is refuted. n=18 is underpowered; a non-significant small sample is not a refutation 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 module evaluation. Scores rose after a new lecturer arrived and after the assessment weight changed. 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 lecturer caused the rise. the weight change is a confounder 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 Git repository for a joint coursework. All commits are from one account in the last three hours before deadline. 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 log shows equal contribution. one account and a last-minute dump do not show equal work 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 survey item with a double-barrelled question. 'Do you find the lectures clear and enjoyable?' 80 percent yes. 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 lectures are clear. clarity and enjoyment were not measured separately 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 lab book with a missing unit conversion. A length of 3.2 is used as metres in one calculation and millimetres in the next. 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 two calculations can be compared. 3.2 m is not 3.2 mm 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: An ethics checklist ticked in advance. The student ticked 'anonymised' but the spreadsheet still has student numbers. 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 the data are anonymised. student numbers are identifiers 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 literature matrix. Eight papers are listed; two are unread and marked 'will skim if time'. 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 the matrix represents the evidence base used. unread papers are not used evidence 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 poster session statistic. A QR code collected 60 clicks; 6 unique downloads of the paper followed. 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 60 people read the paper. clicks are not reads; unique downloads are 6 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 group contract. It says decisions are by consensus; a majority of two then overrules the third on the method. 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 the contract was followed. consensus is not a two-to-one vote The extra figure (An appendix lists 19 exceptions that the summary of 27 does not mention) is part of what you must not ignore.