UCAT ANZ key terms

A conclusion you draw from information in a passage that is not stated word for word. You must judge whether it follows from the evidence given, without adding outside knowledge of your own.

The central point the writer is making, which the rest of the passage supports. Telling it apart from examples and supporting detail helps you answer questions about purpose and summary.

The attitude a writer conveys through word choice, such as critical, neutral, sympathetic or mocking. Clues come from adjectives, adverbs and evaluative language rather than from facts alone.

Restating the meaning of a sentence or passage in different words. Correct answer options often paraphrase the text, so choosing an option just because it repeats exact wording can mislead you.

A word that limits or softens a claim, such as some, often, may or tends to. Options using all, always or never are usually wrong when the passage itself only makes a limited claim.

The answer choice for a statement the passage neither confirms nor denies. On the evidence given you cannot decide whether it is true, so it is not a true or false statement.

Moving quickly through a passage hunting for specific words, names or numbers instead of reading every sentence fully. It saves time once a question has told you which detail you need.

The meaning a word carries in the particular sentence where it appears, which may differ from its usual dictionary sense. Surrounding words and the subject of the passage guide your choice.

A set of statements, called premises, from which a conclusion should follow if those statements are true. You judge whether the reasoning is valid, not whether the statements are true in real life.

A statement supplied as a starting point and treated as true for the purposes of the question. Conclusions are drawn from premises, so mixing the two up reverses the argument.

The claim an argument is trying to establish, supported by the reasons given for it. When evaluating an argument, identify precisely what the speaker wants you to accept.

An unstated belief that an argument depends on to work. If the assumption were false the reasoning would fall apart, so spotting it helps you judge the argument or find a weakening statement.

Adding a piece of evidence that makes the conclusion more or less likely to follow from the reasons given. The best option affects the link between the reasons and the conclusion, not just the topic.

Something that must be true for a claim to hold, although it may not be enough on its own to guarantee it. Wording such as only if usually signals a necessary condition.

Something that, if present, guarantees the outcome, even though it may not be the only route to that outcome. Wording such as if or whenever often signals a sufficient condition.

Working with chance and uncertainty to compare outcomes, usually expressed as fractions, decimals or percentages. You may need to combine probabilities or judge which of two stated risks is greater.

The average result of a choice if it were repeated many times, found by multiplying each outcome's value by its probability and adding the results. It is used to compare options that carry risk.

Overlapping circles used to show how categories relate, including members that are shared and members that are not. They help you test statements using all, some and none.

A problem in which a set of rules or clues must be used to work out an arrangement, order or grouping. Drawing a short grid or table usually makes each deduction easier to track.

The size of an increase or decrease expressed as a share of the original amount, found by dividing the change by the starting value. Multiplying by a factor such as 1.15 applies a change quickly.

A comparison of two or more quantities showing how many times one contains another. Ratios can be scaled up or down, and turned into fractions, to make a calculation possible.

A quantity measured per unit of something else, such as cost per item, litres per minute or patients per hour. Rates let you convert between units and scale up to different amounts.

Changing a measurement from one unit to another, such as minutes to hours or grams to kilograms, by multiplying or dividing by a fixed factor. Check the direction of conversion to avoid factor-of-ten slips.

The total of all the values added together, divided by how many values there are. It is pulled towards extreme values, which is why the median is sometimes more useful.

The middle value once the data are arranged in order; with an even number of values it is the mean of the two middle ones. It is less affected by outliers than the mean.

An average in which some values count more than others, found by multiplying each value by its weight, adding, then dividing by the total weight. It is needed when groups being combined differ in size.

The relationship that distance equals speed multiplied by time. Rearranging it lets you find any one of the three when the other two are known, provided the units are consistent.

Finding a quick approximate answer by rounding numbers to convenient values. It helps you eliminate answer options and check that a calculated figure is plausible before committing to it.

Behaving honestly and consistently with professional values, even when nobody is watching or when it is inconvenient. It includes admitting your own mistakes rather than covering them up.

Keeping patient information private and sharing it only with those who need it for care, or where there is a legal or safety reason. Casual discussion outside the treating team breaches it.

A patient's voluntary agreement to examination or treatment after receiving enough information to decide. It must be given by someone able to decide, and it can be withdrawn at any time.

A person's ability to understand and weigh up a particular decision at the time it is made. Assuming someone cannot decide because of age, disability or disagreeing with you is unacceptable.

Acting to protect people, particularly children and vulnerable adults, from harm or abuse. It usually means reporting concerns promptly to the right person rather than investigating the matter yourself.

Passing a concern or decision upwards to someone with more authority or expertise when it lies beyond your role or the urgency demands it. Acting promptly matters more than handling it yourself.

Raising a serious concern about unsafe or unethical practice through formal channels, often outside the immediate team. It is protected when done for the right reasons and by the proper route.

The professional obligation to be open and honest with patients when something has gone wrong in their care, including apologising, explaining what happened and saying what happens next.

Deciding the order in which to tackle competing tasks, normally by urgency and risk to patients first. Immediate threats to safety take precedence over routine paperwork and less pressing requests.

Recognising and responding to another person's feelings and point of view. In these questions it is shown by listening, checking understanding and offering suitable support, not by promising outcomes.

Working cooperatively with others, sharing information and supporting colleagues while remaining accountable for your own actions. It includes speaking up about concerns rather than silently covering for others.