Victoria LET Assessment key terms

A conclusion drawn from evidence and reasoning rather than from an explicit statement. Readers combine clues in a passage with background knowledge to reach a sensible, defensible interpretation.

The central point a passage is built to communicate. It is broad enough to cover the whole text, unlike a detail that supports only one part of it.

A specific fact, example, or reason that backs up a broader claim in a text. Details give the main idea its weight and can usually be located directly in the passage.

A brief restatement of a text's key points in your own words. A good summary keeps the central meaning, drops minor details, and avoids adding personal opinion.

Restating a passage's meaning using different wording while keeping the original sense. Paraphrasing demonstrates understanding and is distinct from quoting the author directly.

Information surrounding an unfamiliar word that hints at its meaning. Clues may appear as definitions, examples, contrasts, or the general logic of the surrounding sentence.

The emotional or evaluative shade a word carries beyond its literal meaning. Words with similar dictionary meanings can feel positive, negative, or neutral depending on connotation.

The literal, dictionary meaning of a word, separate from any emotional associations. Distinguishing denotation from connotation helps in judging an author's tone and intent.

The attitude an author expresses toward the subject or audience, revealed through word choice and phrasing. Tone might be critical, amused, urgent, or detached, among many possibilities.

Facts, examples, statistics, or quotations offered to support a claim. Strong evidence is relevant to the point and comes from a source that can be checked.

A statement offered as a reason in an argument, intended to support the conclusion. Evaluating an argument requires checking whether its premises are true and relevant.

The claim an argument is trying to establish, which the premises are meant to support. It is the point the reasoning is designed to lead you toward.

A set of reasons presented to support a claim. In logic, an argument is assessed by whether its premises genuinely justify its conclusion, not by how forcefully it is stated.

An unstated belief the argument relies on but does not defend. Identifying hidden assumptions is often the key to judging whether reasoning is sound.

The property of an argument whose conclusion must follow if its premises are true. Validity concerns structure rather than whether the premises are actually factual.

A common pattern of faulty reasoning that makes a weak argument appear convincing. Examples include attacking a person instead of the claim, or assuming what one is trying to prove.

A slant or preference that distorts judgment or presentation of information. Bias may appear in what is included, what is omitted, and the language used to describe events.

A comparison drawn between two things to explain or argue a point. Analogies illuminate but can mislead when the things compared differ in the respects that matter.

A comparison of two quantities showing how many times one contains the other. Ratios can be written with a colon, as a fraction, or in words such as 'three to two'.

An equation stating that two ratios are equal. Proportions are used to solve scaling problems, such as finding a value when a known relationship is applied to new numbers.

A number expressed as a fraction of one hundred. Percentages allow easy comparison of parts to wholes and are converted to decimals by dividing by one hundred.

A single value representing the centre of a set of numbers, most commonly the mean found by adding all values and dividing by how many there are. Also called the arithmetic mean.

The middle value in a set of numbers arranged in order. When the set has an even count, the median is the average of the two central values.

The difference between the largest and smallest values in a data set. It is a simple measure of spread but can be strongly affected by a single extreme value.

A ratio comparing quantities with different units, such as distance per hour or cost per item. Rates are often used in problems involving speed, wages, or consumption.

Changing a measurement from one unit to another while preserving its value, using a known equivalence such as one metre equals one hundred centimetres. Careful setup prevents errors.

The rule that a verb must match its subject in number and person. Singular subjects take singular verbs, and intervening phrases should not confuse the choice.

The clarity of the relationship between a pronoun and the noun it stands for. Ambiguous or missing antecedents make sentences confusing and are common errors.

A word, phrase, or clause that describes another element in a sentence. A misplaced or dangling modifier attaches to the wrong element and produces confusing or unintended meaning.

A group of words punctuated as a sentence but lacking a complete subject-verb structure or independent meaning. Fragments are corrected by adding the missing element or joining them to a main clause.

Two or more independent clauses joined without proper punctuation or a conjunction. It can be fixed with a full stop, a semicolon, or a coordinating conjunction.

Marks such as commas, semicolons, and apostrophes that clarify structure and meaning in written text. Correct punctuation guides the reader and prevents ambiguity.

The order in which items in a series follow one another according to a rule. Recognising the pattern lets you predict the next item or identify a missing element.

A regular arrangement or repetition of features across items or figures. Detecting the rule behind a pattern is the core skill in abstract reasoning tasks.

The ability to mentally picture, rotate, and manipulate shapes and their positions. It is tested through tasks involving folding, reflection, and three-dimensional views.

Turning a figure around a fixed point by a given angle. Tracking rotation correctly means noting the direction and amount, since a rotated shape keeps its form but changes orientation.

The extent to which a source or measure produces consistent, trustworthy results. A reliable source is stable across time and free from obvious errors or contradictions.

Original material created at the time of an event, such as a letter, photograph, or official record. It offers direct evidence, unlike later commentary or summaries.

An account that interprets or analyses primary material, such as a textbook or review article. It is useful for context but depends on the quality of its sources.

Reading quickly to grasp a text's overall structure and main points. It is used to decide whether a source is relevant before closer reading.

Looking rapidly through a text for specific information, such as a date or name, without reading every word. It is efficient for locating details in dense material.