CFAT flashcards
CFAT · Build recall with a focused review session.
32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.
- Analogy relationship types
- Common relationships include part-to-whole, cause-effect, synonym/antonym, function, degree, and worker-tool. Identify the exact relationship in the given pair before evaluating answer choices.
- Antonym strategy
- Choose the answer most nearly opposite in meaning. Eliminate synonyms and unrelated words, and beware of near-opposites that differ in intensity or connotation.
- Synonym selection
- Pick the answer closest in meaning to the target word. Consider part of speech and typical context, and reject choices that are merely associated rather than equivalent.
- Sentence completion signal words
- Words such as 'although', 'because', 'therefore', and 'despite' indicate contrast or continuation. Use them to predict whether the blank should match or oppose the other clause.
- Main idea vs. detail
- The main idea is the central point covering the whole passage. Supporting details answer who, what, when, where, or why, and do not by themselves state the passage's overall point.
- Valid inference
- An inference must be logically supported by the text, not merely plausible. If the passage does not provide evidence for a statement, that statement is not a valid inference.
- Word roots and prefixes
- Prefixes such as bene- (good), mal- (bad), ante- (before), and post- (after) help infer meaning. Roots such as -dict- (say) and -spect- (look) also reveal unfamiliar words.
- Double-blank logic
- Both blanks must fit the sentence's logic simultaneously. Test each pair as a unit and reject pairs where one word conflicts with the other or with the sentence's tone.
- Mental rotation cue
- Track a single distinctive feature, such as a notch or colored corner, through the rotation. A mirrored version cannot be produced by rotation alone.
- Paper folding unfold rule
- Unfold step by step in reverse order. Each fold doubles the number of holes and reflects hole positions across the fold line.
- Cube net validity
- A valid net has six squares and folds without overlap. Opposite faces are separated by exactly one square in a straight line on the net.
- Cube face adjacency
- Faces that share an edge on the net are adjacent on the cube. Faces separated by one square in a row or column are opposite.
- Pattern completion rule
- Identify the rule of the sequence: rotation, reflection, translation, or alternating change. Apply the same rule to the missing element.
- Hidden figures scan
- Search for the target shape's outline embedded in a complex drawing. The target may be rotated but not resized or distorted.
- Block counting formula
- A stack built in triangular layers with n blocks on the bottom has n(n+1)/2 blocks total. Count visible and hidden blocks systematically.
- Mirror vs. rotation
- A reflection reverses left-right orientation but preserves up-down. A rotation preserves orientation, so a rotated shape is not a mirror image.
- Percent increase formula
- Percent increase = (new − old) / old × 100. Percent decrease uses the same formula with a negative change.
- Rate and work formula
- Distance = rate × time. For work problems, rate = 1/time and combined rate = sum of individual rates.
- Ratio proportion setup
- Set up equivalent fractions and cross-multiply. For part-to-part ratios, the total number of parts equals the sum of the ratio terms.
- Average missing value
- Average = sum / count. To find a missing value, use sum = average × count and subtract known values.
- Number series patterns
- Check differences, ratios, alternating patterns, and squares or cubes. Common sequences include arithmetic (+d), geometric (×r), and Fibonacci-style (each term = sum of previous two).
- Syllogism validity
- Draw Venn diagrams for syllogisms. A conclusion is valid only if it must be true in every arrangement consistent with the premises.
- Data interpretation caution
- Read axis labels and units carefully. Compute totals, differences, and percentages from the chart, and watch for misleading scales.
- Arithmetic word problem steps
- Translate the text into an equation: define the unknown, identify the operation, and check units before computing.
- Part-whole percent
- Part = percent × whole. Rearrange to find the percent or the whole when the other two values are known.
- Combined work rate
- If worker A finishes in a hours and worker B in b hours, their combined rate is 1/a + 1/b jobs per hour. The time together is the reciprocal of that sum.
- Sequence: arithmetic
- An arithmetic sequence adds a constant difference d each term. The nth term is a + (n−1)d, and the sum of the first n terms is n/2 × (first + last).
- Sequence: geometric
- A geometric sequence multiplies by a constant ratio r each term. The nth term is a × r^(n−1); check for alternating signs when r is negative.
- Logical contrapositive
- If 'if P then Q' is true, then 'if not Q then not P' is also true. The converse 'if Q then P' is not necessarily true.
- Venn diagram syllogism
- Represent each premise as a region in a Venn diagram. A conclusion is valid only if it holds in every possible diagram consistent with the premises.
- Chart scale check
- Verify that axis labels, units, and starting values are consistent. A truncated axis can exaggerate differences, so read the scale before comparing bars or lines.
- Unit conversion in problems
- Convert all quantities to the same unit before computing. Multiply by conversion factors arranged so unwanted units cancel, leaving the desired unit.