CAST Permanent flashcards
CAST Permanent · 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.
- Cannot Say verdict
- The correct answer when the passage neither confirms nor contradicts the statement. Outside knowledge is irrelevant; only the text decides whether evidence exists.
- False verdict
- The passage must state the opposite of the statement. Mere silence on the topic makes the answer Cannot Say, not False.
- Quantifier shift trap
- A statement swaps 'some' for 'all' or 'often' for 'always'. Check the passage's exact quantifier; a widened claim usually becomes False or Cannot Say.
- Correlation versus causation
- A passage linking two trends does not prove one causes the other. A causal statement is Cannot Say unless the text explicitly asserts causation.
- Percentage change formula
- Divide the difference by the original value, then multiply by 100: (new - old) / old x 100. Always divide by the starting figure, not the final one.
- Percentage points versus percent
- A rise from 15% to 18% is 3 percentage points but a 20% relative increase, since 3 divided by 15 equals 0.20.
- Reverse a percentage increase
- To recover the original value after a rise, divide by 1 plus the rate. Remove 20% VAT by dividing the gross figure by 1.20.
- Successive percentage changes
- Compound changes multiply as factors. A 10% rise then a 10% fall gives 1.10 x 0.90 = 0.99, a net loss of 1%, not zero.
- Weighted average formula
- Multiply each value by its weight, sum the products, then divide by the total weight. Averaging group means directly is wrong unless group sizes match.
- Ratio part value
- Add the ratio parts, divide the total by that sum to get one part, then multiply by each ratio number to find the shares.
- Combined work rate
- Add rates as reciprocals: 1/t1 + 1/t2 = 1/together. Two workers at 6 and 3 hours finish together in 2 hours.
- Estimation before calculation
- Round figures to one significant figure to discard clearly wrong options. Compute exactly only when two options remain close in value.
- Unit conversion direction
- Multiply by the factor that cancels the unwanted unit, leaving the target unit. Sanity-check the result's size against the input.
- Separate element rules
- In series puzzles, shape, count, fill, position and rotation usually follow independent rules. Track each element on its own line.
- Alternating series rule
- When no single rule fits every item, split the sequence into odd and even positions and derive a separate rule for each sub-series.
- Rotation versus reflection
- Rotation turns a shape while preserving its orientation pattern. Reflection mirrors it, so a letter-like figure appears reversed and cannot be rotated back.
- Cancel-common superposition
- Overlay the first two cells of a row: shapes appearing in both vanish, shapes appearing in only one remain. The third cell shows the result.
- Keep-common superposition
- Only shapes present in both of the first two cells survive into the third cell; unmatched shapes are discarded.
- Edge wrap movement
- An element leaving one edge of the grid reappears on the opposite edge. Confirm wrap versus bounce by checking two consecutive steps.
- Distractor rule break
- Wrong options often satisfy the shape or count rule but violate the shading or size rule. Verify every rule against the option before choosing.
- Count sequence method
- Write element counts as numbers across the series, for example 2, 3, 5, 7, then identify the pattern such as primes or differences.
- Ideal candidate stance
- Answer as the model employee in the stated role, following the organisation's stated values and procedures, rather than as your personal style.
- Priority order rule
- Rank safety and legality first, then service delivery, then stakeholder communication, then efficiency and convenience of the team.
- When to escalate
- Escalate matters beyond your authority, legal or safety risks, and issues affecting people outside your remit. Handle routine matters yourself first.
- Gather facts first
- Before acting on an unclear problem, check records, clarify the brief or consult the relevant policy. Guessing or ignoring the issue is ineffective.
- Inform affected parties
- Promptly tell those affected by a problem or delay, and keep your line manager informed of material risks without bypassing the chain of command.
- Avoid extreme options
- Options such as do nothing, break the rule, confront someone publicly, or wait for others are almost always rated ineffective in judgement tests.
- Independent option rating
- In most and least effective questions, judge each option on its own merits against the scenario, not relative to the other options listed.
- STAR answer structure
- Describe the Situation, your Task, the Action you personally took, and the Result. Keep the action owned by you and the result specific.
- Competency evidence specificity
- Use a real example with named context, your own decisions, and a measurable outcome. Vague claims about teamwork score poorly against behavioural anchors.
- Numerical distractor units
- Options often differ only by unit or decimal place. Convert all figures to one unit before comparing, then check the magnitude of your answer.
- Verbal passage scope
- Statements about groups, times or places not covered in the passage are Cannot Say, even if they seem reasonable from general knowledge.