Irish Defence Forces Cadetship Aptitude Assessment key terms

A word that means nearly the same as another word in a particular sentence. Verbal items ask for the closest match, so the surrounding context matters more than a fixed dictionary list.

A pair of word pairs that share the same relationship, such as hand to glove and foot to shoe. Name the link in the first pair, then test each option against it.

A conclusion that follows from the information given even though it is not stated word for word. A sound inference needs support in the passage and must not depend on personal guesswork.

An unstated belief that an argument relies on. If the assumption is untrue the conclusion loses its support, which is why questions ask you to spot or challenge them.

A statement put forward as a reason inside an argument. The premises are the evidence; the conclusion is the claim they are supposed to prove.

A short formal argument with two or more premises and a conclusion. The question is whether the conclusion must follow from the premises, not whether the statements are true in real life.

An increase or decrease written as a percentage of the original amount: divide the change by the starting value, then multiply by 100. Always divide by the original figure.

A way of comparing quantities that shows how much of one there is for each of another. All parts can be multiplied or divided by the same number without changing the comparison.

The share of a whole that a part represents, or a statement that two ratios are equal. Problems are usually solved by matching equivalent fractions and solving for the unknown.

The total of all the values divided by how many values there are. It reacts strongly to very high or very low figures, which the median does not.

The middle value when all figures are placed in order; with an even number of values, average the two middle ones. It is not thrown off by extreme scores.

A rate given for one single unit, such as euro per litre or metres per second. Working out the unit rate first makes it easy to compare two deals or two speeds.

The relationship in which speed equals distance divided by time, rearranged to find any of the three. Units must be converted so that they match before you calculate.

Working from particular examples towards a general rule, then applying that rule to a new case. Abstract reasoning tests rely on it because the rule is never explained.

The one consistent change linking the items in a series, such as gaining a side or rotating a quarter turn. Every item in the series must obey it.

A list of numbers that follows a hidden rule, for example adding 3 each time or multiplying by 2. Find the rule, then use it to predict the missing term.

A group of figures in which all but one share a common feature. Identify the shared feature first, then choose the figure that does not have it.

A grid of shapes arranged so that a rule repeats across each row and down each column. The missing cell must fit both the row rule and the column rule.

A defined change to a figure such as moving, turning, flipping, resizing or shading. Check each feature separately, because two changes often happen at once.

An answer option built to look right because it matches part of the pattern. Comparing every feature of the figure, not just the most obvious one, is the best defence.

Picturing how a shape would appear after turning it through a stated angle. Rotated and mirrored versions can look similar, so follow one distinctive feature such as a corner.

A flat pattern that can be folded into a solid such as a cube. Net questions ask which faces would touch, be opposite, or appear on top after folding.

What an object looks like when seen from directly above, drawn as an outline like a map. Combined with front and side views it fully describes a solid.

The image produced by flipping a figure across a mirror line, which swaps left and right while keeping size and angles. No amount of turning will turn a reflection into the original.

Sliding a shape to a different place without turning or flipping it. Size, shape and orientation stay exactly the same; only the position changes.

A paper-folding puzzle in which a sheet is folded, holes are punched, and you must work out the hole pattern when it is opened out. Each fold mirrors the holes across the fold line.

The pivot point about which a lever turns. Where it sits between effort and load decides whether the lever increases force, increases speed, or simply changes direction.

The turning effect of a force, found by multiplying the force by its perpendicular distance from the pivot. A lever balances when the clockwise and anticlockwise moments are equal.

The number of times a machine multiplies the effort you put in, calculated as load divided by effort. Values above one mean less effort is needed to lift the load.

The comparison between the number of teeth on a driving gear and a driven gear. It sets how speed and turning force change from one shaft to the next.

A wheel over which a rope or belt runs, used to change the direction of a force or to share a load. With movable pulleys the effort needed becomes smaller.

The single point at which an object's entire weight can be treated as acting. An object tips over once a vertical line from this point falls outside its base.

A set of answer choices running from strongly disagree to strongly agree. It records how strongly you hold a view, not merely whether you agree.

A question that makes you choose between options that are both appealing or both unappealing. Because you cannot agree with everything, it is harder to give a flattering picture.

The tendency to answer in the way that looks best rather than the way that is true. Questionnaires use consistency checks and forced choices to limit its effect.

The degree to which your answers agree with each other across repeated or closely related questions. Large contradictions suggest careless answering or an attempt to manage impressions.

The comparison sample used to decide what counts as a high or low score on a questionnaire. Your result shows where you sit relative to that group, not a pass mark.