ie-df-recruit-aptitude key terms

A conclusion drawn from a text that is not stated outright but follows necessarily from the evidence given. Candidates must separate what the passage proves from what it merely suggests or leaves open.

The distinction between information written directly in a passage and information logically suggested by it. Answer choices often swap one for the other to trap careless readers.

An unstated idea the author must accept for the argument to hold. Identifying assumptions is the core skill in strengthening, weakening, and flaw questions.

The main claim an author wants the reader to accept, supported by reasons or evidence. Distinguishing it from supporting premises is the first step in analysing any argument.

A stated reason or piece of evidence offered in support of a conclusion. Premises are taken as given; the question tests whether they actually justify the claim.

Two question types that ask whether new information makes a conclusion less or more likely to be true. The correct answer affects the reasoning link, not just the topic.

A flaw where an argument drifts from one subject, group, or time frame to a subtly different one. The conclusion then claims more than the evidence supports.

Drawing a broad rule from a narrow or unrepresentative sample. Watch for words like all, never, or every in conclusions supported by limited examples.

A flaw in which the group studied differs systematically from the group the conclusion describes. A survey of volunteers, for instance, may not represent the wider public.

The error of treating two things that occur together as though one causes the other. A third factor may explain both, or the direction of cause may be reversed.

An answer choice that compares two things not at issue in the argument. It may be factually true yet do nothing to weaken or strengthen the conclusion.

The attitude a writer conveys through word choice, such as cautious, critical, or enthusiastic. Tone questions ask how the author feels about the subject, not what the subject is.

The central point a passage is built to convey, broader than any single detail. The correct answer covers the whole text rather than one paragraph or example.

A comparison of two quantities showing how many times one contains the other. Ratios can be scaled up or down without changing their meaning as long as both parts are multiplied equally.

An equation stating that two ratios are equal. Proportions let you solve for an unknown quantity when three related values are known.

A relationship where one quantity rises as the other rises at a constant rate. Doubling the first doubles the second, as with hours worked and pay at a fixed hourly rate.

A relationship where one quantity rises while the other falls so that their product stays constant. More workers finishing a job in fewer days is a standard example.

The increase or decrease in a value expressed as a share of the original amount. Dividing the change by the starting value and multiplying by 100 gives the answer.

The arithmetic difference between two percentages, as opposed to the relative change. A rise from 20% to 25% is five percentage points but a 25% relative increase.

Growth applied repeatedly to a value that already includes earlier growth, so the amount accelerates over time. Simple growth, by contrast, applies only to the original figure.

A mean in which each value counts according to its share or importance rather than equally. Combining group averages requires weighting by group size.

The mean is the total divided by the count; the median is the middle value when data are ordered. The median resists distortion from extreme outliers, the mean does not.

The speed at which a task is completed, often expressed as jobs per hour. Combined rates add, which allows solving shared-work problems.

A technique that first finds the value of one unit, then multiplies to reach the required quantity. It converts many proportion problems into two simple steps.

The underlying frequency of a condition in a population before new evidence is considered. Ignoring it leads to overestimating the significance of a positive test result.

A question type asking whether the given information is enough to answer, not what the answer is. You must judge each statement's adequacy without over-solving.

Approximating an answer to save time when exact calculation is unnecessary. Rounding numbers sensibly and checking magnitude often eliminates several answer choices quickly.

Converting all quantities to the same measurement unit before calculating. Mixing minutes with hours or grams with kilograms is a frequent source of wrong answers.

A rotation turns a shape while preserving its orientation; a reflection flips it into a mirror image. A rotated shape can be matched by turning the page, a reflected one cannot.

Imagining how a shape looks after being turned by a given angle. Practising with simple objects builds speed for identifying matching figures under rotation.

Predicting the three-dimensional object formed when a flat pattern is folded. Tracking which edges meet and which faces end up opposite is the key skill.

Following where each face of a cube lands as the cube is rolled or unfolded. Opposite faces never become adjacent, which rules out many impossible options.

The ability to manipulate shapes and objects in the mind, including folding, stacking, and rotating them. It underpins most abstract reasoning items on this test.

The pattern governing how a series of figures changes from one step to the next. Rules may involve rotation, addition of elements, shading, or position swaps.

A grid of figures in which rows or columns follow a consistent rule, with one cell missing. The rule usually applies across and down simultaneously.

A pair of figures related by a rule, followed by a third figure whose partner must be found. The task is to apply the same transformation shown in the first pair.

A set of figures in which all but one share a common feature. The answer is the figure that breaks the shared rule.

The distance from a pivot to the point where a force acts. Turning effect equals force multiplied by lever arm, so a longer arm reduces the force needed.

The factor by which a machine multiplies an applied force. It equals the load divided by the effort, and ideal values depend on the machine's geometry.

The turning effect produced by a force acting at a distance from a pivot. Increasing either the force or the distance increases the torque.

A set of wheels and rope used to lift loads. More supporting rope segments sharing the load means less effort is needed, though more rope must be pulled.

The relationship between the tooth counts of two meshed gears, determining relative speed and turning force. A small gear driving a large one turns faster but with less torque.

Force spread over an area, so the same force produces more pressure when concentrated on a smaller surface. This explains why sharp edges cut and wide bases support.

The route by which fluid escapes or flows through a system, such as a gap around a seal. Blocking the path stops the flow, which is central to troubleshooting tasks.

A written procedure the candidate must follow exactly when performing a practical task. Reading each step fully before acting prevents errors and wasted materials.

Carrying out steps in the order specified by a procedure. Skipping or reordering steps often causes a task to fail even when each action is correct in isolation.

Following required protective and hazard-control measures during a task. Ignoring them is a fail condition regardless of whether the finished work looks correct.

Verifying that a measurement falls within an allowed range rather than matching an exact figure. Work-sample tasks often ask whether a part is acceptable given stated limits.

Systematically narrowing down the cause of a fault by testing one factor at a time. The goal is to eliminate possibilities efficiently rather than guess at a fix.