MD POST cheat sheet

Main idea = the claim the whole passage supports; a detail supports it but cannot replace it.

Passage order beats personal opinion: an answer is correct only if the text states or directly implies it.

Scope words (all, only, never, always) usually signal a wrong inference unless the passage uses the same absolute.

Inference is a required small step from stated evidence, not a new idea imported from outside the passage.

Tone and purpose questions: identify the author's stance (neutral, critical, advocating) from evaluative verbs and adjectives.

Vocabulary in context: substitute each option into the sentence and keep the one that preserves the surrounding logic.

Cause-effect traps reverse the relationship; verify which event the passage names as the reason.

For paired-passage sets, answer each passage's question separately before judging how the two relate.

A sentence needs a subject and a finite verb; a subordinate clause alone is a fragment.

Two independent clauses joined only by a comma form a comma splice; fix with a period, semicolon, or coordinating conjunction.

Nonessential information is set off by a matched pair of commas, dashes, or parentheses, never a single one.

Subject-verb agreement ignores prepositional phrases: locate the true head noun before the verb.

Pronouns need a clear, single antecedent; ambiguous it, they, or this weakens the sentence.

Modifiers attach to the nearest logical noun; a dangling modifier has no noun it can describe.

Parallel structure: items joined by and, or, or a list take the same grammatical form.

Prefer active voice and concrete verbs; cut nominalizations such as made a decision when decided is clearer.

Percent change = (new − old) ÷ old × 100; a 20% rise then 20% fall leaves 96% of the original.

Distance = rate × time; average speed = total distance ÷ total time, not the mean of the speeds.

Simple interest I = P × r × t; compound amount A = P(1 + r/n)^(nt).

Ratio scaling: multiply every part by the same factor; total = sum of parts.

Area: rectangle lw, triangle ½bh, circle πr²; circumference 2πr.

Slope m = (y₂ − y₁)/(x₂ − x₁); parallel lines share m, perpendicular slopes multiply to −1.

Order of operations: parentheses, exponents, multiplication/division left to right, then addition/subtraction.

Probability of independent events = product of individual probabilities; complement = 1 − P.

Priority order: safety and legal compliance first, then service continuity, then relationship repair, then documentation.

Escalate to a supervisor when the issue exceeds your authority, involves misconduct, or risks harm.

Address behavior and its impact, not the person's character; keep feedback specific and observable.

De-escalation sequence: stay calm, listen fully, acknowledge the concern, state limits, then offer options.

Document incidents factually and promptly; avoid conclusions about motive.

Confidentiality: share information on a need-to-know basis only, never in open areas or informal channels.

When two rules conflict, follow the higher authority or written policy and record the conflict.

A peer's error is handled privately and directly first; public correction damages trust and morale.

Describe what is seen and heard, not what is assumed; separate observable fact from interpretation.

Record identifiers in a fixed order: number, sex, age range, height, build, hair, clothing, distinguishing marks.

Note direction and speed of movement, plus time of observation, to reconstruct a sequence.

Perception degrades under stress: tunnel vision and narrowed hearing are expected, so note what you did not observe.

Lighting, distance, and obstruction affect reliability; state those conditions in the note.

Weapon or threat details are recorded first because they drive the safety response.

Cross-check independent witnesses separately to avoid memory contamination.

Write observations as soon as practical; recall accuracy drops sharply within hours.

Working memory holds roughly 4–7 chunks briefly; chunking (grouping digits or items) extends capacity.

Rehearsal: maintenance repetition holds items short-term; elaborative linking to meaning supports long-term recall.

Spacing practice across days outperforms massed study of the same total time.

Retrieval practice (recalling without notes) strengthens memory more than rereading.

Recognition is easier than free recall; cued recall sits between them.

Eyewitness confidence is a weak predictor of accuracy; leading questions can implant details.

Interference: similar material studied back-to-back competes; sleep and breaks reduce decay.

Mnemonic devices (acronyms, method of loci) work by imposing structure on unstructured lists.

Report structure: who, what, when, where, how, and what action was taken, in chronological order.

Use first person past tense and plain declarative sentences; one idea per sentence.

Quote speech exactly in quotation marks; paraphrase without quotes and attribute it.

Time entries use a 24-hour clock and one consistent format throughout the report.

Never leave blanks; write none or not applicable so the record cannot be altered later.

Avoid jargon, slang, and editorializing words such as obviously or unfortunately.

Identify people by full name and role on first mention, then by surname only.

Corrections are made by a dated, initialed addendum, not by erasing or overwriting the original.