Free UKCAT Decision Analysis Questions
'A group of archaeologists have discovered a hidden pyramid. They have found hieroglyphics on the walls which shows various codes. The team have managed to decode some of the messages; these are presented in Figure 1 below. Your task is to examine particular codes or sentences and then choose the best interpretation of the code from one of five possible choices.
You will find, at times, that the information which you have is either incomplete or does not make sense. You will need to then make your best judgment based on the codes rather than what you expect to see or what you think is reasonable. There will always be a best answer which makes the most sense based on all the information presented. It is important that you understand that this test is based on judgements rather than simply applying rules and logic.'
Figure 1:
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Operating codes
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Routine codes
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1 = Opposite
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A = Sprint
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2 = Positive
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B = Night
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3 = Together
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C = Apparatus
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4 = Single
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D = Public
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5 = Different
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E = Shade
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6 = Challenging
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F = Crash
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7 = Enjoyable
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G = Structure
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8 = Prefer
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H = Number
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9 = Closed
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I = Word
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10 = Increased
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J = Individual
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11 = Past
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K = Liquid
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12 = Future
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L = Oxygen
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13 = Present
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M = He
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14 = Plural
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N = Human
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15 = Conditional
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O = Achievement
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16 = Repeated
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P = Harm
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17 = Alter
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Q = Body
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R = Tremor
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S = Building
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T = Fire
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U = Senses
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V = Disaster
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W = Take
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X = Part
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Y = Cold
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Question 1
Examine the following coded message: C, 10, L, U, T
Now examine the following sentences and try to determine the most likely interpretation of the code.
A The Bunsen burner smelt of gas and was very hot.
B The apparatus was very hot as the air increased.
C The fireplace had a large amount of air in the pipes.
D You could smell the gas from the fire.
E The fireplace smelt of gas.
Question 2
Examine the following coded message: (1, W), N, F, (1, M), 11
Now examine the following sentences and try to determine the most likely interpretation of the code.
A She took the human out of the crash.
B He pulled himself out of the crash.
C She was only human so give her a break.
D She was only human after she came out of the crash.
E She gave the crushed human the kiss of life.
Question 3
Examine the following coded message: E, (1, B), T, 11
Now examine the following sentences and try to determine the most likely interpretation of the code.
A The night gave shade from the heat.
B The red fire happened in the day.
C There was no shade in the heat of the day.
D The shade gave no protection from the fire.
E It was a red, hot day.
Justifications of Answers
Question 1- Answer A
C, 10, L, U, T
The code combines the words: Apparatus, Increased, Oxygen, Senses, Fire.
Option A Is the correct answer as it makes use of all the coded words. ‘Apparatus’ is replaced with 'Bunsen burner’, ‘senses’ is replaced with ‘smelt’, ‘Oxygen’ is replaced with ‘Gas’, and ‘Increased and fire’ are replaced with ‘Very hot’.
Option B Is incorrect, although it uses all the words in the code, it does not flow logically.
Option C Ignores any reference to the word ‘Senses’.
Option D Introduces the word ‘You’ and ignores any definition of the word ‘Increased’.
Option E Ignores the word ‘Increased’.
Question 2 – Answer C
(1, W), N, F, (1, M), 11
The code combines the words: (Opposite, Take), Human, Crash, (Opposite, He), Past.
Option C Is the correct answer. It makes use of all the words. The ‘Opposite, Take’ is replaced with ‘Give’, the ‘Opposite, He’ is replaced with ‘She’, ‘Crash' is replaced with 'Break’, and ‘Past’ is used to define that the sentence is stated in the past tense.
Option D Ignores the words ‘Opposite, Take’, and introduces the word ‘Out’.
Option E Uses all the decoded words, but also introduces the words ‘Kiss of life’.
Option B Ignores the 'Opposite, He', and the ‘Opposite, Take’, and introduces the word ‘Pulled’.
Option A Introduces the word ‘Out’, and ignores the words ‘Opposite, Take’.
Question 3 – Answer E
E, (1, B), T, 11
The code combines the words: Shade, (Opposite, Night), Fire, Past.
Option E Is the right answer. The word ‘shade’ is replaced with the colour ‘Red’, the ‘Opposite, Night’ is replaced with ‘Day’, ‘Fire’ is replaced with ‘Hot’, and the sentence is in the ‘Past’ tense.
Option A Ignores the rule of the ‘Opposite, Night’, and is set in the present tense.
Option B Ignores the word shade and introduces the word ‘Happened’.
Option C Introduces the word ‘No’ and is in the present tense.
Option D Introduces the words ‘No’ and ‘Protection’. This option also ignores the mention of the ‘Opposite, Night’, and is set in the present tense.
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