UCAT syllogisms
In a UCAT syllogism, answer Yes only if the statement must be true from the facts given. If it only might be true, the answer is No. Try two below.
All shortlisted applicants submitted a portfolio. No applicant who submitted late was shortlisted. At least one applicant who submitted a portfolio submitted late. For each statement, answer Yes only if it necessarily follows; otherwise answer No. Treat only the stated facts as certain.
- At least one portfolio applicant was not shortlisted.
- Everyone who submitted on time was shortlisted.
- No shortlisted applicant submitted late.
- At least one shortlisted applicant exists.
- Every portfolio applicant was shortlisted.
Worked answers
1. All shortlisted applicants submitted a portfolio. No applicant who submitted late was shortlisted. At least one applicant who submitted a portfolio submitted late. For each statement, answer Yes only if it necessarily follows; otherwise answer No. Treat only the stated facts as certain.
Answer: At least one portfolio applicant was not shortlisted: Yes. Everyone who submitted on time was shortlisted: No. No shortlisted applicant submitted late: Yes. At least one shortlisted applicant exists: No. Every portfolio applicant was shortlisted: No
- The shortlist is a subset of portfolio applicants and excludes late applicants.
- An existing late portfolio applicant is therefore outside the shortlist; no shortlist member is guaranteed.
2. At least one curator is a diver. Every diver is qualified in first aid. No person qualified in first aid is on leave. For each statement, answer Yes only if it necessarily follows; otherwise answer No. Treat only the stated facts as certain.
Answer: At least one curator is not on leave: Yes. All curators are qualified in first aid: No. No person on leave is a diver: Yes. At least one first-aid-qualified person is a curator: Yes. Every person not on leave is a diver: No
- The existing curator-diver is first-aid qualified and outside the leave group.
- Universal exclusions apply to all divers, but nothing restricts all curators or all people not on leave.
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The three traps
| Trap | Why it is wrong |
|---|---|
| Reversing “all” | All A are B does not mean all B are A. |
| Reading “some” as a number | UCAT defines some as more than one but less than all. It never tells you how many. |
| Adding real-world sense | Only the stated facts count. |
How it is marked
Each syllogism has five statements and is worth two marks. A partly right answer earns one.
Every quantity word, as UCAT defines it: UCAT Decision Making definitions
Every Decision Making type: DM question types and methods