HSRT FINAL EXAM 2026 QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS
GRADED A+
✔✔Scientific studies have discovered a link between chewing gum and better
performance when it comes to tests. Researchers believe that this is bc the act of
chewing gum correlates with heightened activity in the hippocampus- the region in the
brain that handles memory. When activity in the hippocampus is increased, it appears
as though the ability to recall memories is strengthened.
Students who chew gum will perform worse in exams than students who do not -
✔✔Probably False
The claim states that chewing gum correlates to recalling memories which would ideally
help a student on the test. Because it's likely students who chew gum will do better on
tests, we can infer this is probably false, but we can't guarantee it
✔✔Interpretation - ✔✔An interpretation focuses on if a conclusion logically follows from
a statement
✔✔How is an interpretation similar to an inference? - ✔✔It focused on logical
conclusions rather than likely conclusions
✔✔What is an example of an interpretation - ✔✔If evidence states that there can only
be white and black swans, then the interpretation would be that there is no such thing
as green swans
✔✔How to succeed with interpretation based questions: - ✔✔You must decide whether
an interpretation is TRUE or FALSE, rather than point out whether a claim is likely true
or false
✔✔At the beginning of September 2015, the government launched its program to
improve learning at A-level across the country. The goal was to improve A level results
between A* and C by at least 20% between 2015 and 2016. The number of students
scoring between a C and an A* in their A-levels rose from 50% in 2015 to 75% in 2016.
The number of students scoring U had dropped from 15% to 12%, and between E and
D the scores were down from 45% to a meagre 13%
The government has been successful in this program - ✔✔Conclusion does not follow
We can not interpret if the program is the reason the students were doing better, or if
other factors were involved. Therefore, we can't say for sure if the program was
successful, even though the goals were met.
✔✔At the beginning of September 2015, the government launched its program to
improve learning at A-level across the country. The goal was to improve A level results
, between A* and C by at least 20% between 2015 and 2016. The number of students
scoring between a C and an A* in their A-levels rose from 50% in 2015 to 75% in 2016.
The number of students scoring U had dropped from 15% to 12%, and between E and
D the scores were down from 45% to a meagre 13%
The governments goals have been achieved or exceeded - ✔✔True, conclusion follows
The interpretation is true. Students scoring between A and C increased 25% between
2015 and 2016. They exceeded their goal of 20%
✔✔At the beginning of September 2015, the government launched its program to
improve learning at A-level across the country. The goal was to improve A level results
between A* and C by at least 20% between 2015 and 2016. The number of students
scoring between a C and an A* in their A-levels rose from 50% in 2015 to 75% in 2016.
The number of students scoring U had dropped from 15% to 12%, and between E and
D the scores were down from 45% to a meagre 13%
Students who would have likely achieved between a D or an E were now achieving A*
to C - ✔✔False, conclusion does not follow
We don't have enough evidence to make an interpretation. We didn't know what the
scores were previously so we can't compare them now. Just because more students
achieved between an A and a C does not mean there was a jump in performance for
individual students. Students in 2016 could have been more capable than students in
2015
✔✔Deduction - ✔✔Valid deductive arguments are arguments which, if all premises are
true, then the conclusion cannot be false.
✔✔What is the difference between a deduction and an interpretation? - ✔✔A deduction
is more strict in its logical format
✔✔What is an example of a valid, deductive argument? - ✔✔Premise 1: The book is on
the shelf
Premise 2: If the book is on the shelf, then it isn't on the floor
Conclusion: The book is not on the floor
Deductive argument is true because both premises are correct, so the conclusion must
also be correct
✔✔NOTE with Deductions - ✔✔An argument can be deductively valid even if the
conclusion is false, so long as at least one of the premises is also false
✔✔How to succeed with deduction based questions - ✔✔Deductive arguments aren't
concerned with what's true or false, rather what's valid or invalid
GRADED A+
✔✔Scientific studies have discovered a link between chewing gum and better
performance when it comes to tests. Researchers believe that this is bc the act of
chewing gum correlates with heightened activity in the hippocampus- the region in the
brain that handles memory. When activity in the hippocampus is increased, it appears
as though the ability to recall memories is strengthened.
Students who chew gum will perform worse in exams than students who do not -
✔✔Probably False
The claim states that chewing gum correlates to recalling memories which would ideally
help a student on the test. Because it's likely students who chew gum will do better on
tests, we can infer this is probably false, but we can't guarantee it
✔✔Interpretation - ✔✔An interpretation focuses on if a conclusion logically follows from
a statement
✔✔How is an interpretation similar to an inference? - ✔✔It focused on logical
conclusions rather than likely conclusions
✔✔What is an example of an interpretation - ✔✔If evidence states that there can only
be white and black swans, then the interpretation would be that there is no such thing
as green swans
✔✔How to succeed with interpretation based questions: - ✔✔You must decide whether
an interpretation is TRUE or FALSE, rather than point out whether a claim is likely true
or false
✔✔At the beginning of September 2015, the government launched its program to
improve learning at A-level across the country. The goal was to improve A level results
between A* and C by at least 20% between 2015 and 2016. The number of students
scoring between a C and an A* in their A-levels rose from 50% in 2015 to 75% in 2016.
The number of students scoring U had dropped from 15% to 12%, and between E and
D the scores were down from 45% to a meagre 13%
The government has been successful in this program - ✔✔Conclusion does not follow
We can not interpret if the program is the reason the students were doing better, or if
other factors were involved. Therefore, we can't say for sure if the program was
successful, even though the goals were met.
✔✔At the beginning of September 2015, the government launched its program to
improve learning at A-level across the country. The goal was to improve A level results
, between A* and C by at least 20% between 2015 and 2016. The number of students
scoring between a C and an A* in their A-levels rose from 50% in 2015 to 75% in 2016.
The number of students scoring U had dropped from 15% to 12%, and between E and
D the scores were down from 45% to a meagre 13%
The governments goals have been achieved or exceeded - ✔✔True, conclusion follows
The interpretation is true. Students scoring between A and C increased 25% between
2015 and 2016. They exceeded their goal of 20%
✔✔At the beginning of September 2015, the government launched its program to
improve learning at A-level across the country. The goal was to improve A level results
between A* and C by at least 20% between 2015 and 2016. The number of students
scoring between a C and an A* in their A-levels rose from 50% in 2015 to 75% in 2016.
The number of students scoring U had dropped from 15% to 12%, and between E and
D the scores were down from 45% to a meagre 13%
Students who would have likely achieved between a D or an E were now achieving A*
to C - ✔✔False, conclusion does not follow
We don't have enough evidence to make an interpretation. We didn't know what the
scores were previously so we can't compare them now. Just because more students
achieved between an A and a C does not mean there was a jump in performance for
individual students. Students in 2016 could have been more capable than students in
2015
✔✔Deduction - ✔✔Valid deductive arguments are arguments which, if all premises are
true, then the conclusion cannot be false.
✔✔What is the difference between a deduction and an interpretation? - ✔✔A deduction
is more strict in its logical format
✔✔What is an example of a valid, deductive argument? - ✔✔Premise 1: The book is on
the shelf
Premise 2: If the book is on the shelf, then it isn't on the floor
Conclusion: The book is not on the floor
Deductive argument is true because both premises are correct, so the conclusion must
also be correct
✔✔NOTE with Deductions - ✔✔An argument can be deductively valid even if the
conclusion is false, so long as at least one of the premises is also false
✔✔How to succeed with deduction based questions - ✔✔Deductive arguments aren't
concerned with what's true or false, rather what's valid or invalid
