Start with three exact evidence tests
True means the complete statement is supported by the passage. False means at least one necessary part is contradicted. Can't Tell means the passage leaves a necessary part unresolved. Do not ask whether the statement is sensible in real life; ask whether the supplied text earns that exact conclusion.
- Support every important part before choosing True
- Find a direct conflict before choosing False
- Choose Can't Tell when a necessary link is missing
Break the statement into testable parts
Long statements hide more than one claim. Separate the subject, action, amount, comparison, cause and time period. A passage may support five parts but leave the sixth unknown. The answer still depends on the complete statement, so a familiar phrase or matching number cannot carry an unsupported conclusion.
- Underline scope words such as all, only and most
- Circle dates, quantities and comparisons
- Check cause separately from sequence or association
Do not turn missing evidence into False
Suppose a passage says a clinic introduced online booking and waiting-room congestion fell. The statement says online booking reduced missed appointments. Nothing confirms or contradicts missed appointments, so the answer is Can't Tell. False would require evidence that missed appointments did not fall or moved in the opposite direction.
- Unknown is not the same as wrong
- A different measured outcome creates a gap
- Outside knowledge cannot fill the gap
Use a two-sentence evidence window
Locate the strongest anchor from the statement, then read the matching sentence plus the sentence immediately before and after it. This catches qualifications, changes of speaker and contrast words. Expand only when a pronoun or conclusion depends on earlier context. Controlled retrieval is faster than repeatedly rereading the whole passage.
- Find the rarest name, number or phrase
- Read around the anchor
- Restate the evidence in plain words before selecting
Apply a ten-second final check
Before committing, compare the strength and direction of the statement with the passage. Some is not all; may is not will; an association is not proof of cause. If the evidence and wording match, choose True. If the passage actively conflicts, choose False. If either side needs an assumption, choose Can't Tell.
- Strength
- Direction
- Time period
- Measured outcome
- Cause versus association
Review errors by the rule you broke
After practice, label each mistake: outside assumption, missed qualifier, wrong outcome, causal leap, or incomplete evidence search. Then write one sentence explaining why the correct category follows from the text. This turns review into a reusable decision rule instead of a memory of one question.
- Quote the deciding words
- Name the distractor change
- Repeat two questions with the same error type
Frequently asked questions
When should I choose Can't Tell in UCAT Verbal Reasoning?
Choose it when the passage neither establishes nor contradicts every necessary part of the statement.
Does a plausible statement count as True?
No. A statement must be supported by the supplied passage, not by general knowledge or likelihood.
Can one wrong detail make a statement False?
Yes, when the passage directly contradicts that necessary detail.
How can I answer these questions faster?
Split the statement into parts, locate a strong anchor and inspect a small evidence window.
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