Educational researchers have observed superior academic performance in certain school districts that share common characteristics: early adoption of p...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
Educational researchers have observed superior academic performance in certain school districts that share common characteristics: early adoption of project-based learning curricula, maintenance of small class sizes, and substantial investment in teacher development. Longitudinal studies demonstrate that standardized test improvements in these districts coincided precisely with project-based learning implementation, appearing first in districts that adopted these methods earliest and subsequently in districts that implemented them later, suggesting that _______
Which choice most logically completes the text?
project-based learning methods were implemented more successfully in some districts than in others.
small class sizes and teacher development contributed more to student success than project-based learning.
the timing of academic improvements was unrelated to educational policy changes in these districts.
project-based learning implementation was a significant factor in these districts' academic success.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Educational researchers have observed superior academic performance in certain school districts that share common characteristics:" |
|
| "early adoption of project-based learning curricula, maintenance of small class sizes, and substantial investment in teacher development." |
|
| "Longitudinal studies demonstrate that standardized test improvements in these districts coincided precisely with project-based learning implementation," |
|
| "appearing first in districts that adopted these methods earliest and subsequently in districts that implemented them later," |
|
| "suggesting that _______" |
|
Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Longitudinal studies show that academic improvements in high-performing districts aligned precisely with when they implemented project-based learning.
Argument Flow: The passage starts with an observation about successful districts sharing certain characteristics, then focuses on timing evidence that shows test score improvements coincided exactly with project-based learning implementation across different districts, leading to a conclusion we must infer about what this correlation suggests.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
This is a fill-in-the-blank question asking us to choose the best logical connector. The answer must create the right relationship between what comes before and after the blank.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The evidence shows a precise timing match: when districts implemented project-based learning, their test scores improved
- This happened first in early adopters, then in later adopters
- This pattern suggests that project-based learning implementation caused or significantly contributed to the improvements, since the timing was so precise and consistent across different districts
- The right answer should conclude that project-based learning was an important factor in these districts' success, since the improvements followed the implementation timing so closely
project-based learning methods were implemented more successfully in some districts than in others.
✗ Incorrect
- This suggests some districts implemented project-based learning better than others
- The passage doesn't compare implementation quality between districts
small class sizes and teacher development contributed more to student success than project-based learning.
✗ Incorrect
- This claims small classes and teacher development were more important than project-based learning
- Contradicts the timing evidence, which specifically shows improvements coinciding with project-based learning implementation
the timing of academic improvements was unrelated to educational policy changes in these districts.
✗ Incorrect
- This says timing was unrelated to policy changes
- Directly contradicts the key evidence that improvements "coincided precisely" with project-based learning implementation
project-based learning implementation was a significant factor in these districts' academic success.
✓ Correct
- States that project-based learning implementation was a significant factor in academic success
- Perfectly matches our prethinking about what the timing correlation suggests