School TypeAcademic Achievement (82%)Social Development (15%)Arts Programs (3%)Urban Public79%18%3%Suburban Public87%12%1%Rural Public84%13%3%Private8...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
| School Type | Academic Achievement (82%) | Social Development (15%) | Arts Programs (3%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Urban Public | 79% | 18% | 3% |
| Suburban Public | 87% | 12% | 1% |
| Rural Public | 84% | 13% | 3% |
| Private | 85% | 9% | 6% |
| Charter | 71% | 29% | 0% |
In order to assess educational performance across various types of schools, Dr. Sarah Chen and her research team examined administrative records regarding how resources are allocated by priority. These priorities fell into three categories: academic achievement (standardized test performance and completion rates), social development (guidance services and after-school programs), and arts programs (musical, dramatic, and visual arts instruction). Chen's research group determined that academic achievement takes precedence in all school categories and serves as the dominant emphasis throughout different educational contexts.
Which option most accurately identifies table data that validate Chen's findings?
All academic achievement percentages displayed reach a minimum of 71%, while the aggregate percentage for academic achievement stands at 82%.
Academic achievement accounts for 79% of urban public school priorities and 71% of charter school priorities, although it comprises 82% overall.
Academic achievement is present across all school categories, while arts programs register 0% in certain school types.
Suburban public schools show the peak academic achievement percentage at 87%, whereas charter schools display the minimum at 71%.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| School Type percentages: Urban Public (79% academic, 18% social, 3% arts), Suburban Public (87%, 12%, 1%), Rural Public (84%, 13%, 3%), Private (85%, 9%, 6%), Charter (71%, 29%, 0%) |
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| "In order to assess educational performance across various types of schools, Dr. Sarah Chen and her research team examined administrative records regarding how resources are allocated by priority." |
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| "These priorities fell into three categories: academic achievement, social development, and arts programs." |
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| "Chen's research group determined that academic achievement takes precedence in all school categories and serves as the dominant emphasis throughout different educational contexts." |
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Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Chen's research found that academic achievement serves as the dominant priority across all different types of schools.
Argument Flow: The passage presents Chen's data table showing resource allocation percentages, explains the research methodology and category definitions, then concludes with Chen's key finding that academic achievement takes precedence universally across school types.
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
- Chen's finding was that academic achievement takes precedence in all school categories
- To validate this, we need data showing: Academic achievement has the highest percentage in every single school type, the pattern holds consistently across all contexts, and the dominance is clear and measurable
All academic achievement percentages displayed reach a minimum of 71%, while the aggregate percentage for academic achievement stands at 82%.
✓ Correct
- Shows academic achievement maintains at least \(71\%\) across ALL school types
- Confirms the overall pattern
- Validates Chen's finding by demonstrating consistent dominance across all five school types
Academic achievement accounts for 79% of urban public school priorities and 71% of charter school priorities, although it comprises 82% overall.
✗ Incorrect
- Only mentions two specific school types rather than validating the universal pattern across all contexts that Chen claimed
Academic achievement is present across all school categories, while arts programs register 0% in certain school types.
✗ Incorrect
- While academic achievement appears in all categories, this doesn't validate the dominance aspect of Chen's findings about academic achievement taking precedence
Suburban public schools show the peak academic achievement percentage at 87%, whereas charter schools display the minimum at 71%.
✗ Incorrect
- Only compares the highest and lowest academic percentages without addressing the universal dominance pattern across all school types