School TypeFall 2020Spring 2021Fall 2021Spring 2022Elementary78%82%71%85%Middle School65%69%74%72%High School82%85%79%88%Alternative45%48%52%49%Educat...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
| School Type | Fall 2020 | Spring 2021 | Fall 2021 | Spring 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary | 78% | 82% | 71% | 85% |
| Middle School | 65% | 69% | 74% | 72% |
| High School | 82% | 85% | 79% | 88% |
| Alternative | 45% | 48% | 52% | 49% |
Educational researchers Dr. Kim Patel and her team tracked student engagement rates during the district's implementation of personalized learning software across different school types from 2020-2022. The table shows engagement percentages measured each semester. The researchers found that traditional academic settings (Elementary, Middle School, and High School) consistently demonstrated superior technology adoption compared to specialized environments (Alternative schools), leading them to conclude that the personalized learning software was fundamentally more compatible with conventional educational structures than with alternative educational approaches.
Which choice best describes data from the table that support the underlined conclusion?
Alternative schools showed steady improvement from \(45\%\) to \(49\%\) over the measurement period, while traditional settings experienced more variable results.
All traditional academic settings (Elementary, Middle School, and High School) maintained higher engagement rates than Alternative schools across every measurement period from Fall 2020 through Spring 2022.
Elementary and High School settings reached their peak engagement levels in Spring 2022, demonstrating the strongest adaptation to the new technology.
Middle School engagement rates showed the most consistent upward trajectory, increasing from \(65\%\) to \(72\%\) over the study period.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Educational researchers Dr. Kim Patel and her team tracked student engagement rates during the district's implementation of personalized learning software across different school types from 2020-2022." |
|
| "The table shows engagement percentages measured each semester." |
|
| "The researchers found that traditional academic settings (Elementary, Middle School, and High School) consistently demonstrated superior technology adoption compared to specialized environments (Alternative schools)," |
|
| "leading them to conclude that the personalized learning software was fundamentally more compatible with conventional educational structures than with alternative educational approaches." |
|
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Visual Structure Map:
[RESEARCH CONTEXT] → [DATA DESCRIPTION] → [KEY FINDING: Traditional > Alternative] → [CONCLUSION: Software more compatible with conventional structures]
Main Point: Researchers concluded that personalized learning software works better with traditional school settings than with alternative educational approaches.
Argument Flow: The passage establishes a research study that tracked engagement across different school types, presents the finding that traditional schools outperformed alternative schools, and uses this finding to conclude that the software is fundamentally more compatible with conventional educational structures.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? Which data from the table supports the underlined conclusion about software compatibility
What type of answer do we need? Specific data patterns that back up the claim that traditional settings had "superior technology adoption" compared to alternative schools
Any limiting keywords? "Data from the table" limits us to the numerical evidence; "support the underlined conclusion" focuses specifically on the compatibility claim
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The underlined conclusion claims that the software was "more compatible with conventional educational structures than with alternative educational approaches."
- For data to support this, we'd need evidence showing traditional schools (Elementary, Middle School, High School) consistently performed better than Alternative schools
- The data should show "superior technology adoption" in traditional settings
Alternative schools showed steady improvement from \(45\%\) to \(49\%\) over the measurement period, while traditional settings experienced more variable results.
✗ Incorrect
- Claims Alternative schools showed "steady improvement" while traditional had "variable results"
- This actually contradicts the conclusion by suggesting Alternative schools were improving consistently
All traditional academic settings (Elementary, Middle School, and High School) maintained higher engagement rates than Alternative schools across every measurement period from Fall 2020 through Spring 2022.
✓ Correct
- Accurately describes that ALL traditional settings maintained higher engagement than Alternative schools across every single measurement period
- Looking at the data: Elementary (78%, 82%, 71%, 85%) vs Alternative (45%, 48%, 52%, 49%) - Elementary always higher
- This consistent pattern directly supports the "superior technology adoption" claim
Elementary and High School settings reached their peak engagement levels in Spring 2022, demonstrating the strongest adaptation to the new technology.
✗ Incorrect
- Only focuses on Spring 2022 peak performance
- Doesn't show the consistent pattern needed to support "superior technology adoption" over time
Middle School engagement rates showed the most consistent upward trajectory, increasing from \(65\%\) to \(72\%\) over the study period.
✗ Incorrect
- Only discusses Middle School's trajectory
- Doesn't compare traditional vs alternative settings as required by the conclusion