Most selective universities require applicants to achieve a minimum combined SAT score of 1400 for automatic admission consideration. This threshold...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
Most selective universities require applicants to achieve a minimum combined SAT score of 1400 for automatic admission consideration. This threshold ensures that admitted students can handle rigorous academic coursework. Sarah's combined score was 1340, falling short of this benchmark. ______ she must submit additional materials like essays and recommendation letters for holistic review.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
Similarly,
As a result,
For example,
In contrast,
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Most selective universities require applicants to achieve a minimum combined SAT score of 1400 for automatic admission consideration." |
|
| "This threshold ensures that admitted students can handle rigorous academic coursework." |
|
| "Sarah's combined score was 1340, falling short of this benchmark." |
|
| "she must submit additional materials like essays and recommendation letters for holistic review." |
|
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Since Sarah's SAT score falls below the automatic admission threshold, she needs alternative pathways through additional application materials.
Argument Flow: The passage establishes a university admission requirement, explains its purpose, presents Sarah's specific situation where she falls short of this requirement, then describes what she must do as a consequence of not meeting the automatic admission threshold.
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
- We need a transition that shows the logical relationship between Sarah falling short of the 1400 requirement and her needing to submit additional materials
- The relationship here is cause-and-effect: because she didn't meet the automatic threshold, she now has to take a different action
- So the right answer should indicate a consequence or result flowing from Sarah's lower score
Similarly,
✗ Incorrect
- "Similarly" suggests Sarah's situation is like something else mentioned, but there's no previous example or comparison in the passage
As a result,
✓ Correct
- Shows the logical consequence of Sarah's situation
- Creates the perfect cause-and-effect flow: she scored below the threshold, so as a result, she needs alternative materials
For example,
✗ Incorrect
- "For example" introduces Sarah's situation as an illustration of something
- But Sarah isn't being used as an example—she's the specific case we're analyzing
In contrast,
✗ Incorrect
- "In contrast" suggests opposition between ideas
- But Sarah's need for additional materials doesn't contrast with the requirement—it's actually caused by the requirement