During research on a particular subject, a student compiled these notes:Riverside University mandates a 3.7 GPA minimum for honor graduates.Metro...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
During research on a particular subject, a student compiled these notes:
- Riverside University mandates a 3.7 GPA minimum for honor graduates.
- Metro College's honor requirements lack any minimum GPA standard.
- Through its current framework, Metro College grants honors to more than 40% of graduates, including numerous students with GPAs under 3.7.
- If Riverside's criteria were applied, approximately 15% of Metro College graduates would earn honors.
The student aims to compare Riverside's honor standards with Metro College's approach.
Which option best utilizes pertinent details from the notes to achieve this objective?
Riverside's honor standards-mandating a 3.7 GPA-are stricter than Metro College's approach, which lacks any minimum GPA standard.
Metro College, which imposes no minimum GPA for honors, grants honors to more than 40% of its graduates.
If Riverside's honor criteria-a 3.7 GPA mandate-were implemented, approximately 15% of Metro College graduates would earn recognition.
Since its honor framework differs from Riverside's, determining how many Metro College students genuinely merit recognition remains ambiguous.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'Riverside University mandates a 3.7 GPA minimum for honor graduates.' |
|
| 'Metro College's honor requirements lack any minimum GPA standard.' |
|
| 'Through its current framework, Metro College grants honors to more than 40% of graduates, including numerous students with GPAs under 3.7.' |
|
| 'If Riverside's criteria were applied, approximately 15% of Metro College graduates would earn honors.' |
|
Main Point: The notes provide data comparing two different approaches to academic honors—Riverside's strict GPA requirement versus Metro's more lenient system without minimum standards.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? Which option best uses the notes to compare Riverside's and Metro College's honor standards.
What type of answer do we need? A statement that effectively achieves the student's goal of comparing the two schools' approaches using relevant details from the research notes.
Any limiting keywords? Best uses the notes to compare
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The right answer should directly compare both schools' honor standards
- Use specific details from the notes
- Show how the approaches differ from each other
- Accomplish the stated goal of comparing the two approaches
Riverside's honor standards-mandating a 3.7 GPA-are stricter than Metro College's approach, which lacks any minimum GPA standard.
✓ Correct
- Uses specific note details about Riverside's 3.7 GPA mandate and Metro's lack of minimum standard
- Creates direct comparison between the two schools' approaches
- Clearly establishes that Riverside's standards are stricter - achieving the comparison goal
Metro College, which imposes no minimum GPA for honors, grants honors to more than 40% of its graduates.
✗ Incorrect
- Focuses only on Metro College without comparing it to Riverside
- While it uses accurate note details, it doesn't achieve the goal of comparison
If Riverside's honor criteria-a 3.7 GPA mandate-were implemented, approximately 15% of Metro College graduates would earn recognition.
✗ Incorrect
- Uses note details about the hypothetical 15% figure but creates a hypothetical scenario rather than comparing current standards
Since its honor framework differs from Riverside's, determining how many Metro College students genuinely merit recognition remains ambiguous.
✗ Incorrect
- Makes judgments not supported by the notes and doesn't utilize the concrete data from the research notes effectively