Ashoka Aptitude Test – Cambridge Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA)
• Problem-solving skills (includes numerical and spatial reasoning)
What it tests? • Critical thinking skills (includes understanding arguments and reasoning,
using everyday language)
• 50 MCQs, consisting of:
Question types • 25 problem-solving questions
• 25 critical thinking questions
Duration • 90 minutes
• Designed to be taken with minimal preparation (a sample paper/model test
How to prepare? has been uploaded on the website)
Not Mandatory but Highly Recommended, Why?
Candidates are assessed on both academic and non-academic parameters within the round in which they
apply. In the earlier rounds, within the academic parameters, since only predicted scores/grades are
available, chances of getting a Conditional Offer (instead of a Firm Offer) are higher. At any point within the
Admissions Cycle, in the absence of a Standardized Test score or Grade XII/Equivalent Board score,
decisions might be deferred till one or more of the above scores is available depending on the performance
of the candidates in all other parameters. Taking the Ashoka Aptitude Test provides candidates with an
extra parameter and a higher chance of getting a firm decision. Hence, this test is HIGHLY
RECOMMENDED.
1
Ashoka Thinking Skills: Worked Solutions
ADMISSIONS OFFICE: No. 2, Green Avenue Street, Pocket D-3, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi - 110070
CONTACT: +917290060475/+917290060477
admissions@ashoka.edu.in; financialaid@ashoka.edu.in
The correct answer is B.
Justification
The structure of the argument is as follows:
Reason 1 (R1): Reducing the length of degree courses would give students less time to think
about their subjects.
Intermediate Conclusion (IC): Reducing the length of degree courses would mean a lower
quality of university graduates.
Reason 2 (R2): Universities should resist any measures that lower the standard of graduates.
Therefore:
Conclusion (C): Universities should oppose the shortening of degree courses to two years
(option B).
Distractors
A This seems to be an implicit assumption of the argument, but it cannot be drawn as a
conclusion.
C No information is given about whether, as a matter of fact, this measure is being
considered or not.
D This cannot reliably be concluded, as we would need to assume that the drawbacks
mentioned would outweigh any benefit to students from having shorter courses.
E No support for this conclusion is given in the passage.
ADMISSIONS OFFICE: No. 2, Green Avenue Street, Pocket D-3, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi - 110070
CONTACT: +917290060475/+917290060477
admissions@ashoka.edu.in; financialaid@ashoka.edu.in
The correct answer is A.
Justification
The structure of the argument is as follows:
R1: Dishonest acts may arise for many different reasons.
R2: These reasons may be consistent with a child’s personality.
IC (not stated): The question of whether a child will be dishonest in any given situation may
depend on the interaction between the situation and the child’s personality.
C: It is possible that a child who is dishonest in one kind of situation will not be dishonest in
another.
This is equivalent to option A.
Distractors
B A range of possible reasons for cheating are given, but it is still possible that each
individual child who cheats has a single, straightforward reason for doing so.
C The question of blame is not addressed in the passage.
D This statement is contradicted by the passage, which mentions the possibility of stealing
in order to buy someone a birthday present.
E These categories are given as examples of personalities that may be motivated to steal
for different reasons; however, there is nothing to suggest that this list is exhaustive.
ADMISSIONS OFFICE: No. 2, Green Avenue Street, Pocket D-3, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi - 110070
CONTACT: +917290060475/+917290060477
admissions@ashoka.edu.in; financialaid@ashoka.edu.in
ADMISSIONS OFFICE: No. 2, Green Avenue Street, Pocket D-3, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi - 110070
CONTACT: +917290060475/+917290060477
admissions@ashoka.edu.in; financialaid@ashoka.edu.in
The correct answer is D.
Justification
The structure of the argument is as follows:
Context: Patients have a right to know what is the matter with them etc.
However,
R1: A patient's health may sometimes be better served by not knowing a frightening truth.
R2: (e.g.) A doctor may believe that a patient's medical condition will actually worsen if they
realise how serious it is.
Therefore:
IC: There are cases in which a doctor has no choice: they must decide in favour of deceiving
the patient.
Therefore:
C: It is not always clear whether a doctor should tell a patient the truth. In order to draw this
conclusion, we must assume that the doctor's responsibility is for the patient's wellbeing, not
the truth.
This is the thrust of option D.
Distractors
A There is no requirement to assume that the patients accept anything. The argument is
entirely about doctors' responsibilities, regardless of patients' wishes, rights, etc.
B R1 implies that sometimes the truth may frighten patients but the criterion for not telling
them the truth is not whether it will frighten them but whether (the doctor believes) it will harm
them medically.
C This is a contrary assumption to that of the argument.
E This is also contrary to the conclusion.
ADMISSIONS OFFICE: No. 2, Green Avenue Street, Pocket D-3, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi - 110070
CONTACT: +917290060475/+917290060477
admissions@ashoka.edu.in; financialaid@ashoka.edu.in
The correct answer is C.
Justification
The conclusion is that it is safe to assume there will be a decline in elephant poaching. It is
based on the single premise that a two-month study has shown a fall in demand for ivory.
Clearly there is a big gap in this argument, and any evidence to the effect that the two month
trend is untypical will weaken the case. Option C does this by claiming that demand for ivory is
seasonal.
Distractors
A If anything this would strengthen the conclusion, by offering another reason why the
poaching may decline. Certainly it does nothing to weaken it.
B The method by which poachers kill elephants is irrelevant to the argument that there will be
less poaching.
D This clearly strengthens the argument by suggesting that there is less need for ivory as a
construction material.
E Again this strengthens the argument, by adding further evidence that the ivory trade is in
decline.
ADMISSIONS OFFICE: No. 2, Green Avenue Street, Pocket D-3, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi - 110070
CONTACT: +917290060475/+917290060477
admissions@ashoka.edu.in; financialaid@ashoka.edu.in
The correct answer is D.
Justification
The structure of the argument is as follows:
Context: Girls are outperforming boys in educational achievement, and the government blames
schools and teachers for this.
However,
R1: Evolutionary biology shows that men and women have evolved to have different skills.
R2: Neurologists have shown that male hormones adversely affect language skill
IC (not stated): It is possible that biological factors could lead to differential educational
performance between boys and girls.
C: Differences in educational performance between boys and girls cannot be explained in
terms of failing teachers.
ADMISSIONS OFFICE: No. 2, Green Avenue Street, Pocket D-3, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi - 110070
CONTACT: +917290060475/+917290060477
admissions@ashoka.edu.in; financialaid@ashoka.edu.in
There is a clear gap in the reasoning between the intermediate conclusion and the main
conclusion: we have identified a possible cause of educational differences, but we cannot
conclude either that it is in fact a cause, or that it is the only cause, without further
support/assumptions. This is the thrust of option D.
Distractors
A No claim is made about the performance of individual boys or girls, so it is not necessary
to make this assumption.
B The question of whether biological differences come in degrees or are absolute is not
directly relevant to the argument.
C This is not assumed; the fact that boys are thought to be more skilled in these areas but
still perform worse than girls educationally would actually suggest the opposite.
E Making this assumption would have no effect on the validity of the argument: the claim is
that teachers’ behaviour is not relevant to educational differences between boys and girls.
ADMISSIONS OFFICE: No. 2, Green Avenue Street, Pocket D-3, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi - 110070
CONTACT: +917290060475/+917290060477
admissions@ashoka.edu.in; financialaid@ashoka.edu.in
The correct answer is D.
Justification
The structure of the argument is: If X then Y; But if P then Q; I need Q more than Y;
Therefore I will do P.
In the stem; X= I do more work tonight; Y= I will earn more money. P= I go for a bike ride; Q=
I will get fitter.
In D; X= I do the housework; Y= the house will be clean and pleasant; P= I go to the pub;
Q= I will be relaxed and pleasant.
Distractors
A is of the form: If X then Y; But if not X then Z; I don't care about Z therefore I will do X.
B is of the form: If X then Y; If P then Q. I need Y but can postpone it; Q is unique and
cannot be postponed. Therefore Q.
C is of the form: If X then Y; But if P then Q; Right now Y is more important than Q but I'll
regret not-Q; So C (half X and half Q).
E is of the form: If X then Y; But if X also Z and if Z then A; So not X.
ADMISSIONS OFFICE: No. 2, Green Avenue Street, Pocket D-3, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi - 110070
CONTACT: +917290060475/+917290060477
admissions@ashoka.edu.in; financialaid@ashoka.edu.in
ADMISSIONS OFFICE: No. 2, Green Avenue Street, Pocket D-3, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi - 110070
CONTACT: +917290060475/+917290060477
admissions@ashoka.edu.in; financialaid@ashoka.edu.in
The correct answer is A.
Justification
The structure of the argument is:
R1 Some blood donors have gone on to develop CJD.
R2 There is a small risk that people receiving this blood will also contract CJD.
R3 However the risk is small and there is no cure for CJD.
R4 If informed it will cast a shadow over the rest of their lives.
C People at risk in this way should not be informed of the risk
The principle underlying this argument can be expressed as:
'People should not be informed when a risk of something happening is small and where
nothing can be done to prevent the thing happening, when to inform them would cause
anxiety.' A illustrates this principle.
Distractors
B This is not a situation of possible risk but of a certainty, therefore the principle does not
apply.
C No real risk is involved here and passengers may be able to take some action e.g. get off
at the next station.
D This situation involves withholding information to protect others (i.e. biological parents)
rather than the individual from whom information is being withheld.
E Here, the reason for withholding the information does not satisfy two of the three criteria
given in the passage (small risk; nothing can be done about it).
ADMISSIONS OFFICE: No. 2, Green Avenue Street, Pocket D-3, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi - 110070
CONTACT: +917290060475/+917290060477
admissions@ashoka.edu.in; financialaid@ashoka.edu.in
We can see from the diagram that the sides of the box are 5cm wide. If all
four sides are folded up the box will have a width of 40 cm and a length of
40 cm. Its height will be 5 cm.
Its volume will be 40x40x5 = 8000 cm3
The answer is C.
ADMISSIONS OFFICE: No. 2, Green Avenue Street, Pocket D-3, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi - 110070
CONTACT: +917290060475/+917290060477
admissions@ashoka.edu.in; financialaid@ashoka.edu.in
To solve this question we need to find values in the period 2 and 3 columns
that are greater than half of the period 1 column for that country.
Belgium has a period 1 figure of 3.3. Half of 3.3 is 1.65. The period 2 value
for Belgium is 2.8, the period 3 value is 2.3. Both 2.8 and 2.3 are greater than
1.65. No other country meets the criteria.
The answer is E.
ADMISSIONS OFFICE: No. 2, Green Avenue Street, Pocket D-3, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi - 110070
CONTACT: +917290060475/+917290060477
admissions@ashoka.edu.in; financialaid@ashoka.edu.in
To solve this question you need to appreciate the effect of rotating the
components of the table around the hinges shown on the diagram. Option D
cannot work because it would require one of the sections to be hinged at a
different corner.
The answer is D
ADMISSIONS OFFICE: No. 2, Green Avenue Street, Pocket D-3, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi - 110070
CONTACT: +917290060475/+917290060477
admissions@ashoka.edu.in; financialaid@ashoka.edu.in
