FPSC SST past paper

Correct answer: Multiple-choice questions. Multiple-choice questions have fixed correct answers, so marking does not depend on the marker’s judgment.

• Unstructured essays: Unstructured essays depend heavily on the marker’s judgment.
• Structured essays: Structured essays are more guided but still involve judgment.
• Short answer: Short answers still require the marker to judge acceptable answers.

Correct answer: Survey test. A survey test samples many skills with only a few items each, giving a general picture of performance.

• Diagnostic test: A diagnostic test uses many items per skill to find specific weaknesses.
• Standardized test: A standardized test is defined by uniform administration and scoring, not by item count per skill.
• None of these: “None of these” is incorrect because a survey test is correct.

Correct answer: Mastery test. A mastery test checks whether students have reached a minimum required level of knowledge and skill.

• Survey test: A survey test gives a broad general picture of performance.
• Diagnostic test: A diagnostic test finds specific learning difficulties.
• None of these: “None of these” is incorrect because a mastery test is correct.

Correct answer: Assess. Interviews allow assessors to observe and judge a candidate’s adaptive behaviour.

• Calculate: Calculate refers to working out numbers, not judging behaviour.
• Verify: Verify means confirming something already known, whereas interviews are used to assess it.
• None of these: “None of these” is incorrect because “assess” is correct.

Correct answer: 100. IQ = (mental age ÷ chronological age) × 100, so equal ages give an IQ of 100.

• 90: 90 would mean mental age is below chronological age.
• 110: 110 would mean mental age is above chronological age.
• 120: 120 would mean mental age is well above chronological age.

Correct answer: Syllabus. A syllabus lists the topics to be covered in a subject within a given period.

• Outline: “Outline” is a general word and not the standard term for this document.
• Course: A course is the whole program of study, not just the list of topics.
• None of the above: “None of the above” is incorrect because syllabus is correct.

Correct answer: 25. Percentile rank = (number of scores below + half of the scores equal to the score) ÷ total × 100 = (0 + 0.5) ÷ 2 × 100 = 25.

• 50: 50 would be the percentile rank of a middle score among the group.
• 45: 45 does not follow from the percentile formula.
• None of these: “None of these” is incorrect because 25 is correct.

Correct answer: Meaningful. The stem should present a clear, meaningful problem so the examinee knows what is being asked.

• Large: A stem need not be large; length should match the problem.
• Small: Brevity alone does not make a stem good if it is unclear.
• Relevant: Relevance matters, but a good stem is first of all meaningful and clear.

Correct answer: Stem. The stem is the question or incomplete statement that presents the problem.

• Option: Options are the possible answers.
• Distracter: A distracter is an incorrect option.
• Premise: A premise is a term used in matching items or logical arguments.

Correct answer: Activity method. Activity-based teaching suits elementary science because young children learn best by doing and exploring.

• Lecture method: The lecture method is mostly one-way and passive for young learners.
• Project method: The project method requires longer, more independent work suited to older students.
• Laboratory method: The laboratory method needs more advanced equipment and skills than the elementary stage typically allows.

Correct answer: Assimilation. In Piaget’s theory, assimilation fits new information into existing schemas without changing them.

• Socialization: Socialization is learning the norms of a society.
• Adaptation: Adaptation is the broader process that includes both assimilation and accommodation.
• None of these: “None of these” is incorrect because assimilation is correct.

Correct answer: Teaching. Teaching is imparting knowledge or skill through instruction or example.

• Understanding: Understanding is the learner’s grasp of meaning.
• Learning: Learning is what the learner does, not what the teacher does.
• None of these: “None of these” is incorrect because teaching is correct.

Correct answer: To lead the child. “Pedagogy” comes from the Greek paidagogos, a slave who led children to school, so it means to lead the child.

• To guide the child: “To guide the child” is a loose paraphrase, not the root meaning.
• To educate the child: “To educate the child” describes education in general.
• To understand the child: “To understand the child” describes child study, not the word’s origin.

Correct answer: Span of control. Span of control is the number of subordinates a manager can effectively supervise.

• Power: Power is the ability to influence others, not a count of subordinates.
• Line authority: Line authority is the right to give orders to subordinates.
• None of these: “None of these” is incorrect because span of control is correct.

Correct answer: Thirty days. The Act allows a male employee paternity leave on full pay not exceeding thirty days.

• Seven days: Seven days is the limit under Punjab’s leave rules, not the federal Act.
• Twenty days: Twenty days is not the limit under the federal Act.
• None of these: “None of these” is incorrect because thirty days is correct.

Correct answer: By rewards and punishments. Transactional leaders motivate through exchange: rewards for good performance and corrective action or punishment for poor performance.

• By punishments: Using punishments alone leaves out the rewards side of the exchange.
• By rewards: Using rewards alone leaves out the corrective side of the exchange.
• None of these: “None of these” is incorrect because rewards and punishments is correct.