FPSC SST Past paper 2024

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: 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: 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: 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.

Correct answer: Teacher training technique. Micro teaching is a teacher-training technique in which a trainee teaches a short lesson to a small group and receives feedback.

• Student assessment: It is not a method of assessing students.
• Curriculum development: It is not a curriculum development process.
• Classroom management: It is not a classroom management method.

Correct answer: Assessment. Assessment is the broadest term, covering tests, measurement, and other ways of gathering information about learning.

• Measurement: Measurement is narrower and gives numerical values.
• Testing: Testing is the narrowest and refers to administering tests.
• None of these: “None of these” is incorrect because assessment is the most inclusive.

Correct answer: How good. Evaluation makes a value judgment about quality, so it answers “how good?”.

• How well: “How well” is close, but the standard distinction is that evaluation answers “how good”.
• How much: “How much” is answered by measurement.
• None of these: “None of these” is incorrect because “how good” is correct.

Correct answer: How much. Measurement assigns numbers to quantify a characteristic, so it answers “how much?”.

• How well: “How well” involves a quality judgment and relates to evaluation.
• How good: “How good” is answered by evaluation.
• None of these: “None of these” is incorrect because “how much” is correct.

Correct answer: Simulation. In simulation, students take part in realistic situations and learn directly through experience.

• Assimilation: Assimilation is a Piagetian process, not a teaching method.
• Lecture method: The lecture method is mostly passive.
• None of these: “None of these” is incorrect because simulation is correct.

Correct answer: Applied Research. Applied research uses theories and findings to solve practical problems.

• Pedagogy: Pedagogy is the art and science of teaching, not a research type.
• Descriptive: Descriptive research describes conditions or characteristics.
• None of these: “None of these” is incorrect because applied research is correct.

Correct answer: Society. A curriculum is designed to reflect and transmit the values, beliefs, and culture of the society it serves.

• Home: Home culture is only one small part of what the curriculum reflects.
• School: The school is the place where the curriculum is delivered, not the culture it mainly reflects.
• Area: An area is too narrow; the curriculum reflects the wider society.

Correct answer: Intentional Teachers. Intentional teachers act purposefully and keep reflecting on the goals they and their students are trying to achieve.

• Reflective Teachers: Reflective teachers focus on thinking critically about their practice, not mainly on goals.
• Qualified Teachers: Qualified teachers are defined by certification and training.
• None of these: “None of these” is incorrect because “intentional teachers” is correct.

Correct answer: Synthesis. Synthesis (creating) is combining elements or ideas to form something new.

• Application: Application is using knowledge in a new situation.
• Analysis: Analysis is breaking material into parts.
• Evaluation: Evaluation is making judgments using criteria.