Executive Assessment

Is the positive integer p prime? (1) p is not divisible by 2 or 3. (2) p = 11

• A.Statement (1) alone is sufficient, but statement (2) alone is not sufficient.
• B.Statement (2) alone is sufficient, but statement (1) alone is not sufficient. ✓
• C.Both statements together are sufficient, but neither alone is sufficient. (your answer)
• D.Each statement alone is sufficient.
• E.Statements (1) and (2) together are not sufficient.

Explanation. (1) Not divisible by 2 or 3 doesn't rule out other composite numbers like 25 or 35 — not sufficient. (2) p = 11 is a specific, known prime — sufficient by itself. Answer: B.

A retailer notes that stores with loyalty programs have 15% higher average customer spend than stores without such programs, and concludes that launching a loyalty program company-wide will raise average spend by 15%. Which of the following, if true, most weakens this conclusion?

• A.Stores with loyalty programs tend to be located in higher-income neighborhoods, which independently drives higher spending. ✓
• B.Loyalty programs are inexpensive to administer.
• C.Customer satisfaction scores are similar across both store types.
• D.The retailer has 200 stores nationwide.
• E.Loyalty program members receive email newsletters.

Explanation. This introduces a confound (neighborhood income) that could explain the spending difference independent of the loyalty program itself, undermining the causal claim.

A pharmaceutical executive argues: 'Our new drug reduced symptoms in 70% of trial participants, while the placebo helped only 40%. Since this difference is so large, the drug must be effective for the general population.' Which of the following best describes a weakness in this argument?

• A.It does not report the exact number of participants in the trial.
• B.It generalizes from a trial population to the general population without addressing whether the trial sample was representative. ✓
• C.It does not mention the drug's cost.
• D.It assumes the placebo effect does not exist.
• E.It fails to name the specific symptoms studied.

Explanation. The argument extrapolates trial results to the 'general population' without establishing that the trial sample represents that broader population — a classic sampling generalization gap.

A portfolio grew from $120,000 to $150,000 in one year. What was the percent increase?

• A.20% (your answer)
• B.25% ✓
• C.30%
• D.33%
• E.15%

Explanation. Increase = 30,000. Percent increase = 30,000/120,000 = 0.25 = 25%.

A department's budget B is split between salaries S and operations O, where B = S + O. Is S > 60% of B? (1) O < 0.4B (2) S = $330,000 and B = $500,000

• A.Statement (1) alone is sufficient, but statement (2) alone is not sufficient.
• B.Statement (2) alone is sufficient, but statement (1) alone is not sufficient.
• C.Both statements together are sufficient, but neither alone is sufficient. (your answer)
• D.Each statement alone is sufficient. ✓
• E.Statements (1) and (2) together are not sufficient.

Explanation. (1) O < 0.4B means S = B − O > 0.6B, so S is always > 60% of B — sufficient. (2) S/B = 330,000/500,000 = 66%, which directly answers 'yes' — also sufficient on its own. (On Data Sufficiency the two statements never contradict each other.) Each statement alone is sufficient: D.

A manufacturer plans to cut costs by switching to a cheaper supplier for a key component. Which of the following, if true, raises the most doubt about whether this change will actually reduce total costs?

• A.The cheaper component has a higher defect rate, increasing warranty and rework costs. ✓
• B.The current supplier has been used for ten years.
• C.The cheaper supplier is located in a different country.
• D.The component in question is a small percentage of total product cost.
• E.The manufacturer has switched suppliers before without issue.

Explanation. Higher defect rates could offset or exceed the unit-cost savings through rework and warranty costs, directly undermining the total-cost-reduction goal.

If a team completes 3/8 of a project in 6 days at a constant rate, how many total days will the full project take?

• A.14
• B.15
• C.16 ✓
• D.18
• E.20

Explanation. 6 days = 3/8 of the project, so 1/8 takes 2 days, and the full project (8/8) takes 8 × 2 = 16 days.

A sortable table lists four product lines with 2025 revenue and profit margin: Line A ($4.2M, 18%), Line B ($3.1M, 24%), Line C ($5.6M, 12%), Line D ($2.8M, 30%).

Which product line generated the highest total profit (revenue × margin)?

• A.Line A
• B.Line B (your answer)
• C.Line C
• D.Line D ✓

Explanation. Profits: A = 4.2×0.18=$0.756M; B = 3.1×0.24=$0.744M; C = 5.6×0.12=$0.672M; D = 2.8×0.30=$0.84M. Line D has the highest total profit.

A regional bank found that branches offering extended weekend hours saw a 10% increase in new account openings compared to branches with standard hours. The bank concludes that extending weekend hours at all branches will increase new accounts by 10% company-wide. Which assumption underlies this conclusion?

• A.Customers value convenience over interest rates.
• B.The branches that already offered extended hours are representative of all branches in relevant respects, such as location and customer base. ✓
• C.Weekend staffing costs are lower than weekday staffing costs.
• D.New account openings are the bank's most important performance metric.
• E.Extended hours will not affect employee satisfaction.

Explanation. The conclusion relies on generalizing the result from the extended-hours branches to all branches, which only holds if those branches are representative — an unstated assumption.

An executive invests $10,000 at 6% simple annual interest. After how many whole years will the investment first exceed $13,300?

• A.4
• B.5
• C.6 ✓
• D.7
• E.8

Explanation. Simple interest adds $600/year. Balance after n years = 10,000 + 600n. After 5 years: 13,000 (not yet over 13,300). After 6 years: 13,600, the first year the balance exceeds $13,300.

A sortable table lists five employees' billable hours and hourly rate for the month: Priya (140 hrs, $180/hr), Marco (115 hrs, $210/hr), Deepa (160 hrs, $150/hr), Yusuf (100 hrs, $240/hr), Elena (150 hrs, $170/hr).

Which employee generated the second-highest total billing for the month?

• A.Priya ✓
• B.Marco (your answer)
• C.Deepa
• D.Yusuf
• E.Elena

Explanation. Totals: Priya 140×180=$25,200; Marco 115×210=$24,150; Deepa 160×150=$24,000; Yusuf 100×240=$24,000; Elena 150×170=$25,500. Elena is first, Priya second.

A bar chart shows customer satisfaction scores (out of 100) for five product support channels: Phone 72, Email 65, Live Chat 81, Social Media 58, Self-Service Portal 76.

What is the average satisfaction score across all five channels, rounded to the nearest whole number?

• A.68
• B.70 ✓
• C.71
• D.72 (your answer)
• E.74

Explanation. Sum = 72+65+81+58+76 = 352. Average = 352/5 = 70.4, which rounds to 70.

Executive coaching has traditionally been reserved for senior leaders, delivered through one-on-one sessions with a trained coach over months or years. In recent years, however, organizations have begun deploying 'coaching at scale' models, using shorter group sessions and digital platforms to extend coaching-style feedback to middle managers. Proponents argue this democratizes access to development resources previously available only to the few. Critics counter that the personalized, trust-based relationship central to effective coaching cannot be replicated in a group or digital format, and that scaled programs risk becoming superficial exercises that generate activity without meaningfully changing behavior.

The passage suggests that critics of 'coaching at scale' are primarily concerned that:

• A.The programs cost too much to implement broadly.
• B.Middle managers do not want additional training.
• C.The personalized relationship central to effective coaching may not survive in group or digital formats, reducing real behavioral impact. ✓
• D.Senior leaders will lose access to one-on-one coaching.
• E.Digital platforms are too difficult for managers to use.

Explanation. The passage states critics worry the personalized, trust-based relationship 'cannot be replicated' at scale and that programs may become superficial without real behavior change — matching C directly.

Source 1 (Policy memo): 'Employees may carry over up to 10 unused vacation days into the next year.' Source 2 (HR record): 'As of December 31, Employee X had 14 unused vacation days.'

Based on both sources, how many of Employee X's unused vacation days will be forfeited (not carried over)?

• A.0
• B.2 (your answer)
• C.4 ✓
• D.6
• E.10

Explanation. Policy caps carryover at 10 days. Employee X had 14 unused days, so 14 − 10 = 4 days are forfeited.

Executive coaching has traditionally been reserved for senior leaders, delivered through one-on-one sessions with a trained coach over months or years. In recent years, however, organizations have begun deploying 'coaching at scale' models, using shorter group sessions and digital platforms to extend coaching-style feedback to middle managers. Proponents argue this democratizes access to development resources previously available only to the few. Critics counter that the personalized, trust-based relationship central to effective coaching cannot be replicated in a group or digital format, and that scaled programs risk becoming superficial exercises that generate activity without meaningfully changing behavior.

Which of the following best describes the structure of the passage?

• A.A historical account followed by a prediction.
• B.A description of a traditional practice, a newer alternative, and the competing views on that alternative. ✓
• C.A single argument supported by three examples.
• D.A comparison of two companies' coaching programs.
• E.A rebuttal of a study's methodology.

Explanation. The passage moves from traditional one-on-one coaching, to the newer 'at scale' model, to both proponents' and critics' views — matching answer B's structure.

If f(x) = x² − 3x and f(k) = 10, which of the following could be the value of k?

• A.2
• B.3
• C.5 ✓
• D.7
• E.8

Explanation. x² − 3x = 10 → x² − 3x − 10 = 0 → (x−5)(x+2) = 0 → x = 5 or x = −2. Among the choices, 5 works.

Executive coaching has traditionally been reserved for senior leaders, delivered through one-on-one sessions with a trained coach over months or years. In recent years, however, organizations have begun deploying 'coaching at scale' models, using shorter group sessions and digital platforms to extend coaching-style feedback to middle managers. Proponents argue this democratizes access to development resources previously available only to the few. Critics counter that the personalized, trust-based relationship central to effective coaching cannot be replicated in a group or digital format, and that scaled programs risk becoming superficial exercises that generate activity without meaningfully changing behavior.

Which of the following, if true, would most directly support the proponents' position described in the passage?

• A.A study finds that middle managers in a digital coaching-at-scale program showed measurable, sustained improvements in team engagement scores. ✓
• B.A survey shows senior leaders prefer one-on-one coaching to group formats.
• C.A company reports that its coaching-at-scale program costs less than traditional coaching.
• D.Most middle managers have never received any coaching before.
• E.Digital platforms are increasingly used across many HR functions. (your answer)

Explanation. Proponents claim scaled coaching democratizes access to real development; evidence of measurable, sustained behavioral improvement from the scaled model (A) most directly supports that position, addressing critics' core objection.

A consulting team bills $250/hour for senior staff and $150/hour for junior staff. On a project requiring 40 total hours, the client's budget caps total billing at $8,000. What is the maximum number of senior-staff hours allowed?

• A.18
• B.20 ✓
• C.22
• D.24
• E.26

Explanation. Let s = senior hours, (40−s) = junior hours. 250s + 150(40−s) ≤ 8,000 → 250s + 6,000 − 150s ≤ 8,000 → 100s ≤ 2,000 → s ≤ 20.

Choose the option that most improves the sentence: 'The board approved the merger, however several shareholders raised concerns about the valuation.'

• A.the merger, however several shareholders
• B.the merger; however, several shareholders ✓
• C.the merger however, several shareholders
• D.the merger, and however several shareholders
• E.the merger. However several shareholders

Explanation. 'However' joining two independent clauses needs a semicolon before it and a comma after it: '...the merger; however, several shareholders...' — option B is the only grammatically correct construction.

Choose the option that most improves the sentence: 'Neither the CFO nor the regional directors was aware of the discrepancy until the audit.'

• A.was aware of the discrepancy
• B.were aware of the discrepancy ✓
• C.was being aware of the discrepancy
• D.have been aware of the discrepancy
• E.was aware about the discrepancy

Explanation. In 'neither...nor' constructions, the verb agrees with the nearer subject — here 'the regional directors' (plural) — so the verb must be 'were,' not 'was.'

Choose the option that most improves the sentence: 'Having reviewed the quarterly figures, it was decided by the committee to postpone the expansion.'

• A.Having reviewed the quarterly figures, it was decided by the committee to postpone the expansion.
• B.Having reviewed the quarterly figures, the committee decided to postpone the expansion. ✓
• C.The quarterly figures having been reviewed, it was decided by the committee to postpone the expansion.
• D.Having reviewed the quarterly figures, postponing the expansion was decided by the committee.
• E.It was decided by the committee, having reviewed the quarterly figures, to postpone the expansion.

Explanation. The opening modifier 'Having reviewed...' must be followed by the noun doing the reviewing. Only B places 'the committee' immediately after the modifier, fixing the dangling modifier and awkward passive voice of the original.

A manager's annual bonus is 8% of her $95,000 salary. What is the bonus, rounded to the nearest dollar?

• A.$6,600
• B.$7,200
• C.$7,600 ✓
• D.$8,200
• E.$9,500

Explanation. 8% of 95,000 = 0.08 × 95,000 = 7,600.

If 5y + 3 = 2y + 18, what is y?

• A.3
• B.4
• C.5 ✓
• D.6
• E.7

Explanation. 5y + 3 = 2y + 18 → 3y = 15 → y = 5.

If 3(x − 2) = 2(x + 5), what is x?

• A.10
• B.12
• C.14
• D.16 ✓
• E.18

Explanation. 3x − 6 = 2x + 10 → x = 16.

A company's headcount grew from 200 to 250 employees, while revenue grew from $20 million to $30 million over the same period. By what factor did revenue per employee change?

• A.1.0x
• B.1.1x
• C.1.2x ✓
• D.1.3x
• E.1.5x

Explanation. Revenue/employee before = 20M/200 = 100,000. After = 30M/250 = 120,000. Factor = 120,000/100,000 = 1.2x.

Machine A produces 40 units/hour and Machine B produces 60 units/hour. Machine A runs alone for 2 hours, then both machines run together until a total of 500 units is produced. How long do both machines run together?

• A.3.6 hours
• B.4.0 hours
• C.4.2 hours ✓
• D.4.5 hours
• E.5.0 hours

Explanation. Machine A alone for 2 hours produces 80 units, leaving 420 units. Combined rate = 100 units/hour. Time = 420/100 = 4.2 hours.