The Fact, Inference and Judgement section came as a bolt from the blue in the 2006 CAT paper catching many students by surprise. Of course, those were the days when the CAT paper was unpredictable and the mystery element made solving the exam all the more fun. OK, enough of the nostalgia. Let’s move on to the definitions, shall we?
Definitions:
Fact: This deals with information which can be easily verified. Usually these are present in the form of figures, statistics, etc. without any opinion attached. Thus, if a statement is easily verifiable, it can be easily identified as a fact.
Inference: This is a logical conclusion usually based on facts. They are conclusions drawn about the unknown, on the basis of the known.
Inference = Fact + Conclusion drawn on the basis of the fact
Judgement: A judgement, as the name suggests, is an expression of opinion. The opinions usually imply approval or disapproval of persons, situations, etc.
A judgement closely resembles an inferences and this is where a CAT candidate usually makes an error mistaking one for the other. The main difference between both is that in an inference, the conclusion is usually easily and logically derivable from the fact. This is not the case in a judgement which is more of an opinion on the fact.
Examples:
To make things clearer let’s move on to some examples. Here’s one from CAT 2006:
Question:
1. According to all statistical indications, the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan has managed to keep pace with its ambitious goals.
2. The Mid-day Meal Scheme has been a significant incentive for the poor to send their little ones to school thus establishing the vital link between healthy bodies and healthy minds.
3. Only about 13 million children in the age group of 6 to 14 years out of school.
4. The goal of universalization of elementary education has to be a pre-requisite for the evolution and development of our country.
(1) IIFJ (2) JIIJ (3) IJFJ (4) IJFI (5) JIFI
Solution:
Let’s go through each statement
The first statement is as blatant an inference as there can be. The first part of the sentence i.e. ’According to all statistical indications’ is the fact on which the second part of the sentence is inferred. This statement says that on the basis of a fact, the conclusion can be drawn that the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan has managed to keep pace with its ambitious goals. Thus, this can easily be marked as an inference.
The second statement is a judgement as the statement clearly indicates an approval of the Mid-day meal scheme. Also, this doesn’t seem to be based on any fact in the statement. Hence, this can be marked as a judgement
The third statement is again obviously a fact as this is a statistic which can easily be verified.
The fourth statement is a judgement as the words ‘has to be a pre-requisite’ indicate an opinion about something.
Let’s look at another question from CAT 2006:
Question:
1. We should not be hopelessly addicted to an erroneous belief that corruption in India is caused by the crookedness of Indians
2. The truth is that we have more red tape – we take eighty-nine days to start a small business, Australians take two.
3. Red tape leads to corruption and distorts a people’s character.
4. Every red tape procedure is a point of contact with an official, and such contacts have the potential to become opportunities for money to change hands.
(1) JFIF (2) JFJJ (3) JIJF (4) IFJF (5) JFJI
Solution:
The first statement is a judgement. The words ‘we should not’ clearly indicates an opinion of the person.
The second statement is a fact as the entire statement can be verified easily.
The third statement is again a judgement. Red tape leads to corruption indicates an opinion and is not based on any fact in the statement.
The fourth statement is an inference. The first part of the statement is the verifiable part and the second part of the statement is derived/inferred from the first part.
Strategy:
An easy strategy for dealing with FIJ questions is as follows:
1) Identify the facts among the statements. These are the easiest to find. Ensure that the entire statement should be verifiable
2) Eliminate the answer options where the statement found is not a fact
3) Identify the easy inferences or judgements among the remaining sentences
4) Eliminate the answer options again based on the ones which don’t fit
This is the easiest and the fastest way of solving the questions.
