There are two types of classification of item questions in the exam.

• The first is where there are multiple attributes and then you are to identify one thing with the attributes requested (Type 1)
• The second is where they ask you to provide a total number of things with attribute (Type 2).

An attribute is a particular characteristic of something. For example: I have the attribute of having black hair and brown eyes. Elsa has the attribute of cold fingers and blond hair.

Tips to remember in this are:

• "Minimum possible number", Tells you some attributes, "only has either" also implies that there could be a "both A & B".

Here is the process for the two types of questions:

Type 1

• Identify the question within the information.
• Plot out a table with one row of attributes and one column label of other attributes OR Isolate who's out!
• Tick the right boxes based on your reading
• From the question, identify the correct co-ordinate 'tick' and find your answer.

Table Set Up Example

Type 2

• Identify the question within the information. -What do you need to find?
• Understand what the attributes are and how you will be organising them. Organise them in a table.
• Tick the right boxes based on your reading of information and your reasoning.
• From the question, identify the correct co-ordinate 'tick' or number of co-ordinate 'ticks' and find your answer.

Table Set Up Example

The video will go through the below seven examples:

In a female beauty pageant there are five remaining finalists. Finalist 4 is one of the three finalists with long nails and Finalist 5 is tall. Finalist 1 has short nails and is a brunette. Finalist 2 has dark skin with the same colour hair as Finalist 3 who is blonde.

A short woman with long nails, brown hair and dark skin is the winner of the pageant. Who can it be?

A: Finalist 1 B: Finalist 2 C: Finalist 3 D: Finalist 4 E: Finalist 5

There are five students leading a protest. Student 5 has the same gender as Student 4. Student 1 has no shirt on and has dreadlocks. Student 3 is not carrying anything and has clean hair and is one of three male students. Student 2 is quiet and is wearing the same red t-shirt as Student 4 who is female and bears a placard.

A male, placard bearing protester wearing a red t-shirt is arrested. Who can it be?

A: Student 1 B: Student 2 C: Student 3 D: Student 4 E: Student 5

Five toddlers are in a swim class. Toddler 2 is heavier, with dark hair. Toddler 1 is male and thin, with the same colour hair as Toddler 4, who has purple hair and wears a swimming cap. Baby 3 is one of the three female babies and Baby 5 wears flippers and is heavier. All babies wear swimsuits and at least one of the females wears a swimming cap.

A thin, black haired toddler wearing a swimsuit is awarded 'Most Improved'. Who can it be?

A: Toddler 1 B: Toddler 2 C: Toddler 3 D: Toddler 4 E: Toddler 5

Frank has a certain number of cactus plants. There are an equal number of those with flowers and those with spikes. Of the four barrel cactus each has either flowers or spikes. Both columnar cactus have spikes. Two barrel cactus have flowers. There are four plants with spikes and four plants with flowers.

What is the minimum possible number of plants on Frank's balcony?

A: 5 B: 6 C: 7 D: 8 E: 9 or more

I need to assemble a team of lawyers. There are four lawyers who practice finance law and five who practice criminal law. One of the female lawyers only practices in criminal law.

As this is a money laundering case, I need one more lawyer who specialises in criminal law over the number of finance lawyers. What is the minimum possible number of lawyers do I need on my team?

A: 5 B: 6 C: 7 D: 8 E: 9 or more

There are a number of guests in a limosine. There are five guests wearing rings and six guests wearing necklaces. Both guests wearing blue are wearing necklaces only and another wearing red is wearing a ring only. There is the same number of guest wearing red, yellow and blue. One guests wears green.

What is the minimum of guests in the limosine?

A: 5 B: 6 C: 7 D: 8 E: 9 or more

I have a lolly jar with a certain number lollies inside. There are six lollies that have sprinkles on them and four who have only sugar dusting or sprinkles. There are an equal number of green lollies as there are to purple lollies. Three green lollies have sugar dusting and three purple lollies have sugar dusting too. There are two green lollies with just sugar dusting.

What is the minimum possible number of lollies in my lolly jar?

A: 5 B: 6 C: 7 D: 8 E: 9 or more

Key Rules to remember:

• Follow the process
• Be clear on the particular attributes and whether someone has the OR or AND. For example, I have black hair and brown eyes. Nina has black hair or brown eyes.
• Have a system to organise attribute information so that everything is clear. A table works well.

Now it's time to do your assignment.

1. Download the assignment question here.
2. Print it out or if you want to do it electronically, save it.
3. Complete the questions to it.
4. Then check the solutions on the video below.
5. If you want the written answers (instead of the video), you can download them here.