Course of Action — Mains Strategy

Mains Strategy

These are written reasoning exercises, not a descriptive component of the CSAT examination. Begin by defining the decision in one sentence: who must act, what harm must be addressed and which facts remain uncertain. Avoid a long introduction about governance that does not help choose among the available responses.

Develop the answer around two or three plausible courses of action. For each, explain its benefit and its limitation under the stated conditions. A service suspension may reduce exposure but disrupt access; continued operation may preserve access but leave a credible hazard untreated. An interim alternative with prompt inspection can sometimes balance those concerns, but only if the problem makes that alternative feasible.

State the recommended sequence, including an immediate step, a way to obtain reliable evidence and a review point. Explain what finding would justify relaxing, extending or changing the measure. Conclude with the governing principle applied to the facts: necessary protection with accountable, proportionate implementation. The aim is an auditable chain of reasoning rather than a list of attractive administrative slogans.