Problem Solving — Prelims Strategy

Prelims Strategy

Identify what the question asks you to optimise and which conditions are mandatory. Underline deadlines, budget ceilings, safety requirements and legal constraints. Exclude proposals that cannot satisfy these before comparing desirable features. Do not treat a customary practice as legally fixed unless the scenario says so, and do not treat an explicit rule as optional because another option sounds efficient.

Separate observations from interpretations. A queue shows unmet demand over time; it does not alone identify why capacity is insufficient. If the question asks for the next information to collect, choose evidence that tests the proposed cause directly. Frequency and duration of repeated checks are more discriminating for that hypothesis than general expenditure totals.

For evaluation questions, distinguish an observed outcome from causal attribution. Ask whether demand, case mix or another intervention changed too. Match the measures to the objective: timeliness needs waiting-time evidence, correctness needs error evidence, and equitable service may need distributional measures. Avoid choosing an option that solves a different problem or assumes facts beyond the scenario.