It sounds a bit ridiculous, doesn’t it? Taking a class to learn how to think. We’ve been doing it since we were toddlers. But there is a massive difference between the “autopilot” thinking we do while making toast and the rigorous, disciplined mental gymnastics required for a university-level Critical and Creative Thinking exam.
Below is the exam paper download link
Past Paper On Introduction To Critical And Creative Thinking For Revision
Above is the exam paper download link
This course is designed to strip away your biases, challenge your assumptions, and force you to look at problems through a prism rather than a mirror. But when the exam clock starts ticking, all those neat theories about “lateral thinking” can feel incredibly abstract.
The most effective way to sharpen your mental blade is to stop reading theory and start solving problems. Below, we’ve tackled the biggest “brain-teasers” of the syllabus, followed by a link to a full past paper for your revision.
FAQ: Sharpening Your Analytical Edge
Q: Is there a simple trick to distinguish between “Critical” and “Creative” thinking in an essay? A: Think of them as the “Judge” and the “Explorer.”
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Critical Thinking (The Judge): This is analytical and vertical. It’s about taking an existing argument, breaking it down, and looking for flaws. It’s skeptical by nature.
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Creative Thinking (The Explorer): This is generative and lateral. It’s about making new connections, breaking patterns, and coming up with “third way” solutions. In your exam, if a question asks for a solution to a social problem, you need to use the explorer to find the idea and the judge to see if it’s actually feasible.
Q: What is “Lateral Thinking,” and how do I demonstrate it on paper? A: Lateral thinking is moving “sideways” instead of “up and down.” While vertical thinking follows the most obvious path, lateral thinking looks for a path no one else noticed. In an exam, if you’re given a logic puzzle, don’t just look at the numbers—look at the context. Mention Edward de Bono (the father of lateral thinking) to show the examiner you’ve done your reading.
Q: I keep getting “Cognitive Biases” mixed up. Which ones are high-yield for revision? A: Focus on the “Big Three”:
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Confirmation Bias: We only look for information that proves us right.
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Availability Heuristic: We overestimate the importance of information that is easy to remember (like news headlines).
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The Sunk Cost Fallacy: We keep doing something just because we’ve already invested time in it, even if it’s failing. If you can identify these in a case study passage, you’re hitting the gold standard for marks.
Q: How do I structure an answer for “Problem Solving” questions? A: Use the IDEAL model. It’s a lifesaver for timed tests:
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Identify the problem.
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Define the goals.
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Explore possible strategies.
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Anticipate outcomes and Act.
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Look back and learn.
The Strategy: How to Use the Past Paper Effectively
Don’t treat this past paper like a multiple-choice quiz. Treat it like a workout.
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The Bias Hunt: Read the argument-based questions and try to find at least three logical fallacies (like Slippery Slope or Post Hoc) before you even look at the answer options.
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Mind Mapping: For the creative sections, use a mind map instead of bullet points. It mimics the way your brain actually makes connections and often leads to more original “creative” answers that markers love.
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The “Why” Test: For every answer you give, ask yourself “Why do I think this?” This helps you catch your own biases before the examiner does.
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Download Your Revision Resources
Ready to put your brain to the test? The best way to build confidence is to see the exact format of the questions you’ll be facing. Use the link below to download a full, comprehensive past paper for your final push.
