Question 63·Hard·Command of Evidence
Self-Reported Versus Measured Smartphone Battery Health and Resulting Performance Issues
| Age group | Average self-reported battery health (% of original capacity) | Average lab-measured battery health (% of original capacity) | Incidence of unplanned shutdowns (per 100 users per month) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18–29 | 91 | 78 | 5.4 |
| 30–49 | 88 | 82 | 3.1 |
| 50–64 | 85 | 83 | 2.7 |
| 65+ | 80 | 79 | 2.5 |
After surveying more than 4,000 smartphone owners, a consumer-electronics research group concluded that younger users tend to overestimate the health of their phone batteries, which leads to the highest rate of unexpected device shutdowns in that population.
Which choice best describes data from the table that support the researchers’ conclusion?
For “Which choice best describes data that support the conclusion?” questions, start by underlining the who, what, and trend in the conclusion (for example: which group, what behavior, and what outcome). Before looking at the choices in detail, scan the table or graph to find the row or bar that best fits that pattern (such as the largest gap or highest value). Then choose the option that accurately reports those specific numbers and matches all parts of the conclusion, while eliminating answers that talk about the wrong group, give a weaker or different pattern, or leave out a key part of the claim.
Hints
Break down the researchers’ conclusion
Underline the key ideas in the conclusion: it’s about younger users, overestimating battery health, and having the highest rate of unexpected device shutdowns. Any supporting data must show all of these pieces together.
Compare self-reported and measured values by age
Look at each age row and compare the self-reported battery health with the lab-measured number. Which age group has the largest difference between these two numbers?
Check the shutdown rates
Now focus on the "Incidence of unplanned shutdowns" column. Which age group has the highest number there, and which answer choice accurately reports both that group’s overestimation and its shutdown rate?
Step-by-step Explanation
Restate what the question is asking for
The researchers’ conclusion makes two claims:
- Who? Younger users.
- What pattern? They overestimate their battery health more than others, and this is linked to the highest rate of unexpected shutdowns.
So the correct answer must describe data showing both big overestimation for younger users and the highest shutdown rate for that same group.
Find which age group overestimates battery health the most
Compare self-reported vs. measured battery health for each age group by finding the difference (self-reported minus measured):
- 18–29: percentage points
- 30–49: percentage points
- 50–64: percentage points
- 65+: percentage point
The youngest group (18–29) has by far the largest gap between what they report and what the lab measures, so they overestimate the most.
Find which age group has the highest shutdown rate
Now compare the "Incidence of unplanned shutdowns" column:
- 18–29: 5.4
- 30–49: 3.1
- 50–64: 2.7
- 65+: 2.5
Again, the 18–29 group has the highest number of unplanned shutdowns, matching the second part of the conclusion.
Match the correct data description to the answer choices
We need the choice that (1) focuses on the 18–29 group, (2) mentions that their self-reported battery health is much higher than the measured value (a 13-point gap), and (3) notes that they have the most unplanned shutdowns (5.4 per 100 users). The choice that does all of this is:
For users aged 18–29, the average self-reported battery health (91%) is 13 percentage points higher than the lab-measured value (78%), and this group also experiences the most unplanned shutdowns (5.4 per 100 users).