12 Days of Christmas GMAT Competition 2025 - Day 2: PulsePoint Gym

Goal is to ensure that members don't reduce upgrades.
Plan: Restrict basic members to use the new equipment during certain timeslots

Hence the author assumes that the restriction will work.

A. Incorrect: This is not an assumption. Why are the members won't upgrade is not relevant.

B. Incorrect: This is opposite to what we are looking at and weakens the argument.
Eliminate

C. Incorrect: Irrelevant and this is not an assumption.

D. Correct: The authors does assume this for the plan to work. The plan otherwise fails.

E. Incorrect: Irrelevant to the conclusion. Eliminate

Option D

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16 Dec 2025, 12:09

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option D, because it is assumed that people prefer to use equipment in convenient time slot only.

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16 Dec 2025, 12:16

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Correct answer is D as plan is that basic member should upgrade to elite membership and restricting them during the convenient time might encourage basic members to buy elite membership.

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16 Dec 2025, 12:31

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The main conclusion is to prevent the reduction of upgrades to elite membership.

A. The cost is not discussed in the argument; it is primarily talking about the benefits that are received as per a particular membership.

B. This is a trap answer. It is weakening the main conclusion, and when you negate the option, it strengthens the argument and hence does the opposite of what is intended.

C. The main conclusion is about preventing the reduction of elite pass upgrades. If we negate the answer choice, we do not know if they would purchase the elite pass.

D. This is exactly the assumption the argument relies on. If we negate the answer choice, it tells us that restricting access won't be necessary for someone to upgrade which breaks the argument.

E. The argument is not comparing this gym with another gym.

Answer. D

Bunuel

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16 Dec 2025, 12:39

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A. Even if that was the case some could still join so not a necessary assumption
B. This is actually a weakener because it means restricting won't matter at all hence incorrect
C. We do not know about that we do not even know if they are other gyms around
D. Correct: If this was not the case then the plan would collapse completely
E. This may or may not have an impact on the move by the facility hence out of scope
Ans D

Bunuel

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(A) Elite memberships are currently too expensive for most basic members. Remains same irrespective of upgradation.
(B) Most basic members prefer to work out during inconvenient time slots anyway. Wrong. If this is true, then the plan has no validity.
(C) Basic members will not respond to the restrictions by switching to another gym. Loss in revenue is not the concerned topic.
(D) Restricting access during convenient time slots will give basic members enough reason to upgrade. Correct. If this is the preferential time, then some may upgrade.
(E) Other gyms in the area do not offer comparable equipment. Irrelevant

Ans D

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16 Dec 2025, 12:47

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Bunuel

A) price is not relevant to the plan
B) this would weaken the argurment
C)negation of this statement -> would imply switching gyms which is not direct affecting the arguemnt
D)negation of this statement -> would weaken the arguement - this can be correct answer
E)other gyms are not relevant to this arguement

hence D

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16 Dec 2025, 13:42

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Ans choice most relevant is only D

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16 Dec 2025, 13:55

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The arguement core basically is since the basic plan is too attractive now to not make people upgrade, restricting the convenient time slots for the basic plan will make people upgrade.

A) Cost & affordability is irrelevant
B) Weakens the conlusion by saying that basic plan members already work out at inconvenient times so restricting the convenient time slots will not affect them.
C) Another gym is irrelevant here, we are considering whether people will upgrade or not
E) Same as above, irrelevant

D) It is the basis on which the arguement depends that restricting the convenient time slots will make people upgrade, negating it will break the conclusion.

Hence Ans D

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16 Dec 2025, 13:59

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Plan: Restrict basic members from using the new equipment during the most convenient time slots.

Objective: To increase upgrades to elite membership

We have to identify assumption on which the plan depends on.

(A) Not Correct. This statement weakens the objective as it makes the membership less preferable for members.

(B) Not Correct. This weakens the plan, since if people prefer working out at inconvenient time, restricting access will not increase upgrades.

(C) Not Correct. This strengthens the objective since if members will switch in response to restrictions, the objective would not be fulfilled.

(D) Correct. In the context of the plan, this statement make the plan reasonable. Hence this is the assumption.

(E) Not Correct. This strengthens the objective since if members will join other gym, the objective would not be fulfilled.

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16 Dec 2025, 14:27

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Plan is to restrict access to basic members from using new equipments during convenient time slots so that elite membership won't decline. If access is given during convenient slots plan will fail as it will reduce elite membership. Hence, D is the only possible assumption so that plan will not fail.

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16 Dec 2025, 14:34

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Lets analyse gyms situation and plan
problem : basic members now have the great equipment. this reduces their need to upgrade to more expensive elite membership

goal : make basic members still want to upgrade to elite

plan : restrict basic members from using new equipment during most convenient times

Hidden assumption - what must be true : for the plan to work, the gym is assuming that basic members will tolerate this restriction and still choose to upgrade rather than simply leave the gym entirely

lets check the options now

option A:This is irrelevant, if they cant afford it, they wont upgrade and plan fails. the plan doesnt assume they cant afford it, it assumes they will upgrade

option B: if this were true the restriction would be pointless and wouldnt motivate any upgrades , it weakens the plan

option C : This is necessary assumption. If a significant number of basic members get angry about restriction and simply leave pulsepoint for another gym, the plain fail sto achieve its goal. For the plan to work , gym must assume that members desire for convenient times will lead them to upgrade not quit

option D : this is a goal of the plan, not the hidden assumption. The question asks what the plan depends on , not what the plan hopes to achieve

option E : this makes the plan more likely to succeed, but its not strictly necessary. Even if other gyms do offer it, plusepoint's plan could still work if members are loyal enough. If members quit over the restriction, the plan fails regardless of what other gyms offer.

Therefor the correct answer is C

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16 Dec 2025, 15:19

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conclusion- restrict basic members from using new equipment during most convenient time slots.
reason- basic area more attractive and risk reducing elite membership.
introduced new equipment to basic area .
so author is thinking if gym dont restrict members during convenient time slots then people will not buy elite membership. so thats why they are restricting it.
A,B,C,E are irrelevant.
only D matches the hidden link

Bunuel

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16 Dec 2025, 19:51

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Bunuel

Premises:
PulsePoint upgraded equipment in basic-members area to match elite zone features
This makes basic membership far more attractive
This risks reducing upgrades to elite memberships

Conclusion/Plan:
Restrict basic members from using new equipment during most convenient time slots to prevent reduction in elite upgrades

The gym's plan assumes that imposing restrictions on basic members will solve the problem of reduced elite upgrades. However, for this plan to work as intended, basic members must actually accept these restrictions and remain at the gym. If they respond by leaving entirely, the plan backfires and PulsePoint loses members altogether rather than preserving elite upgrades.

(A) Elite memberships are currently too expensive for most basic members.
If elite memberships were too expensive, restricting access wouldn't help drive upgrades. However, the plan doesn't necessarily require people to upgrade it just needs to prevent elite membership attractiveness/appeal from declining. This isn't a necessary assumption.

(B) Most basic members prefer to work out during inconvenient time slots anyway.
This weakens the conclusion, So cannot be an assumption

(C) Basic members will not respond to the restrictions by switching to another gym.
This is essential. The entire plan assumes basic members will tolerate the restrictions and stay at PulsePoint. If they leave for competitors, the gym loses revenue entirely and the plan fails catastrophically. The plan depends on member retention despite reduced access.

(D) Restricting access during convenient time slots will give basic members enough reason to upgrade.
This describes one way the plan could succeed, but it's not necessary. The plan could also work by simply making basic membership less attractive relative to elite without necessarily driving upgrades as long as members stay.

(E) Other gyms in the area do not offer comparable equipment.
This would make it less likely for members to leave, but it's not strictly necessary. Members might stay for other reasons (location, community, price) even if competitors have similar equipment.

Correct Answer C

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16 Dec 2025, 20:51

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BG: recent upgrade to basic amenities in gym. Infer: upgrade may make basic membership more attractive than elite and risk mobilizing members to elite memberships.
Plan -> restrict usage at convenient hours so members upgrade to elite membership

Conflicted between C & D
C -> this is required but our argument is about upgrade membership due to restriction.
D -> required and must be true for the plan to succeed.
more aligned towards D.

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16 Dec 2025, 21:26

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The Gym has a problem: Basic membership got too good (better equipment), so nobody wants to pay for Elite anymore.

The Plan: Make Basic membership annoying again (by restricting convenient times).

The Goal: Force people to Upgrade to Elite.

IMO The correct answer is (D).

Here is the breakdown:

The Logic of the Plan:

The Lever: We will take away "Convenient Time Slots" from Basic members.
The Expected Result: Basic members will value those time slots so much that they will agree to pay the extra money for Elite status.

The Necessary Assumption (The Bridge):
For this to work, the gym must assume that the "Pain of Inconvenience" is greater than the "Pain of Paying More."

If the members look at the restriction and say, "Eh, I'll just go at 9 PM to save $50," then the plan fails. The restriction must be a strong enough motivator to force the behavior change.

Option (D) states exactly this:
(D) Restricting access during convenient time slots will give basic members enough reason to upgrade.

The Negation Test:
Negation: Restricting access will NOT give members enough reason to upgrade (i.e., they will just accept the inconvenient times or quit).

Result: If it's not enough reason, they won't upgrade. The plan to "prevent the reduction in upgrades" fails immediately.

Why the others are incorrect
(A) Elite memberships are currently too expensive:
If this were true, the plan would definitely fail. (If they can't afford it, restricting times won't magically make them rich). The argument assumes the opposite: that they can afford it. Since (A) says they can't, it's a weakener, not an assumption.
(B) Prefer inconvenient slots anyway:
If most members like going at 2 AM (inconvenient), then restricting the 6 PM (convenient) slot does nothing. They wouldn't notice. They wouldn't upgrade. The plan would fail. The argument assumes this is False (that they do want convenient times). Since (B) says it is True, it creates a failure scenario.
(C) Will not switch to another gym:
While important, it is not as fundamental as (D).
Scenario: Even if they don't switch gyms (maybe this is the only gym in town), they might just stay Basic and work out late. If they do that, the gym fails to get the upgrades.
(D) is necessary because it forces the Upgrade. (C) only prevents the Exit, but preventing the exit doesn't guarantee the upgrade.
(E) Other gyms/Comparable equipment:
This relates to (C). Even if other gyms have better equipment, if the restriction at PulsePoint isn't annoying enough (D), people will just stay Basic at PulsePoint. The internal logic of the incentive matters more than the external market here.

Bunuel

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16 Dec 2025, 21:29

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1. Equipment in the basic area upgraded to match the features available in the elite zone
2. Basic membership becomes attractive
3. Risks after upgrade - people won't upgrade their memberships from basic to elite
4. To make sure people still upgrade their memberships- the gym will restrict its basic members from using the new equipment during the main time slots

(A) - not a necessary assumption. We already know there are 2 different types of memberships - Eliminate
(B) - most basic members are using the upgraded basic area during non-peak hours, attacks the conclusion itself - Eliminate
(C) - if people do not switch to other gyms, then the conclusion holds, as basic members will upgrade to elite to access the equipment, and this will not lead to the reduction in the member upgrades even after the plan of preventing use is implemented - Correct.
(D) - talks about reasons to upgrade, already mentioned in the passage. Not a necessary assumption. - Eliminate
(E) - We are concerned about people upgrading their memberships - Irrelevant

Bunuel

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16 Dec 2025, 22:00

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D
restricting acces is the assumption made by the author as part of plan to rouse the basic memebers to upgrade to elite mebership.

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16 Dec 2025, 22:00

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I chose option C.

See reasoning below in bold, and notation in highlight

Bunuel

PulsePoint Gym recently upgraded the equipment in the basic-members area so that it now matches many of the features previously available only in the elite zone. This makes the basic membership far more attractive and risks reducing upgrades to elite memberships. To prevent that, PulsePoint plans to restrict basic members from using the new equipment during the most convenient time slots, even though the facility has enough capacity to allow it.

Which of the following is an assumption on which the plan depends?

(A) Elite memberships are currently too expensive for most basic members. | Has nothing to do with the plan at hand
(B) Most basic members prefer to work out during inconvenient time slots anyway. | If basic member prefer to workour during inconvenient times, restricting the equipment during convenient times would do.... nothing
(C) Basic members will not respond to the restrictions by switching to another gym. | If members switch gyms becuase of the restriction, they don't have anyone to sell the elite membership upgrades to...
(D) Restricting access during convenient time slots will give basic members enough reason to upgrade. | This what PulsePoint hopes to accomplish...
(E) Other gyms in the area do not offer comparable equipment. | This would already have been the case prior to restrictions, and not really relevant to the risks of reducing membership upgrades