Which of the following skills is NOT directly assessed by the CARS section?

The choice that is NOT directly assessed by the CARS section is mathematical problem-solving skills. The CARS section focuses on evaluating reading comprehension, critical analysis, and reasoning abilities primarily through the analysis of complex texts, including literary passages and argumentative essays.

In this section, test-takers read various passages and are tasked with understanding the main ideas, identifying the author's tone, and analyzing the arguments presented. This process inherently requires skills in comprehension of literary texts and understanding context and tone, as well as critical analysis of arguments. However, mathematical problem-solving skills are not part of the skill set measured in the CARS section. The focus here is strictly on verbal reasoning and the ability to interpret and evaluate written material, making mathematical skills irrelevant to the assessment.