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1. Explain what you understand by

(a) a population,
(1)

(b) a statistic.
(1)

A researcher took a sample of 100 voters from a certain town and asked them who they would
vote for in an election. The proportion who said they would vote for Dr Smith was 35%.

(c) State the population and the statistic in this case.

(2)

(d) Explain what you understand by the sampling distribution of this statistic.
(1)
(Total 5 marks)

2. A bag contains a large number of coins. It contains only 1p and 2p coins in the ratio 1:3

(a) Find the mean μ and the variance σ2 of the values of this population of coins.
(3)

A random sample of size 3 is taken from the bag.

(b) List all the possible samples.

(2)

(c) Find the sampling distribution of the mean value of the samples.
(6)
(Total 11 marks)

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3. A random sample X1, X2, ... Xn is taken from a population with unknown mean μ and unknown
variance σ2. A statistic Y is based on this sample.

(a) Explain what you understand by the statistic Y.

(2)

(b) Explain what you understand by the sampling distribution of Y.

(1)

(c) State, giving a reason which of the following is not a statistic based on this sample.

n
( X i – X )2 n
 Xi – µ 
2 n
(i) ∑
i =1 n
(ii) ∑
i =l

 σ 
 (iii) ∑X
i =l
i
2

(2)
(Total 5 marks)

4. (a) Explain what you understand by a census.

(1)

Each cooker produced at GT Engineering is stamped with a unique serial number. GT

Engineering produces cookers in batches of 2000. Before selling them, they test a random
sample of 5 to see what electric current overload they will take before breaking down.

(b) Give one reason, other than to save time and cost, why a sample is taken rather than a
census.
(1)

(c) Suggest a suitable sampling frame from which to obtain this sample.
(1)

(d) Identify the sampling units.

(1)
(Total 4 marks)

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5. Before introducing a new rule the secretary of a golf club decided to find out how members
might react to this rule.

(a) Explain why the secretary decided to take a random sample of club members rather than
ask all the members.
(1)

(b) Suggest a suitable sampling frame.

(1)

(c) Identify the sampling units.

(1)
(Total 3 marks)

6. A bag contains a large number of coins. Half of them are 1p coins, one third are 2p coins and
the remainder are 5p coins.

(a) Find the mean and variance of the value of the coins.
(4)

A random sample of 2 coins is chosen from the bag.

(b) List all the possible samples that can be drawn.

(3)

(c) Find the sampling distribution of the mean value of these samples.
(6)
(Total 13 marks)

7. Explain what you understand by

(a) a sampling unit,

(1)

(b) a sampling frame,

(1)

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(c) a sampling distribution.

(2)
(Total 4 marks)

8. (a) Explain what you understand by (i) a population and (ii) a sampling frame.
(2)

The population and the sampling frame may not be the same.

(b) Explain why this might be the case.

(1)

(c) Give an example, justifying your choices, to illustrate when you might use

(i) a census,

(ii) a sample.
(4)
(Total 7 marks)

9. Explain briefly what you understand by

(a) a sampling frame,

(1)

(b) a statistic.
(2)
(Total 3 marks)

10. A large dental practice wishes to investigate the level of satisfaction of its patients.

(a) Suggest a suitable sampling frame for the investigation.

(1)

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(b) Identify the sampling units.

(1)

(c) State one advantage and one disadvantage of using a sample survey rather than a census.
(2)

(d) Suggest a problem that might arise with the sampling frame when selecting patients.
(1)
(Total 5 marks)

11. A magazine has a large number of subscribers who each pay a membership fee that is due on
January 1st each year. Not all subscribers pay their fee by the due date. Based on
correspondence from the subscribers, the editor of the magazine believes that 40% of
subscribers wish to change the name of the magazine. Before making this change the editor
decides to carry out a sample survey to obtain the opinions of the subscribers. He uses only
those members who have paid their fee on time.

(a) Define the population associated with the magazine.

(1)

(b) Suggest a suitable sampling frame for the survey.

(1)

(c) Identify the sampling units.

(1)

(d) Give one advantage and one disadvantage that would have resulted from the editor using
a census rather than a sample survey.
(2)

As a pilot study the editor took a random sample of 25 subscribers.

(e) Assuming that the editor’s belief is correct, find the probability that exactly 10 of these
subscribers agreed with changing the name.
(3)

In fact only 6 subscribers agreed to the name being changed.

(f) Stating your hypotheses clearly test, at the 5% level of significance, whether or not the
percentage agreeing to the change is less that the editor believes.
(5)

The full survey is to be carried out using 200 randomly chosen subscribers.

(g) Again assuming the editor’s belief to be correct and using a suitable approximation, find
the probability that in this sample there will be least 71 but fewer than 83 subscribers who
agree to the name being changed.
(7)
(Total 20 marks)

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12. An athletics teacher has kept careful records over the past 20 years of results from school sports
days. There are always 10 competitors in the javelin competition. Each competitor is allowed 3
attempts and the teacher has a record of the distances thrown by each competitor at each
attempt. The random variable D represents the greatest distance thrown by each competitor and
the random variable A represents the number of the attempt in which the competitor achieved
their greatest distance.

(a) State which of the two random variables D or A is continuous.

(1)

A new athletics coach wishes to take a random sample of the records of 36 javelin competitors.

(b) Specify a suitable sampling frame and explain how such a sample could be taken.
(2)

The coach assumes that P(A = 2) = 1, and is therefore surprised to find that 20 of the 36
3
competitors in the sample achieved their greatest distance on their second attempt.

1
Using a suitable approximation, and assuming that P(A = 2) = 3
,

(c) find the probability that at least 20 of the competitors achieved their greatest distance on
their second attempt.
(6)

1
(d) Comment on the assumption that P(A = 2) = 3
.
(2)
(Total 11 marks)

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1. (a) A population is collection of all items B1 1

Note
B1 – collection/group all items – need to have /imply all eg
entire/complete/every

(b) (A random variable) that is a function of the sample which contains B1 1

no unknown quantities/parameters.
Note
B1 – needs function/calculation(o.e.) of the sample/random
variables/observations and no unknown quantities/parameters(o.e.)
NB do not allow unknown variables
e.g. “A calculation based solely on observations from a given sample.” B1
“A calculation based only on known data from a sample” B1
“A calculation based on known observations from a sample” B0
Solely/only imply no unknown quantities

(c) The voters in the town B1

Percentage/proportion voting for Dr Smith B1 2
Note
B1 – Voters
Do not allow 100 voters.
B1 – percentage/ proportion voting (for Dr Smith)
the number of people voting (for Dr Smith)
Allow 35% of people voting (for Dr Smith)
Allow 35 people voting (for Dr Smith)
Do not allow 35% or 35 alone

(d) Probability Distribution of those voting for Dr Smith from all B1 1

possible samples (of size 100)
Note
B1 – answers must include all three of these features
(i) All possible samples,
(ii) their associated probabilities,
(iii) context of voting for Dr Smith.
e.g “It is all possible values of the percentage and their associated
probabilities.” B0 no context
[5]

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2. (a)

x 1p 2p
P(X = x) 1 3
4 4
1 3 7 3
µ = 1× + 2 × = or 1 or 1.75 B1
4 4 4 4
2
1 3 7
σ2 = 12 × + 22 × –   M1
4 4 4
3
= or 0.1875 A1 3
16
Note
B1 1.75 oe
M1 for using ∑ (x p ) – µ
2 2

A1 0.1875 oe

(b) (1,1,1), (1,1,2) any order, (1,2,2) any order, (2,2,2) B1

(1,2,1) (2,1,1) (2,1,2) (2,2,1) all 8 cases considered. B1 2
May be implied by 3 *
(1,1,2) and 3 * (1,2,2)
Note
ignore repeats

(c)
x 1 4 5 2
3 3
P( X = x ) 1
4
× 14 × 14 = 1
64
3 × 14 × 14 × 34 = 9
64
3 × 14 × 34 × 34 = 27
64
3
4
× 34 × 34 = 27
64

B1 M1 A1 M1 A1A1 6

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Note
1st B1 4 correct means (allow repeats)
1st M1 for p3 for either of the ends
1st A1 for 1/64or awrt 0.016 and 27/64 or awrt
0.422
2nd M1 3 × p2(1 – p)for either of the middle two
0<p<1
May be awarded for finding the probability of the
3 samples with mean of either 4/3 or 5/3 .
2nd A1 for 9/64 (or 3/64 three times) and 27/64
(or 9/64 three times) accept awrt 3dp.
3rd A1 fully correct table, accept awrt 3dp.
[11]

3. (a) A statistic is a function of X1,X2,...Xn B1

that does not contain any unknown parameters B1 2
Note
Examples of other acceptable wording:
B1 e.g. is a function of the sample or the
data / is a quantity calculated from the sample
or the data / is a random variable calculated
from the sample or the data
B1 e.g. does not contain any unknown
parameters/quantities contains only known
parameters/quantities only contains values
of the sample
Y is a function of X1,X2,...Xn that does not
contain any unknown parameters B1B1
is a function of the values of a sample with
no unknowns B1B1
is a function of the sample values B1B0
is a function of all the data values B1B0
A random variable calculated from the sample B1B0
A random variable consisting of any function B0B0
A function of a value of the sample B1B0
A function of the sample which contains no other
values/ parameters B1B0

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(b) The probability distribution of Y or the

distribution of all possible values of Y (o.e.) B1 1
Note
Examples of other acceptable wording
All possible values of the statistic together
with their associated probabilities

(c) Identify (ii) as not a statistic B1

Since it contains unknown parameters μ and σ . dB1 2
Note
1stB1 for selecting only (ii)
2nd B1 for a reason. This is dependent upon the
first B1. Need to mention at least one of mu (mean)
or sigma (standard deviation or variance) or
unknown parameters.
Examples
since it contains mu B1
since it contains sigma B1
since it contains unknown parameters/quantities B1
since it contains unknowns B0
[5]

4. (a) A census is when every member of the population is investigated. B1

B1 Need one word from each group
(1) Every member /all items / entire /oe
(2) population/collection of individuals/sampling frame/oe
enumerating the population on its own gets B0

(b) There would be no cookers left to sell. B1

B1 Idea of Tests to destruction. Do not accept cheap or quick

(c) A list of the unique identification numbers of the cookers. B1

B1 Idea of list/ register/database of cookers/serial numbers

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(d) A cooker B1 4
B1 cooker(s) / serial number(s)
The sample of 5 cookers or every 400th cooker gets B1
[4]

5. (a) Saves time / cheaper / easier B1 1

any one
or
A census / asking all members takes a long time or is
expensive or difficult to carry out

(b) List, register or database of all club members / golfers B1 1

or
Full membership list

(c) Club member(s) B1 1

[3]

6. (a)
X 1 2 5
P(X = x) 1 1 1
2 3 6

Mean = 1 × 1 + 2 × 1 + 5 × 1 = 2 or 0.02 Σx.p(x) need ½ and 1

3 M1 A1
2 3 6

Variance = 12 × 1 + 22 × 1 + 52 × 1 – 22 = 2 or 0.0002 M A1 4
2 3 6

(b) Σx2 .p(x) – λ2

(1,1)
(1,2) and (2,1) B2
(1,5) and (5,1) LHS -1 B1 3
e.e.
(2,2)
(2,5) and (5,2) repeat of “theirs” on RHS B1
(5,5)

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(c)
x 1 1.5 2 3 3.5 5
P( X = x ) 1×1=1 1 1 ×1 =1 1 2× 1 × 1 = 1 1
2 2 4 3 3 3 9 6 3 6 9 36
¼ M1A1
1.5+,-1ee M1 M2 6
[13]

7. (a) Individual member or element of the population or sampling frame B1 1

(b) A list of all sampling units or all the population B1 1

(c) All possible samples are chosen from a population; the values of B1 B1 2
a statistic and the associated probabilities is a sampling distribution
[4]

8. (a) (i) A collection of individuals or items B1

(ii) A list of all sampling units in the population B1 2
(b) Not always possible to keep this list up to date B1 1

(c) (i) eg:- Pupils in year 12 – small easily listed population B1

Population known & easily accessed B1
(ii) Students in a University – large not easily listed population B1
Population known but too time consuming/expensive
to interview all of them B1 4
[7]

OR
(c) (i) Definition of census by example B1
(ii) Definition of sample by example B1

9. (a) A list of (all) the members of the population B1 1

A random variable that is a function of a random sample B1
that contains no unknown parameters B1 2
[3]

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10. (a) List of patients registered with the practice.

Require ‘list’ or ‘register’ or database or similar B1 1
(b) The patient(s) B1 1

(c) Adv: Quicker, cheaper, easier, used when testing results in

destruction of item, quality of info about each sampling
unit is often better. Any one B1
Disadv: Uncertainty due to natural variation, uncertainty due
to bias, possible bias as sampling frame incomplete,
bias due to subjective choice of sample, bias due to
non-response Any one B1 2

(d) Non-response due to patients registered with the practice but

who have left the area B1 1
[5]

11. (a) All subscribers to the magazine B1 1

(b) A list of all members that had paid their subscriptions B1 1
(c) Members who have paid B1 1
(d) Advantage: total accuracy B1
Disadvantage: time consuming to obtain data and analyse it B1 2

(e) Let X represent the number agreeing to change the name

∴ X ∼ B(25, 0.4) B1
P(X = 10) = P(X ≤ 10) − P(X ≤ 9) = 0.1612 M1 A1 3

(f) H0: p = 0.40, H1: p < 0.40 B1, B1

P(X ≤ 6) = 0.0736 > 0.05 ⇒ not significant M1 A1
No reason to reject H0 and conclude % is less than the editor believes A1 5

(g) Let X represent the number agreeing to change the name

∴ X ∼ B(200, 0.4)
P(71 ≤ X < 83) ≈ P(70.5 ≤ Y < 82.5) where Y ∼ N(80, 48) B1 B1
 70.5 − 80 82.5 − 80 
≈ P  ≤X <  M1 M1
 48 48 
≈ P(−1.37 ≤ X < 0.36) A1 A1
= 0.5533 A1 7
[20]

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12. (a) D is continuous B1 1

(b) Sampling Frame is the list of competitors or their results, B1
e.g. label the results 1—200 and randomly select 36 of them B1 2

(c) X = no. of competitors with A = 2 X ~ B(36, 1

3
)

X ≈ ~N(12, 8) M1 A1
 19.5 − 12 
P(X ≥ 20) ≈ P  Z ≥  ± 12 , ‘z’ M1 M1
 8 
= P(Z ≥ 2.65…) A1
= 1 – 0.9960 = 0.004 A1 6
1
(d) Probability is very low, so assumption of P(A = 2) = 3
is unlikely. B1 B1 2
(Suggests P(A = 2) might be higher.)
[11]

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1. This was poorly done with very few candidates scoring full marks. Those candidates who had
learnt standard definitions fared better than those who used their own understanding of the
terms because they were less likely to leave out vital elements of the definitions. Even those
who answered parts (a) and (b) correctly were then unable to apply these definitions in context.
In part (a) a large majority of candidates omitted to mention “all”, or its equivalent.
Part (b) was well answered because many candidates used a standard definition. The most
common errors were using “population” instead of “sample and omitting “no unknown
parameters”.

In part (c) a substantial number of candidates were confused about “the population in this case”.
Many thought it to be the sample of 100 voters. Others were closer to the truth with “all the
residents of the town”, but did not earn the mark because they had failed to distinguish between
registered voters and residents. The statistic was more easily identified.
Part (d) was poorly answered with many candidates having no idea what a sampling distribution
was and those that did being unable to put it into context. The sampling distribution of a
proportion is arguably one of the hardest to get a grip on and articulate convincingly.

2. A high proportion of candidates attempted the first two parts of this question successfully, with
the majority of candidates getting at least one mark for part (b). Those less successful in part (a)
either misread the question and ended up with a denominator of 3 for the probabilities or
xp( x )
confused formulae for calculating the mean and variance and used, for example, ∑ n
for

the mean or used E(X2) for σ2. The solution to part (c) proved beyond the capability of a
minority of candidates but, for the majority, many exemplary answers were evident, reflecting
sound preparation on this topic. Candidates who found all 8 cases in (b) usually gained four
marks in part (c) for calculating the probabilities. For a small percentage of those candidates,
calculating the means was difficult and hence completing the table correctly was not possible. A
few candidates tried unsuccessfully to use the binomial to answer part (c).

3. This question was either answered very well with some text book solutions, although it seemed
that only a minority of candidates earned all five marks, or badly with some strange
descriptions. A reasonable number of candidates responded with comments that were very close
to those in the mark scheme: evidence possibly of deliberate preparation and learning whilst
others had internalised the concepts and provided responses in their own words. Whilst these
responses might not have matched the ‘official’ answers, they nevertheless captured the essence
of the concepts and were fully acceptable. There was confusion with the definition of statistics
and parameters and part (b) was often attempted badly with candidates not knowing the
definition of a probability distribution. On the whole this was one of the worst answered
questions in the paper.
In part (a) candidates gave various definitions sometimes all muddled up. Not many candidates
gave clear definitions but a common error was candidates writing “any function” or “no other
quantities”.
In part (b) again the candidates had mixed success. A significant minority scored marks by
knowing that a sampling distribution involved all possible values of the statistic and their
associated probabilities.
In part (c) many could identify (ii) correctly and a variety of reasons were seen. This part
seemed to be done well even by candidates who could not answer part (a). It was interesting to

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see that a relatively large proportion of candidates who earned both marks for part (c), were
unable to achieve either of the two marks in part (a). There was a connection between parts (a)
and (c) that many candidates failed to recognise. If those candidates who wrote “(ii) is not a
statistic because it has unknown parameters” had then reflected on their responses to parts (a)
and (c), they could then have gone back to modify their answer to (a) in order to earn more
marks.

4. Nearly all candidates achieved at least one of the available marks but it was disappointing that
there were not more attaining full marks.
(a) Too many candidates referred to the national census rather than a general definition.
Some felt an enumeration was adequate and others failed to recognise that EVERY
member had to be investigated.
(b) A failure to put the question in context and consider the consequences of testing every
item meant that some candidates scored 0 in this part of the question. A few candidates
did not read the question carefully and used cheap and quick as their reasons why a
census should not be used when the question specifically said give a reason “other than to
save time and cost”.
(c) Many candidates mentioned a list; database or register and so attained the available mark.
However, some did not seem to differentiate between the population and the sampling
frame.
(d) Most candidates were able to identify the sampling units correctly, although those who
had not scored in part (c) tended to say: “the sample of 5 cookers” in part (d).

5. Almost all candidates answered part (a) correctly, a minority failed to mention “census” or
“asking all members” when answers referred to long time/expensive/difficult. In part (b) many
candidates failed to include the word “all” in their answer. Quite a number did not know or
understand the term sampling frame and wrote about sampling methods. Most candidates
answered part (c) correctly, but there were occasional references to golfers rather than members
or to those selected in the sample.

6. In part (a) many candidates were able to calculate the mean accurately, although some divided
by random constants. Few drew up a table and many were unable to cope with the 5p coins.
The most common error in calculating the variance was the failure to subtract E(X)².
Most candidates correctly identified 6 possible samples but some failed to realise that
combinations such as (1,5) and (5,1) were different and so missed the other 3 possibilities. Only
a minority of candidates were able to attempt part (c) of the question with any success, with
many candidates having no idea what was meant by ‘the sampling distribution of the mean
value of the samples’. Most did not find the mean values and if they did, then they were unable
to find the probabilities (ninths were common).Very few candidates achieved full marks.

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7. This question proved difficult to many candidates. Errors in this part (a) included the use of the
word sample rather than population. Many candidates also gave an ambiguous response to part
(b), often omitting to mention all sampling units or the whole population. Part (c) was done
badly and whilst some candidates scored 1 mark very few achieved both marks. It appeared that
many candidates had attempted to memorise the definition, but it came out garbled and
confused with other concepts.

8. The bookwork required to answer this question was not remembered as well as it should have
been. Many candidates could not define a population or a sampling frame in detail or know why
they might be different. In part (c) many candidates were unable to give in sufficient detail a
justified example of the use of a census and a sample.

9. Weaker students had difficulties with this question with a considerable number scoring 1 or 0
marks. In part (a) good candidates answered this correctly but for many there was confusion
between a population and a sample and that the population must be in a list or equivalent. In
part (b) those candidates who had learnt the basic definitions were able to answer this
successfully.

10. Only a very few candidates achieved full marks. Most scored 2 or 3 out of the 5 available.
Common errors were in part (c) where only a very small number could provide a valid
disadvantage and in part (d) not all candidates realised the problem of having an incomplete (or
not up-to-date) sampling frame.

11. This question also allowed candidates to score highly; indeed some otherwise poor papers were
redeemed by good marks here. Most marks were lost in the opening parts where it is clear that
candidates do not understand well enough the need for a degree of precision in defining terms
such as population and sampling frame. Similarly it is a cause for concern that the majority of
candidates talk about a census giving more accurate answers (even though this was allowed)
rather than understanding the real differences between a sample and a census. Part (e) received a
very high number of correct answers, and part (f), although less well done, did receive an
encouragingly high number of good solutions, with context being well used. The most common
mistakes were careless statements of the hypotheses and a decision to find P(X = 6). Part (g)
was very well answered with a large number of candidates gaining full marks. Very few
candidates used incorrect parameters in the normal approximation, but the most common cause
of loss of marks was in an error in the use of either 70.5 or 82.5 even if a correct probability
statement had been given earlier.

12. No Report available for this question.

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