Work through these seven questions in order. They mix the four checks from evaluating a science claim from a supplied dataset.
The timed practice session builder can turn the set into a timed run.
Questions
Question 1 (2 marks). A class reports, “After using a new revision method, 10 students scored an average of 72 in a test. The method works.” What is missing?
Answer
A comparison group of 10 similar students who did not use the method, and took the same test. Without it, 72 has nothing to be compared with. Also keep the test, the time allowed and the students’ earlier results similar.
Question 2 (3 marks). Group S: 12, 14, 13, 15, 16 cm. Group T: 11, 14, 15, 13, 12 cm. Find the averages and the gap.
Answer
S: total 70, average 70 ÷ 5 = 14 cm. T: total 65, average 65 ÷ 5 = 13 cm. Gap = 14 − 13 = 1 cm.
Question 3 (3 marks). Use the data in question 2 to write a conclusion about whether S is taller than T.
Answer
The ranges are 16 − 12 = 4 cm for S and 15 − 11 = 4 cm for T, and they overlap from 12 to 15 cm. The 1 cm gap is much smaller than the 4 cm spread.
S had a higher average, but the readings overlap heavily, so the data gives only weak support that S is taller.
Question 4 (3 marks). Three repeats of a test on two fuels give the same result each time: Fuel D heats water by 30°C and Fuel E by 22°C.
Fuel D burned for 2 minutes and Fuel E for 1 minute. Is the result reliable? Is it fair?
Answer
Reliable: yes, because the repeats agree. Fair: no, because the burning time also differs (2 minutes against 1 minute). The extra time could explain D’s larger rise. Burn both for the same time, then repeat.
Question 5 (2 marks). A student says, “We did 5 repeats, so the test is fair.” Correct the statement.
Answer
Repeats make the result more reliable, not fair. A fair test changes only one variable. Five repeats of an unfair design give a consistent but misleading result.
Question 6 (3 marks). Fictional data: a toy car rolled 120 cm down a smooth ramp and 85 cm down a rough ramp, one trial each. A student writes, “Smooth surfaces always make things travel further.” Rewrite the conclusion.
Answer
“In this test, the car travelled 120 cm on the smooth ramp and 85 cm on the rough ramp, which is 120 − 85 = 35 cm further. Only one trial was done on each ramp with one car, so the result is weak, and it does not show what happens for other surfaces.”
Question 7 (4 marks). Fictional data: a plant leaned toward a window in 4 of 4 trials. A student writes, “This proves that plants always grow toward light.” Give two problems and a fitted conclusion.
Answer
Problems: “proves” is too strong for four trials, and “always” covers every plant, but only one type was tested. There is also no comparison with plants that had no window light.
Fitted: “In this test, the plant leaned toward the window in all 4 trials. Only one plant type was tested and there was no comparison without a light source, so the result is consistent with plants growing toward light but does not prove it.”
If you got these wrong
For question 1, revisit identifying the comparison group. For 2 and 3, see why a small difference may not support a strong conclusion. For 4 and 5, go to separating a repeated result from a fair-test design. For 6 and 7, see rewriting an overconfident conclusion.
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