| Exam Board | OCR MEI |
|---|---|
| Module | AS Paper 2 (AS Paper 2) |
| Session | Specimen |
| Marks | 7 |
| Paper | Download PDF ↗ |
| Mark scheme | Download PDF ↗ |
| Topic | Data representation |
| Type | State advantages of diagram types |
| Difficulty | Easy -1.3 This is a data interpretation question requiring students to describe box plots and explain why simple averaging is inappropriate for grouped data. It tests basic statistical literacy (reading box plots, understanding weighted means) rather than calculation or problem-solving. The concepts are straightforward AS-level statistics with no complex reasoning required. |
| Spec | 2.02a Interpret single variable data: tables and diagrams2.02f Measures of average and spread |
| Country | Birth rate per 1000 |
| Australia | 12.19 |
| New Zealand | 13.4 |
| Papua New Guinea | 24.89 |
| Answer | Marks | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| Answer | Marks | Guidance |
| E.g. There is a greater spread of birth rates for countries in sub-Saharan Africa than for countries in the Caribbean | B1 | 2.2b — Correct relevant comment that can be inferred from the source material |
| E.g. The range for countries in Africa is greater than for countries in East and South East Asia but this could be caused by outliers as the IQRs are similar | B1 | 2.2b — Distinct correct relevant comment that can be inferred from the source material |
| E.g. sub-Saharan Africa has a mixture of economically rich and poor countries resulting in a large IQR; Countries in East and South East Asia tend to have higher life expectancy than countries in sub-Saharan Africa so their populations are older, on average, and have lower birth rates | B1 | 2.2b — Third distinct relevant comment (only available if candidate's comments include reference to both features of the LDS and fig 9.1) |
| [3] |
| Answer | Marks | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| Answer | Marks | Guidance |
| E.g. The calculation doesn't use the populations as weights. E.g. Does not take the populations into account | E1 | 2.3 |
| [1] |
| Answer | Marks | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| Answer | Marks | Guidance |
| E.g. Lower because Australia has the highest population but the lowest birth rate. E.g. answer given is too high as too much weight is given to Papua New Guinea | E1 | 2.2a |
| [1] |
| Answer | Marks | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| [weak] negative | B1 [1] | AO1.2 |
| Answer | Marks | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| E.g. Correlation/association does not imply causality; E.g. Some countries with low birth rates have quite low physician density; E.g. Some countries with low physician density have quite low birth rates; E.g. Data do not show what happens after an increase in physicians; Therefore it is not possible to be certain | E1 [1] | AO2.3 |
# Question 9:
## Part (a):
| Answer | Marks | Guidance |
|--------|-------|----------|
| E.g. There is a greater spread of birth rates for countries in sub-Saharan Africa than for countries in the Caribbean | B1 | 2.2b — Correct relevant comment that can be inferred from the source material |
| E.g. The range for countries in Africa is greater than for countries in East and South East Asia but this could be caused by outliers as the IQRs are similar | B1 | 2.2b — Distinct correct relevant comment that can be inferred from the source material |
| E.g. sub-Saharan Africa has a mixture of economically rich and poor countries resulting in a large IQR; Countries in East and South East Asia tend to have higher life expectancy than countries in sub-Saharan Africa so their populations are older, on average, and have lower birth rates | B1 | 2.2b — Third distinct relevant comment (only available if candidate's comments include reference to both features of the LDS and fig 9.1) |
| **[3]** | | |
## Part (b)(i):
| Answer | Marks | Guidance |
|--------|-------|----------|
| E.g. The calculation doesn't use the populations as weights. E.g. Does not take the populations into account | E1 | 2.3 |
| **[1]** | | |
## Part (b)(ii):
| Answer | Marks | Guidance |
|--------|-------|----------|
| E.g. Lower because Australia has the highest population but the lowest birth rate. E.g. answer given is too high as too much weight is given to Papua New Guinea | E1 | 2.2a |
| **[1]** | | |
# Mark Scheme Extraction
---
## Question 9(c):
[weak] negative | B1 [1] | AO1.2
---
## Question 9(d):
E.g. Correlation/association does not imply causality; E.g. Some countries with low birth rates have quite low physician density; E.g. Some countries with low physician density have quite low birth rates; E.g. Data do not show what happens after an increase in physicians; Therefore it is not possible to be certain | E1 [1] | AO2.3
---9 Fig. 9.1 shows box and whisker diagrams which summarise the birth rates per 1000 people for all the countries in three of the regions as given in the pre-release data set.\\
The diagrams were drawn as part of an investigation comparing birth rates in different regions of the world.
Africa (Sub-Saharan)\\
\includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}, center]{05376a51-e768-4b45-9c18-c98255a4bd70-08_104_991_557_730}
East and South East Asia\\
\includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}, center]{05376a51-e768-4b45-9c18-c98255a4bd70-08_109_757_744_671}
Caribbean\\
\includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}, center]{05376a51-e768-4b45-9c18-c98255a4bd70-08_99_369_982_730}
\begin{figure}[h]
\begin{center}
\includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{05376a51-e768-4b45-9c18-c98255a4bd70-08_202_1595_1153_299}
\captionsetup{labelformat=empty}
\caption{Fig. 9.1}
\end{center}
\end{figure}
\begin{enumerate}[label=(\alph*)]
\item Discuss the distributions of birth rates in these regions of the world.
Make three different statements. You should refer to both information from the box and whisker diagrams and your knowledge of the large data set.
\item The birth rates for all the countries in Australasia are shown below.
\begin{center}
\begin{tabular}{ | l | c | }
\hline
Country & Birth rate per 1000 \\
\hline
Australia & 12.19 \\
\hline
New Zealand & 13.4 \\
\hline
Papua New Guinea & 24.89 \\
\hline
\end{tabular}
\end{center}
\begin{enumerate}[label=(\roman*)]
\item Explain why the calculation below is not a correct method for finding the birth rate per 1000 for Australasia as a whole.
$$\frac { 12.19 + 13.4 + 24.89 } { 3 } \approx 16.83$$
\item Without doing any calculations, explain whether the birth rate per 1000 for Australasia as a whole is higher or lower than 16.83 .
The scatter diagram in Fig. 9.2 shows birth rate per 1000 and physicians/ 1000 population for all the countries in the pre-release data set.
\begin{figure}[h]
\begin{center}
\includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{05376a51-e768-4b45-9c18-c98255a4bd70-09_898_1698_386_274}
\captionsetup{labelformat=empty}
\caption{Fig. 9.2}
\end{center}
\end{figure}
\end{enumerate}\item Describe the correlation in the scatter diagram.
\item Discuss briefly whether the scatter diagram shows that high birth rates would be reduced by increasing the number of physicians in a country.
\end{enumerate}
\hfill \mbox{\textit{OCR MEI AS Paper 2 Q9 [7]}}