| Exam Board | Edexcel |
|---|---|
| Module | S3 (Statistics 3) |
| Marks | 5 |
| Paper | Download PDF ↗ |
| Mark scheme | Download PDF ↗ |
| Topic | Permutations & Arrangements |
| Type | Linear programming and optimization |
| Difficulty | Easy -1.8 This is a straightforward procedural question requiring only mechanical application of random number tables with no problem-solving or statistical reasoning. Part (a) is pure reading and filtering of numbers, while part (b) tests basic recall of sampling theory advantages/disadvantages—well below average A-level difficulty. |
| Spec | 2.01c Sampling techniques: simple random, opportunity, etc |
| Answer | Marks | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| (a) 72, 65, 36, 61, 12, 17 | M1 A2 | |
| (b) e.g. advantage – avoids bias; disadvantage – time consuming | B1 B1 | (5) |
**(a)** 72, 65, 36, 61, 12, 17 | M1 A2 |
**(b)** e.g. advantage – avoids bias; disadvantage – time consuming | B1 B1 | (5)A researcher wishes to take a sample of size 9, without replacement, from a list of 72 people involved in the trial of a new computer keyboard. She numbers the people from 01 to 72 and uses the table of random numbers given in the formula book. She starts with the left-hand side of the sixth row of the table and works across the row. The first two numbers she writes down are 56 and 32.
\begin{enumerate}[label=(\alph*)]
\item Find the other six numbers in the sample. [3 marks]
\item Give one advantage and one disadvantage of using random numbers when taking a sample. [2 marks]
\end{enumerate}
\hfill \mbox{\textit{Edexcel S3 Q1 [5]}}