Data & Probability
Collecting, representing, and interpreting data, plus theoretical and experimental probability.
What this strand covers
- Mean, median, mode, and range
- Reading and constructing bar graphs, histograms, and box plots
- Theoretical vs experimental probability
- Sample space and tree diagrams
- Spotting misleading visualisations
How Data & Probability shows up on the MPT
Data questions on the MPT lean on interpretation rather than heavy computation. Most items show a graph or summary table and ask you to identify the correct statement: the median is higher than the mean, the spread has increased between two years, or the chart is misleading because the y-axis starts above zero.
Probability questions stop at the level of simple compound events. Expect tree diagrams, two-coin flips, and questions about whether a probability claim is theoretical or experimental — and which of the two should be used to inform a decision in a classroom.
A surprisingly common pedagogy item asks candidates to choose the most appropriate graph type for a given dataset and audience. A circle graph works for parts of a whole; a line graph works for change over time. Picking the wrong representation in a classroom can entrench a misconception.
Common pitfalls
- Confusing mean with median in skewed datasets
- Treating P(A and B) like P(A or B) for independent events
- Reading frequency from a bar height when the y-axis has been truncated