GCSE Statistics₈₃₈₂

Find past papers and mark schemes, and sample papers for new courses, on our website at aqa.org.uk/pastpapers

This specification is designed to be taken over two years.

This is a linear qualification. In order to achieve the award, students must complete all assessments at the end of the course and in the same series.

GCSE exams and certification for this specification are available for the first time in May/June 2019 and then every May/June for the life of the specification.

All materials are available in English only.

Our GCSE exams in Statistics include questions that allow students to demonstrate their ability to:

• recall information
• draw together information from different areas of the specification
• apply their knowledge and understanding in practical and theoretical contexts.

4.1 Aims and learning outcomes

Courses based on this specification must encourage students to:

• use statistical techniques in a variety of authentic investigations, use real world data in contexts such as, but not limited to, populations, climate, sales etc.
• identify trends through carrying out appropriate calculations and data visualisation techniques
• apply statistical techniques across the curriculum, in subjects such as the sciences, social sciences, computing, geography, business and economics, and outside of the classroom in the world in general
• critically evaluate data, calculations and evaluations that would be commonly encountered in their studies and in everyday life
• understand how technology has enabled the collection, visualisation and analysis of large quantities of data to inform decision-making processes in public, commercial and academic sectors
• apply appropriate mathematical and statistical formulae, as set out in Appendix 1, and building upon prior knowledge, as listed in Appendix 2.

4.2 Assessment objectives

Assessment objectives (AOs) are set by Ofqual and are the same across all GCSE Statistics specifications and all exam boards.

The exams will measure how students have achieved the following assessment objectives.

• AO1: Demonstrate knowledge and understanding, using appropriate terminology and notation, of standard statistical techniques used to:
  • collect and represent data
  • calculate summary statistics and probabilities.
• AO2: Interpret statistical information and results in context and reason statistically to draw conclusions.
• AO3: Assess the appropriateness of statistical methodologies and the conclusions drawn through the application of the statistical enquiry cycle.

4.2.1 Assessment objective weightings for GCSE Statistics

4.2.1.1 Foundation tier

4.2.1.2 Higher tier

4.3 Assessment weightings

The marks awarded on the papers will be scaled to meet the weighting of the components. Students’ final marks will be calculated by adding together the scaled marks for each component. Grade boundaries will be set using this total scaled mark. The scaling and total scaled marks are shown in the table below.