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Box plots - Exam Questions.docx

Built from the lesson script on 30 September 2026.

EDEXCEL GCSE MATHS · FOUNDATION & HIGHER

Exam Practice: Box plots

Box plots · Further statistics · Lesson 3 of 6 · 16 marks · 30 minutes

Name

Date

 

Instructions

• Answer all the questions.

• Write your answers in the spaces provided.

• The marks for each question are shown in brackets - use this as a guide to how much to write.

• The answers are on separate pages at the back. Attempt every question before you look at them.

• Answer all questions. Show your working.

Question 1 COMPARE (4 marks)

The box plots show the marks of the students in Class A and in Class B in a test. Compare the distributions of the marks.

(Total for Question 1 = 4 marks)

Question 2 WORK OUT (3 marks)

Here are nine numbers: 5, 8, 10, 12, 13, 15, 19, 22, 26. Work out the median and the interquartile range.

(Total for Question 2 = 3 marks)

Question 3 DRAW (3 marks)

The five-number summary of some data is: minimum 12, lower quartile 20, median 27, upper quartile 35, maximum 50. Describe how to draw the box plot.

(Total for Question 3 = 3 marks)

Question 4 WORK OUT (2 marks)

A box plot has minimum 12, lower quartile 20, median 27, upper quartile 35 and maximum 50. Work out the range and the interquartile range.

(Total for Question 4 = 2 marks)

Question 5 EXPLAIN (2 marks)

The box plot for 60 people has a median of 40. How many of the 60 people have a value greater than 40?

(Total for Question 5 = 2 marks)

Question 6 EXPLAIN (2 marks)

Give one reason why the interquartile range is a better measure of spread than the range.

(Total for Question 6 = 2 marks)

TOTAL FOR PAPER = 16 MARKS

 

Answers and mark scheme

Check your answer only once you have written one.

Question 1 (4 marks)

The median for B (32) is higher than for A (30), so B did slightly better on average. The IQR for B (13) is less than for A (18), so B's marks were more consistent.

• Compares medians with values M1

• Conclusion about average in context A1

• Compares IQR or range with values M1

• Conclusion about spread in context A1

Question 2 (3 marks)

Median = 13. LQ = 9, UQ = 20.5, IQR = 20.5 − 9 = 11.5.

• Median 13 B1

• LQ 9 and UQ 20.5 M1

• 11.5 A1

Question 3 (3 marks)

Draw a number line. Draw a box from 20 to 35 with a line inside at 27. Draw whiskers from the box to 12 and to 50.

• Box from 20 to 35 B1

• Median line at 27 B1

• Whiskers to 12 and 50 B1

Question 4 (2 marks)

Range = 50 − 12 = 38; IQR = 35 − 20 = 15.

• 38 B1

• 15 B1

Question 5 (2 marks)

30, because the median splits the data in half.

• 30 B1

• Median splits the data in half C1

Question 6 (2 marks)

The range depends on the extreme values, so one unusual value changes it. The interquartile range is not affected by extreme values.

• Range affected by extremes M1

• IQR uses only the middle half A1