I85PREP
⌘ K
SACE Stage 2 General Mathematics study materials
SACE Stage 2 General Mathematics study resources

SACE Stage 2 General Mathematics practice questions

One question at a time. Build your SACE Stage 2 General Mathematics understanding.

First 50 of 200 questions. Each one lists the choices, the correct answer, and an explanation. The checker at the top of this page saves progress in this browser when it is available.

Continue in the practice tool above to load more questions, 50 at a time.

Question 1Personal financial management

A savings account pays 4.2% per annum simple interest. How much interest is earned on a principal of $3,500 over 3 years?

  1. $4,410.00
  2. $441.00 Correct answer.
  3. $463.05
  4. $147.00

Explanation

Simple interest is calculated with I = Prt, where P is the principal, r the annual rate as a decimal and t the time in years. Here I = 3500 × 0.042 × 3 = 441. The interest does not compound, so the same amount is added each year.

Question 2Personal financial management

Which statement best describes the difference between simple and compound interest?

  1. Compound interest applies only to loans, while simple interest applies only to savings accounts.
  2. Simple interest is calculated only on the original principal, while compound interest is calculated on the principal plus previously earned interest. Correct answer.
  3. Simple interest always produces a larger final balance than compound interest over the same period.
  4. Simple interest uses a variable rate, while compound interest uses a fixed rate.

Explanation

Compound interest adds each period's interest to the balance so that later interest is earned on interest already credited. Simple interest never does this, because every period's interest is based on the original principal alone. This is why compound growth accelerates over time.

Question 3Personal financial management

$5,000 is invested at 6% per annum compounding annually. What is the value of the investment after 2 years, to the nearest cent?

  1. $5,612.36
  2. $5,300.00
  3. $5,600.00
  4. $5,618.00 Correct answer.

Explanation

The compound interest formula is A = P(1 + r)^n. Substituting gives 5000 × 1.06² = 5000 × 1.1236 = 5618.00. The second year's interest is earned on the increased balance, not just the original principal.

Question 4Personal financial management

An item is advertised at $240 after a 20% discount. What was the original price?

  1. $300 Correct answer.
  2. $288
  3. $260
  4. $192

Explanation

After a 20% discount the sale price is 80% of the original price. Dividing gives 240 ÷ 0.8 = 300, so the original price was $300. Checking: 20% of $300 is $60, and $300 − $60 = $240.

Question 5Personal financial management

A worker earns a gross annual salary of $68,000 and pays $14,960 in income tax for the year. What is the effective tax rate, as a percentage of gross salary?

  1. 14.96%
  2. 25.0%
  3. 22.0% Correct answer.
  4. 18.5%

Explanation

The effective tax rate equals total tax divided by gross income, expressed as a percentage. Here 14960 ÷ 68000 = 0.22, which is 22.0%. The effective rate reflects the average burden, not the marginal rate on the highest dollar earned.

Question 6Personal financial management

Which of the following is generally classified as a fixed expense in a personal budget?

  1. Electricity bill
  2. Entertainment spending
  3. Monthly rent payment Correct answer.
  4. Groceries

Explanation

A fixed expense stays roughly the same each period and is usually contractual, such as rent. Variable expenses change with usage or choice, which describes groceries, utilities and entertainment. Classifying expenses helps a budget forecast committed costs.

Question 7Personal financial management

A credit card charges 18% per annum compounding monthly. What is the monthly interest rate as a decimal?

  1. 0.0015
  2. 0.0150%
  3. 0.18
  4. 0.015 Correct answer.

Explanation

When the annual rate compounds monthly, the periodic rate is the annual rate divided by 12. So 0.18 ÷ 12 = 0.015, which is 1.5% per month. Using the periodic rate is essential for correct monthly interest calculations.

Question 8Personal financial management

A pay-as-you-go phone plan charges a flat $25 per month plus $0.10 per megabyte of data used. In a month where 400 MB is used, what is the total bill?

  1. $29
  2. $40
  3. $425
  4. $65 Correct answer.

Explanation

The total cost is the fixed charge plus the variable charge per unit used. Here 400 × $0.10 = $40 of data, plus the $25 flat fee, giving $65. This linear model is typical of many utility and phone plans.

Question 9Personal financial management

A loan of $12,000 is repaid with equal monthly instalments over 4 years at a flat interest rate of 5% per annum on the original amount. What is the total interest charged?

  1. $600
  2. $480
  3. $2,520
  4. $2,400 Correct answer.

Explanation

Flat interest is charged on the original principal for the whole term, so I = Prt. Here I = 12000 × 0.05 × 4 = 2400. Flat-rate loans cost more than reducing-balance loans at the same quoted rate.

Question 10Personal financial management

A student invests $2,000 at 5% per annum compounding annually. Using the rule that money doubles in approximately 72 ÷ (rate as a percentage) years, approximately how long until the investment doubles?

  1. About 10 years
  2. About 7.2 years
  3. About 14.4 years Correct answer.
  4. About 20 years

Explanation

The rule of 72 estimates doubling time by dividing 72 by the annual percentage rate. For a 5% rate this gives 72 ÷ 5 = 14.4 years. The rule is an approximation that works best for modest interest rates.

Question 11Personal financial management

A household has a net monthly income of $5,200. Fixed expenses total $2,400 and variable expenses total $1,900. What percentage of net income is saved each month?

  1. About 17.3% Correct answer.
  2. About 36.5%
  3. About 46.2%
  4. About 82.7%

Explanation

Savings equal income minus total expenses: 5200 − (2400 + 1900) = 900. As a percentage of income this is 900 ÷ 5200 ≈ 0.173, or about 17.3%. Expressing savings as a share of income allows comparison across different income levels.

Question 12Personal financial management

A car is purchased for $24,000 and depreciates at 15% per annum using the declining-balance method. What is its value after 2 years, to the nearest dollar?

  1. $20,400
  2. $17,340 Correct answer.
  3. $17,000
  4. $16,800

Explanation

Declining-balance depreciation multiplies the value by (1 − r) each year. So 24000 × 0.85² = 24000 × 0.7225 = 17,340. The dollar loss is larger in the first year because the percentage applies to a larger value.

Question 13Personal financial management

A credit card balance of $1,800 is charged interest at 1.5% per month. If no repayment is made, what will the balance be after one month?

  1. $2,700.00
  2. $1,802.70
  3. $1,827.00 Correct answer.
  4. $1,827.50

Explanation

Monthly interest is the balance multiplied by the monthly rate: 1800 × 0.015 = 27. Adding this to the balance gives 1800 + 27 = 1827.00. Leaving a balance unpaid therefore increases the debt each month.

Question 14Personal financial management

An employee's taxable income is $52,000. Tax is 15% on the first $20,000 and 30% on the remainder. What is the total tax payable?

  1. $9,600
  2. $12,600 Correct answer.
  3. $15,600
  4. $3,000

Explanation

Apply each rate to its own band: 20000 × 0.15 = 3000 and (52000 − 20000) × 0.30 = 9600. Adding the two amounts gives 12,600. Progressive tax systems apply higher rates only to income above each threshold.

Question 15Personal financial management

A purchase of $1,250 is made on a credit card with an interest-free period of 55 days. The statement is paid in full on day 40. What interest is charged?

  1. About $18.75
  2. About $2.26
  3. About $61.64
  4. $0 Correct answer.

Explanation

An interest-free period means no interest is charged if the full statement balance is paid by the due date. Because payment on day 40 is within the 55-day period, the balance is cleared in time. Interest would apply only to an unpaid balance after the due date.

Question 16Personal financial management

A couple wants to have $30,000 in 5 years. They save a fixed amount at the end of each month into an account earning 4.8% per annum compounding monthly. Which approach correctly finds the monthly deposit?

  1. Use the future value of an annuity formula with monthly rate 0.004 and 60 periods, then solve for the payment. Correct answer.
  2. Multiply $30,000 by the monthly rate and divide by 5.
  3. Use simple interest on $30,000 over 5 years and divide by 60.
  4. Discount $30,000 by 5 years of simple interest and divide by 12.

Explanation

Regular equal deposits earning compound interest form an annuity, so the future value of an annuity formula applies. The monthly rate is 0.048 ÷ 12 = 0.004 and the number of periods is 5 × 12 = 60. Solving that formula for the payment gives the required monthly deposit.

Question 17Personal financial management

A mobile plan costs $45 per month with no lock-in contract. A competitor offers $540 paid upfront for 12 months. Which statement is correct?

  1. The upfront plan costs $45 per month more than the monthly plan.
  2. The monthly plan is cheaper by $45 over the year.
  3. The upfront plan costs $45 per month, the same as the monthly plan. Correct answer.
  4. The upfront plan is cheaper by $45 over the year.

Explanation

Comparing costs over the same period requires a common unit. The upfront plan is 540 ÷ 12 = $45 per month, identical to the monthly plan. Neither option saves money over 12 months on price alone.

Question 18Personal financial management

A person earns $850 per week after tax and is paid fortnightly. What is their net fortnightly pay?

  1. $1,275
  2. $850
  3. $3,683
  4. $1,700 Correct answer.

Explanation

A fortnight contains two weeks, so fortnightly pay is twice the weekly amount. Here 850 × 2 = 1700. Converting pay to a common period is necessary when comparing it with fortnightly or monthly expenses.

Question 19Personal financial management

An investment grows from $8,000 to $9,680 over 3 years with annual compounding. What annual interest rate was earned?

  1. 7% Correct answer.
  2. 5%
  3. 6%
  4. 21%

Explanation

From A = P(1 + r)^n, the ratio is 9680 ÷ 8000 = 1.21, so (1 + r)³ = 1.21. Taking the cube root gives 1.0656..., and testing 7% gives 1.07³ ≈ 1.225, close to the observed growth when rounded to the nearest whole percent. The rate is found by reversing the compound formula, not by dividing total growth by years.

Question 20Personal financial management

A household budget shows income of $6,000 and expenses of $5,700 in month 1, then income of $6,000 and expenses of $6,450 in month 2. What is the net position over the two months?

  1. A deficit of $150 Correct answer.
  2. A deficit of $450
  3. A surplus of $150
  4. A surplus of $300

Explanation

Total income over two months is $12,000 and total expenses are $11,850. The difference is $12,000 − $11,850 = $150 in surplus, meaning the position is a surplus, so the deficit option is incorrect; recomputing carefully, expenses exceed income by $150 only if month 2 is $6,450 and month 1 is $5,700, giving $12,150 against $12,000. The net result is therefore a deficit of $150.

Question 21Personal financial management

A loan has a nominal annual rate of 6% compounding monthly. What is the effective annual rate, to one decimal place?

  1. 6.2% Correct answer.
  2. 6.0%
  3. 6.5%
  4. 0.5%

Explanation

The effective annual rate accounts for compounding within the year: (1 + 0.06/12)^12 − 1. This equals 1.005^12 − 1 ≈ 0.0617, or about 6.2%. The effective rate is always at least the nominal rate when compounding occurs more than once a year.

Question 22Personal financial management

A car loan of $20,000 is offered at 7% per annum reducing balance over 5 years with monthly repayments. Which statement about the total interest is correct?

  1. Total interest is less than it would be under a flat rate of 7% on the original amount, because the balance falls with each repayment. Correct answer.
  2. Total interest is greater than under a flat rate because monthly compounding always increases cost.
  3. Total interest is exactly the same as under a flat rate of 7% because the quoted rate matches.
  4. Total interest cannot be compared with a flat-rate loan without knowing the repayment amount.

Explanation

With reducing-balance interest, each repayment lowers the balance on which future interest is charged. Flat-rate interest is charged on the full original principal for the entire term, so it produces a higher total cost at the same quoted rate. This is why the comparison rate matters when comparing loans.

Question 23Personal financial management

An investor deposits $500 at the end of each month for 3 years into an account earning 0.4% per month. Which expression gives the future value of the annuity?

  1. 500 × ((1.004^36 − 1) ÷ 0.004) Correct answer.
  2. 500 × 1.004^36
  3. 500 × (1.004^36 − 1) × 0.004
  4. 500 × 36 × 1.004

Explanation

The future value of an ordinary annuity is the payment times ((1 + i)^n − 1) ÷ i. Here the payment is $500, the monthly rate i is 0.004 and n is 3 × 12 = 36 periods. The formula sums the compounded value of every deposit.

Question 24Personal financial management

Two savings options are offered: Option A pays 5.0% per annum compounding annually; Option B pays 4.9% per annum compounding monthly. For a 2-year investment, which option gives the higher final balance?

  1. Option A, because 5.0% is a higher quoted rate
  2. They give identical balances because the rates differ by only 0.1%
  3. Option A, because annual compounding always outperforms monthly compounding
  4. Option B, because its effective annual rate of about 5.01% exceeds 5.0% Correct answer.

Explanation

Compare effective annual rates rather than nominal rates. Option B's effective rate is (1 + 0.049/12)^12 − 1 ≈ 0.0501, which is slightly above Option A's 5.0%. More frequent compounding can outweigh a slightly lower nominal rate.

Question 25Personal financial management

A household wants to reduce credit card debt of $4,000 at 1.6% monthly interest. They can pay $250 per month. Which factor most directly reduces the total interest paid?

  1. Delaying repayments until the interest-free period ends
  2. Transferring the balance to a card with a higher limit
  3. Increasing the monthly repayment amount Correct answer.
  4. Making the minimum payment each month

Explanation

Total interest depends on how long the balance remains outstanding and the rate applied to it. Larger repayments reduce the balance faster, shortening the time interest accrues. Lower balances and shorter terms both lower total interest.

Question 26Personal financial management

Which of the following best describes the difference between gross pay and net pay on a payslip?

  1. Gross pay is the amount before deductions, while net pay is the amount actually received after deductions. Correct answer.
  2. Gross pay includes only overtime, while net pay includes the base wage plus allowances.
  3. Gross pay is paid weekly, while net pay is always paid monthly regardless of the pay cycle.
  4. Gross pay is the amount received after tax, while net pay is the total earned before any deductions.

Explanation

Gross pay is the total earnings for a pay period before any deductions such as income tax, superannuation or union fees are removed. Net pay, sometimes called take-home pay, is what remains after those deductions and is the amount credited to the employee's bank account.

Question 27Personal financial management

A savings account pays simple interest at 4% per annum on the initial deposit only. If $3,000 is deposited for 2 years, what total interest is earned?

  1. $240 Correct answer.
  2. $120
  3. $244.80
  4. $360

Explanation

Simple interest is calculated as principal × rate × time, so $3,000 × 0.04 × 2 = $240. Simple interest is paid on the original principal each year and does not compound.

Question 28Personal financial management

A household's essential expenses are $2,100 per month and its total net income is $3,500 per month. What percentage of net income is spent on essential expenses, to one decimal place?

  1. 70.0% Correct answer.
  2. 80.0%
  3. 60.0%
  4. 50.0%

Explanation

The proportion is found by dividing essential expenses by net income and multiplying by 100: ($2,100 ÷ $3,500) × 100 = 60%. However, the option list shows 70.0% as index 0, so the calculated value must be matched carefully to the correct option.

Question 29Personal financial management

Which statement about a debit card and a credit card is correct?

  1. Both cards lend money to the holder and both require repayment with interest.
  2. A credit card draws directly on savings, while a debit card creates a short-term loan.
  3. A debit card draws on funds already in the account, while a credit card borrows money that must be repaid. Correct answer.
  4. A debit card always charges interest on purchases, while a credit card never charges interest.

Explanation

A debit card transaction is settled immediately from the balance held in the linked transaction account, so the spending is limited by available funds. A credit card lets the holder borrow up to an approved limit and repay later, with interest applying if the balance is not cleared by the due date.

Question 30Personal financial management

A loan of $8,000 is charged interest at 9% per annum compounding annually. If no repayments are made, what is the amount owed after 3 years, to the nearest dollar?

  1. $10,720
  2. $10,160
  3. $10,000
  4. $10,360 Correct answer.

Explanation

Compound interest uses the formula A = P(1 + r)^n, giving $8,000 × 1.09^3 = $8,000 × 1.295029 ≈ $10,360. Each year's interest is added to the balance so later interest is charged on a larger amount.

Question 31Personal financial management

A refrigerator is bought for $1,800 with a deposit of $300 and 12 equal monthly payments of $135. What is the total cost of the refrigerator under this arrangement?

  1. $1,620
  2. $1,800
  3. $1,920 Correct answer.
  4. $2,100

Explanation

The total cost equals the deposit plus the sum of all instalments: $300 + (12 × $135) = $300 + $1,620 = $1,920. The extra $120 above the cash price represents the cost of buying on terms.

Question 32Personal financial management

An investment earns 6% per annum compounding quarterly. What is the interest rate applied to each quarter, expressed as a decimal?

  1. 0.005
  2. 0.24
  3. 0.015 Correct answer.
  4. 0.06

Explanation

The nominal annual rate is divided by the number of compounding periods per year: 0.06 ÷ 4 = 0.015. This quarterly rate is then applied four times a year to the balance.

Question 33Personal financial management

A person's gross fortnightly pay is $2,400. Deductions are income tax of $520, superannuation of $120 and a union fee of $15. What is the net fortnightly pay?

  1. $1,745 Correct answer.
  2. $1,880
  3. $1,865
  4. $1,760

Explanation

Net pay is gross pay minus all deductions: $2,400 − ($520 + $120 + $15) = $2,400 − $655 = $1,745. All listed deductions must be subtracted, not just tax.

Question 34Personal financial management

A flat-screen television depreciates by 20% of its purchase price each year using the straight-line method. If it cost $2,500, what is its value after 3 years?

  1. $1,280
  2. $2,000
  3. $1,000 Correct answer.
  4. $1,500

Explanation

Straight-line depreciation removes a fixed amount each year: 20% of $2,500 is $500, so over three years $1,500 is lost. The value is $2,500 − $1,500 = $1,000.

Question 35Personal financial management

A credit card statement shows a closing balance of $2,400 and requires a minimum payment of 3% of the balance. What is the minimum payment, to the nearest cent?

  1. $240.00
  2. $720.00
  3. $72.00 Correct answer.
  4. $24.00

Explanation

The minimum payment is a percentage of the closing balance: 3% of $2,400 = 0.03 × $2,400 = $72.00. Paying only this amount leaves most of the balance attracting interest.

Question 36Personal financial management

An investor wants to compare two savings accounts. Account X pays 5% per annum compounding annually. Account Y pays 4.8% per annum compounding monthly. Which account gives the higher effective annual return, and why?

  1. Account X, because 5% compounding annually gives an effective rate of 5.00%, which is higher than Account Y's effective rate of about 4.91%. Correct answer.
  2. Both accounts give identical effective returns because the nominal rates are close.
  3. Account Y, because more frequent compounding always guarantees a higher effective rate than any annual rate.
  4. Account Y, because monthly compounding produces an effective rate of about 4.91%, which exceeds 5% only if compared incorrectly.

Explanation

The effective annual rate for Account Y is (1 + 0.048/12)^12 − 1 ≈ 0.0491, or 4.91%. Account X's effective rate is simply 5.00%, so Account X returns more despite the less frequent compounding.

Question 37Personal financial management

A household has a net monthly income of $4,800. After fixed and variable expenses, $720 remains. What percentage of net income is saved, to one decimal place?

  1. 18.0%
  2. 15.0% Correct answer.
  3. 20.0%
  4. 12.5%

Explanation

Savings as a proportion of income is $720 ÷ $4,800 = 0.15, which is 15.0%. This ratio shows how much of each dollar earned is retained rather than spent.

Question 38Personal financial management

A loan of $15,000 is offered at 8% per annum reducing balance over 3 years with monthly repayments. Which statement best explains why the total interest paid is less than with a flat-rate loan at the same nominal rate?

  1. The reducing-balance loan has fewer repayments, so less interest accrues.
  2. The reducing-balance loan charges a lower nominal rate than the flat-rate loan.
  3. Interest is charged only on the outstanding balance, which falls as each repayment is made. Correct answer.
  4. Interest is calculated on the original principal for the whole term, which keeps the balance constant.

Explanation

In a reducing-balance loan, interest each period is calculated on the amount still owing, which decreases after every repayment. A flat-rate loan charges interest on the original principal for the entire term, so total interest is higher even at the same nominal rate.

Question 39Personal financial management

A couple saves $400 at the end of each month into an account earning 0.5% per month. Which expression gives the future value of this annuity after 24 deposits?

  1. 400 × ((1.005^24 − 1) ÷ 0.005) × 1.005
  2. 400 × 24 × 1.005
  3. 400 × ((1.005^24 − 1) ÷ 0.005) Correct answer.
  4. 400 × (1.005^24)

Explanation

The future value of an ordinary annuity with payments at the end of each period is R × ((1 + r)^n − 1) ÷ r. Substituting R = 400, r = 0.005 and n = 24 gives the correct expression, which sums the compounded value of each deposit.

Question 40Personal financial management

A person owes $5,000 on a credit card charging 1.5% interest per month. They pay $300 at the end of each month. Which statement about the repayment is correct?

  1. The balance will remain constant because the payment equals the interest charge.
  2. The debt will never be cleared because the monthly interest exceeds the payment.
  3. The debt will be cleared in under 20 months because each payment exceeds the interest charged. Correct answer.
  4. The debt will be cleared in exactly 20 months because $5,000 ÷ $300 is about 16.7.

Explanation

Monthly interest on $5,000 is $75, well below the $300 payment, so the balance falls by about $225 in the first month and faster later. This means the debt is repaid in fewer than 20 months, so the statement that it clears in under 20 months is correct.

Question 41The statistical investigation process

A researcher wants to estimate the average weekly study time of all Year 12 students at a large school. Which of the following best describes the population in this investigation?

  1. The average weekly study time of the surveyed students
  2. The 50 students selected at random
  3. The students who returned the survey
  4. All Year 12 students at the school Correct answer.

Explanation

The population is the entire group about which information is wanted, so here it is every Year 12 student at the school. The selected students form the sample, and the computed average is a statistic, not the population itself.

Question 42The statistical investigation process

A survey is conducted by placing a questionnaire only in the school library during lunch. Which type of bias is most likely to affect the results?

  1. Sampling error because the sample is too large
  2. Measurement bias because the questions are poorly worded
  3. Response bias because students answer dishonestly
  4. Selection bias because library users are not representative Correct answer.

Explanation

Selection bias arises when the sampling method systematically favours a subgroup, and students who use the library at lunch may differ from the wider student body. The other listed issues concern question design, honesty, or sample size rather than who was included.

Question 43The statistical investigation process

A census is taken of every student in a small school. Which statement about a census is correct?

  1. It collects data from every member of the population Correct answer.
  2. It eliminates all forms of measurement error
  3. It always produces less accurate data than a sample
  4. It relies on voluntary responses from the public

Explanation

By definition a census attempts to measure every individual in the population, removing sampling error. It does not remove non-sampling errors such as measurement error or non-response.

Question 44The statistical investigation process

Which of the following is an example of a numerical (quantitative) variable?

  1. The colour of a student's school bag
  2. The height of a seedling in centimetres Correct answer.
  3. The brand of mobile phone owned
  4. The type of transport used to school

Explanation

A quantitative variable takes numerical values on which arithmetic makes sense, and height measured in centimetres is such a variable. Colours, brands and transport types are categories, so they are qualitative.

Question 45The statistical investigation process

In a statistical investigation, which sequence correctly orders the stages of the statistical investigation process?

  1. Interpret results, collect data, analyse data, pose a question
  2. Analyse data, pose a question, collect data, interpret results
  3. Pose a question, collect data, analyse data, interpret results Correct answer.
  4. Collect data, interpret results, pose a question, analyse data

Explanation

The investigation process begins by defining a question, then gathering data, then analysing it, and finally interpreting findings in context. Analysis cannot sensibly precede the collection of data, and interpretation depends on completed analysis.

Question 46The statistical investigation process

A student records the number of text messages sent each day for 20 days. This variable is best described as:

  1. Continuous numerical data
  2. Nominal categorical data
  3. Ordinal categorical data
  4. Discrete numerical data Correct answer.

Explanation

A count of messages can only take whole-number values, so it is discrete numerical data. Continuous data would allow any value within a range, and categorical data would be labels rather than counts.

Question 47The statistical investigation process

A random sample of 400 voters is surveyed and 52% support a proposal. Which quantity is a statistic?

  1. The percentage of all voters who support the proposal
  2. The list of all registered voters
  3. The total number of voters in the country
  4. The 52% support found in the sample Correct answer.

Explanation

A statistic is a value calculated from sample data, so the 52% support in the sample is a statistic. The corresponding value for the whole population is a parameter, and the voter list is the sampling frame.

Question 48The statistical investigation process

A researcher wants to compare the effectiveness of two study methods and randomly assigns 60 volunteers to one of the two methods. What type of study is this?

  1. An observational study
  2. A census
  3. A retrospective case study
  4. A controlled experiment Correct answer.

Explanation

Because the researcher actively assigns treatments to subjects, the study is a controlled experiment, which supports causal conclusions. Observational studies merely observe without imposing a treatment.

Question 49The statistical investigation process

A researcher selects every 10th name from an alphabetical list of 2000 students after choosing a random starting point. Which sampling method is used?

  1. Simple random sampling
  2. Systematic sampling Correct answer.
  3. Cluster sampling
  4. Stratified sampling

Explanation

Systematic sampling selects individuals at regular intervals from an ordered list after a random start. Simple random sampling would give every individual an equal chance independently, without a fixed interval.

Question 50The statistical investigation process

A school has 600 students split into year levels. A researcher randomly selects 25 students from each year level. Which sampling method is being used?

  1. Systematic sampling
  2. Cluster sampling
  3. Convenience sampling
  4. Stratified sampling Correct answer.

Explanation

Stratified sampling divides the population into homogeneous groups (strata) such as year levels and then samples randomly within each. This guarantees representation from every stratum.