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A Level Maths · Statistics · Year 12 and 13

A Level Maths Hypothesis Testing revision

Hypothesis testing follows the same routine every time: hypotheses, test statistic or critical region, comparison, and a conclusion in context. Most lost marks are in the wording of that conclusion.

  • Same content for AQA, Edexcel and OCR
  • Step-by-step mark schemes
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Start with one question on hypothesis testing. Stuck? Take a hint. No sign-in needed.

A test at the \(10\%\) significance level gives a \(p\)-value of \(0.12\). What do you conclude?
Choose your answer · keys 1–4
What you need to know

Hypothesis Testing in Year 12 and Year 13

AS content is usually taught in Year 12. The full A Level adds the Year 13 content. Sitting AS exams or mocks? See the AS Level Maths checklist.

Year 12 (AS content)

  • The language of hypothesis testing: null and alternative hypotheses, significance level, critical value and region, p-value
  • One-tailed and two-tailed tests for the proportion in a binomial distribution

Year 13 (full A Level only)

  • Testing for the mean of a normal distribution with known variance
  • Testing for zero correlation using the product moment correlation coefficient

Worked examplemedium4 marks

For a two-tailed test with $H_0: p = 0.5$, $H_1: p \neq 0.5$, $n = 20$, and $\alpha = 0.10$, find the critical region.

Mark scheme and worked answer
Each tail at most $0.05$. From $B(20, 0.5)$: $P(X \le 5) = 0.0207$, $P(X \le 6) = 0.0577$   M1. Lower tail: $X \le 5$   A1. By symmetry $P(X \ge 15) = 0.0207$, $P(X \ge 14) = 0.0577$   M1. Upper tail: $X \ge 15$   A1. Critical region: $X \le 5$ or $X \ge 15$.

Then practise: skills to practise · open hypothesis testing practice questions.

Try it: normal distribution calculator · binomial distribution calculator · correlation and regression calculator (free, shows the working)

Where it's examined

Hypothesis Testing on the AQA, Edexcel and OCR papers

Every board examines the same A Level Maths content, set by the Department for Education. Only the paper it appears on and the section numbering differ.

BoardSpecification referenceExamined in
AQA 7357AQA section OPaper 3
Edexcel 9MA0Edexcel topic Statistics 5Paper 3, Section A
OCR A H240OCR reference 2.05Paper 2, statistics section

Statistics questions can be set in the context of your board's large data set: large data set guides and practice (Edexcel · AQA · OCR A).

Practice questions

A Level Maths hypothesis testing exam-style questions

Three examples from the question bank, one with its full mark scheme open. Every question comes with a step-by-step mark scheme (M, A and B marks) once you start practising.

Question 1easy2 marks

State what the letters $H_0$ and $H_1$ represent in a hypothesis test.

Mark scheme: in the 7-day free trial.

Question 2medium2 marks

A shop claims that 30% of visitors make a purchase. A random sample of 20 visitors is chosen. Let $X$ be the number who purchase. Under $H_0: p = 0.3$, and $X \sim B(20, 0.3)$, find $P(X \ge 10)$.

Full worked solution Free, no sign-in

$P(X \ge 10) = 1 - P(X \le 9)$   M1. $= 1 - 0.9520 = 0.0480$   A1.

Every question here has a full worked solution. See them all →

Question 3hard7 marks

A dice manufacturer claims each face is equally likely. A student throws the dice 60 times and gets a 6 on 15 occasions. Test at 5% significance whether the dice is biased in favour of 6.

Mark scheme: in the 7-day free trial.

Questions are original and written in the style of Edexcel 9MA0, and cover content that AQA and OCR examine too. They are not past-paper questions.

Full question sets with mark schemes: binomial hypothesis testing questions (15) · correlation hypothesis testing questions (12) · hypothesis testing for a normal mean questions (15)

Revision notes: Hypothesis testing with the binomial distribution · Hypothesis test for the mean of a normal distribution · Hypothesis test for correlation

In the practice engine

Skills you can practise

These skills sit in the Statistics unit of the UK A Level practice engine. Pick any mix of them, set the difficulty, and check each answer against its mark scheme.

Hypothesis testing with the binomial distributionCritical regions (binomial)Hypothesis testing for a mean (normal)Hypothesis testing for correlation

Open Statistics practice

Past papers

Past paper questions on hypothesis testing

Hypothesis testing can come up on these papers (from each board's paper structure). We haven't mapped individual questions yet, so open a recent paper and look for it.

BoardRecent papers that can test it
Edexcel 9MA0Paper 3: June 2025, June 2024, June 2023
AQA 7357Paper 3: June 2025, June 2024, June 2023
OCR H240Paper 2: June 2025, June 2024, June 2023

Papers are © the exam boards; each page links to the official question paper and mark scheme. All A Level Maths past papers →

Hypothesis Testing: common questions

Is hypothesis testing on the AQA, Edexcel and OCR A Level Maths exams?

Yes. Hypothesis Testing is part of the A Level Maths content that every board examines: AQA section O, Edexcel Statistics 5, OCR 2.05. It is assessed in AQA Paper 3; Edexcel Paper 3, Section A; OCR A Paper 2, statistics section.

Is hypothesis testing Year 12 or Year 13 content?

Both. The AS content, usually taught in Year 12, is: The language of hypothesis testing: null and alternative hypotheses, significance level, critical value and region, p-value; One-tailed and two-tailed tests for the proportion in a binomial distribution. The full A Level adds: Testing for the mean of a normal distribution with known variance; Testing for zero correlation using the product moment correlation coefficient.

How should I word the conclusion of a hypothesis test?

Say whether there is sufficient evidence to reject H₀ at the stated significance level, then say what that means in the context of the question. Avoid 'proves' or 'accept H₁'.

Your hypothesis testing revision kit

More A Level Maths statistics topics

Stretch yourself: original probability problems at Senior level (ages 16 to 18), with hints and full solutions: Problem S29 · Problem S102 · Problem S30 · Problem S103. All 20 →

Thinking about an EPQ? Maths EPQ ideas that use this topic: P-values and the replication crisis · Can people be random? · How big should a clinical trial be? · all 93 ideas

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