A-Level Mathematics Paper 3 (Statistics)
2026 Practice Questions
This comprehensive practice paper contains 50 exam-style questions
covering all major topics for the Edexcel A-Level Mathematics Paper 3
(Statistics). Each question includes a detailed mark scheme and
explanation to help you prepare for the 2026 exams.
Exam Overview
Detail Information
Exam Board Edexcel (Pearson)
Paper Paper 3: Statistics
Duration 2 Hours
Total Marks 100
Weighting 33.33% of A-Level
Calculator Allowed (graphical
calculator
recommended)
Formula Provided
Booklet
,Topics Covered
1. Statistical Sampling — Sampling techniques, bias, and data collection
2. Data Presentation & Interpretation — Histograms, box plots,
cumulative frequency, skewness
3. Probability — Venn diagrams, tree diagrams, conditional probability
4. Statistical Distributions — Binomial, Poisson, Normal distributions
5. Hypothesis Testing — Binomial tests, Normal tests, critical regions,
p-values
6. Correlation & Regression — Product moment correlation, least
squares regression
7. Confidence Intervals — For population means (known/unknown
variance)
SECTION A: STATISTICAL SAMPLING &
DATA PRESENTATION (Questions 1-8)
Question 1 (8 marks)
A researcher wants to estimate the average height of all students in a large
college. The college has 2,000 students divided into four year groups:
● Year 12: 600 students
● Year 13: 550 students
● Year 14: 500 students
● Year 15: 350 students
,The researcher decides to take a stratified sample of 80 students.
(a) Calculate the number of students that should be sampled from each
year group.
(3 marks)
(b) Explain one advantage and one disadvantage of using stratified
sampling in this context.
(2 marks)
(c) Name an alternative sampling method the researcher could have used
and give one reason why it might be less reliable than stratified sampling.
(3 marks)
Answer (a)
To calculate the stratum sizes:
● Year 12: (600 ÷ 2000) × 80 = 24 students
● Year 13: (550 ÷ 2000) × 80 = 22 students
● Year 14: (500 ÷ 2000) × 80 = 20 students
● Year 15: (350 ÷ 2000) × 80 = 14 students
(Total: 24 + 22 + 20 + 14 = 80)
Answer (b)
Advantage: Stratified sampling ensures that each year group is
proportionally represented in the sample, which improves the reliability of
estimates and reduces sampling bias.
, Disadvantage: It requires prior knowledge of the population structure
(knowing the sizes of each year group), and selecting students from each
stratum can be time-consuming and logistically more complex.
Answer (c)
Alternative: Simple random sampling.
Reason for less reliability: Simple random sampling could produce a
sample that does not accurately represent the proportion of students from
each year group, potentially leading to a biased estimate if certain year
groups are over- or under-represented by chance.
Question 2 (7 marks)
The histogram below represents the distribution of waiting times (in
minutes) for customers at a bank. The histogram has unequal class widths.
Class Interval Frequency
(min) Density
0≤t<5 2.0
5 ≤ t < 10 4.0
10 ≤ t < 15 3.2
15 ≤ t < 25 1.6
25 ≤ t < 35 0.6
(a) Complete the table to show the frequency for each class interval.
2026 Practice Questions
This comprehensive practice paper contains 50 exam-style questions
covering all major topics for the Edexcel A-Level Mathematics Paper 3
(Statistics). Each question includes a detailed mark scheme and
explanation to help you prepare for the 2026 exams.
Exam Overview
Detail Information
Exam Board Edexcel (Pearson)
Paper Paper 3: Statistics
Duration 2 Hours
Total Marks 100
Weighting 33.33% of A-Level
Calculator Allowed (graphical
calculator
recommended)
Formula Provided
Booklet
,Topics Covered
1. Statistical Sampling — Sampling techniques, bias, and data collection
2. Data Presentation & Interpretation — Histograms, box plots,
cumulative frequency, skewness
3. Probability — Venn diagrams, tree diagrams, conditional probability
4. Statistical Distributions — Binomial, Poisson, Normal distributions
5. Hypothesis Testing — Binomial tests, Normal tests, critical regions,
p-values
6. Correlation & Regression — Product moment correlation, least
squares regression
7. Confidence Intervals — For population means (known/unknown
variance)
SECTION A: STATISTICAL SAMPLING &
DATA PRESENTATION (Questions 1-8)
Question 1 (8 marks)
A researcher wants to estimate the average height of all students in a large
college. The college has 2,000 students divided into four year groups:
● Year 12: 600 students
● Year 13: 550 students
● Year 14: 500 students
● Year 15: 350 students
,The researcher decides to take a stratified sample of 80 students.
(a) Calculate the number of students that should be sampled from each
year group.
(3 marks)
(b) Explain one advantage and one disadvantage of using stratified
sampling in this context.
(2 marks)
(c) Name an alternative sampling method the researcher could have used
and give one reason why it might be less reliable than stratified sampling.
(3 marks)
Answer (a)
To calculate the stratum sizes:
● Year 12: (600 ÷ 2000) × 80 = 24 students
● Year 13: (550 ÷ 2000) × 80 = 22 students
● Year 14: (500 ÷ 2000) × 80 = 20 students
● Year 15: (350 ÷ 2000) × 80 = 14 students
(Total: 24 + 22 + 20 + 14 = 80)
Answer (b)
Advantage: Stratified sampling ensures that each year group is
proportionally represented in the sample, which improves the reliability of
estimates and reduces sampling bias.
, Disadvantage: It requires prior knowledge of the population structure
(knowing the sizes of each year group), and selecting students from each
stratum can be time-consuming and logistically more complex.
Answer (c)
Alternative: Simple random sampling.
Reason for less reliability: Simple random sampling could produce a
sample that does not accurately represent the proportion of students from
each year group, potentially leading to a biased estimate if certain year
groups are over- or under-represented by chance.
Question 2 (7 marks)
The histogram below represents the distribution of waiting times (in
minutes) for customers at a bank. The histogram has unequal class widths.
Class Interval Frequency
(min) Density
0≤t<5 2.0
5 ≤ t < 10 4.0
10 ≤ t < 15 3.2
15 ≤ t < 25 1.6
25 ≤ t < 35 0.6
(a) Complete the table to show the frequency for each class interval.
