STATISTICS BEC1 - STATISTICS PRE-ASSESSMENT
WGU BEC1 - Applied Healthcare Statistics and Analysis
Comprehensive Practice Examination: 45 Questions with Verified Answers and Detailed Rationales
Aligned with the FZO1 Applied Probability and Statistics Pre-Assessment Blueprint and 2026/2027 WGU
BEC1 Competency Standards
Coverage: Obtaining and Understanding Data | Probability and the Normal Probability Distributions | Hypothesis Testing
and Significance Levels | Correlation Coefficients and Linear Regression
SECTION 1 - FOUNDATIONS OF STATISTICS (Questions 1-12)
Q1: A hospital quality team codes each patient's blood type for database entry as A = 1, B = 2, AB =
3, and O = 4. Although the blood types are recorded as numbers, what is the level of measurement of
this variable?
A. Interval, because the codes are numerical values with equal spacing
B. Ordinal, because the categories can be listed in a sequence
C. Nominal, because the numbers serve only as labels for categories with no meaningful order
[CORRECT]
D. Ratio, because a code of 4 represents twice the category of a code of 2
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Blood type is a categorical variable whose values are names with no natural ranking, so it is
nominal even after numeric coding; the codes cannot be meaningfully added, ordered, or compared.
Ordinal requires a meaningful order such as cancer stages, interval requires equal spacing between
meaningful numeric values, and ratio requires a true zero so that ratios are interpretable. Numeric
coding does not change the measurement level, which is a classic BEC1 pitfall.
Q2: In a patient experience survey, responses are recorded as Poor, Fair, Good, or Excellent. Which
level of measurement best describes this variable?
A. Nominal, because the responses are word labels rather than numbers
B. Interval, because the categories are evenly spaced from one another
C. Ratio, because a response of Poor represents zero satisfaction
D. Ordinal, because the categories can be ranked from worst to best but the gaps between them are
not measurable [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The categories have a clear ranking (Poor is worse than Fair, and Fair is worse than Good),
but the distances between adjacent labels cannot be measured, which is the definition of ordinal data.
Nominal fits only unordered labels such as blood type, while interval and ratio require numeric values
with meaningful, equal spacing. Recognizing ranked-but-not-measurable categories is a core BEC1
competency.
Applied Healthcare Statistics and Analysis 1
,WGU BEC1 - Statistics Pre-Assessment | 2026/2027 Competency Standards
Q3: A clinic's vaccine storage protocol requires the refrigerator to stay between 2 and 8 degrees
Celsius. The digital thermometer displays 46.4 degrees Fahrenheit. Using the conversion C = (F - 32)
÷ 1.8, what should the nurse conclude?
A. 46.4°F equals 8.0°C, which is exactly at the upper limit of the safe range [CORRECT]
B. 46.4°F equals 25.8°C, so the refrigerator is dangerously warm
C. 46.4°F equals -8.0°C, so the vaccines may freeze
D. 46.4°F equals 25.9°C, so the refrigerator is too warm, because the formula requires multiplying
by 1.8 after subtracting 32
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Order of operations requires subtracting 32 first, then dividing by 1.8: (46.4 - 32) ÷ 1.8 =
14.4 ÷ 1.8 = 8.0°C, exactly the upper boundary of the safe 2 to 8°C range. Dividing before subtracting
gives the incorrect 25.8°C, subtracting in the reverse order gives -8.0°C, and multiplying instead of
dividing reverses the formula. Temperature in degrees Fahrenheit or Celsius is interval-level data
because it has equal units but no true zero.
Q4: A nursing administrator records the length of hospital stay in days for each discharged patient.
Which level of measurement applies to this variable?
A. Nominal, because days are simply labels attached to each patient
B. Ratio, because zero days represents a true absence of stay and a 6-day stay is twice a 3-day stay
[CORRECT]
C. Interval, because the days have equal spacing but no true zero
D. Ordinal, because stays can be ranked from shortest to longest
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Length of stay is quantitative with a true zero (zero days means no stay), so a 6-day stay is
exactly twice a 3-day stay; interpretable ratios are the hallmark of ratio data. Equal spacing alone would
indicate only interval level, and ranking language belongs to ordinal data. Hospital utilization metrics
such as length of stay are standard ratio-level healthcare variables.
Q5: Which of the following variables collected in a hospital database is qualitative (categorical)?
A. Number of emergency department visits in the past year
B. Body mass index measured in kg/m2
C. Primary insurance type (HMO, PPO, Medicare, or uninsured) [CORRECT]
D. Minutes spent waiting in the waiting room
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Insurance type places each patient into a non-numeric category, making it qualitative. Visit
counts, body mass index, and wait time are all quantitative because they are numerical counts or
measurements for which arithmetic operations such as averaging are meaningful. A quick test: if
computing a mean for the variable would be meaningless, the variable is qualitative.
Applied Healthcare Statistics and Analysis 2
, WGU BEC1 - Statistics Pre-Assessment | 2026/2027 Competency Standards
Q6: An analyst records the number of surgeries each of 40 surgeons performs in one month. This
variable is best classified as:
A. Discrete quantitative, because it results from counting and takes distinct whole-number values
[CORRECT]
B. Continuous quantitative, because the counts can be very large
C. Qualitative nominal, because each surgeon performs a different type of surgery
D. Qualitative ordinal, because the counts naturally form an ordered list
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The number of surgeries is a count that takes distinct whole-number values (0, 1, 2, 3), the
defining feature of a discrete quantitative variable. Continuous variables arise from measuring and can
take any value in an interval, such as a weight of 68.3 kg. The size of the values is irrelevant, and counts
are quantitative, not qualitative, because sums and means of counts are meaningful.
Q7: A research nurse measures the exact body weight of each newborn in grams, recording values to
the precision of the scale (for example, 3,254.7 g). Weight measured in this way is:
A. A discrete variable, because the scale displays a limited number of digits
B. A continuous variable, because it comes from measuring and can take any value within an
interval [CORRECT]
C. A qualitative variable, because every baby has a different weight
D. An ordinal variable, because heavier babies rank above lighter babies
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Weight comes from a measurement process and can conceptually take any value in a range
(3,254.7 g, then 3,254.68 g, and so on), which makes it continuous quantitative. Discrete data come
from counting distinct values, ordinal requires ordered categories, and variability among babies does
not make a variable qualitative. Distinguishing count-based from measurement-based variables is a
recurring BEC1 assessment task.
Q8: A researcher examines 250 randomly selected patient charts from the 5,000 patients treated at a
regional hospital last year in order to estimate the average wait time. In this study, the 250 charts
represent:
A. The population of interest
B. A parameter
C. The sample [CORRECT]
D. A statistic
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The sample is the subset of the population from which data are actually collected, here the
250 examined charts out of all 5,000 patients treated. The population is the entire group of interest, a
parameter is a numerical summary of the whole population, and a statistic is a numerical summary
computed from the sample rather than the subset itself. Confusing the subset (sample) with its
summary (statistic) is a frequent pre-assessment error.
Applied Healthcare Statistics and Analysis 3
WGU BEC1 - Applied Healthcare Statistics and Analysis
Comprehensive Practice Examination: 45 Questions with Verified Answers and Detailed Rationales
Aligned with the FZO1 Applied Probability and Statistics Pre-Assessment Blueprint and 2026/2027 WGU
BEC1 Competency Standards
Coverage: Obtaining and Understanding Data | Probability and the Normal Probability Distributions | Hypothesis Testing
and Significance Levels | Correlation Coefficients and Linear Regression
SECTION 1 - FOUNDATIONS OF STATISTICS (Questions 1-12)
Q1: A hospital quality team codes each patient's blood type for database entry as A = 1, B = 2, AB =
3, and O = 4. Although the blood types are recorded as numbers, what is the level of measurement of
this variable?
A. Interval, because the codes are numerical values with equal spacing
B. Ordinal, because the categories can be listed in a sequence
C. Nominal, because the numbers serve only as labels for categories with no meaningful order
[CORRECT]
D. Ratio, because a code of 4 represents twice the category of a code of 2
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Blood type is a categorical variable whose values are names with no natural ranking, so it is
nominal even after numeric coding; the codes cannot be meaningfully added, ordered, or compared.
Ordinal requires a meaningful order such as cancer stages, interval requires equal spacing between
meaningful numeric values, and ratio requires a true zero so that ratios are interpretable. Numeric
coding does not change the measurement level, which is a classic BEC1 pitfall.
Q2: In a patient experience survey, responses are recorded as Poor, Fair, Good, or Excellent. Which
level of measurement best describes this variable?
A. Nominal, because the responses are word labels rather than numbers
B. Interval, because the categories are evenly spaced from one another
C. Ratio, because a response of Poor represents zero satisfaction
D. Ordinal, because the categories can be ranked from worst to best but the gaps between them are
not measurable [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The categories have a clear ranking (Poor is worse than Fair, and Fair is worse than Good),
but the distances between adjacent labels cannot be measured, which is the definition of ordinal data.
Nominal fits only unordered labels such as blood type, while interval and ratio require numeric values
with meaningful, equal spacing. Recognizing ranked-but-not-measurable categories is a core BEC1
competency.
Applied Healthcare Statistics and Analysis 1
,WGU BEC1 - Statistics Pre-Assessment | 2026/2027 Competency Standards
Q3: A clinic's vaccine storage protocol requires the refrigerator to stay between 2 and 8 degrees
Celsius. The digital thermometer displays 46.4 degrees Fahrenheit. Using the conversion C = (F - 32)
÷ 1.8, what should the nurse conclude?
A. 46.4°F equals 8.0°C, which is exactly at the upper limit of the safe range [CORRECT]
B. 46.4°F equals 25.8°C, so the refrigerator is dangerously warm
C. 46.4°F equals -8.0°C, so the vaccines may freeze
D. 46.4°F equals 25.9°C, so the refrigerator is too warm, because the formula requires multiplying
by 1.8 after subtracting 32
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Order of operations requires subtracting 32 first, then dividing by 1.8: (46.4 - 32) ÷ 1.8 =
14.4 ÷ 1.8 = 8.0°C, exactly the upper boundary of the safe 2 to 8°C range. Dividing before subtracting
gives the incorrect 25.8°C, subtracting in the reverse order gives -8.0°C, and multiplying instead of
dividing reverses the formula. Temperature in degrees Fahrenheit or Celsius is interval-level data
because it has equal units but no true zero.
Q4: A nursing administrator records the length of hospital stay in days for each discharged patient.
Which level of measurement applies to this variable?
A. Nominal, because days are simply labels attached to each patient
B. Ratio, because zero days represents a true absence of stay and a 6-day stay is twice a 3-day stay
[CORRECT]
C. Interval, because the days have equal spacing but no true zero
D. Ordinal, because stays can be ranked from shortest to longest
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Length of stay is quantitative with a true zero (zero days means no stay), so a 6-day stay is
exactly twice a 3-day stay; interpretable ratios are the hallmark of ratio data. Equal spacing alone would
indicate only interval level, and ranking language belongs to ordinal data. Hospital utilization metrics
such as length of stay are standard ratio-level healthcare variables.
Q5: Which of the following variables collected in a hospital database is qualitative (categorical)?
A. Number of emergency department visits in the past year
B. Body mass index measured in kg/m2
C. Primary insurance type (HMO, PPO, Medicare, or uninsured) [CORRECT]
D. Minutes spent waiting in the waiting room
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Insurance type places each patient into a non-numeric category, making it qualitative. Visit
counts, body mass index, and wait time are all quantitative because they are numerical counts or
measurements for which arithmetic operations such as averaging are meaningful. A quick test: if
computing a mean for the variable would be meaningless, the variable is qualitative.
Applied Healthcare Statistics and Analysis 2
, WGU BEC1 - Statistics Pre-Assessment | 2026/2027 Competency Standards
Q6: An analyst records the number of surgeries each of 40 surgeons performs in one month. This
variable is best classified as:
A. Discrete quantitative, because it results from counting and takes distinct whole-number values
[CORRECT]
B. Continuous quantitative, because the counts can be very large
C. Qualitative nominal, because each surgeon performs a different type of surgery
D. Qualitative ordinal, because the counts naturally form an ordered list
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The number of surgeries is a count that takes distinct whole-number values (0, 1, 2, 3), the
defining feature of a discrete quantitative variable. Continuous variables arise from measuring and can
take any value in an interval, such as a weight of 68.3 kg. The size of the values is irrelevant, and counts
are quantitative, not qualitative, because sums and means of counts are meaningful.
Q7: A research nurse measures the exact body weight of each newborn in grams, recording values to
the precision of the scale (for example, 3,254.7 g). Weight measured in this way is:
A. A discrete variable, because the scale displays a limited number of digits
B. A continuous variable, because it comes from measuring and can take any value within an
interval [CORRECT]
C. A qualitative variable, because every baby has a different weight
D. An ordinal variable, because heavier babies rank above lighter babies
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Weight comes from a measurement process and can conceptually take any value in a range
(3,254.7 g, then 3,254.68 g, and so on), which makes it continuous quantitative. Discrete data come
from counting distinct values, ordinal requires ordered categories, and variability among babies does
not make a variable qualitative. Distinguishing count-based from measurement-based variables is a
recurring BEC1 assessment task.
Q8: A researcher examines 250 randomly selected patient charts from the 5,000 patients treated at a
regional hospital last year in order to estimate the average wait time. In this study, the 250 charts
represent:
A. The population of interest
B. A parameter
C. The sample [CORRECT]
D. A statistic
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The sample is the subset of the population from which data are actually collected, here the
250 examined charts out of all 5,000 patients treated. The population is the entire group of interest, a
parameter is a numerical summary of the whole population, and a statistic is a numerical summary
computed from the sample rather than the subset itself. Confusing the subset (sample) with its
summary (statistic) is a frequent pre-assessment error.
Applied Healthcare Statistics and Analysis 3
