Lesson 3.1.4.9.6

3.1.4.9.6 Characteristics of the normal distribution Quiz: AQA Psychology, Unit 4

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson 3.1.4.9.6, Characteristics of the normal distribution: 20 multiple choice questions for the AQA GCSE Psychology (8182), Unit 4: Research methods, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. What shape does a normal distribution have?

    • U-shaped with peaks at both ends
    • Skewed to the right with a long tail
    • Flat with equal frequency for all scores
    • Symmetrical and bell-shaped

  2. In a normal distribution, where are the mean, median and mode?

    • The mean is always at the lowest point
    • They all fall at the centre of the distribution
    • Each measure falls at a different end of the curve
    • The mode is always at the highest score

  3. What does it mean for a distribution to be skewed?

    • It contains only qualitative data
    • It has more than one mode in its data
    • It is asymmetrical, with a longer tail on one side
    • It is perfectly symmetrical around the mean

  4. Which statement about a normal distribution is true?

    • Most scores cluster around the mean
    • The mean is always larger than the median by a set amount
    • Scores are spread evenly across the full range
    • Most scores are found at the highest and lowest values

  5. What does the tail of a normal distribution represent?

    • Scores that are rare and far from the mean in either direction
    • The total number of participants in the study
    • The most common scores clustered around the mode
    • The independent variable manipulated by the researcher

  6. Why is the normal distribution useful in psychology?

    • Many human characteristics approximately follow it, allowing predictions about typical scores
    • It removes the need for any statistical test once the data has been collected
    • It guarantees every participant will score the same on the test every time
    • It proves the independent variable has a causal effect on the dependent variable

  7. What is a bimodal distribution?

    • A distribution with exactly two participants
    • A distribution with two equal tails
    • A distribution where the mean and range are equal
    • A distribution with two peaks or modes

  8. In a symmetrical distribution, which two measures are equal?

    • Range and mode
    • Mode and frequency
    • Mean and range
    • Mean and median

  9. A normal distribution of test scores has a mean of 60. Which score is most typical?

    • Around 30
    • Around 120
    • Around 90
    • Around 60

  10. A histogram of scores is symmetrical with a bell-shaped curve. Which description fits?

    • The distribution is uniform across all scores
    • The distribution is approximately normal
    • The distribution has three modes
    • The distribution is strongly skewed to the left

  11. A distribution of reaction times has a long tail to the right. What does this suggest?

    • It is positively skewed
    • It is negatively skewed, with a few very fast times
    • It is normal, so the mean equals the mode exactly
    • It is uniform, with every time equally frequent

  12. Most participants score close to the average, with few at the very high or low ends. Which distribution does this describe?

    • Uniform distribution
    • Skewed distribution to the right
    • Normal distribution
    • Bimodal distribution

  13. In a normal distribution, what happens to frequency as scores move further from the mean?

    • Frequency gradually decreases in both directions
    • Frequency remains constant across all scores
    • Frequency increases on one side only
    • Frequency increases in both directions

  14. A distribution is perfectly symmetrical and its mean is 45. What is the median?

    • 45
    • 40
    • 90
    • 50

  15. A distribution of reaction times has a mean much higher than its median. What is the best interpretation?

    • The distribution is likely positively skewed
    • The distribution is normal, so the difference is expected
    • The median has been calculated incorrectly
    • The distribution must be bimodal because of the gap

  16. Why might a researcher check whether data is normally distributed before choosing a statistical test?

    • Some tests assume a normal distribution
    • A normal distribution proves the hypothesis is correct
    • Only normal distributions can be displayed on a bar chart
    • Normal distributions are always needed for qualitative analysis

  17. Which two values are always equal in a perfectly normal distribution?

    • Frequency and score
    • Mode and range
    • Range and median
    • Mean and mode

  18. A set of 100 scores is roughly normal. Which statement about the middle of the distribution is correct?

    • The middle contains the fewest scores of all
    • The middle is empty because the scores are spread out
    • The middle contains exactly 50 scores
    • Most scores are close to the centre

  19. Which statement is the best evaluation of the normal distribution in psychology?

    • It is a useful model
    • It only applies to samples over one million people
    • It cannot be used for any measure involving people
    • It is always a perfect description of human behaviour without exception

  20. A researcher says the distribution is negatively skewed. Which description is correct?

    • The tail extends to the right, with most scores clustered towards the lower end
    • The distribution has two separate peaks
    • The distribution has equal tails on both sides
    • The tail extends to the left, with most scores clustered towards the higher end

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