Writing Hypotheses
Learn Writing Hypotheses for GCSE Statistics with this free worksheet and full mark scheme — Foundation and Higher exam-style questions with worked answers for AQA and Edexcel. A hypothesis is a testable statement about a population that collected data can support or reject.
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These worksheets and mark schemes are original, written for Virtus Academy and checked against the current AQA and Edexcel specifications. Every worksheet comes with a full mark scheme.
Topic overview
A hypothesis is a statement that can be tested using data. Writing a good one is a skill examined directly, and vague statements lose marks.
A good hypothesis is specific, testable and written as a statement rather than a question. It should make a clear comparison or prediction that data can support or contradict.
So "Year 11 students spend more time on homework than Year 7 students" is a good hypothesis, because it is specific about who is being compared and what is being measured. "Homework is important" is not, because there is no way to collect data that would settle it. The hypothesis is never proved — data can only support it or provide evidence against it.
Revision notes
What makes a good hypothesis
It must be specific about who or what is being investigated and what is being measured.
It must be testable, meaning data could be collected that would support or contradict it. It should be written as a statement, not a question.
Improving a weak hypothesis
Vague words such as better, important or good cannot be measured.
Replace them with something specific and quantifiable. Change "boys are better at maths" to "boys achieve higher maths test scores than girls in Year 10", which names the groups and the measurement.
Supporting rather than proving
Data can support a hypothesis or provide evidence against it, but it cannot prove it.
This is because the data comes from a sample rather than the whole population. Writing that a hypothesis has been proved will lose marks.
Key points
- A hypothesis is a testable statement.
- It must be specific about what is measured.
- It should be written as a statement, not a question.
- Vague words such as better cannot be tested.
- Data supports or contradicts a hypothesis.
- A hypothesis is never proved.
Worked examples
Example 1
A student writes the hypothesis 'Taller people are better at sport.' Give one reason why this is not a good hypothesis. [1 mark]
Working
Example 2
Rewrite the hypothesis 'Girls read more' so that it can be tested. [2 marks]
Working
Example 3
Explain why a hypothesis cannot be proved by an investigation. [2 marks]
Working
Common mistakes
Writing a hypothesis as a question.
It must be a statement that data can test.
Using vague words such as better or important.
They cannot be measured, so the hypothesis is not testable.
Saying an investigation proves a hypothesis.
Data can only support it or provide evidence against it.
Not naming the groups being compared.
A good hypothesis is specific about who or what is involved.
Exam tips
- Make the hypothesis specific about groups and measurements.
- Write it as a statement, never a question.
- Use supports rather than proves.
- Replace vague words with something quantifiable.
Key terms
- Hypothesis
- A testable statement that data can support or contradict.
- Testable
- Able to be investigated by collecting data.
- Specific
- Clearly stating who or what is measured.
- Support
- What data does to a hypothesis, rather than proving it.
Related topics
Written and reviewed against the current AQA and Edexcel specifications. Spotted an error? Let us know.