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SAT Sample Statistics and Margin of Error Questions

What a sample says about a population, and what a margin of error means.

In short

  • Sample Statistics and Margin of Error is part of Problem-Solving and Data Analysis, about 15% of the scored Math questions: 5 to 7 on every test.
  • Math questions from all four areas are mixed in each module and arranged from easiest to hardest.
  • Confidence interval interpretation is the trap Rivie's practice tests set most often in Sample Statistics and Margin of Error questions.

Common traps

Most common first, from Rivie's ten practice tests.

Confidence interval interpretation

A 95% CI is a range that captures the population parameter, not the probability that an individual point falls in the range. The wrong choice misreads it as 'there is a 95% chance that...'

The usual mistake: You translate the CI into 'probability for one trial' instead of 'long-run sampling guarantee.'

Try a question

From Rivie's practice tests. Pick an answer to see why it is right or wrong.

A researcher selects a simple random sample of 400 adults from a city and finds that 62% of those sampled report that they biked to work at least once in the past month. The researcher reports a margin of error of ±4 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. Which conclusion is the most appropriate?

Practice more Sample Statistics and Margin of Error questions free

Video lessons

Free on YouTube, picked for this topic.

Margin of Error: a rare but easy SAT topicWhat margin of error means and what it allowsSettele Tutoring · 6 minDigital SAT Math - Ottocento #3 Confidence Interval & Margin of Error (FREE WKSHT)Margin of error lesson, then 10 SAT questionsTutorllini Test Prep · 47 min

Frequently asked questions

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How many Sample Statistics and Margin of Error questions are on the SAT?

College Board does not publish a count for each topic. Sample Statistics and Margin of Error is one of 7 topics in Problem-Solving and Data Analysis, which makes up about 15% of the scored Math questions, 5 to 7 per test. That works out to about one Sample Statistics and Margin of Error questions on a typical test.

What is the most common mistake on SAT Sample Statistics and Margin of Error questions?

In Rivie's ten practice tests, the trap set most often in Sample Statistics and Margin of Error questions is confidence interval interpretation. You translate the CI into 'probability for one trial' instead of 'long-run sampling guarantee.'

How can I practice Sample Statistics and Margin of Error for the SAT?

Rivie's question bank sorts practice questions by topic and difficulty, so you can work on Sample Statistics and Margin of Error on its own, and your study plan brings back the questions you miss. The free plan includes a full-length practice test and 100 practice questions a week.

More Math topics

All SAT topics

Problem-Solving and Data Analysis

Ratios, Rates, and Units

Problem-Solving and Data Analysis

Percentages

Problem-Solving and Data Analysis

One-Variable Data

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