When a test is very difficult for a group of examinees the frequency distribution of their scores will probably be:

When a test is very difficult for a group of examinees the frequency distribution of their scores will probably be:

• A. Positively skewed
• B. Negatively skewed
• C. Normal
• D. Bimodal

Answer: (A)

When most students score near the bottom on a very difficult test, the bulk of data sits on the low end with a few higher scores stretching the tail to the right. This creates a positively skewed distribution, where the long tail extends toward higher scores and the mean tends to be pulled up by those few high scores. A normal distribution would require a symmetric, bell-shaped spread around the center; a bimodal pattern would show two distinct peaks indicating two groups; a negatively skewed distribution would have a tail on the left, which would occur if the test were easy with many high scores and a few very low ones.

When most students score near the bottom on a very difficult test, the bulk of data sits on the low end with a few higher scores stretching the tail to the right. This creates a positively skewed distribution, where the long tail extends toward higher scores and the mean tends to be pulled up by those few high scores. A normal distribution would require a symmetric, bell-shaped spread around the center; a bimodal pattern would show two distinct peaks indicating two groups; a negatively skewed distribution would have a tail on the left, which would occur if the test were easy with many high scores and a few very low ones.