The highest-mark data question at Level 2 is usually ‘compare these two sets and say which is better’. The marks are not for the calculations – they are for writing two or three sentences that use an average and the range and explain what they mean. This free worksheet is all about those sentences.
Free to download, print and share for personal or classroom use. Answers included.
What’s in this worksheet
- Section A – Compare the statistics (12 marks)
- Section B – Which average? (11 marks)
- Section C – Full comparison (5 marks)
- Revise box with the rules and methods for the topic
- Worked answers for every question
Common mistakes on this topic
From our tutors’ marking and the most recent examiner reports – check your work against these:
- Comparing only the averages. The range (spread/consistency) is half the marks.
- Quoting the numbers without saying what they mean – ‘Priya’s range is 5’ needs ‘so her calls are more predictable’.
- Choosing the mean when an outlier distorts it. If one value is wildly different, say so and use the median.
How to use it
- Print the worksheet (or work on screen) and attempt every question without looking at the answers. Give yourself a rough time limit – Level 2 exams are tight.
- Mark your work against the answer page. For maths, check the method as well as the final number; method marks are where most of the marks are.
- Read the ‘common mistakes’ notes below and check whether any of them happened to you. Then redo the questions you got wrong a day later.
Related free resources
- Scatter Graphs and Correlation Worksheet – Functional Skills Maths Level 2
- Estimating the Mean from Grouped Data Worksheet – Functional Skills Maths Level 2
- Level 2 Maths Mini Practice Paper 1 – Functional Skills Maths Level 2
- All free Functional Skills Maths Level 2 resources
Frequently asked questions
How do you compare two sets of data in Functional Skills maths?
Use an average (mean or median) to say which set is typically higher, and the range to say which is more consistent. Quote the figures in each sentence and finish with a decision that answers the question asked.
What does the range tell you when comparing data?
How spread out the values are. A small range means the results are consistent and predictable; a large range means they vary a lot. Two sets can have the same mean but very different ranges.
When should I use the median instead of the mean?
When one or two values are extreme – a very high salary, one very slow day. The mean gets dragged towards the extreme value; the median ignores it and shows what is typical.
Want a tutor to mark your work? Not sure where you stand? Take the free 15-minute mini mock test. Ready to get qualified? Our live 10-week Functional Skills Level 2 Maths course runs in small groups with a mock exam included, and the 5-day revision course is there if your exam is close.