Scatterplots and Data Practice Questions
SAT · SAT Math · 151 free MCQs with instant results and detailed explanations.
151
Total
47
Easy
76
Medium
28
Hard
Start Practicing Scatterplots and Data
Take a timed quiz or customize your practice session
Sample Questions from Scatterplots and Data
Here are 10 sample questions. Start a quiz to get randomized questions with scoring.
Q1
Easy
In a scatterplot showing the relationship between hours studied and scores achieved, which of the following best describes a positive correlation?
A.
As hours studied increase, scores decrease.
B.
As hours studied increase, scores remain constant.
C.
As hours studied increase, scores increase.
D.
There is no relationship between hours studied and scores.
Show Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: C
A positive correlation indicates that as one variable increases, the other variable also tends to increase. In this case, more hours studied generally leads to higher scores.
Q2
Easy
A scatterplot displays data for the number of books read by students and the average time they spend reading each week. If a student reads fewer books, which of the following could be a likely interpretation of the scatterplot?
A.
More time spent reading leads to fewer books read.
B.
Fewer books read indicates higher reading comprehension.
C.
There may be no consistent pattern between the number of books read and time spent reading.
D.
Reading more books corresponds with spending less time reading.
Show Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: C
The lack of a consistent pattern suggests that the number of books read does not reliably predict the average time spent reading, indicating a possible variable relationship.
Q3
Easy
In a scatterplot, the points form a tight cluster along an upward slope. What does this indicate about the variables being compared?
A.
There is a strong positive linear relationship.
B.
There is a weak negative linear relationship.
C.
The variables are unrelated.
D.
There is a strong negative linear relationship.
Show Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: A
A tight cluster of points along an upward slope indicates a strong positive linear relationship, meaning that as one variable increases, the other variable increases consistently.
Q4
Medium
A scatterplot shows the relationship between the hours studied and scores on a test for a group of students. If the correlation coefficient is -0.85, what can be inferred about the relationship?
A.
There is a strong positive correlation between hours studied and scores.
B.
There is a strong negative correlation between hours studied and scores.
C.
There is no correlation between hours studied and scores.
D.
The correlation is weak and mostly random.
Show Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: B
A correlation coefficient of -0.85 indicates a strong negative correlation, meaning that as hours studied increase, test scores tend to decrease.
Q5
Medium
In a scatterplot of data showing the number of hours worked per week against monthly earnings, if the data points form a straight line with a positive slope, what does this indicate?
A.
More hours worked leads to lower earnings.
B.
There is no relationship between hours worked and earnings.
C.
More hours worked leads to higher earnings.
D.
The relationship is quadratic.
Show Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: C
A scatterplot with a straight line of positive slope indicates that as the number of hours worked increases, the monthly earnings also increase.
Q6
Medium
A researcher collected data on the amount of rainfall (in inches) and the yield of corn (in bushels per acre) for various farms. If the scatterplot shows a cloud of points that is mostly horizontal and spread apart, what does this suggest?
A.
Rainfall has a strong effect on corn yield.
B.
Corn yield increases with more rainfall.
C.
There is little to no correlation between rainfall and corn yield.
D.
Corn yield is dependent on rainfall only during certain seasons.
Show Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: C
A scatterplot with points that are mostly horizontal and spread out indicates a lack of correlation, suggesting that rainfall does not significantly affect corn yield.
Q7
Medium
A scatterplot shows the relationship between temperature (in degrees) and ice cream sales (in dollars). If a point representing 90 degrees and $500 sales is an outlier, how might this affect the overall analysis?
A.
It will have no effect on the analysis.
B.
It could skew the perceived strength of the correlation.
C.
It makes the correlation stronger.
D.
It indicates that temperature does not impact sales.
Show Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: B
An outlier can significantly affect the overall analysis by skewing the results, leading to a perceived stronger or weaker correlation than actually exists.
Q8
Hard
A researcher collects data on the number of hours studied and the corresponding test scores of 10 students. The scatterplot shows a negative correlation. If one student studied 5 hours and scored 70, while another studied 15 hours and scored 50, what can be inferred about their relationship?
A.
More study hours always lead to higher scores.
B.
There is a negative correlation in this dataset.
C.
The scores are independent of study hours.
D.
The relationship is non-linear.
Show Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: B
The data shows a negative correlation, meaning that as study hours increase, test scores decrease for these students. This is evident from the provided scores.
Q9
Hard
A scatterplot displays the relationship between the daily temperature (in degrees Fahrenheit) and ice cream sales (in dollars) over a summer season. If the line of best fit has a positive slope, what does this indicate about temperature and ice cream sales?
A.
Higher temperatures lead to lower ice cream sales.
B.
There is no correlation between temperature and ice cream sales.
C.
Higher temperatures are associated with higher ice cream sales.
D.
Ice cream sales are constant regardless of temperature.
Show Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: C
A positive slope in the line of best fit indicates that as the temperature increases, ice cream sales also tend to increase, suggesting a direct relationship.
Q10
Hard
A scatterplot shows the relationship between the number of hours studied and scores on a final exam for a group of students. If the correlation coefficient is found to be 0.85, what can be inferred about the relationship between hours studied and exam scores?
A.
There is a strong positive linear relationship.
B.
There is no relationship between the two variables.
C.
There is a strong negative linear relationship.
D.
The relationship is non-linear.
Show Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: A
A correlation coefficient of 0.85 indicates a strong positive linear relationship between hours studied and exam scores, suggesting that as one increases, the other tends to increase.
Showing 10 of 151 questions. Start a quiz to practice all questions with scoring and timer.
Practice All 151 Questions →More SAT Math Chapters
Other SAT Subjects
Scatterplots and Data — SAT SAT Math Practice Questions Online
This page contains 151 practice MCQs for the chapter Scatterplots and Data in SAT SAT Math. The questions are organized by difficulty — 47 easy, 76 medium, 28 hard — so you can choose the right level for your preparation.
Every question includes a detailed explanation to help you understand the concept, not just memorize answers. Take a timed quiz to simulate exam conditions, or practice at your own pace with no time limit.