Question

Joey received a report that he scored in the 98th percentile on a national standarized reading test but in the 78th percentile on the math portion of the test. Explain to Joey's grandmother, who knows no statistics, what these numbers mean.

Answers:
A. Joey scored worse than 2% of all students who took the reading test and he scored as well as or better than 78% of all students who took the math test.
B. Joey scored worse than 98% of all students who took the reading test and he scored as well as or better than 22% of all students who took the math test.
C. Joey scored worse than 2% of all students who took the reading test and he scored as well as or better than 22% of all students who took the math test.
D. Joey scored worse than 98% of all students who took the reading test and he scored as well as or better than 78% of all students who took the math test.

Answer 1

A given score in a given percentile means that percentage of scores was below the given score. The appropriate choice is ...

... A. Joey scored worse than 2% of all students who took the reading test and he scored as well as or better than 78% of all students who took the math test