Question Difficulty

Mean marks achieved by candidates, as reported in examiners' reports. 215 question-years with data

Questions with data
215
across 18 years
Overall mean
8.3 / 20
42%
Hardest recorded
2 / 20
Easiest recorded
15 / 20
STEP 3 — mean mark per question
Low High
Year Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5 Q6 Q7 Q8 Q9 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13
2025 ~12 ~9 ~7 ~7.5 ~3.5 ~5.5 ~8 ~9 ~3.5 ~6.5 ~9 ~15 —
2024 15 ~9.7 ~8.5 10 ~7.5 ~2 ~9.3 ~8.8 4 5.5 ~10.5 10 —
2023 9.5 ~12.5 6 5 ~8.5 ~10.3 9.4 7.3 6.9 ~5.5 ~9.5 7.4 —
2022 14 9 5.5 9 ~9.7 5 ~6 6 ~10.3 ~6.7 ~6.7 ~4.7 —
2021 15 9 ~7.5 ~6.8 ~6.5 ~7.7 ~5.5 6.5 ~4.5 ~7.3 11 ~6.2 —
2020 12.6 11 ~9.5 ~9.5 ~11.5 ~7 ~12.8 ~6.7 ~9.5 ~4.5 ~8.5 ~8 —
2019 7.7 ~11.5 ~4.9 10 ~9 ~5 6.7 ~5 ~6.4 ~9.5 ~4.8 10 —
2018 ~8.5 ~11 7 ~11.5 ~8 ~5.3 8 ~9.3 5.5 ~8.3 ~4.5 ~9.1 ~10.5
2017 12 5 ~10 ~10.5 ~9.5 ~10.2 8 ~8.8 ~6.7 ~7 ~9 ~9.7 ~8
2016 ~13.3 ~8 ~8.5 ~7 ~8 ~6.7 ~5.5 ~13.8 ~9.5 ~4.7 ~5 ~10 ~4.8
2015 ~8.5 ~10.5 ~3 ~7.5 ~10 ~5.5 ~10.5 ~12 ~7.5 ~9 ~6.5 ~5.5 ~4
2014 10 ~13.3 ~4.5 ~6.7 ~9 ~9.5 ~3.5 ~7 ~7 ~8.5 ~8.5 ~5.5 ~5
2013 ~13.3 ~12.8 10 ~6.7 5 ~7.2 ~8.5 ~6.7 ~8.5 ~10.5 ~9.5 ~5.7 ~9.5
2012 ~5 ~11 ~9.5 ~9 ~9 ~8 ~11.5 ~10 ~2 ~9.8 ~8.8 ~9 ~3
2011 ~13 ~9.5 ~9.5 ~10 ~5 ~10.5 ~10.5 ~9.5 ~8.5 ~5 ~9.5 ~9.5 ~6.7
2010 ~12 ~12 ~10 ~8 ~10 ~5 ~10 ~10 ~8 — ~4 ~12 —
2009 ~12 ~12 ~11.5 ~11.5 ~12 ~8 ~10 ~9 ~5 ~9.5 ~7.5 ~5 ~2
2008 — — — — — ~14 — ~13 — ~10 — — —
Empty cells: the examiner's report for that question did not state or imply a numeric mean mark. Values prefixed ~ and shown in italics are inferred from comparative or fractional language in the commentary (e.g. “slightly less well than Q7”); hover for the derivation. Colours are banded by percentage of the max available marks (20 per question for STEP).
Mean mark vs attempt rate (where both available)
Each point is one question-year from STEP 3. Hover a point to see year + question.
STEP 3 — attempt rate per question
Low High
Data points
211
Mean attempt rate
48%
Least attempted
3%
Most attempted
98%
Year Q1Q2Q3Q4Q5Q6Q7Q8Q9Q10Q11Q12Q13
2024 ~98% 75% ~82% ~76% ~68% ~52% ~78% ~58% ~14% ~5% 30% ~21% —
2023 ~93% ~67% ~45% ~46% ~94% ~76% ~80% ~65% ~18% — ~17% ~20% —
2022 94% ~51% 90% 80% ~89% 50% ~35% ~34% 33% ~17% 25% ~17% —
2021 93% ~79% 84% ~34% ~80% 70% ~37% 77% ~21% 10% ~34% ~17% —
2020 90% 84% ~31% ~17% ~83% 60% ~87% 60% ~11% 8% 20% ~20% —
2019 83% ~92% ~60% 67% ~85% 50% 67% 25% ~11% 40% 20% 25% —
2018 93% 89% 65% ~74% ~48% ~38% ~39% 63% ~26% 9% 20% 14% 9%
2017 84% ~25% 70% 60% ~61% 80% ~60.5% ~61% ~26% 12.5% 20% ~10% ~17%
2016 93% 75% ~74% 80% 50% 40% ~28% ~92% ~18% ~14% ~33% ~14% ~7%
2015 85% ~75% 20% ~75% ~75% ~60% ~75% 80% ~20% 8% ~10% ~10% ~10%
2014 93.3% ~93% 50% ~66% 50% 70% ~40% ~48% 20% 25% ~26% 8% ~8.5%
2013 — ~86% ~14% ~68% ~65% ~50% ~75% ~14% ~20% ~14% ~20% ~11% ~14%
2012 ~67% ~75% ~67% 70% ~71% ~67% ~67% 83% — ~17% ~15% 9% —
2011 ~95% 70% 80% ~67% ~30% 75% ~75% ~67% ~17% ~23% 4% ~5% 10%
2010 ~82% ~85% ~52% ~65% ~52% 10% 60% 75% ~18% 5% ~16% ~15% ~3%
2009 80% ~80% ~83% 50% ~85% 33% 66% ~66% 17% 8% ~15% 10% ~5%
2008 ~85% 60% ~48% ~48% ~60% 80% ~18% 60% ~25% ~18% ~8% ~5% ~11%
Percentage of candidates who attempted each question. Same inferred/italic convention as the mean-mark heatmap.