To determine where most of the scores fall in a test that follows a normal distribution, we need to understand the characteristics of a normal curve.
1. Shape of the Normal Distribution:
- A normal distribution, also known as a Gaussian distribution, is symmetric and bell-shaped.
- It is centered around the mean, which is also the median and mode of the distribution.
2. Distribution of Data:
- In a normal distribution, the data is concentrated around the mean.
- Approximately 68% of the data falls within one standard deviation of the mean (34% on each side).
- Approximately 95% of the data falls within two standard deviations of the mean.
- Approximately 99.7% of the data falls within three standard deviations of the mean.
3. Implications for Test Scores:
- Since a normal distribution is symmetric and most of the data points cluster around the mean, most of the test scores will fall around the center of the distribution.
- This means that the highest concentration of scores will be found in the middle of the distribution.
Given this understanding, we can conclude that most of the scores on a test that follows a normal distribution will fall:
- D. in the middle
Therefore, the best answer to the question is:
D. in the middle
