Open main menu

Accurate

Key Stage 4

Meaning

Results are accurate if they are close to the true value.

About Accuracy

Accuracy is achieved by:
If there are random errors and a small sample size taking repeat readings, removing anomalies and calculating an average can improve the accuracy.
If there are systematic errors or zero errors the results can be improved by finding the source of the error and correcting it.

Accuracy vs Precision

Experimental Measurements of pi
Method Test 1 Test 2 Test 3 Average Range
Method 1 3.27 3.09 3.01 3.12 0.26
Method 2 3.91 3.88 3.88 3.89 0.03
Method 3 3.57 2.89 2.93 3.13 0.68
The number pi is 3.14159265359 correct to 12 significant figures.

Method 1: The most accurate measurements because they are the closest to pi but they are not very precise because they have a range of 0.26.

Method 2: These are the least accurate measurements because they are the furthest from pi but they are very precise because they have a range of only 0.03.

Method 3: Each measurement is not accurate because they are far from pi, they are also the least precise because they have a range of 0.68. However, the average is the most accurate as it is the closes to pi.

References

AQA

Accuracy (of results), page 5, GCSE Biology; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA
Accuracy of results, page 274, GCSE Chemistry, Hodder, AQA
Accuracy, page 13, GCSE Physics, Hodder, AQA
Accuracy, page 148, GCSE Biology, Hodder, AQA
Accuracy, page 5, GCSE Combined Science; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA
Accuracy, page 5, GCSE Physics; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA
Accuracy, page 6, GCSE Chemistry; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA
Accuracy, pages 10, 204, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy 2, Hodder, AQA
Accuracy, pages 104, 286, GCSE Chemistry; Student Book, Collins, AQA
Accuracy, pages 266-267, GCSE Chemistry; Third Edition, Oxford University Press, AQA
Accuracy, pages 279-280, GCSE Physics; Third Edition, Oxford University Press, AQA
Accurate results, page 11, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy; Physics, CGP, AQA
Accurate results, page 12, GCSE Biology, CGP, AQA
Accurate results, page 12, GCSE Chemistry, CGP, AQA
Accurate results, page 12, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy; Biology, CGP, AQA
Accurate results, page 12, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy; Chemistry, CGP, AQA
Accurate results, page 12, GCSE Physics; The Complete 9-1 Course for AQA, CGP, AQA

Edexcel

Accuracy, page 12, GCSE Chemistry, CGP, Edexcel
Accuracy, page 5, GCSE Combined Science; The Revision Guide, CGP, Edexcel
Accuracy, page 6, GCSE Biology; The Revision Guide, CGP, Edexcel
Accuracy, page 6, GCSE Chemistry; The Revision Guide, CGP, Edexcel
Accuracy, page 6, GCSE Physics; The Revision Guide, CGP, Edexcel
Accuracy, pages 12, 15, GCSE Physics, CGP, Edexcel
Accurate results, page 12, GCSE Biology, CGP, Edexcel

OCR

Accuracy, page 5, Gateway GCSE Combined Science; The Revision Guide, CGP, OCR
Accuracy, page 6, Gateway GCSE Biology; The Revision Guide, CGP, OCR
Accuracy, page 6, GCSE Chemistry; The Revision Guide, CGP, OCR Gateway
Accuracy, pages 10, 11, 152, 166, Gateway GCSE Chemistry, Oxford, OCR