Question 22N.1.sl.TZ0.29
| Date | November 2022 | Marks available | [Maximum mark: 1] | Reference code | 22N.1.sl.TZ0.29 |
| Level | sl | Paper | 1 | Time zone | TZ0 |
| Command term | State | Question number | 29 | Adapted from | N/A |
A well tested scientific idea which has been used to make predictions cannot explain a particular event. Which statement describes the scientific approach to this dilemma?
A. Hypothesis should be discarded.
B. Hypothesis should be revised.
C. Theory should be discarded.
D. Theory should be revised.
[1]
D
50% of the candidates obtained the right answer. The vast majority of candidates decided that the scientific idea should be revised as opposed to discarded, since it was an already well tested idea. The difficulty was in deciding whether it was classified as a "hypothesis" or a "theory". Since it was well tested and used to make predictions, "theory" was more appropriate. The question did not discriminate well between high-scoring and low-scoring candidates.