C Curriculum Explorer
Mathematics·Probability·conceptual

Ordering Likelihoods

Compare the likelihood of different events and order them from least to most likely — including situations with unequal outcomes such as a bag with more of one colour than another, or a spinner with sections of different sizes — and explain reasoning using informal language

Suggested ages 9–10

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Evidence of understanding

  • Order four or more events from least likely to most likely and justify each placement
  • Compare likelihoods when outcomes are not equally likely — e.g. 'Drawing red from a bag with 7 red and 3 blue is more likely than drawing blue'
  • Explain why some events are closer to 'even chance' and others are closer to 'certain' or 'impossible'

Assessment prompt

If a bag has 8 red counters and 2 blue ones, does Ordering Likelihoods understand that picking red is much more likely than picking blue — and can they put different events in order from least to most likely?

Standards alignment

No external standards are linked to this topic.