Biostatistics – Zoology Optional PYQs (2004–2026)

Here are all 32 Biostatistics questions asked in UPSC Zoology Optional Paper I from 2004 to 2026, arranged under the 2 topics of the official syllabus. Within each topic the latest questions come first.

Each question ends with a code such as [2024/15m/3b] – the year, the marks, the word limit (where UPSC set one) and the question number in the paper.

5.1] Experimental design and hypothesis testing

20 questions

1. Null hypothesis. [2026/10m/150w/5d]

2. Describe one-way and two-way F-test and its significance in biological research. [2026/15m/6b]

3. What is Student’s t-test and its significance in biological research? Write the formula of t-test and its various steps using simple data. [2025/20m/7a]

4. What is Chi-square analysis? Explain its applications in biology. [2022/15m/6c]

5. Describe the differences between f-test and t-test. [2020/20m/8a]

6. What is ANOVA? Differentiate between One-way and Two-way ANOVA. Comment on its application in Biostatistics. [2019/15m/8b]

7. What is Chi-square test? Give a detailed account of the computation of Chi-square for tests of independence, homogeneity and goodness of fit using biological data. [2018/15m/8b]

8. What is meant by biostatistics? Explain the role of correlation, regression and ANOVA in data analysis in Zoology. [2017/20m/7a]

9. Differentiate between one-way and two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Comment on its applications in biostatistics. [2015/10m/150w/5d]

10. Give an account of “Analysis of variance” and mention its significance. [2014/10m/150w/5c]

11. How is the degree of freedom calculated in a chi-square analysis? Use a graph to convert ${\chi }^2$-values to p-values. [2012/12m/150w/5d]

12. With suitable example(s), enumerate the method for conducting one-way and two-way F-tests. [2012/15m/8a]

13. What is chi-square (${\chi }^2$) test? Add a detailed account on the computation of chi-square for tests of independence, homogeneity and goodness of fit, using biological data. [2011/30m/7a]

14. What is student ‘t’ test? Explain the application with example. [2010/30m/7a]

15. Chi-Square and its importance. [2007/20m/200w/5d]

16. Null hypothesis. [2006/20m/200w/5d]

17. what is Student t-test? Explain its application with examples. [2006/30m/8a]

18. How an experiment is designed? Discuss Null Hypothesis. [2005/20m/200w/5d]

19. Designing of experiments and its importance. [2004/20m/200w/5d]

20. Explain the ‘F’ test. How is the one way F-test applied? [2004/30m/8a]

5.2] Descriptive statistics, correlation and regression

12 questions

1. Describe the various measures of central tendency of data with suitable examples and discuss their merits and demerits. [2024/20m/8a]

2. Define regression. Explain different methods and applications of regression analysis. [2023/20m/6a]

3. Comment on ‘measures of central tendency of data’. [2022/10m/150w/5b]

4. Define correlation. Explain its types and methods of computing coefficient of correlation. [2021/20m/6a]

5. What is meant by biostatistics? Explain the role of correlation, regression and ANOVA in data analysis in Zoology. [2017/20m/7a]

6. What is correlation? Explain its various types and methods of calculating correlation analysis. [2016/10m/150w/5e]

7. Describe the measures of central tendency and measures of dispersion. What is their use in biology? [2016/15m/8b]

8. Give an account on “correlation analysis”, its application and significance. [2014/15m/7b]

9. Discuss with suitable examples the importance of the measure of central tendency and dispersion. [2011/15m/150w/5d]

10. Biological examples of Regression Analysis. [2009/20m/200w/5a]

11. What is mean, median and mode? Explain the relationship between these three measures of central tendency. [2007/30m/8a]

12. Differentiate between correlation and regression. Discuss the methods used to study correlation. Add a note on the coefficient of correlation. [2005/30m/8b]

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Last updated: 31 October 2026