# 9709 P5 Discrete random variables Topic Questions > CIE IAL 9709 P5: every Discrete random variables topic question from 49 papers (2020–2026), grouped by syllabus point. 229 questions, 566 marks, with direct… - Canonical HTML: https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/mathematics/9709-p5/discrete-random-variables/ - Markdown mirror: https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/mathematics/9709-p5/discrete-random-variables/index.md --- CIE IAL · Mathematics · 9709 P5 · A Level Every 9709 P5 Discrete random variables topic question from the 2020–2027 syllabus, drawn from 49 papers (2020–2026) and grouped by syllabus point. Each row opens a page listing the exact question numbers, marks and a direct link into the paper. These are questions by topic, not full papers, so you can revise one topic at a time. - 9709 P5 - 3 subtopics - 229 topic questions - 49 papers - 566 tagged marks - [Back to Discrete random variables](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/mathematics/9709-p5/discrete-random-variables/) - [All paper codes](https://www.examsci.com/topics/) Core finding **use formulae for probabilities for the binomial and geometric… is the most frequently assessed subtopic in Discrete random variables, with 132 topic questions and 302 marks across 49 papers.** draw up a probability distribution table relating to a… follows with 94 topic questions and 261 marks. The topic contains 3 subtopics, 229 topic questions and 566 marks in total. Rows count only the parts tagged to that subtopic, keep the same colour in both charts and repeat paper count, tagged marks and year range in the native table. ## Topic question count and mark distribution Subtopics are on the vertical axis and sorted from highest to lowest. Only the parts whose knowledge graph matches a subtopic are counted for it, and percentages are each row's share of the tagged total in that chart. A part tagged to several subtopics is counted in each bar, so the bars are not a partition of the topic total. ### Questions by subtopic question items - [• use formulae for probabilities for the binomial and geometric distributions, and recognise practical situations where these distributions are suitable models](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/mathematics/9709-p5/discrete-random-variables/use-formulae-for-probabilities-for-the-binomial-and-geometric-distributions-and/) (49 papers) — 132 · 56.7% - [• draw up a probability distribution table relating to a given situation involving a discrete random variable $X$, and calculate $\mathrm{E}(X)$ and $\operatorname{Var}(X)$](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/mathematics/9709-p5/discrete-random-variables/draw-up-a-probability-distribution-table-relating-to-a-given-situation-involving-a/) (48 papers) — 94 · 40.3% - [• use formulae for the expectation and variance of the binomial distribution and for the expectation of the geometric distribution](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/mathematics/9709-p5/discrete-random-variables/use-formulae-for-the-expectation-and-variance-of-the-binomial-distribution-and-for/) (7 papers) — 7 · 3.0% ### Marks by subtopic marks - [• use formulae for probabilities for the binomial and geometric distributions, and recognise practical situations where these distributions are suitable models](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/mathematics/9709-p5/discrete-random-variables/use-formulae-for-probabilities-for-the-binomial-and-geometric-distributions-and/) (49 papers) — 302 · 52.7% - [• draw up a probability distribution table relating to a given situation involving a discrete random variable $X$, and calculate $\mathrm{E}(X)$ and $\operatorname{Var}(X)$](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/mathematics/9709-p5/discrete-random-variables/draw-up-a-probability-distribution-table-relating-to-a-given-situation-involving-a/) (48 papers) — 261 · 45.5% - [• use formulae for the expectation and variance of the binomial distribution and for the expectation of the geometric distribution](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/mathematics/9709-p5/discrete-random-variables/use-formulae-for-the-expectation-and-variance-of-the-binomial-distribution-and-for/) (7 papers) — 10 · 1.7% ## Subtopic comparison matrix Curriculum order is by syllabus number, then alphabetically. Every row links to the matching past-paper question list. | Subtopic | Topic questions | Papers | Marks | Years | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | **[• draw up a probability distribution table relating to a given situation involving a discrete random variable $X$, and calculate $\mathrm{E}(X)$ and $\operatorname{Var}(X)$](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/mathematics/9709-p5/discrete-random-variables/draw-up-a-probability-distribution-table-relating-to-a-given-situation-involving-a/)** | 94 | 48 | 261 | 2020–2026 | [Open topic questions](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/mathematics/9709-p5/discrete-random-variables/draw-up-a-probability-distribution-table-relating-to-a-given-situation-involving-a/) | | **[• use formulae for probabilities for the binomial and geometric distributions, and recognise practical situations where these distributions are suitable models](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/mathematics/9709-p5/discrete-random-variables/use-formulae-for-probabilities-for-the-binomial-and-geometric-distributions-and/)** | 132 | 49 | 302 | 2020–2026 | [Open topic questions](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/mathematics/9709-p5/discrete-random-variables/use-formulae-for-probabilities-for-the-binomial-and-geometric-distributions-and/) | | **[• use formulae for the expectation and variance of the binomial distribution and for the expectation of the geometric distribution](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/mathematics/9709-p5/discrete-random-variables/use-formulae-for-the-expectation-and-variance-of-the-binomial-distribution-and-for/)** | 7 | 7 | 10 | 2020–2023 | [Open topic questions](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/mathematics/9709-p5/discrete-random-variables/use-formulae-for-the-expectation-and-variance-of-the-binomial-distribution-and-for/) | ## Browse every topic question - [• draw up a probability distribution table relating to a given situation involving a discrete random variable $X$, and calculate $\mathrm{E}(X)$ and $\operatorname{Var}(X)$](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/mathematics/9709-p5/discrete-random-variables/draw-up-a-probability-distribution-table-relating-to-a-given-situation-involving-a/) — 94 question items · 48 papers — 261 marks · 2020–2026 - [• use formulae for probabilities for the binomial and geometric distributions, and recognise practical situations where these distributions are suitable models](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/mathematics/9709-p5/discrete-random-variables/use-formulae-for-probabilities-for-the-binomial-and-geometric-distributions-and/) — 132 question items · 49 papers — 302 marks · 2020–2026 - [• use formulae for the expectation and variance of the binomial distribution and for the expectation of the geometric distribution](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/mathematics/9709-p5/discrete-random-variables/use-formulae-for-the-expectation-and-variance-of-the-binomial-distribution-and-for/) — 7 question items · 7 papers — 10 marks · 2020–2023 ## Other topics in 9709 P5 - [Permutations and combinations 170 question items](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/mathematics/9709-p5/permutations-and-combinations/) - [Probability 199 question items](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/mathematics/9709-p5/probability/) - [Representation of data 167 question items](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/mathematics/9709-p5/representation-of-data/) - [The normal distribution 148 question items](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/mathematics/9709-p5/the-normal-distribution/) ## Topic question rules and edge cases **How many subtopics does Discrete random variables contain?** This page lists 3 subtopics tagged to the current syllabus. They are ordered by syllabus number, then alphabetically, and each row opens a page of matching past-paper questions. **How are the subtopic question and mark totals calculated?** A multiple-choice question contributes one item and its marks to every subtopic it is tagged with. A structured question contributes one item per tagged part, and that part’s marks; untagged parts of the same question are not counted here. A part tagged to several subtopics therefore appears under each of them. **Why do some subtopics have no numbered prefix?** Practical-skills statements and some syllabus bullets are unnumbered. Numbered statements come first; unnumbered statements and ties are sorted alphabetically. **Is the LaTeX rendered without JavaScript?** Yes. Subtopics that contain formulas are converted to static KaTeX HTML during the build, and the KaTeX stylesheet is served from the same site. --- Full page with native tables, bar charts and Practice Hub links: https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/mathematics/9709-p5/discrete-random-variables/