Growth and development: mid-parental height: practice question

A Pediatrics question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Pediatrics · Growth and development: mid-parental height

Sample item

A boy's father is 170 cm and his mother is 156 cm. What is his mid-parental (target) height using the standard formula?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

D. 169.5 cm

For boys, target height is (father's height plus mother's height plus 13) divided by 2. Here (170 + 156 + 13) / 2 equals 169.5 cm.

Option by option

  • A. 163 cm

    This is the simple mean of the parents' heights, without adding 13 cm for a boy.

  • B. 182 cm

    This is far above the value from the formula.

  • C. 176 cm

    This overestimates by adding 13 cm after halving or omitting the halving step.

  • D. 169.5 cm (correct)

    Correct. (170 + 156 + 13) / 2 equals 169.5 cm.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Pediatrics question

What is the answer to this Pediatrics question?

The best answer is D, 169.5 cm. For boys, target height is (father's height plus mother's height plus 13) divided by 2.

Why is "163 cm" not the answer?

This is the simple mean of the parents' heights, without adding 13 cm for a boy.

Why is "182 cm" not the answer?

This is far above the value from the formula.

Why is "176 cm" not the answer?

This overestimates by adding 13 cm after halving or omitting the halving step.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Growth and development: mid-parental height in Pediatrics. Here (170 + 156 + 13) / 2 equals 169.5 cm.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Growth and development: mid-parental height?

Memorise milestones and the vaccine schedule as tables and revise them often. Then use the flashcards and the other Pediatrics questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.