Demography: total fertility rate: practice question

A PSM 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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PSM · Demography: total fertility rate

Sample item

In a state, the age-specific fertility rates per 1000 women in five-year age groups 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44 and 45-49 are 20, 120, 150, 100, 60, 20 and 10 respectively. What is the total fertility rate?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. 2.4

The total fertility rate is the average number of children a woman would bear over her reproductive years if she experienced the current age-specific rates. When rates are given in five-year groups, the sum of the rates is multiplied by 5. The sum is 480 per 1000, and 480 x 5 = 2,400 per 1000, or 2.4 children per woman.

Option by option

  • A. 2.4 (correct)

    Correct. (20 + 120 + 150 + 100 + 60 + 20 + 10) x 5 = 2,400 per 1000, or 2.4.

  • B. 4.8

    This results from multiplying the sum by 10 instead of 5.

  • C. 24

    This is a decimal slip, giving 24 instead of 2.4 children per woman.

  • D. 0.48

    This is 480 / 1000, which forgets to multiply by the five-year width of each age group.

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 PSM question

What is the answer to this PSM question?

The best answer is A, 2.4. The total fertility rate is the average number of children a woman would bear over her reproductive years if she experienced the current age-specific rates.

Why is "4.8" not the answer?

This results from multiplying the sum by 10 instead of 5.

Why is "24" not the answer?

This is a decimal slip, giving 24 instead of 2.4 children per woman.

Why is "0.48" not the answer?

This is 480 / 1000, which forgets to multiply by the five-year width of each age group.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Demography: total fertility rate in PSM. When rates are given in five-year groups, the sum of the rates is multiplied by 5. The sum is 480 per 1000, and 480 x 5 = 2,400 per 1000, or 2.4 children per woman.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. 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 Demography: total fertility rate?

Practise biostatistics with small calculations until sensitivity, predictive values and risk measures are automatic. Then use the flashcards and the other PSM 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.