Understand the idea.
Say what is being recorded
An outcome is a possible result of a chance experiment. First decide what you will record: for a coin, the upper face; for a normal die, the top number. This tells you what belongs in the outcome list.
Work through the device and list every different result once. A die labelled to has those six possible top numbers. Check both ways: no available label is missing, and no impossible result, such as , has been added.
Names and chances are different
When recording a spinner's colour, list colour names rather than individual sectors. The shown spinner has four sectors but only three possible colours: red, blue and green. Repeated red sectors give more ways to get red, not a new colour name.
Keep the outcome list separate from the counts used to compare chances. A bag may contain several red counters, but 'red' appears once in its colour list. Having three colour names does not mean each colour has the same chance.
See the method in action.
A complete number list
A fair die is labelled 1 to 6. List the possible top numbers.
Worked solution
- 1
Identify the result being recorded.
The question asks for the top number, so outcomes are the face labels rather than colours or positions.
- 2
List the six available labels once each.
Each of these numbers labels one face and can therefore be the top number.
- 3
Check the list against the die.
All six available labels are present, and a number such as seven cannot occur because no face has that label.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
A colour result
List the possible colours when one counter is selected from the supplied bag.
| Colour | Number of counters |
|---|---|
| Red | 3 |
| Blue | 2 |
| Green | 1 |
Worked solution
- 1
Read the colour categories in the bag table.
The table shows red, blue and green counters, so each of those colours can be selected.
- 2
List each colour once: red, blue and green.
The recorded outcome is colour; two red counters would still produce the same colour result.
- 3
Check that the list contains no extra colours.
Only the three listed colours occur in the bag, even though it contains six individual counters.
Red, blue, green.
Try it yourself.
Check your understanding
A box contains only yellow and purple blocks. You record the colour of one selected block. What are the possible outcomes?
Show answer & reasoning
Yellow and purple.
The possible recorded outcomes are yellow and purple because those are the colours present. Each colour is listed once, regardless of how many blocks have that colour; no other colour can be selected from this box.
Keep practising
6 worksheet questions · 7 marks
Read the questions online
- List the outcomes of one coin toss when you record its upper face.1 mark
- A spinner has sectors labelled A, B, A, C. List its possible letter outcomes.1 mark
- Cards are numbered 2, 4, 6, 8. List the possible numbers when one card is selected.1 mark
- Could orange be selected from the supplied bag? Explain.1 mark
Six same-sized counters in a bag; choose without looking Colour Number of counters Red 3 Blue 2 Green 1 - There are five black counters and one white counter. How many different colour outcomes are possible?1 mark
- A pupil lists 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 as the possible top numbers of a normal die. Correct the list.2 marks
Read the worked solutions
Equivalent correct methods earn the corresponding marks. Include units where asked.
- List the outcomes of one coin toss when you record its upper face.1 mark
These are the coin's two face labels.
Heads, tails. - A spinner has sectors labelled A, B, A, C. List its possible letter outcomes.1 mark
Each possible letter is listed once.
A, B, C. - Cards are numbered 2, 4, 6, 8. List the possible numbers when one card is selected.1 mark
These are the four card labels.
2, 4, 6, 8. - Could orange be selected from the supplied bag? Explain.1 mark
Six same-sized counters in a bag; choose without looking Colour Number of counters Red 3 Blue 2 Green 1 Only red, blue and green counters are present.
No. - There are five black counters and one white counter. How many different colour outcomes are possible?1 mark
Count distinct colour names, not individual counters.
Two: black and white. - A pupil lists 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 as the possible top numbers of a normal die. Correct the list.2 marks
7 is impossible because the die has no face labelled 7.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
Curriculum reference & lesson scope
Australian Curriculum v9 / SA Curriculum 2026
Listing outcomes; equal/unequal likelihood; repeated trials; observed frequencies.
Official curriculum source ↗