<PAGE> PAGE 1
000 A000000 03/31/97
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<PAGE> PAGE 2
011 C02AA01 MA
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012 A00AA01 SCUDDER SERVICE CORPORATION
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012 C01AA01 BOSTON
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014 A00AA01 SCUDDER INVESTOR SERVICES, INC.
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<PAGE> PAGE 3
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<PAGE> PAGE 4
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<PAGE> PAGE 5
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<PAGE> PAGE 6
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<PAGE> PAGE 7
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<PAGE> PAGE 8
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<PAGE> PAGE 9
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<PAGE> PAGE 10
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<PAGE> PAGE 11
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<PAGE> PAGE 12
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SIGNATURE THOMAS F. MCDONOUGH
TITLE VICE PRESIDENT
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE>6
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the AARP
High Quality Bond Annual Report for the fiscal year ended 3/31/97 and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
<NUMBER>1
<NAME> AARP High Quality Bond
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1996
<PERIOD-START> SEP-30-1996
<PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 463,026,267
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 454,297,440
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<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 29,823,311
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<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
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<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 2,308,659
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<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (291,833)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (4,158,883)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 9,847,488
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<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (14,298,204)
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<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (4,397,610)
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<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (44,983,873)
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</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE>6
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
AARP INSURED TAX FREE GENERAL BOND FUND Annual Report for review
3/31/97 and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such
financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
<NUMBER>2
<NAME> AARP INSD TF GEN BOND
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1997
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<PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1997
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<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 1,638,118,079
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 95,259,068
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 98,088,821
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
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<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (20,601,214)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
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<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
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<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 42,181,394
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (1,296,210)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (4,389,383)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 36,495,801
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (42,181,394)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (8,693,174)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
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<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (7,439,064)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 1,744,375
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (65,295,186)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (10,611,830)
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<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 4,161,987
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 0
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<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 17.90
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</TABLE>