Subject guide
How to prepare for a statistics exam
Many students fail statistics not on understanding but on small, recurring mistakes. Here is how to practise them away.
5 min read
The most costly mistakes
- Dividing by n instead of n − 1 for a sample variance.
- Looking up negative z directly instead of using Φ(−z) = 1 − Φ(z).
- Using z instead of t when σ is unknown.
- Comparing |t| in a one-sided test.
How to practise
Calculate first, then compare with the solution; mix topics and spread practice over days (Dunlosky et al., 2013; Rohrer & Taylor, 2007).
Practise with the statistics trainer
27 problem types from the mean to the chi-square test, new data every time, checked instantly with worked solutions. Five a day without an account.
Sources
- Dunlosky, J., Rawson, K. A., Marsh, E. J., Nathan, M. J., & Willingham, D. T. (2013). Improving students’ learning with effective learning techniques. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 14(1), 4–58. doi:10.1177/1529100612453266
- Rohrer, D., & Taylor, K. (2007). The shuffling of mathematics problems improves learning. Instructional Science, 35(6), 481–498. doi:10.1007/s11251-007-9015-8
- Cepeda, N. J., Pashler, H., Vul, E., Wixted, J. T., & Rohrer, D. (2006). Distributed practice in verbal recall tasks: A review and quantitative synthesis. Psychological Bulletin, 132(3), 354–380. doi:10.1037/0033-2909.132.3.354