Learn how to pass and survive your college-level elementary statistics course.

College is often the first time many students encounter numbers. As a result, it may be one of the more difficult classes you'll take as an undergraduate.

I'll walk you through all you need to know about taking statistics in college in my guide to passing your college statistics class.

I'm here to help you with anything from the topics you may anticipate learning in class to study tips and techniques and how to get statistics aid.

I feel like I know a thing or two about passing, and even acing, a statistics course as a college elementary statistics instructor and graduate student in a Master of Science in Applied Statistics program.

So, without further ado, let us begin.

Should I take a statistics class?

Whether you like it or not, most college majors will require you to take a statistics class.

For example, I majored in Psychology as an undergraduate and was obliged to take an introduction to statistics course before enrolling in higher-level psychology subjects.

However, if you have the opportunity to take statistics in college, I would strongly advise you to do so because statistics is one of the most useful math classes you can take. Consider this: statistics are all around us!

Statistics are used all the time to persuade people to buy items, believe or act in a certain manner, from Facebook posts to newspapers.

Taking a statistics class in college can help you think more critically about what you read on social media or watch on television, as well as understand where individuals get their numbers.

Should I take a statistics class?

I would strongly advise you to take your college statistics course in person rather than online. Why?

Many college students may experience a full-fledged statistics course for the first time.

As a result, the content you study in a statistics class has a steep learning curve because many concepts and vocabulary are extremely different from algebra or trigonometry, which you've probably studied since high school.

Statistics are used all the time to persuade people to buy items, believe or act in a certain manner, from Facebook posts to newspapers.

Taking a statistics class in college can help you think more critically about what you read on social media or watch on television, as well as understand where individuals get their numbers.

Should I take statistics online or in person?

I would strongly advise you to take your college statistics course in person rather than online. Why?

Many college students may experience a full-fledged statistics course for the first time

As a result, the content you study in a statistics class has a steep learning curve because there are many concepts and vocabulary that are extremely different from algebra or trigonometry, which you've probably studied since high school.

Because you get to engage with your lecturer more, taking a statistics class in person can help you learn and grasp the topics better. In-person classes also have fewer distractions than online classes.

During the Fall 2020 semester, I helped a lot of students taking their intro to statistics class online, and many of them expressed having difficulty learning the material on their own.

How do I prepare for a college statistics class?

Some universities may need you to take a prerequisite (prereq) course before enrolling in your elementary or introductory to statistics courses, such as college algebra, trigonometry, or precalculus.

Other colleges, on the other hand, may allow you to take it without a prior course.

Whether or not you are required to take a prerequisite course, I would strongly advise you to take college algebra before your first statistics course.

In statistics, you’ll need to have:

• A basic understanding of how to manipulate formulas

• The ability to do basic calculations like adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing

• Confidence to work with numbers by hand and with a calculator.

Your college algebra course should assist you in developing these skills so that you may focus on the more difficult statistical concepts such as:

• Probability

• Confidence intervals

• Hypothesis testing

Is statistics hard in college?

Learning statistics is a lot like learning a new language.

It's unlike any other math class you've taken because it focuses on reading comprehension with a side of arithmetic.

How I explain it to people: Statistics is 60% reading, 40% math.

That is, if you don't comprehend what the problem is asking you to accomplish or what to solve, you will struggle to pass a statistics class in college.

You'll encounter a lot of word problems in a statistics course, so you'll need to be able to slow down, read, and extract the important information to solve the problem correctly.

Here’s an example:

A researcher is gathering information on how much television the average 18-year-old in the United States watches each week.

They conduct a random survey of 30 18-year-olds and discover that the average watch time is 15 hours, with a 3-hour standard variation.

Is there adequate evidence to establish that the average amount of hours 18-year-olds watch television per week is fewer than the reported population means, given that the population means is 16 hours per week?

Students who do not properly read this problem are likely to employ the incorrect formula and hence solve the problem incorrectly.

Is statistics more difficult than calculus?

To be honest, I believe calculus is more difficult than statistics, but each student will have their perspective.

Calculus is an entirely different beast.

If you've never heard the words "derivative" or "the Chain Rule," for example, I consider it another "foreign language" of math.

Is statistics easier than college algebra?

You've most certainly taken some type of algebra class since middle or high school, so by college, you should be quite familiar with the rules and concepts of algebra.

That being said, statistics will most likely be more difficult than college algebra, but it all depends on how your brain works and how easily you adjust to a new way of looking at the math.

To be honest, I didn't understand anything in my introduction to statistics class in college, yet I did surprisingly well in it.

I only began to understand statistics principles in my research techniques class in psychology.

But it wasn't until I pursued a degree in statistics and even completed a statistics research project that it fully clicked for me.

What do you learn in statistics class?

Statistics encompasses a wide range of topics.

Some of these concepts may be familiar to you, but here is a list of what you may anticiplearningearn in your first college statistics course:

• Population vs sample data

• Categorical vs numerical data

• Variable types

• Visualization of data (scatterplots, bar charts, stem and leaf plot, box and whiskers plots, etc.)

• Measures of central tendency (mean, median, and mode)

• Measures of dispersion (variance, standard deviation, and range)

• Probability

• Correlation and regression

• Confidence intervals

• The normal distribution

• Hypothesis testing

How to get help for statistics

If you are currently struggling in a statistics class, I strongly advise you to seek assistance before it is too late.

You have various alternatives for seeking assistance in your statistics class:

• Get help from your professor

• Get a tutor on-campus or off-campus

• Use a paper writing service like Study Help Me

• Watch YouTube or Khan Academy videos

• Use any help features in your online homework tool (Connect Math, Aleks, etc.)

Getting help from your professor

Your professor is the best source of assistance in your statistics subject.

After all, they're teaching you the concepts the way they want you to learn them, so why not get assistance directly from the hand that feeds you?

You can ask your professor questions in class, after class, or during their office hours for additional assistance.

I'm sure your professor would love to help you grasp whatever statistical subject you're struggling with, but if your professor is more perplexing than helpful, consider hiring a tutor.

Getting help from an on-campus or off-campus tutor

Going to your professor for support can be nerve-racking, especially if your schedule conflicts with your professor's office hours.

Getting a tutor, either on-campus or off-campus, can be a terrific flexible choice that allows you to get assistance from someone who has previously taken the class or is well-versed in the subject.

If you have to choose between on-campus and off-campus tutoring, I would go to an on-campus tutor first.

Why?

• You pay for on-campus tutoring services as part of your tuition and fees, therefore this is a "free" service you can use.

• On-campus tutors must have received an A in the course to know what they're doing.

• Some on-campus tutors, like me, are graduate students, so they are well-versed in the subject they are tutoring.

• Tutors are students, therefore they are more sympathetic and understanding of your challenges in statistics and college.

If on-campus tutoring is not an option for whatever reason, you can discover an off-campus tutor by contacting friends and family members, browsing college bulletin boards, or conducting a simple Google search.

Using Study Help Me

If you need help from your professor's office hours or tutoring, or if you just do not have the time to do either, Study Help Me is an excellent choice.

Many students used Study Help Me in their doctoral-level Statistics Methods assignment help, and it was a lifesaver!

Study Help Me helped them improve from a 70 on their first quiz to an 89 on their second.

Study help me provides timed assignment help and homework help step-by-step to assist you in learning and understanding challenging ideas on your own time.

You may check out Study help me for yourself by clicking here. I adore it, and I'm sure you will as well.

If the mathematical jargon in your statistics assignment is making your head spin, I recommend reading out this article. It’s free to view and is written by Christopher Smith.

Watch videos on YouTube or Khan Academy

Even though your professor works hard to make statistical concepts understandable, it might be difficult, especially if statistics is a foreign language to you.

And there are occasions when the teacher-student bond just does not exist!

I've been in that situation before, in my Statistics Methods class... My professor's lectures usually went over my head because she comes from an engineering background and spoke in extremely technical terms.

If you're having a similar experience, understanding the fundamentals from a different angle can be beneficial.

I recommend watching videos by Brandon Foltz on YouTube. He explains basic statistics principles so well and walks you through simple examples step by step.

Another graduate student in my master's programme recommended ZedStatistics to me on YouTube.

Khan Academy also provides a large library of statistics and probability videos that you may watch for free at any time.

Use the help features embedded in your online homework tool

Your collegiate statistics assignment will almost certainly be completed through a third-party website such as Aleks or ConnectMath.

Both websites provide tools to assist you in learning how to tackle the problem as well as step-by-step directions for each problem you encounter.

I would highly recommend using these resources if you are stuck on a homework topic because they can help you touch up on concepts you may have missed in class or did not completely comprehend.

However, the support tools in these apps may utilize a different way to tackle an issue than your lecturer.

This may end up confounding you even more, so rather than becoming frustrated, go right to the source for assistance—your professor or, if your class has one, the teaching assistant.

What is the best way to study statistics?

The easiest approach to prepare for a statistics quiz or test, just like any other math lesson, is to solve as many practice problems as possible.

Get used to reading and solving problems with various settings and methods of articulating the same subject.

Furthermore, the more practice you have, the more confident you will be in your ability to perform the calculations by hand and with a calculator.

However, in addition to solving practice problems until you're blue in the face, here are 8 tips and strategies to help you survive statistics.
 

1. Never miss class

This is true for any subject... but if you want to succeed in college, especially in a math-based class, you must attend and participate in every class meeting.

Missing class might hinder your capacity to succeed, and it can be difficult to catch up after you've fallen behind.

If you have to miss a class for any reason, attempt to:

1. Find a classmate you can rely on to provide you with class notes at the start of the semester.

2. Arrange a meeting with your lecturer, explain your position, and ask if they would be prepared to provide you with a condensed version of the concept(s) you missed.

3. Prepare to look for tutoring.

If your class is online and synchronous, you might be able to miss one or two classes, especially if the lecture recordings are uploaded after class.

But, at the end of the day, nothing beats sitting in on a live lecture with your lecturer and peers.

2. If your class is online, treat it like an in-person class

Following on from the previous point, if your class is synchronous online, which means you have a set online meeting time with your professor and classmates, handle it as if it were in person.

That is to say:

• Do not use your phone or surf the internet during the lecture.

• Do not enter the lecture and then leave to "fake" your attendance.

• Print out any course materials, guided notes, and so on, and follow along with your professor as you would in a live class.

3. Do as many practice problems as you can

I'm repeating myself since this is such a vital tip!

Math and statistics classes are not the types of classes where you can simply listen and watch your professor solve problems to comprehend what is going on.

Instead, these lessons are similar to participating in sports or learning to play an instrument.

That is, if you want to get great at it, you must actively practice!

So go through as many problems as you can.

Practice homework problems, textbook problems, in-class issues, and any other practice problems provided by your professor.

For example, my graduate teaching assistantship advisor uploads and distributes prior quiz questions in the form of supplementary practice problems.

Students who do not practise these issues miss out on an excellent opportunity to become acquainted with the types of questions that may appear on a future test or quiz.

So, if your lecturer downloads additional practice problems, do them. You never know when a similar or identical problem will appear on a future test or quiz.

4. Get help as soon as you start struggling

Because statistics is such a novel form of math for many college students, it is easy to become confused about topics and fall behind in the course.

If you are having difficulty understanding something, even if it is as simple as parameter vs statistic, seek assistance as soon as possible.

Again, there are numerous tools on and off campus to assist you with statistics. So make use of them!

There are always methods to acquire aid that fit your schedule and comfort level, whether you go to your lecturer, a tutor, view some videos online, or use an academic writing service like Study Help Me.

A very handy resource I’ve recently found for learning statistics is Penn State’s STAT 500 online class. It’s a free resource that takes you through basic statistics concepts in “plain English.”

5. Slow down and carefully read every single problem

Statistics is unlike any other math lesson you've ever taken.

Instead of being handed a problem like this:

10 = 2x + 5

Instead of solving for X, you are supposed to read, interpret, and solve word problems including statistics jargon (I call them keywords) such as the population and sample standard deviation, and confidence level.

You could easily make a mistake or misread the problem if you don't calm down and read the problem.

And there's no way to acquire a correct response if you've misinterpreted what a problem is asking you to do.

So, whenever you solve a problem in statistics class:

1. Slow down and read the problem, then read it again.

2. Underline essential phrases or words with a pencil or pen.

3. In the margin of your paper, write down the necessary facts you need to solve the problem.

4. Step-by-step examples of your work for each challenge

You can gain some credit even if you get the final answer wrong if you show your work for each problem, especially on a quiz or a test.

Some teachers may even deduct points if you do not submit your work, so always, always, always submit your work!

6. If you get the opportunity to use a “cheat sheet for a test or quiz, practice working problems with it beforehand

Many statistics teachers, at least at my university, allow students to use one side of a notebook paper or an index card to create a "cheat sheet" to use on a quiz or test.

Instead of drafting your cheatsheet the day before the assessment, attempt to construct it at least 2-3 days ahead of time and practise using it while working on practice problems.

You'll get used to getting the information you need to answer issues faster if you practice problems using your cheat sheet beforehand. As a result, you may feel less apprehensive and more confident during the test or quiz.

7. Learn how to do calculations by hand and in your calculator

Hand computations are an excellent approach to learning statistics. Why?

Because yly learn how each number in the formula works. You can't learn that by pushing buttons on a calculator.

For example, when I was an undergrad, my teachers would not allow us to use a scientific calculator in our research methodologies and experimental design classes.

We were only able to utilize a basic 4-function calculator.

And, while it was at times torturous, it truly helped me master the actual statistical process and understand each calculation on a deeper level.

In other words, I wasn't simply "plugging and chugging" and hoping for the best. I genuinely knew what I was doing.

However, just as vital as knowing how to do hand calculations is knowing how to use a calculator correctly.

When you're running out of time on a quiz or test, your calculator can come in handy, as can using it to double-check your answers.

I'd also recommend a TI-84 if you're looking for a nice calculator for college or your first statistics class. But, in the end, go with whatever your lecturer suggests you acquire for the class.

8. Create a statistics notebook to serve as a reference guide

Statistics, like any other math lesson, contains a plethora of concepts and formulas to remember. However, it is easy for all of this important information to get buried in your notes.

As a result, I would advocate keeping a separate statistics notebook from your in-class notes.

You can jot down the following information in this notebook:

• Formulas

• Statistics vocabulary or terminology

• Statistics symbol guide (alpha, mu, p, phat, etc.)

• Problems you have solved with a step-by-step solution

• Instructions on how to use the different STAT functions on your calculator

This notebook is intended to serve as a reference guide for you, so that if you have a cumulative final, you may instantly refresh your memory without having to sift through months of lecture notes.

How can I pass a statistics exam without studying?

I usually advocate studying for your examinations, however, if you need to pass without studying, make sure you do the following:

1. Pay really good attention in class

2. Attend every class lecture

3. Work through the in-class problems with your professor, aka, don’t just watch and listen, actually put your pencil down on paper and work the problems with them

4. Do all your assigned homework problems

5. And honestly…have a natural talent for math

In my perspective, it's simply not possible unless you've dealt with similar issues in high school or even middle school.

So, rather than taking the easy way out, study.

It will pay off later in the semester when you aren't racing for additional credit or emailing your professor the day final grades are due begging for a grade increase from a D to a C.

Concluding thoughts on how to pass your college statistics course

Introduction to statistics, often known as elementary statistics, will most likely be a class unlike any other you've taken in college or high school.

It's a difficult subject with many topics combined with algebra and reading skills.

Unfortunately, some students will struggle to keep up with the rigors of a college-level statistics course.

However, by applying the techniques and tricks suggested in today's blog post, you can reduce the anxiety and tension associated with statistics classes in college.

I sincerely hope you found this blog post to be both interesting and actionable.

If you have any further questions about statistics in college, please share them in the comments section below.