A Guide to Statistics for High School Students (by a High School Student)
In this blog post, we’ll evaluate the prerequisites of statistics for high school students and any complications around self-studying for the AP exam as well as answer the million-dollar question known to stump faculty and students alike: Will I ever calculate the probability of someone buying 20 watermelons at the grocery store?
There’s More to High School Statistics Than Meets the Eye
Imagine the voice of your favorite (or not-so-favorite) math teacher. Yes, the one that relentlessly attempts to assure you that math is a fundamental tool in our everyday lives. Outside of the daily calculations, chance and data aid in ways we may not consider on the surface.
The minute you open your eyes from your six-hour slumber, you lean over to grab your phone—only to realize that you have about fifteen minutes before the bus arrives at your home. As you’re scrambling to get dressed, you stop to check the forecast (which operates by comparing conditions with previously recorded instances), saving yourself from a treacherous morning in the rain.
If only the day could get worse, your first task of the day is—surprise, surprise— a statistics pop quiz. Hopefully, if the class performs just poorly enough, your score might just magically disappear from the grade book.
Before you know it, you’re out of school for the weekend…and back at work. Yes, we know that you’re not going to make enough McDonald’s money for McDonald’s, so you're psyched to start a personal tutoring business with your AP Biology expertise. During your break, you scroll through your Instagram poll feedback, noting how many stduents in your area (or worldwide class demographic) may need your assistance.
At the end of your seemingly endless Friday, you catch up with a couple of friends, debating if placing a +4 card this early in a game of UNO will haunt you in the future.
You get the idea! This scenario, albeit a bit far-fetched, demonstrates how calculated our lives can actually be. Unfortunately, high school statistics are not the same utopia—the newest D in the gradebook is highly indicative of that. Rather, it requires more mathematical computation.
HEADS UP: We tend to interchangeably utilize the terms “statistics” and “probability,” but the distinction is necessary to highlight. Thus, to set the record straight, probability predicts the likelihood of future events with mathematical equations, “but not exclusively based on the laws of physics, chemistry, or other science;” on the other hand, statistics analyzes the frequency of past events to draw future conclusions.
High School Statistics In A League of Its Own
High school statistics vary to some degree from the typical algebra courses also found in mathematics classrooms. As articulated by SoftTutors, statistics and algebra are both known for abstract topic approaches, but a key indicator of what separates the two subjects lies in how easily students can conceptualize specific topics.
Algebra, on the one hand, “provides definitions explaining why math concepts work when applied to equations.” This relates to why understanding different theorems and formulas to solve the same equations (i.e. for triangles and systems of equations) surrounds proof in most instances.
In statistics, on the flip side, students use core algebraic concepts and apply them to statistical formulas to answer a specific question. Thus, studying statistics demands more memorization to cater formulas to their matching situations.
The difficulty of a high school statistics course is contingent on individual learning strengths and capacity. If a student struggles with deep analysis and formulas, more attention may be required to perform to the best of their ability.
Back to the Basics of High School Statistics
At its core, the high school covers what is known as “descriptive statistics.” MyGeekyTutor explains that a high school statistics class instructs students to calculate sample mean, standard deviation, and percentiles while also using histograms, box plots, and other descriptive methods to gauge measures of center and dispersion. However, a college statistics course may not appear smooth sailing.
To prepare for either course, some algebra experience (approximately 2 years, focusing on linear algebra and probability) is encouraged, if not already required in the curriculum.
So, You Want to Self Study AP Statistics?
A high school statistics course some students consider is AP Statistics. If a student is interested in statistics and their school does not offer the course or the student would like more flexibility in their schedule, “self-studying” enables them to bypass the traditional daily lecture and demonstrate their intention to go above and beyond for their passions and/or academic growth.
Self-studying requires dedication and strategy, so in the following section, we’ll explain everything students can familiarize themselves with to aim for the 5!
AP Statistics teaches four main courses:
exploring data (Units 1-2)
sampling and experimentation (Unit 3)
probability and simulation (Units 4-5)
statistical inference (Units 6-9)
EXAM DIFFICULTY
Units One and Two constitute 15-23% of the exam, so they are topics to take very seriously.
Unit 4, according to exam results collected by CollegeBoard in 2021, presented the most challenges; thus, no one student alone is exempt from struggling with probability! Memorization of concrete formulas is less critical for the exam, but UWorld Test Prep encourages students to learn different strategies to strengthen their performance—but it demands practice. Here are a few areas to consider:
Calculating probabilities for independent events and for the union of two events
Calculating probabilities for binomial and geometric variables
Calculating parameters (mean, standard deviation) for linear transformations
Calculating parameters (mean, standard deviation) for linear combinations
As for Unit 5, ensure that you know any necessary formulas while also interpreting particular calculations.
TIPS
To improve your score, take note of the following strategies:
Watch an explanatory video and note what you are able to understand. This may require the viewing of multiple sources.
Read textual explanations of the same topic, and add to your notes.
From there, it relies on practice problems. Even if it’s dedicating 30 minutes every few hours, the more time you spend understanding calculations (especially if you answer incorrectly) helps prepare you for the actual exam. Look into UWorld and Khan Academy, for instance.
Contact teachers, tutors, or even friends familiar with concepts that you need clarification on. Use all of your resources—you’re not cheating!
Utilize breaks during your study sessions. These can include short walks, reading a book, or any activity that will discipline you to return to work. Burnout is a level that is very easily achieved, and it’s established that you retain more information if your brain has enough time to reset and absorb more information.
A Future With High School Statistics?
Statistics deals heavily with data and the data sciences, and similar to the theme of Inspirit, we use data collection to test AI models! Performance metrics such as accuracy and precision are common examples for new learners. Read more here. At the bottom of this post, you can learn more about our two-week AI Scholars program, requiring NO computer science experience to start!
Parting Words
High school statistics provide students with essential skills for endeavors in the classroom, workplace, and beyond—even if 20 watermelons is far too many. Ultimately, we’re all tasked with making decisions, and whether we’re programming the next greatest machine or grabbing an umbrella before we miss the bus, we can utilize the lessons from our least favorite class to think critically and navigate our data-driven world.
About Inspirit AI
AI Scholars Live Online is a 10 session (25-hour) program that exposes high school students to fundamental AI concepts and guides them to build a socially impactful project. Taught by our team of graduate students from Stanford, MIT, and more, students receive a personalized learning experience in small groups with a student-teacher ratio of 5:1.
