Hi Sammy (and everyone),

I have been studying for the DANTES Statistics exam and think I have gained a fairly good understanding of everything I need for the exam.

I understand the principles of probability, but am wondering at what level the exam will ask probability questions. Some people have suggested that just knowing the basics is enough for this exam, while others have found the exam to be very intense.

Am I likely to encounter questions such as: Three dice are each tossed five times, what is the probability that the sum of the first three tosses is greater than the sum of the final two tosses but less than 24?

Or am I likely to encounter more basic questions such as: A dice is tossed three times, what is the probability that all three tosses will produce an even number?

Obviously, probability questions can get extremely complex and involved. I am just wondering HOW complex the questions are likely to get on this exam.

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

I feel pretty much ready for this exam overall, but am nervous that I will sit down to take it and suddenly be faced by questions so complex that they blow my mind.

Just how hard do the questions get?

Please Help!
Snazzlefrag

wow! what a score! i have to take this also and thanks for all the study info.

75, awesome!

Is the Dantes Statistics required for the Excelsior BS Business Degree or is there a way out through CLEP?

Thanks!

Christa

Hi Christa,

Yes, Statistics is a required course for a Business degree.

DANTES and CLEP are actually BOTH ways to "test out" of taking a full course by proving your ability in one exam. So avoiding having to take the DANTES exam by taking a CLEP exam would seem to be moot (unless you just prefer CLEPs over DANTES of course).

Excelsior, DANTES, and Thomas Edison, all offer proficiency exams in Principles of Statistics. So taking any one of those three exams would fulfill the Statistics course requirement at Excelsior.

CLEP does not offer a comparable exam in Statistics though. So, in answer to your question, there is no 'way out' of taking the DANTES exam by taking a CLEP exam!



Hope that helps,
Snazzlefrag

One advantage the DANTES exam has over the ECE and TECEP is the price! It's only $75, compared to $185 for ECE and $420 for TECEP ($210 if you're a TESC student).

That's right!

I also enjoy the fact that DANTES exams are untimed. For me, this is especially useful when an exam involves math. Answers to math questions don't necessarily just "pop into my head" like they do for fact-based questions. I expect to take my own sweet time on the DANTES Statistics exam. The only time limit is that I have to leave before they lock up for the night!

Snazzlefrag[/quote]

The pobability questions are not near as tough as your first example. The pobability are not that difficult nor complex. I would recommend going through the two probability sections of instantcerts "college Math" to get your gears smoothly turning for probablilty. If you already feel confident about the exam, you will more than likely do very well. I generally over studied. Give yourself over 3 hours for the exam but that will be at a nice, slow, confident pace. Don't take it when you have to be somewhere in 2 hours. You will probably be surprised at how good you feel about the exam when you leave.
There are no mind blowers on this exam. The reason being that it is more concept based that mind blowing mathematics based. Make sure you have a general understanding also of how to set up basic null hypothesis problems. They are not that tough but know the basics. Idiot's guide over-covered it. I hope this helps.

Sammy I'm sorry I didn't get back with you!
Work interfered and I had to reschedule my Stats exam to the week after you took yours. I was positive I bombed it, so didn't have anything to contribute to the thread.

But today the results came in and I got a 69!

My test had a lot of Correlation and Regression (my weakest area) and a lot of probability (if you draw 12 marbles out of a bag stuff).

I was concerned about not having access to z-tables and such, but the questions were worded in a way that makes them unnecessary.

One warning! Of the 4 answers available to choose from, the wrong 3 were usually the answer you would get if you left a step out of the given problem, so watch out!

TerriAnn

Congratulations TerriAnn, 69 is an excellent score!

I am still waiting for my score. It could go either way! I didn't enjoy this exam at ALL...and I am not enjoying the three week wait for my results either!

Agreed,
It took me 3.5 hours to take that test and I was shaking when I left. I studied hard for 3 weeks. Definitely not a test option for the casual learner. A lot of people really dislike this book, but I thought Statistics Without Tears by Derek Rowntree was a great help.

Now, on to World Religion . . .

TerriAnn